Birding Highlights: Annam Barbet (Near Endemic), Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Langbian Tit (Endemic - Subspecies), Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), Gray-crowned Crocias (Endemic), White-spectacled Sibia (Endemic - Subspecies), Langbian Sunbird (Endemic - Subspecies), Annam Sunbird (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Vietnamese Greenfinch (Endemic), Red Crossbill,..
Location: Da Lat Plateau - Southern Vietnam
Best time to visit: December to May
Da Lat Birding Trails is located Da Lat Plateau, one of the best birding hotspots in Southern Vietnam. Da Lat Plateau is one of the five endemic bird areas (EBAs) in Vietnam identified by BirdLife International, where you can find 8/13 endemic birds of Vietnam and many special birds can be found in this area.
Da Lat Birding Trails include many KEY birding sites for birders. The most important sites for Birders include:
Datanla Waterfall is located 6km south of Da Lat City. This site is one of the tourist attractions in Da Lat where visitors can use the cable car system or walk along the stream to see the waterfall. In addition to the pure sightseeing, there are activities like High Rope Course, Roller-coaster ride, Canyoning tours,...
At the entrance of the waterfall, we can see Datanla restaurant, where we can spot many special species by walking a few meters around the restaurant OR just sit comfortably on a chair and enjoy a cup of Vietnamese coffee while waiting for the birds are attracted by the flower garden near the restaurant. Some of the beautiful birds here include: Annam Barbet (Near Endemic), Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Verditer Flycatcher, Langbian Sunbird (Endemic - Subspecies), Annam Sunbird (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Streaked Spiderhunter,...With a very luck, you might spot the beautiful endemics "Dalat Shrike-Babbler" and "Vietnamese Cutia".
Ta Nung Valley is located 10km west of Da Lat City, was one of the most famous birdwatching places in the past. Currently, this area has been destroyed to build a tourist attraction with a new name "Ecotourism Destinations Hoa Son Dien Trang". However, this area still has a large residual evergreen forest where many specialities of Da Lat Plateau can still be found such as Annam Barbet (Near Endemic), Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Langbian Tit (Endemic - Subspecies), Grey-crowned Tit, White-spectacled Sibia (Endemic - Subspecies), Plain Minla (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Rufous-backed Sibia, White-cheeked Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Langbian Sunbird (Endemic - Subspecies), Annam Sunbird (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Vietnamese Greenfinch (Endemic),...With a very luck, you might spot the rare and shy endemic "Gray-crowned Crocias".
#3 - Suoi Tia Trail
Suoi Tia Trail is located near Tuyen Lam Lake, about 13km southwest of Da Lat City. By walking along this trail (1-2km), you may spot many specialities of Da Lat Plateau such as Red-vented Barbet (Near Endemic), Necklaced Barbet (Near Endemic), Annam Barbet (Near Endemic), Long-tailed Broadbill, Annam Minivet (Endemic - Subspecies), Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Slender-billed Oriole, White-faced Jay, Langbian Tit (Endemic - Subspecies), Grey-crowned Tit, Plain Minla (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Rufous-backed Sibia, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Vietnamese Greenfinch (Endemic),...With a very luck, you might spot the rare and shy endemic "Gray-crowned Crocias" and the beautiful endemic "Vietnamese Cutia".
#4 - The Headquarters of Bi Doup Nui Ba National Park
The Headquarters of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is located about 40 km (1 hour drive) northeast of Da Lat City.
This site is surrounded by pine forests. Here is an excellent location to spot the endemic "Vietnamese Greenfinch" and the conifer-adapted species "Red Crossbill". By taking a short walk around the park headquarters, we also can see some interesting birds such as Annam Minivet (Endemic - Subspecies), Slender-billed Oriole, Burmese Shrike, White-faced Jay, Langbian Tit (Endemic - Subspecies), Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Blue Rock-Thrush,...
Giang Ly Birding Trails is located along the road "DT723" from Dalat to Nha Trang that cuts through the Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. It's about 28km from "The Headquarters of Bi Doup Nui Ba National Park" and about 60km northest of Da Lat City (It takes about 1.5 hour to drive from Da Lat City).
Giang Ly Birding Trails is a network of small trails going into one of the most beautiful rainforests of Vietnam. It's quite easy to walk but it can be muddy or wet so good walking boots or wellingtons are recommended. By walking on these beautiful trails we hope to see some of the specialities of Vietnam such as Gray-chinned Minivet, Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Clicking Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-crowned Green Magpie (Endemic - Subspecies), Ashy-throated Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Black-crowned Fulvetta (Endemic), Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), White-spectacled Sibia (Endemic - Subspecies), White-cheeked Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Near Endemic), Hume's Treecreeper, Spotted Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail,...
Cong Troi Birding Trail is located about 40km (1 hour drive) northweast of Da Lat City.
Cong Troi Birding Trail is a small trail (length: 2km) going into the beautiful rainforests, belongs to Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. It's quite easy to walk but on a couple of the sites is a little steep so footwear with a good grip are recommended.
This trail is almost similar to "Giang Ly Birding Trails" about the target birds that we hope to see include Gray-chinned Minivet, Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Clicking Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-crowned Green Magpie (Endemic - Subspecies), Ashy-throated Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Black-crowned Fulvetta (Endemic), Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), White-spectacled Sibia (Endemic - Subspecies), White-cheeked Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Near Endemic), Hume's Treecreeper, Spotted Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail,...

Vietnamese Greenfinch (Chloris monguilloti) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Pteruthius annamensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Indochinese Barbet or Annam Barbet (Psilopogon annamensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Indochinese Barbet or Annam Barbet (Psilopogon annamensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Langbian Sunbird (Aethopyga (saturata) johnsi) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Langbian Tit (Parus (monticolus) legendrei) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Mrs. Gould Sunbird or Annam Sunbird (Aethopyga (gouldiae) annamensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Mrs. Gould Sunbird or Annam Sunbird (Aethopyga (gouldiae) annamensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Vietnamese Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Vietnamese Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Bui Duc Tien

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Sitta nagaensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Sitta nagaensis) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Burmese Shrike (Lanius collurioides) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Burmese Shrike (Lanius collurioides) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Slender-billed Oriole (Oriolus tenuirostris) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le

Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) at Da Lat Birding Trails. Photo by: Phuc Le