Binh Thuan Ecosystems

Binh Thuan province has perhaps the most diverse collection of ecosystems in a single province. In less than 1 hour's drive from Phan Thiet District, you can reach immense gold, red and white sand dunes, enormous red sand canyons, mangrove marshes with incredible animal life, tropical rainforests, rocky mountains, islands, coral reefs, waterfalls, rivers, caves, exotic beaches, lakes, desert landscape with cactus and cobras, coconut groves and bamboo forests, plantations, dry scrub forests, brackish and freshwater marshlands and much more yet undiscovered.

Binh Thuan Province offers amazing birdlife, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, insects, spiders and scorpions, many bat species, primates and other mammals rarely seen but few have ever taken the time to find and observe them.

This area must be cherished and protected from pollution and over-exploitation. Be a responsible visitor. Don't litter. Support resorts and tour companies who dispose of their rubbish and waste water properly. Ask your hotel or guide about activites that support the environment - diving, hiking, bird watching. Eventually they will get the idea.

Flora and Fauna

At the beach itself you will not find a lot of wildlife. However, in the dunes are a variety of birds, snakes, lizards, insects, frogs and crabs. Of note are the giant milipedes and cobras! the Fairy Springs offers a glimps of wild flowers, butterflies, freshwater fish and crabs. At the water's edge, you can watch fishermen pull in their nets full of squid, octopus, cuddle fish, jellifish, fish, crabs, and on rare occasions, sea snakes.

Photos

• Local Wildlife Photos

Binh Thuan Desert & Environmental Concerns

• Environmental Issues an Increasing Priority for Development
• White Sand Dunes
• Environmental Concerns at Bau Trang
• Binh Thuan Desert

Binh Thuan Nature Reserves

• Hon Cau-Vinh Hao Proposed Marine Protected Area
• Kalon-Song Mao Nature Reserve
• Nui Ong Nature Reserve
• Phu Quy Island Proposed Marine Protected Area
• Ta Kou Mountain Nature Reserve

Maps

• Map of Nature Reserves in Binh Thuan Province
• Map of Nature Reserves in SE Vietnam

Sea Turtles in Local Market

11.10.09 Vietnamese news media recently reported that inspectors found a 35-year-old hawksbill turtle (Ertemochelys imbricata ) being slaughtered and for sale in Cau Ke Market (Binh Thuan Province). The turtle, which weighed about 100 kilograms, is of one of seven sea turtle species listed as endangered. We aren't entirely sure where Cau Ke is, but we are sad to say that sea turtles were commonly available in restaurants and markets until 5-10 years ago, when the supply died out due to over-hunting. Their lacquered carcasses can still be found, sold in shops as souvenirs, in cities like Vung Tau (pictured right, 2008), Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Hanoi.

Illegal Wildlife Confiscated at
Local Restaurant

27.10.08 Early this month we reported on Trang Golden restaurant on Ton Duc Thang Street in Phan Thiet, which was serving illegal wildlife to its customers. We are happy to report that thanks to the efforts of Education for Nature, Vietnam’s Forest Protection Department last week confiscated 15 bamboo rats and half a dozen wild snakes kept in captivity at the restaurant. The animals were released into the wild and FPD also issued a fine of 1,998,000 VND to the restaurant owner.

It is troubling to know that the restaurant—located in plain view, across the street from the provincial police headquarters--could be keeping so many live forest animals, and also serve other illegal wildlife, including wild deer, porcupine, crocodile, python, civet, mouse-deer, turtle, lizard and cobra… especially when one considers that this restaurant is one of many serving wildlife in Phan Thiet.

We applaud the work of Education for Nature and hope that visitors to the area will contact the hotline should they see any wild animals listed on restaurant menus or displayed in cages.