Summary

The Da Lat Plateau is one of Vietnam's most important endemic-bird regions and a cornerstone of almost every serious birding itinerary in the country. High-elevation pine forest, montane evergreen forest, valleys, and forest edge around Da Lat and the Bidoup-Nui Ba landscape support a concentration of species found nowhere else, or almost nowhere else, in the world. The cool climate and relatively good road access make the plateau especially productive for multi-day birding.

Headline targets include Collared Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Black-headed Parrotbill, Yellow-billed Nuthatch and several other Da Lat specialities. Important birding areas include Mount Langbian, Tuyen Lam Lake, Ta Nung Valley, Giang Ly, Cong Troi and the higher Bidoup massif; Di Linh/Deo Nui San is often treated as a complementary southern highland site. Because different species favour different elevations and habitats, three or more days are strongly recommended for dedicated birders. Da Lat has excellent tourist infrastructure and air connections, making it both one of Vietnam's easiest specialist destinations to visit and one of its most rewarding.

Click here to see the full bird checklist in the Da Lat area

Most highlights

Bar-backed Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Red-vented Barbet, Indochinese Barbet, Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Jerdon's Baza, Rusty-naped Pitta, Blue Pitta, Burmese Shrike, Indochinese Green Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Slender-billed Oriole, Maroon Oriole, White-throated Rock Thrush, Green Cochoa, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Blue-and-White Flycatcher, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Little Pied Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Lesser Shortwing, White-tailed Robin, Spotted Forktail, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Grey-crowned Tit, Grey-bellied Tesia, White-spectacled Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Collared Laughingthrush, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Streaked Wren Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Vietnamese Cutia, Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler, Blue-winged Minla, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Indochinese Fulvetta, Grey-crowned Crocias, Rufous-backed Sibia, Black-headed Sibia, Black-headed Parrotbill, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Red Crossbill, Brown Bullfinch.

The stunning Collared Laughingthrush – an endemic species to Vietnam

More bird pictures in Da Lat Plateau

Birding routes

The cool climate, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls make Dalat a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists; weekends and, especially, public holidays can be very busy. The Dalat area is also known throughout Vietnam for its market gardens and nurseries growing vegetables and flowers. 

Many birding sites are within a few minutes' drive from Da Lat city, as follows:

Mount Langbian

Only 12 km north of the city, Lang Bian mountain (also called 'Nui Ba') is easily reached by motorbike taxi or car. A trail leads up the mountain through pine forest to remaining montane evergreen forest at the summit. Vietnamese Greenfinch can be found in the pines all the way along the trail, with Red Crossbill in the pines nearer the summit. The endemic Collared Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, and Black-crowned Fulvetta can be found in the evergreen forest leading up to the summit. Other interesting species found here include Green Cochoa, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-throated Sunbird, and Vietnamese Cutia.

Tuyen Lam Lake

This man-made lake is just 3km outside of the city and is easily reached by motorbike or car, but it is necessary to hire a boat to access the remnant forest at the far end of the lake where the best birding is to be found. There are some trails through the forest, but they are poorly marked and hard to find. Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias and Vietnamese Greenfinch, Vietnamese Cutia are among the local specialities.

Ta Nung Valley

This site, around 15 km from Da Lat by motorbike or car, is one of the best sites for Grey-crowned Crocias. Indochinese Green Magpie, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded, White-cheeked and 'Orange-breasted' Laughingthrushes, and Grey-headed Parrotbill can also be seen here.

Giang Ly

Giang Ly is located inside Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park, situated right on the road TL723 connecting Da Lat and Nha Trang. The broadleaf forest here at 1600m asl supports habitat for almost all endemics of the Da Lat Plateau (except Orange-breasted Laughingthrus). In addition, Indochinese Fulvetta sometimes show up, making this spot a better replacement for Langbian Mt.

Cong Troi ("Heaven Gate")

About 30 km from Da Lat city, Cong Troi is a relatively new birding spot; a newly constructed road (to Dak Lak province, and not completed yet) helps us to access this excellent birding area. Here we can find everything those available on Langbian mt, and even Ta Nung, Tuyen Lam Lake, as well as Giang Ly. We have also built several bird blinds at Cong Troi forest where the Collared Laughingthrush, Indochinese Wren-babbler, Grey-bellied Tesia, and many other birds come close for photography.

Bidoup Mountain

The highest peak (2,287m) in the core zone of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, the Indochinese Fulvetta is confined only above 1,800m on the trail to the top of the mountain. Although the Collared Laughingthrush and Green Cochoa are also easy to see here, Bidoup mt is not a popular birding spot because of the difficult logistics; we have to camp at least one night in the forest to get there.

Di Linh or Deo Nui San

Di Linh is usually referred to as Deo (pass) Nui San or Deo (pass) Suoi Lanh, a forested mountain pass on the main road from Di Linh to Phan Thiet, around 80 km from Da Lat. This area can be considered a separate birding area from Da Lat. However, all the bird species here can be found in Da Lat, though several species are easier to locate than those in Da Lat, including Vietnamese Cutia, Black-headed Parrotbill, and Green Cochoa are among them. Other species like Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Blue Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, Black-hooded and White-cheeked Laughingthrush, and Indochinese Fulvetta are also possible here.

Transportation

Da Lat is accessible via National Highway 20, located roughly 300 km (a 6 to 7-hour drive) from Ho Chi Minh City, and about 5 hours from Nha Trang via the scenic Khanh Le Pass.

If you prefer to fly, Lien Khuong Airport offers regular direct flights from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodations

Da Lat is a big tourist city, with hotels from standard to 5 stars, guesthouses, and restaurants everywhere.

In Di Linh town, Bao Phu Hotel is the best "mini hotel" for a big birding group, while Juliet Villa is nicer, located near the forest but only able to accommodate a maximum of 6 people.

Relevant tours:

• Cat Tien & Da Lat Birding Tour
• 4-Day Da Lat Birding Tour
• Central Highlands Vietnam Birding Tour
• Da Lat Bird Photography Tour

More information about the birding sites in Vietnam:

• Cat Tien National Park
• Tan Phu Forest
• Yok Don National Park
• Mang Den - Kon Plong