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Nighttime forest herping tour in Ho Chi Minh City.
For a long time, ecotourism activities such as trekking and hiking have been familiar to those who love to travel. Recently, herping tourism, which is closer to nature, has also attracted considerable attention, especially from foreign tourists who want to explore Vietnam's natural beauty.
Herping trips usually take place at night in the forests, with journeys spanning tens of kilometers.
Herping is a term derived from "Herpetology," the field of reptile and amphibian research. It refers to outdoor activities in dense forests aimed at searching for, observing, photographing, and recording reptiles and amphibians, especially snakes, in their natural habitats. Herping typically takes place at night, as most reptiles and amphibians are active during this time. However, some herping sessions are held during the day to search for diurnal snake species.
Herping guides must have good knowledge of reptiles and amphibians, and be able to observe and locate animals well in low light conditions.
Being a nature lover, Benjamin McShane (30 years old, from New Zealand) immediately connected with Viet Herping – a group of young people who regularly organize herping tours to raise funds for the reintroduction and conservation of snakes in Vietnam – on his first visit to Vietnam.
After two herping trips in Tuyen Quang and Hanoi, Benjamin continued his nocturnal exploration of the forest at Nui Dinh (Ho Chi Minh City) with guide Phan Tan Loc and two other reptile enthusiasts. The group rode motorbikes from the city center to Nui Dinh starting at noon. Waiting until nightfall, their herping trip began.
Equipped with basic gear including a flashlight, first-aid kit, and raincoat, Tan Loc led the visitor through forest trails often teeming with reptiles and amphibians. After walking more than 3 kilometers, the group encountered a red-tailed pit viper camouflaged and lying motionless on a small branch. Seeing his favorite snake, Benjamin observed it intently for quite some time. He was also instructed to interact indirectly with the animal using a snake-hook at a safe distance, as it is venomous.
However, venom is typically used by snakes for hunting and self-defense, so the animal will not actively attack humans unless disturbed or improperly interacted with.
Benjamin was guided by Tan Loc on how to safely photograph red-tailed pit vipers.
Despite having undertaken herping trips in over 35 countries, this was the first time Benjamin had seen a red-tailed pit viper.
Go and tell your conservation story.
Each herping trip typically lasts three days and two nights to maximize the chances of encountering as many reptile and amphibian species as possible, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the trip. However, weather and biodiversity density are the core factors that give herping guides and visitors the opportunity to find and observe these animals in their natural habitat.
However, snakes in particular, and reptiles and amphibians in general, are often associated with fear and the "better safe than sorry" mentality, leading to significant threats to their numbers in the wild. Despite this, for the past six years, the Viet Herping group of young people has tirelessly worked to spread the message of conservation for these animals that are often unfairly judged.
The team found a Malayan pit viper at the edge of the forest during their second herping night at Dinh Mountain.
Behind these ecotourism trips are tireless individuals who tirelessly search for, photograph, and provide accurate information about reptiles and amphibians in the dense forests that stretch across Vietnam.
“In the early days of snake hunting, the biggest challenge was the lack of funds. There were times when my friend and I traveled hundreds of kilometers to the forest with only 150,000 VND in our pockets for gas. Once we arrived, we slept in hammocks in the forest and then walked around searching for reptiles. When we finished, we drove back to the city with empty stomachs,” shared Nguyen Minh Phu, founder of the Viet Herping group.
Initially, Minh Phu and his teammates began these trips out of a love for snakes, a desire to provide information about them, help people understand them better, and realize that they, like other wild animals, deserve to be conserved.
After taking the photos, the group will release the animal back into the wild.
Then the trips continued, and the group of young people became more well-known. Among them were visitors from far away who wanted the group to guide them in exploring the reptile world in Vietnam's forests. Their connection with this special work blossomed from there. However, for Viet Herping, they are not just guides telling the stories of less-loved animals in nature, but also responsible young people striving to preserve a crucial link in the ecological balance – snakes.
With the profits earned from tourism, Viet Herping uses them to maintain snake conservation activities through the Viet Snake Rescuer project, aiming to reduce conflicts between humans and snakes in residential areas and support the reintroduction of the animals back to their natural habitat.
The group took a photo of a monitor lizard (a type of monitor lizard).
Things to note when participating in herping tours in Vietnam:
- For a herping trip to be safe, tourists not only need to be in good physical condition but also strictly follow the instructions of the tour guide when interacting with or observing snakes.
- Visitors are also prohibited from harming or taking animals out of their natural habitat for any purpose whatsoever.
Currently, herping tours in Vietnam mainly attract foreign tourists, with an average cost of around $1,800, which will vary depending on demand and the number of participants.
- Foreign tourists participating in herping tours through Viet Herping not only helps promote Vietnam's natural beauty to international friends but also contributes to conservation efforts. A portion of the tourism revenue will be used by Viet Herping to support the reception and release of snakes back into the wild, reducing conflicts between snakes and humans in residential areas.
