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.

We visit the photographic hides at Cat Tien National Park. Nearly-endemic Germain’s peacock-pheasant is readily seen, along with other specialties such as Siamese fireback or green-legged partridge.