This is one of the best Field Herping Spots in the Southeast region. Nui Dinh is one of the best herping spots near Ho Chi Minh City. It boasts some of the highest biodiversity in the Southern region. So, when visiting Southern Vietnam, Nui Dinh is an essential choice if you're looking for a herping or wildlife tour. Herping and wildlife tours in Nui Dinh are generally best from July onwards each year, attracting thousands of tourists who come to enjoy it during their holidays.The mountain ranges in Vung Tau province are quite high and boast a diverse ecosystem, especially when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. When herping in these mountains during the rainy season, you'll experience cool, foggy weather with a touch of mystery. The area also offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, and reputable campsites, making it easy for ecotourists like us to find suitable accommodations and amenities.

Nui Dinh Mountain (red) and Thi Vai Mountain (Blue)

First Spot (red): Dinh Mountain is known as a large mountain range in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, one of the most biodiverse areas in the Southeast region of Vietnam. Located just a 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, Nui Dinh is a popular choice for weekend camping and hiking trips. Of course, with such high biodiversity, a reptile and amphibian field trip is not to be missed. The mountain is home to a variety of animals, not only reptiles and amphibians, but also birds such as owls, doves, monkeys. Viet Herping's reptile and amphibian field trips to Nui Dinh have taken place many times and have recorded many wonderful animals on this mountain.

Second Spot (blue): Thi Vai Mountain is a smaller mountain range located next to Nui Dinh. This mountain is also home to many different reptile and amphibian species. In terms of the ecosystem, it seems to be similar to Nui Dinh. In this area, there will usually be fewer people and it will be easier to encounter snakes like Oligodon (kukri snake) than in the Nui Dinh area.

I - Activities

Camping: In Viet Herping's ecotourism trips, camping activities are almost indispensable. Returning to the forest and enjoying the cool forest air is one of the special things that you will always experience when you join us. Our campsite is located within a protected area under strict management, ensuring a high level of safety along with complete and environmentally friendly camping services. During the day, we will learn how to set up tents together and prepare dry firewood for the BBQ at night (this is a service you can book). When it gets dark, we will enjoy a barbecue party before heading into the forest to carry out our herping.
Protecting the environment: Sometimes we also have morning garbage collection activities in collaboration with a Hoà Mình Club of young people from Ho Chi Minh City. We combine picking up trash with hiking and searching for the amazing animals of this place. In all of our ecotourism trips, protecting and helping the environment is always a top priority. Only through protection can we maintain the beauty of nature for generations to come. We usually prepare trash bags so that we can all work together to collect trash and protect the forest environment.
Field Herping: Our activities here will take place from morning to night, but we will definitely have a break for lunch before embarking on the night herping adventure. This place, in addition to its diverse herpetofauna, is also home to many other animals such as birds, pygmy slow lorises, and other primate species. When you join Viet Herping, you not only have a herpetology expert, but our guides can also teach you a lot about other animals.

When you arrive at a place with good biodiversity like this, you can find a variety of reptiles and amphibians, with the majority being venomous snakes. Below, I'll include pictures and some of the snake and amphibian species we've recorded living here.

Herpetofauna of Nui Dinh Mountain and Thi Vai Mountain:

Venomous snakes : Bungarus candidus, Calloselasma rhodostoma, Trimeresurus cf. macrops, Trimeresurus cf. rubeus, Naja kaouthia, Naja siamensis, Ophiophagus hannah,…

Non-venomous snakes: Lycodon davisonii, Lycodon laoensis, Coelognathus radiata, Ahaetulla prasina, Sibynophis collaris, Oligodon fasciolatus, Oligodon cinereus pallidocinctus, Oligodon sp,…

Species featured:
Oligodon cinereus pallidocinctus

Sibynophis collaris

Red Calloselasma rhodostoma