Xuan Thuy National Park

Xuan Thuy sits on the mudflats and mangrove at the mouth of the Red River and was designated in 1989 as the first Ramsar site in Vietnam and in South East Asia. It matters because of position: it is a stopover on the East Asian-Australasian flyway, and tens of thousands of waders and waterbirds use it through the northern winter, including black-faced spoonbill and Saunders's gull, both of which are globally threatened. The park is also worked - aquaculture ponds, clam beds and mangrove planting run alongside the protection, and the tension between the two is the site's continuing management problem.

Background

The park lies in Giao Thủy District, 150 km south-east of Hanoi, within the Hong River Biosphere Reserve. On 2 January 1989 an area of 12,000 hectares at the Red River mouth became the 50th Ramsar site worldwide, and the former Xuân Thủy Wetland Nature Reserve became a national park on 2 January 2003. Con Lu, the smallest of its three islets, keeps growing as the river lays down alluvium. Some 250 bird species occur here, 9 of them endangered, such as Nordmann's greenshank and the spoon-billed sandpiper. The black-faced spoonbill is the park's symbol, and the 65-75 seen in the migratory season are about 5% of a world population of about 1000.

Source: Wikipedia, "Xuân Thủy National Park"

Highlights

• Vietnam's first Ramsar site - designated in 1989.
• A flyway stopover - tens of thousands of waders in winter.
• Black-faced spoonbill and Saunders's gull - among the threatened species.
• Aquaculture inside the park - alongside the protection.

When to go

November to March for the migration. A full day.

Practical notes

Birding needs a scope and a boat, and the mudflats are viewed at distance. Facilities are basic. The aquaculture is visible and is part of the picture. Access to some sectors needs arranging with the park.

Nearby

Nam Dinh is inland; the Red River delta runs north and south.

Key facts