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