Thac Mai: 1-Night Herping Tour
Delve into the lowland forests of Thac Mai on this 1-night herping tour from Ho Chi Minh City. Just three hours from the city, this biodiverse hotspot hosts nearly 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, including cobras, kraits, vipers, tree frogs, and rare turtles. With habitats ranging from dense forest to riverside clearings, and a mix of Indochinese and Sundaic species, this flexible, target-focused tour is perfect for herpers, photographers, and travellers seeking something raw and wild.
Details
Summary
— Overnight Herping Tour
— Bookings Available Year-Round
— Departs from Ho Chi Minh City
— Private tours for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups available upon request
Prices From:
Single Person: $310 per person
Group of 2: $195 per person
Group of 3: $155 per person
Group of 4: $135 per person
Thac Mai: 1-Night Herping Tour
Code: HCSD05 | Categories: Herping | Locations: Ho Chi Minh City
Summary:
Leave the city behind and venture into the lowland forests of Dong Nai for a high-reward night of herping in one of southern Vietnam’s most accessible reptile and amphibian hotspots. Just 3–4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, the Dinh Quan area offers a notable diversity of snakes, frogs, geckos, and other nocturnal life among a mix of lowland forest, bamboo thickets, and river-edge trails.
The tour begins at approximately 1:00pm with departure from Ho Chi Minh City. After checking in to a local hotel around 4:30pm, there’s time for dinner and a supply stop before we head out to our main herping site, roughly 25 km from town. From around 19:00 until late, we explore a variety of high-yield forest stops on foot, covering key habitat types in search of targets and a wide variety of targets. Drop-off at your hotel in HCMC after midnight.
Thác Mai is home to a broad mix of forest and edge species and is best known as one of southern Vietnam’s top Elapid hotspots, with regular sightings of Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus), Blue Krait (Bungarus candidus), King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia), Indochinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis), and Small-spotted Coral Snake (Calliophis maculiceps), an incredible list of mega targets for many of our guests. After rain, good numbers of frogs, narrow-mouths, and forest geckos also feature heavily, often in good numbers.
Whether you’re a visiting herper, wildlife photographer, or simply keen to check out some pristine Vietnamese forest after dark, this short-format trip offers a rewarding and flexible introduction to southern Vietnam’s herping biodiversity and key species.
Tour Pace
This easy-to-moderate night tour, suitable for adults. We work through several areas of suitable habitat, mainly sticking to roads and tracks with relatively gentle walking throughout. We do walk in the dark and occasionally through scrubby or slightly overgrown areas, which can pose minor tripping hazards if you’re not paying attention. However, the pace is slow, and it’s very safe when taken steadily. We provide head torches to ensure good visibility and safety for everyone.
Key Target Species & Other Wildlife Highlights
Snakes:
Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus), Blue Krait (Bungarus candidus), King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia), Indo-Chinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis), Small Spotted Coral Snake (Calliophis maculiceps), White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris), Ruby-eyed Pit Viper (Trimeresurus rubeus), Asian Whip Snake (Ahaetulla prasina), Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata), Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus), Nganson Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis ngansonensis), Green Cat Snake (Boiga cyanea), Many-Spotted Cat Snake (Boiga multomaculata), Siamese Cat Snake (Boiga siamensis), Radiated Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus), Laotian Wolf Snake (Lycodon laoensis), Bridle Snake (Lycodon davisonii), Common Wolf Snake (Lycodon capucinus), Indo-Chinese Wolf Snake (Lycodon neomaculatus), Gunther’s Kukri Snake (Oligodon cinereus), Banded Kukri Snake (Oligodon fasciatus), Saintgirons Kukri Snake (Oligodon saintgironsi), Striped Kukri Snake (Oligodon taeniatus), Indo-Chinese Rat Snake (Ptyas korros), Oriental Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa), Buff Striped Keelback (Amphiesma stolatum), Yellow Spotted Keelback (Fowlea flavipunctata), Siamese Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis siamensis), Rainbow Mud Snake (Enhydris enhydris), Bocourt’s Mud Snake (Subsessor bocourti), Rice Paddy Snake (Hypsiscopus plumbeus), Common Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus), Burmese Python (Python bivittatus), Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus), Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor)
Frogs and Toads:
Burmese Squat Frog (Glyphoglossus guttulatus), Striped Sticky Frog (Kalophrynus interlineatus), Mada Paddy Frog (Micryletta erythropoda), Painted Frog (Kaloula pulchra), Malcom Narrow-mouth Frog (Microhyla malcomi), Ninhthuan Narrow-mouth Frog (Microhyla ninhthuanensis), Butler’s Narrow-mouth Frog (Microhyla butleri), Mukhlesuri Narrow-mouth Frog (Microhyla mukhlesuri), Vietnamese Moss Frog (Theloderma vietnamense), Annam Tree Frog (Rhacophorus annamensis), Nong Khor Bush Frog (Chirixalus nongkhorensis), Spot-legged Tree Frog (Polypedates cf. megacephalus), Annam Wart Frog (Limnonectes dabanus), Paddy Field Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis), East Asian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus chinensis), Green Odorous Frog (Odorrana cf. chlorota), Green Grass Frog (Hylarana erythraea), Stream Frog (Sylvirana spp.)
