Tram Chim National Park & Mekong Delta Birding Tours
Explore the diverse birding opportunities of the Mekong Delta and the spectacular Tram Chim National Park. Choose from Half-Day, Full-Day, Spotlighting, or Custom Tours.
Details
Summary
– Specialist Birding Tours
– Bookings Available Year-Round
– Departs from varies locations across Southern Vietnam
– Private tours for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups available upon request
Prices Starting From:
Most tours from this location are customized for your convenience. Please contact us for the best quote.
Tram Chim National Park & Mekong Delta Birding Tours
Tour Code: MK0501
Birding Tours with Next Continent
At Next Continent, we specialise in delivering exceptional birding tours and experiences for enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned pro, or an avid bird photographer, we offer tailored tours to suit your interests and goals.
The Mekong Delta (which includes the spectacular Tram Chim National Park, miles of spectacular coastal reserves, and the popular Tra Su Bird Sanctuary) in particular, boasts some of the finest birding opportunities in Vietnam and Indochina, with over 400 species yet recorded. Depending on the season, a typical day tour in Mekong Delta can easily target 100-150 species (often more), making it a prime birding destination.
Our tours range from half-day, full-day, and spotlighting experiences to custom multi-day adventures. With the region’s diverse range of habitats and opportunities, we can accommodate your birding needs for this unique part of Indochina, ensuring you get the most out of your time in the field and an itinerary to match.
Our Approach to Birding
Our birding tours are designed with you in mind:
- Target Species: If you have specific target species, share your list, and we’ll create a custom itinerary to help you find them.
- Classic Routes: For those looking for a more holistic experience, we offer classic birding routes that cover the best habitats and sites in the area.
- Flexible Timing: Our local expert guides are available for any duration, ensuring you have a tailored experience.
Types of Birding Experiences We Offer
- Targeted Birding: A custom itinerary designed around your target species
- Big Day Birding: For those who want to maximize their species list, we visit a range of habitats, often recording over 100-120 species in a single day, especially during spring and summer when migratory species, including waders/shorebirds, are present.
- Relaxed Birding: If you prefer a slower pace, we’ll guide you through the highlights of the region, exploring a variety of parks and reserves with unique birdlife.
- Bird Photography: Our guides can adjust the day to focus on photography, taking you to the best spots to capture stunning bird images.
Why Choose Us?
- Expert Guides: Our experienced bird and wildlife guides have in-depth knowledge of the region and its avifauna.
- Private Driver: You’ll be accompanied by a private driver to ensure seamless transportation throughout your tour.
- Bird Lists: We’ll provide a detailed bird list of all the species encountered during your trip. Same goes for sharing eBird checklists.
- Spotting Scopes & Field Guides: Available upon request to enhance your birding experience.
- Meals & Accommodation Transfers: We can organise meals and provide pickup/drop-off services from your accommodation.
- First Aid & Safety: All our guides are trained in first aid and ensure a COVID-19 Safe environment throughout your tour.
- Comprehensive Insurance: We provide full insurance coverage, giving you peace of mind during your adventure.
- Entrance Tickets & Permits: All necessary entrance tickets and permits are included in your tour, so you don’t have to worry about any additional fees.
Highlight Species:
The Mekong Delta region boasts a large variety of possible target species, from the very common (Greater Coucal) to the rarest of the rare (Spoon-billed Sandpiper). Below are some of the more typically requested and expected species. For a comprehensive list, we recommend checking eBird or reaching out to us via email.
Cotton Pygmy Goose, Garganey, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Large-tailed Nightjar, Grey Plover, Tibetan Sand Plover, Kentish Plover, White-faced Plover, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Asian Palm Swift, Watercock, White-browed Crake, Sarus Crane, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Oriental Pratincole, Asian Openbill, Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork, Oriental Darter, Black Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Purple Heron, Black Baza, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pied Harrier, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher, Freckled-breasted Woodpecker, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Brown Shrike, Ashy Tailorbird, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Brown-throated Sunbird, Asian Golden Weaver, Baya Weaver, Plain-backed Sparrow
Key Locations:
Tram Chim National Park
Arguably the highlight of the region, Tram Chim National Park, located in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, is a haven for biodiversity and a vital sanctuary for waterbirds. Spanning over 7,000 hectares, the park boasts a unique wetland ecosystem with vast grasslands, lotus-filled ponds, and seasonally flooded forests. It is renowned for hosting the rare and endangered Sarus Crane, which migrates here during the dry season.
