On three trips to Vietnam (2012 and 2024) I saw 32 species of mammals as listed below; highlights being endemic Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat and Small-toothed Ferret-badger.
Contents
A) Mammals Seen
B) Reptiles Seen
C) Trips and Reports
D) Logistics
A) MAMMALS SEEN
- Northern Treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri). @ Cat Tien NP; Cuc Phuong NP.
- Northern Smooth-tailed Treeshrew (Dendrogale murina). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Geoffroy’s Rousette (Rousettus amplexicaudatus). @ Ba Be NP.
- Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros alongensis). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros gentilis). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Stoliczka’s Asian Trident Bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Pearson’s Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus pearsonii). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Black-bearded Tomb Bat (Taphozous melanopogon). @ Perfume Pagoda; Marble Mountain.
- Murina sp. @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Southern Palm Civet (Paradoxurus musangus). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Small-toothed Ferret-badger (Melogale moschata). @ Bach Ma NP.
- Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor).
- Burmese Hare (Lepus peguensis).
- Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor). @ Cuc Phuong NP. Bach Ma NP.
- Pallas’s Squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus).
- Perny’s Long-nosed Squirrel (Dremomys pernyi). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Chinese Red-cheeked Squirrel (Dremomys ornatus). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Eastern Striped Squirrel (Tamiops maritimus). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Cambodian Striped Squirrel (Tamiops rodolphii). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Indochinese Ground Squirrel (Menetes berdmorei). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Mekong White-bellied Rat (Niviventer mekongis). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Little Indochinese Field Rat (Rattus sakeratensis). @ Ba Be NP.
- Indochinese Shrewlike Mouse (Mus pahari). @ Cuc Phuong NP.
- Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis).
- Northern Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca leonina). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta).
- Delacour’s Langur (Trachypithecus delacouri). @ Van Long NR.
- Annamese Silvered Langur (Trachypithecus margarita). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Black-shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix nigripes). @ Cat Tien NP.
- Grey-shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix cinerea). @ Nui Thanh area.
- Red-shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix nemaeus). @ Son Tra; Bach Ma.
B). REPTILES SEEN
Data not yet entered
C) TRIPS and REPORTS
List of Trips:
1. South and Central Vietnam* (14 Jan – 1 Feb 2012). Sites: Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nga, and Cat Tien NP.
2. North Vietnam* (15-27 Nov 2012). Sites: Hanoi, Cuc Phuong NP, Van Long NR.
3. North and Central Vietnam* (12-29 July 2024). Sites: Hanoi, Perfume Pagoda, Hoi An, Danang, Bach Ma NP, and Cuc Phuong NP***.
* (with Chi Phan), ** (with Tuan), *** (with Nick Cox and Le Khac Quyet).
List of Published Reports and Links:
1. Cuc Phuong NP (Vietnam) mammal records. Link here.
D) LOGISTICS
Online Visa Application (before flying into the country): With USA and UK passports we applied online (in 2024) for 30-day visas at: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu . Processing time was three business days.
Immigration, Baggage and Customs: Immigration and baggage inspection at Hanoi airport (2024) was quick and straight forward.
Currency (2024 July 15): US$1 = 25,400 VND (Vietnamese Dong); it was around 21,000 in 2012.
ATMs (2024): The ATMs have space for 6-digit PINs. For cards with 4-digit PINs there are online reports suggesting you add two zeros at the front or end of your PIN but at HSBC my card worked when using the normal 4-digit PIN.
SIM Card: We used Viettel. SIM cards can be purchased at the airport but in Hanoi (July 2024) we obtained sim cards at the Viettel store located on the NW corner of Ho Hoan Kiem Lake (store address: 53 P. Luong Van Can). A 30-day package allowing up to 8 GB per day cost 250,000 VND ($10).
Ride-share App: GRAB was very useful. We also used Booking.com for airport transfers.
Motorbike rental: In Danang (2024) it was easy to rent a motorbike from the hotel.
Car rental: To rent a car you need a Vietnam Driver’s Licence.