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Spanning 1,500 hectares, the Gao Giong melaleuca forest, with 1,200 hectares of melaleuca trees, is home to over 100 species of birds. In addition to forest cultivation and resource extraction, Gao Giong is also a hub for ecotourism. Located 145 km from Ho Chi Minh City, this destination offers visitors an immersive experience with its vast melaleuca forests and diverse flora, such as water lilies, floating ferns, and bamboo, all typical of the Dong Thap Muoi region.
Stork nests are dense on the cajuput trees.
The treetops of Gao Giong are densely populated with the nests of the endangered Asian Openbill Stork.
The flood season in the Mekong Delta starts around August and lasts until November. Water from the upper Mekong River gradually flows into Vietnam, nourishing the land for months. As the waters rise, plants thrive and aquatic life flourishes, creating the perfect conditions for rare bird species to nest and reproduce.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of Asian Openbill Storks, a species listed in the Red Data Book, call Gao Giong home.
Alongside the blooming lotus and water lilies, shrimp, fish, crabs, and snails thrive in the flooded ponds, providing an abundant food source for the birds.
Visitors come to Gao Giong to experience nature firsthand and are particularly captivated by the large numbers of birds and storks.
"We paddled along the river, listening to the birds sing. The serenity was incredible," one visitor shared.
The most populous bird species in Gao Giong is the Asian Openbill Stork, also known as the Nhan Stork. Their nests are large, with male storks continually gathering branches to build and reinforce them.
A pair of Openbill Storks on their nest. After finding suitable branches, the storks break them off and bring them back to carefully arrange the nest.
The Oriental Darter, also known as the Snakebird, chooses separate areas to build its nests.
With glossy black feathers, long necks, sharp beaks, and webbed feet, the Oriental Darter is well-adapted to life in the waterways. They hunt along canals, bask in the sun on trees near water, and in the melaleuca forests.
A pair of Great Cormorants playing near their nest. As they reach breeding age, the feathers on their heads develop silvery streaks. The chicks are born with white down, which eventually turns black as they mature.
The nests of Asian Openbill Storks are closely clustered on the treetops of the melaleuca forest.
After the breeding season, the melaleuca trees often appear barren, stripped of branches and leaves by the birds for nesting. After a year or two, the birds will move to a new area to begin the next breeding cycle
A peaceful morning scene at Gao Giong melaleuca forest.
