Exotic species and birds reminiscent of European forests co-occur in central Vietnam at Mount Lang Bian. Range-restricted treecreepers, nuthatches and tits share this forest with sunbirds, babblers and laughingthrushes.

Vietnam’s capital city gardens are a passerines haven. We bagged gray-throated martins, sooty-headed bulbuls and gray-breasted prinia on a Red River island and ‘commixtus’ Asian tit in the Botanical Gardens.

Bukit Fraser is a prime highland spot just 100 km away from Kuala Lumpur. A couple of foggy, rainy days offered terrific views of Atlas moth, red-headed trogon, fire-tufted barbet and other targets.