Da Lat City and Environs

Bird fauna : Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area. The Dalat Plateau is one of the five endemic bird areas (EBAs) in Vietnam identified by BirdLife International. The vegetation is a mixture of coniferous (dominated by Pinus kesiya), montane evergreen and secondary forest. Three bird species, Collared Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias and Vietnamese Greenfinch, are only to be found within this EBA. The Dalat Plateau also has distinct subspecies of Spot-breasted Laughingthrush (considered by some authorities as a separate species: Orange-breasted Laughingthrush), Cutia, Rufous-backed and Black-headed Sibias, Blue-winged Minla, Grey-headed Parrotbill and Black-throated Sunbird.

Other features : 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.

Transportation : Air or road. There are daily flights to Da Lat from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Flights take approximately 40 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City and two hours from Hanoi. By road, Da Lat is about six hours from Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation :  Da Lat is a major tourist destination, with a wide range of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants.

Permission : Tourism site, accessible to Vietnamese and foreign tourists.

Birding routes : 

Mount Lang Bian
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 can be found in the evergreen forest leading up to the summit. Other interesting species found here include Green Cochoa, White-cheeked Laughingthrush and Cutia. There is an entrance fee of VND 5,000. Note that the area can be very crowded at weekends.

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 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.

Deo Nui San
This forested mountain pass on the main road Di Linh to Phan Thiet around 80 km from Da Lat is the most reliable site for 'Orange-breasted' Laughingthrush. Blue and Rusty-naped Pittas, Green Cochoa, Black-hooded and White-cheeked Laughingthrushes, Indochinese Fulvetta and Grey-headed Parrotbill are also possible here.

Contact details : 

Any tour operator in Ho Chi Minh City can arrange tours to Da Lat.