The Vietnam Bird Race 2025 will take place in the Da Lat Plateau from June 6th to 8th, 2025. This is the second time a birdwatching competition has been held in Vietnam. This two-day event is open to both birdwatchers and bird photographers and features an open competition to record or photograph as many bird species as possible.
Several birdwatching organisations from Vietnam organise this event with support from BirdLife International Asia. Mapletree Investment and Canon Marketing Vietnam are the main sponsors of the event, with Lexar and BH Asia being co-sponsors. The first Vietnam Bird Race event was held in 2024 at Tram Chim National Park and was the first initiative in Vietnam. Looking at last year’s event’s success, we expect this year’s event to be even more spectacular. The second edition will be at Bi Doup–Nui Ba National Park in Vietnam.
Vietnam Bird Race 2025
The 2nd Vietnam Bird Race will feature a bird photo race, with an open competition to record and photograph as many bird species from the area as possible. A special children’s birdwatching category will also be included to encourage youth participation. Pre-race briefings will orient all participants on competition rules, and prizes will be awarded on the final day.
Additional activities that will be held include a book launch, a conservation panel discussion, seminars on birdwatching and photography, and an art auction to support bird conservation. Activities are also being organised to engage local students, primarily from Da Lat, through educational walks and hands-on birdwatching activities to inspire the local community and youth to protect their natural treasures.
This year’s Bird Race is being held in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park in Vietnam. Covering over 70,000 hectares, the park features diverse habitats from pine to evergreen forests and is home to many of Vietnam’s endemic and threatened bird species.
Easily accessible from the tourist city of Da Lat, the area is a prime birdwatching destination. It offers chances to see rare species such as the Collared and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Greenfinch, and Dalat Shrike-babbler, along with several unique subspecies found only in this region. Hence, these natural wonders are a good enough reason to join this year’s bird race!
How to join the Vietnam Bird Race 2025?
To join the Vietnam Bird Race 2025, contact Vietnam WildTour, the main organisers, by visiting their website or sending an email to vietnambirdrace@gmail.com. You must complete the registration form with your team members’ details before submitting it. Please note that the deadline for registering is 10 May 2025.
How to travel to Bidoup Nui Ba National Park?
The nearest big city to the park is the city of Da Lat. Da Lat has an international airport and has flights from several countries. If you cannot fly into Da Lat directly, you can fly to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and then take a connecting domestic flight to Da Lat.
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is about 50km from Da Lat. To go there, you must arrange for a direct transfer with a local tour company or by contacting the organisers. Otherwise, you must rent a car with a driver for a whole day, negotiate the price, or book a GrabCar from Da Lat.
This is better than a taxi, as the distance from Da Lat is 50 kilometres and the park is far from other attractions, so getting a taxi back will be tricky. A cheaper option may be to rent a scooter or motorbike and drive to the park yourself. You have to follow the QL27C from the city until you see the entrance to the national park on your left.
Do arrange your accommodation in advance before your arrival at the park. There are camping options in the park and homestays for the ethic minority. It is best to arrange these kinds of accommodation through a guide or organiser, as they are hard to book on your own. Some accommodations in Lac Duong offer more comfort outside the park.
Conclusion
Birdwatching Asia is a birding media platform based in Malaysia and has been providing birdwatching information to thousands of people since 2018. You can also check out our bird race section on our website for more details.
For those planning to attend the Vietnam Bird Race 2025, please arrange your travel early and contact the organisers about your spot and other important information. This event is also one of the highlights of birdwatching in Vietnam.