People flock to Vietnam to learn about the wildlife of Vietnam. Others are enchanted by the elegant, bustling cities of modern Vietnam. While Vietnamese culture and history offer endless possibilities to the world traveler, the natural environment of Vietnam is just as unique.
The diverse geography of Vietnam, which features rugged mountain ranges, tropical lowland forests, fertile plains, and an extensive coastline, is home to many different kinds of wildlife.
Familiar Southeast Asian “jungle animals” like elephants, leopards, pythons and crocodiles are also prevalent. You might see a very few unusual species of deer and wild oxen, too.
The rain forest canopy is the playground of many different monkeys and apes; gibbons glide through the middle branches while leaf-eating languors congregate noisily above.
Vietnam is also home to some of the world’s most critically endangered species. The dhole, a small wild dog, once roamed over much of Asia. It’s range has been greatly reduced by habitat loss and conflict with livestock farmers, but these small relatives of the wolf still haunt the Vietnamese forest. The sao la is a forest-dwelling antelope native only to Vietnam and parts of Laos near the border; called “saht-supahp” by the Hmong. It translates to “the polite animal”. This quiet cow relative is so rare that it was not known to Western zoology until 1992.
Finally, the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey was believed extinct until a small population was discovered in Na Hang district; this primate is on the top 25 list of critically endangered species worldwide.
Vietnam’s growing population puts pressure on its wildlife through hunting, habitat loss, and the illegal wildlife trade. At the same time, Vietnam’s remote highlands and dense forests are a sanctuary for many species that have been unable to adapt to changing conditions elsewhere in Asia. Wherever you visit, you’re sure to enjoy the diverse flora and fauna that share Vietnam with us.
More Fun Travel is active in conservation and committed to sustainable tourism. If you have a particular interest in Vietnam’s diverse ecology, we can design a custom wildlife tour to help you explore effectively.
