Located between the iconic towns of Hue and Hoi An, Bạch Mã National Park is a little-visited area of beautiful, rolling forested mountains, home to rare and seldom studied wildlife.
Highly regarded as one of Vietnam’s top birding locations and a stronghold for the rare red-shanked douc langur, Bach Mã is also one of the most scenic and pristine parks in Vietnam.
The upper elevations of this national park’s lush mountains are regularly shrouded in mist, forming cloud forests that are among the wettest areas in Vietnam. These conditions make it a special haven for frogs and snakes, some of which are unique to this area. Several mammals can also be found in this mysterious forest, including a strong population of the red-shanked douc langur, the shy northern yellow-cheeked gibbon, several species of macaque and the nocturnal pygmy slow loris. The highly elusive Annamite rabbit and Owston’s civet also both occur here, but are difficult to see.
The pristine montane forests are perfect for a wide range of birdlife, making this one of the best birding sites in the country. Many dazzling species will vie for your attention from long-tailed and silver-breasted broadbills, Indochinese green magpie, silver pheasant and bar-bellied pitta.
The forests of Bạch Mã also connect with the remote Annamite Mountain range, which protects some of the most secretive wildlife in Vietnam. The near-mythical soala, a striking species of bovine, has been recorded in these mountains in the past, but its extreme rarity and aversion to humans make it very hard to monitor.
The Bach Mã Mountain itself is a former hill resort, founded as a retreat by the French in 1932, and its ruined villas on the top are still visible today.
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