Tam Dao national park **
Biodiversity values
According to the investment plan, Tam Dao supports 21,982 ha of natural forest and 1,351 ha of plantation forest. The natural forest is of two main types: lowland evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen forest. Lowland evergreen forest is distributed at elevations between 700 and 800 m. The diversity of tree species in this forest type is high, with the Fabaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Meliaceae, Burseraceae, Myrtaceae and Anacardiaceae families being well represented. This forest type is heavily degraded. Lower montane evergreen forest is distributed above 800 m. Members of the Dipterocarpaceae family are almost entirely absent from this forest type, which is dominated by species in the Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Magnoliaceae, Aceraceae, Theaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Sapotaceae and Ericaceae families. Also in this forest type, a number of conifer species are present, such as Decussocarpus fleuryi, Amentotaxus argotaenia, Podocarpus imbricatus and Fokienia hodginsii. In addition to the two main forest types, Tam Dao National Park supports 669 ha of elfin forest, dominated by species in the Ericaceae and Theaceae families. During field surveys conducted by FIPI in preparation of the investment plan, 490 species of vascular plant, 58 species of mammal, 158 species of bird, 46 species of reptile and 19 species of amphibian were recorded. Many of these species are listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam. One of the most notable species to occur at Tam Dao National Park is Vietnamese Salamander (Paramesotriton deloustali), a globally threatened species, endemic to northern Vietnam. Tam Dao National Park supports some of the highest levels of recorded insect diversity in Vietnam. Although this may partly reflect the high levels of survey effort at Tam Dao compared with other sites.
Bird fauna - Birding
About 100 species have been recorded at Tam Dao, specialities include Purple and Green Cochoas, Chestnut Bulbul, Grey Laughingthrush, Coral-billed and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers and Greater Rufous-headed and Short-tailed Parrotbills. Winter visitors that may turn up here between December and March include Black-breasted, Japanese, Eyebrowed and Grey-backed Thrush and Fujian Niltava.
Most highlights
Grey Laughingthrush, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Green and Purpple Cochoas, and Short-tailed Parrotbill
Birding routes
The route from Tam Dao town, which lies within the national park, to Rung Rinh has long been the favoured birding route (known as the 'Contour Trail' or 'Water Tank Trail'). Short-tailed Parrotbill and Blue-naped Pitta can be seen along this route
Television Tower Trail: Walking up the 500 or so steps to the television tower above Tam Dao town, birders may encounter Grey Laughingthrush, Chestnut Bulbul, and, if they are fortunate, Green Cochoa. Be warned: this trail becomes very crowded with noisy students on weekends.
The route to Nung village from behind the park headquarters is a good walk through forest, which may yield Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Black-throated Laughingthrush. Note that permission is required from the national park to walk this route.
Other small trails around the foot of the mountain and along the road to Tam Dao town can turn up Spot-necked Babbler.
Transportation
Car or motorbike. About 60 km from Hanoi.
Accommodations
A famous tourism site, numerous hotels, guesthouses and restaurants
Tam Dao National Park
1. Chinese Francolin
2. Bar-backed Partridge
3. Grey Peacock Pheasant
4. Yellow-legged Buttonquail
5. White-browed Piculet
6. Greater Yellownape
7. Bay Woodpecker
8. Red-vented Barbet
9. Green-eared Barbet
10. Golden-throated Barbet
11. Red-headed Trogon
12. Ruddy Kingfisher
13. Black-capped Kingfisher
14. Large Hawk Cuckoo
15. Indian Cuckoo
16. Drongo Cuckoo
17. Asian Koel
18. Greater Coucal
19. Lesser Coucal
20. White-throated Needletail
21. Brown-backed Needletail
22. Asian Palm Swift
23. Mountain Scops Owl
24. Collared Owlet
25. Pin-tailed Green Pigeon
26. White-breasted Waterhen
27. Oriental Honey-buzzard
28. Crested Serpent Eagle
29. Crested Goshawk
30. Little Heron
31. Silver-breasted Broadbill
32. Long-tailed Broadbill
33. Tiger Shrike
34. Brown Shrike
35. Grey-backed Shrike
36. Common Green Magpie
37. Ratchet-tailed Treepie
38. Black-naped Oriole
39. Maroon Oriole
40. Black-winged Cuckooshrike
41. Black Drongo
42. Ashy Drongo
43. Crow-billed Drongo
44. Spangled Drongo
45. Black-naped Monarch
46. Asian Paradise-flycatcher
47. Blue Whistling Thrush
48. Siberian Thrush
49. Eyebrowed Thrush
50. Dark-sided Flycatcher
51. Asian Brown Flycatcher
52. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
53. White-gorgeted Flycatcher
54. Hill Blue Flycatcher
55. Siberian Blue Robin
56. Oriental Magpie Robin
57. Green Cochoa
58. Barn Swallow
59. Striated Swallow
60. Red-whiskered Bulbul
61. Sooty-headed Bulbul
62. Puff-throated Bulbul
63. Chestnut Bulbul
64. Black Bulbul
65. Rufescent Prinia
66. Slaty-bellied Tesia
67. Brown/Russet Bush Warbler
68. Lanceolated Warbler
69. Thick-billed Warbler
70. Mountain Tailorbird
71. Common Tailorbird
72. Radde's Warbler
73. Yellow-browed Warbler
74. Eastern Crowned Warbler
75. Golden-spectacled Warbler
76. Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush
77. Grey Laughingthrush
78. Black-throated Laughingthrush
79. Large Scimitar Babbler
80. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
81. Red-billed Scimitar Babbler
82. Streaked Wren Babbler
83. Eyebrowed Wren Babbler
84. Golden Babbler
85. Grey-throated Babbler
86. Spot-necked Babbler
87. Striped Tit Babbler
88. Chestnut-capped Babbler
89. Silver-eared Mesia
90. White-browed Shrike Babbler
91. Grey-cheeked Fulvetta
92. Striated Yuhina
93. Black-chinned Yuhina
94. White-bellied Yuhina
95. Plain Flowerpecker
96. Crimson Sunbird
97. Olive-backed Pipit
98. Chestnut Bunting