Tram Chim is a must-visit destination on our tours, offering spectacular opportunities for birders and photographers. We typically dedicate a full day to exploring the park, often including a private boat trip at dawn or dusk. These trips provide breathtaking views of large waterfowl flocks and the chance to watch herons, egrets, and storks return to their roosts as the sun sets. For those seeking nocturnal adventures, we also organize spotlighting experiences. These offer great chances to encounter species such as the Large-tailed Nightjar, Eastern Barn Owl, Collared Scops Owl, and even the elusive Leopard Cat for mammal enthusiasts.
Tan Thanh Beach, Go Cong
Considered one of the key shorebird areas in Southern Vietnam, Tan Thanh Beach (located at Go Cong) is an extensive coastal reserve located in Tien Giang approximately 2hrs from Saigon. One of our regular and favourited places, this is arguably the best place in Vietnam to see both the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank. With a working list of over 80 regular migratory waders and other coastal birds such as terns, herons and gulls, this is an incredibly rewarding location for our birding tours. For our guests, we can provide a scope and tripod, as well as boots (with notice), as the access can be highly variably with the tides and typically best visited at low tide.
Tra Su Nature Reserve
Close to both Tram Chim and the Cambodian border, Tra Su Nature Reserve is a wetland swamp, favoured tourism spot and dedicated bird sanctuary. Amongst thickets of Melaleuca, the park is haven for waterfowl, particularly herons and egrets of switch there are several enormous and permanent camps. This can be a very rewarding location in the right season and as long as you arrive early morning or late afternoon. A private boat trip can allow for intimate encounters with species such as Oriental Darter, Javan Pond-heron and Black-crowned Night Heron, amongst other key species.
Putting It Together:
The Mekong is a diverse and expansive region in southern Indochina that offers incredible avian biodiversity and opportunities for visiting birders. To truly capture its essence (and the greatest variety of species), a custom tour experience is often the best approach. This allows us, as your guides, to tailor the journey to your budget, schedule and preferences, ensuring a perfect fit.
With a custom tour, we have the flexibility to start and finish at locations most convenient for you. For instance, we might host guests for two or more days at Tram Chim National Park, or embark from Saigon to explore coastal habitats and shorebirds. In some cases, we’ve even started in Cambodia, journeying through the Mekong and back into Vietnam.
The possibilities are endless. Here are a few popular options to consider for your next adventure.
Single Days:
We can lead single day tours to any of the three (and other) key sites in the Mekong Delta region daily. Keep in mind, this depends greatly on your location as we need to accomodate driving time.
Multi-day / Custom:
By far the best option, this allows us to ensure we get the most out your time with us. Typical routes start and return to Saigon, however we can customise this accordingly (including starting at Tram Chim).
Related Tours & Experiences
If you’re interested in other birding tours around Southern Vietnam, we suggest exploring the options below to complement your tour. Let us know if you’re considering multiple tours, as we may be able to create a tailored package for you.
Discover vibrant birding experiences in Southern Vietnam’s expansive mangroves, scenic coastlines, spectacular evergreen forests, and renowned wetlands. Choose from Half-Day, Full-Day, Spotlighting, or Custom Tours
Wild Mekong: Wildlife & Natural History Tour
Discover the Untamed Beauty of the Mekong Delta: A Tour Showcasing the Region’s Unique Flora and Fauna
Embark on a Full-Day Adventure from Sai Gon to Can Gio: Explore Vietnam’s Rich Wildlife and Historical Heritage in Pristine Ecosystems
Tailor Your Experience
Looking to enhance your experience? Whether it’s adding an extra day, making an additional stop, arranging pick-up from a distant location, hiring a camera, or combining your tour with another one of our amazing experiences, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today, and let our experts craft a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices tailored to your needs
Tour Reviews
Still have questions? Get in touch with us directly
- [email protected]
- (+84) 236 730 2199
- Frequently Asked Questions
