While Vietnam is not the first place that comes to mind when seeking out wildlife experiences, it does have its fair share of unique and interesting species. With tropical rainforests, jungle, swamps and rivers, Vietnam has a great deal of biodiversity. Bear in mind you do have to venture far off the beaten track to see most of these animals, with a rise in population meaning most prefer to stay hidden in the peace and quiet.
While some are wild, Water Buffalo are for the most part, working animals in Vietnam. Farmers in rural Vietnam use them for cultivating the rice paddies and you will often see them at the side of the road if you are driving through the countryside. They played a huge part in the growth of agriculture in Vietnam and are important to locals – almost treated as a member of the family.
These monkeys, named so because of their short stumped nose, live in mountain forests and are found in rural, northern Vietnam, close to the border of China. These animals are incredibly territorial and will use their loud vocals to scare away anything that poses a threat.
These beautiful and unique looking starfish are found in shallow waters off the coast of Vietnam. Their odd, black spiky horns are there to scare off potential predators however cause no real harm.
Known as the mossy frog due to its unique green and brown spotted skin that resembles moss. They live in abundance in northern Vietnam, found in heavily forested and marshy areas like jungles and caves. While they have a very special appearance, they are very hard to spot due to their great camouflaging skills!
One of the largest snakes in the world, the Burmese python is found around southeast Asia in tropical climates. Often found near water, they are dark coloured with brown markings. Don’t panic just yet though, they are very fearful of humans and are rarely seen, mostly keeping to themselves in the jungle. Due to their unique markings, they are unfortunately popular in the black market with their skin being used for fashion items.
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