Following the shadow of a bird in the sky

Birdwatching, or the exploration of wildlife, has been around for centuries worldwide , with tours often costing thousands of dollars. This type of tourism is becoming an attractive and well-received product in Vietnam. According to statistics, Vietnam has approximately 920 endemic and migratory bird species, representing a priceless "treasure" of nature. It continues to entice passionate birdwatchers, even if it means venturing far out to sea, high mountains, or dense forests.

When discussing birdwatching tourism in Vietnam, it's impossible not to mention ornithologist Nguyen Hoai Bao, the founder of Wildtour – a pioneering and highly experienced company in this field. Nguyen Hoai Bao is also a lecturer at the University of Science , Ho Chi Minh City National University, as well as a photographer and environmental activist.

According to Mr. Bao, the period from now (November), the dry season, until the beginning of the rainy season next year (May) is the ideal time to observe Vietnamese birds. The last two months of the year have favorable weather and a large number of migratory birds from the north come to overwinter in coastal wetlands from Xuan Thuy National Park (Nam Dinh) to Can Gio ( Ho Chi Minh City) and Ben Tre in the south...

From January to April is ideal for tours in tropical forests such as: Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai), Bidoup-Nui Ba (Lam Dong), Phong Nha-Ke Bang (Quang Binh), Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh), Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc)... when many bird species display their melodious songs and vibrant plumage.

In the inland wetlands of Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap province), not only tourists but also many photographers, journalists, and scientists frequently visit to admire the resident and migratory bird species. Photographer Ngo Tran Hai An (Ho Chi Minh City), a young social media influencer, said he has visited Tram Chim no less than ten times because he is so fond of the ecosystem of this "kingdom of birds and aquatic flowers".

During the annual flood season (approximately August-November), Tram Chim National Park enters its breeding season, providing an abundant food source for countless species and opening up many unique tours combining wildlife experiences. Recently, journalist Do Doan Hoang (Hanoi), a renowned feature writer, also took a birdwatching trip to Tram Chim National Park and shared: "Nature captivated me... Just a step or two and you're at the boat dock, photographing flocks of thousands of birds simultaneously taking flight, the gathering of these groups of birds is the most fascinating thing I've ever seen."

Expert Nguyen Hoai Bao (center) during a birdwatching tour with tourists. (Photo: Wildtour)

Going to see beautiful, healthy birds in their wild habitat has become a hobby and habit for nature lovers worldwide. According to some studies, the activity of observing and studying birds in the wild, using the naked eye or some supporting equipment, emerged and quickly became a trend in England in the 20th century, then spread to other European countries, America, Australia, and others.

Today, this type of tourism is developing towards traveling to pristine areas to learn about, experience, and photograph rare birds and many other wild animals during the journey. In Vietnam, since the 1990s, scattered groups of tourists and international experts have begun to appear to observe birds, however, most are spontaneous. In 2005, Wildtour (Wildlife Research and Tourism Services Company Limited) founded by Nguyen Hoai Bao and some colleagues was established.

With a foundation in scientific research and a passion for conserving the world of wild birds, they spent over three years surveying forest and marine areas inhabited by rare wild birds, developing tour routes, and obtaining official permits... at a time when birdwatching tourism was still little known in Vietnam.

Initially targeting primarily international tourists from developed countries in Europe and North America, bird-watching tours in Vietnam gained additional visitors from Thailand and Singapore after 2015. To date, the number of visitors has expanded to include groups interested in wildlife photography from Japan, South Korea, China, India, and other countries.

Ornithologist Nguyen Hoai Bao emphasized that birdwatching tours offer many benefits, including: diversifying tourism products, addressing labor needs, increasing financial resources to support conservation efforts, and spreading and encouraging environmental awareness among both tourists and local people.

Over the years, in addition to organizing bird-watching tours and collaborating with international partners, Wildtour has also initiated many activities to spread a love of nature, especially among young people. These include bird-watching festivals (Birdrace) in national parks, events welcoming and bidding farewell to migratory birds, and photography competitions about birds and wildlife.

Although bird-watching tours are considered high-end, with average prices for multi-day tours ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 per person (approximately 75-150 million VND), a representative from Wildtour stated that all tours are fully booked until the end of 2026. Shorter bird-watching tours also cost between 2-3 million VND, higher than mass-market tours.

However, with their rich and unique experiences, bird-watching tours in Vietnam are considered to have significant potential for development, attracting high-spending tourists and influencers.

There are wealthy visitors or world-renowned experts who have come and returned to Vietnam many times, staying for extended periods and spending enormous sums of money just to hunt for and track one (or several) extremely beautiful and rare bird species, such as the red-crowned crane, the grey thrush, the mountain swift, the red-crowned woodpecker, the pied crow, the white-necked crane...

There are some bird species that only live in Da Lat (Lam Dong province), or only appear on the summit of Fansipan (between Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces)... and when visiting these places, tourists not only get to admire the birds but also immerse themselves in the majestic and poetic scenery and experience the local culture.

In fact, several countries have successfully implemented models of rare bird conservation combined with ecotourism. For example, in New Guinea, indigenous tribes have shifted from hunting to protecting birds of paradise, a rare and beautiful species, to promote wildlife photography. In Cambodia, the conservation program for the Greater Egret and Green-winged Egret in Tmatbouy village not only protects the bird population but also generates income for the local people through community-based tourism and ecotourism activities.

In Vietnam, Cat Tien National Park is estimated to have attracted over 1,000 international visitors solely to photograph the striped-bellied short-tailed bird, similarly, Tram Chim National Park has attracted many visitors to observe and photograph waterbirds in the unique wild natural environment of the wetland region, generating revenue for travel businesses and national parks.

According to Mr. Bao, the current global trend is to utilize nature for sustainable tourism development. To achieve this, it's necessary to demonstrate the economic value of conservation and inspire local communities and tourists to protect birds and other species. Mr. Bao also mentioned some of the challenges preventing bird-watching tourism in Vietnam from reaching its full potential.

Facilities at birdwatching spots are generally limited, with very few places able to meet basic, clean accommodation standards for tourists like the Wildbird Hotel in Tram Chim National Park or the accommodation area in Cat Tien National Park.

Furthermore, there is a significant shortage of qualified tour guides for this specialized tour. They need not only tourism expertise but also training in ecology and a love for wildlife. The rampant hunting and extermination of wild birds, as well as the destruction of their habitats, is also a serious problem requiring the cooperation of many stakeholders to prevent.

Currently, there are about 10 domestic companies operating birdwatching and bird photography tours throughout Vietnam. Nguyen Luong Dung, Director of Vietnature Tour, a forestry expert and former employee of the Cat Tien National Park Tourism Center, stated: "The field of wildlife tourism is showing signs of flourishing in Vietnam, linked to positive changes in thinking about sustainable tourism practices, as well as environmental protection and biodiversity conservation."

Source: https://nhandan.vn/theo-bong-chim-troi-post845327.html