Wildlife of Vietnam

Many people are interested in Vietnam’s history and traditional ways of life. Others are enchanted by the elegant, bustling cities of modern Vietnam. While Vietnamese culture and history offer endless fascinating possibilities to the world traveler, the natural environment of Vietnam is just as rich and 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 can be found here, alongside unusual species of deer and wild oxen. The rainforest canopy is the playground of many different monkeys and apes; gibbons glide through the middle branches while leaf-eating langurs 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; its 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, which means “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.

Sao La

Much like anywhere else in the world, Vietnam’s growing population puts pressure on its wildlife though 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.