Lizards and Geckos:
Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus), Common Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), Crowned Pricklenape (Acanthosaura coronata), Vietnamese Blue Crested Lizard (Calotes bachae), Oriental Lizard (Calotes versicolor), Cattien Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus cattienensis), Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko), Stump-toed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata), Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus), Flat-tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus), Slender Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus spp.), Bowring’s Supple Skink (Subdoluse bowringii), Siamese Supple Skink (Lygosoma siamensis), Spotted Forest Skink (Sphenomorphus maculatus), Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata), Grass Sun Skink (Eutropis macularia), Ground Skink (Scincella spp.), Asian Grass Lizard (Takydromus sexlineatus)
Group Size
Private tours are available for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups on request.
Photography Opportunites & Notes
We recommend a dedicated macro lens (90–105mm is ideal for flexibility), with an external flash and diffuser setup for consistent, detailed lighting in dim forest understory and night conditions. A Godox V350 or TT350 paired with a softbox-style diffuser or homemade card/foam diffuser works well for most subjects. For more complex lighting, twin-flash systems or ring flashes with custom diffusion can help illuminate subjects evenly without harsh hotspots.
For snake and herp photography, a longer focal length macro lens (such as 150mm or even 180mm) can be beneficial for keeping a safe and respectful distance. Some photographers also favour a 70–200mm telephoto zoom with extension tubes for added versatility. A small, sturdy tripod or monopod can help with stability during low-light work, though many opt to shoot handheld using flash.
To make the most of your time in the field, we recommend contacting the Next Continent team in advance to discuss your herping and macro goals. We can advise on the most suitable gear, provide local expertise, and even help with logistics for photographing specific target species.
Discover More in Southern Vietnam
If this tour caught your eye, you might also enjoy some of our other herping experiences in the region, each with its own unique focus and highlights. Below are some of our most popular and recommended options, perfect for discovering more of what Southern Vietnam has to offer. Thinking of doing more than one? Let us know and we’ll be happy to create a customised package to suit your journey.
Discover one of Vietnam’s top herping hotspots, Cat Tien National Park. This tour is designed for hardcore herpers, keen on experiencing a diverse and comprehensive array of rare snakes, endemic frogs, tortoises, and other keys herps found across the parks varied habitats. Experience late nights of hands-on spotlighting, daytime treks for canopy and forest specialists, this is the ultimate herping experience.
Escape the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and head into the reptile-rich foothills of Nui Dinh on this 1-night herping adventure. Just 1.5 hours from the city, this compact yet diverse hotspot offers a unique blend of Indochinese and Sundaic herpetofauna. With over 20 snake species recorded and a supporting cast of frogs, geckos, and skinks, Dinh Mountain is the ideal short escape for serious field herpers, macro photographers, or curious naturalists. Flexible, target-driven, and guided by local expertise, this night in the forest is one of our top herping tours.
Join us for an epic night of urban herping on this fast-paced 1-night tour that dives into the unexpected wild side of Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s largest city packs a surprising variety of mega targets into its urban jungle, including keelbacks, pit vipers, whip snakes, tree frogs, geckos and more. Come and check it out.
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
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