A boat trip down the Saigon River is an atmospheric way to reach Vam Sat, as skyscrapers and urban sprawl slowly give way to fields and then to low-lying mangrove swamps. Adventurous travelers can also join a bike tour to pedal here 1-way from Ho Chi Minh City (powered transfers back are essential). You can also ride a sampan, admire the flying foxes in Bat Swamp (Dam Doi), try fishing for crabs, or watch the spectacular bird life.
About 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vam Sat is part of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. The easiest way to reach it from Ho Chi Minh City is by joining a tour; boats from Can Gio start from the Dan Xay Bridge.
Bird-watchers should plan to visit Vam Sat during the northern hemisphere winter (roughly December–March), when migrating birds escape the cold. Whatever your reason for visiting, avoid weekends and the Tet New Year holiday for a quieter experience.
With three very different climates in North, Central, and South Vietnam, Vietnam is a great choice for bird-watchers. In the south, besides Vam Sat, try Cat Tien National Park, home to over 300 species including rare partridges and pheasants; in the north, try Cuc Phuong National Park, with woodpeckers, hornbills, and more; in the central highlands, Kon Ka Kinh National Park makes a great off-the-path choice.
