Trang chủLocated in the coastal estuary of the Red River Delta, Xuan Thuy National Park has long been known as an “international bird stop” on the East Asian-Australian migration route. With an area of over 7,100 hectares of wetland, it is an important stopover point for dozens of waterbird species, including many rare and globally endangered species such as the spoon-billed stork, the short-billed gull, and the spoon-billed sandpiper. Its unique mangrove ecosystem and abundant food sources have attracted 1,656 species of organisms, including 222 bird species.
According to the East Asian-Australian Migratory Bird Route, Xuan Thuy plays an irreplaceable role. Losing this stopover point could disrupt the thousands of kilometers journey of many bird species from Siberia to Australia. Therefore, protecting each tidal flat, mangrove thicket, and stream here is not only the responsibility of Vietnam but also has regional significance. Conservation efforts in Xuan Thuy are implemented comprehensively from the government to the local community. Local people have gradually changed their livelihoods: from destructive exploitation to sustainable aquaculture under the mangrove canopy, developing ecotourism, and linking economic benefits with nature conservation. These efforts have contributed to the restoration of over 110 hectares of mangrove forest in recent years, while also creating a “carbon sink” capable of absorbing more than 14 tons/ha/year, playing a crucial role in adapting to climate change.
According to statistics, Xuan Thuy currently has 1 plant species, 2 mammal species, 3 fish species, 6 reptile species, and 9 bird species listed in the Vietnamese Red Book; and also records 2 mammal species, 9 fish species, 4 reptile species, and 17 bird species as globally threatened. In particular, the Scirpus kimsonensis – endemic to Northern Vietnam – is still present in the wetland area, highlighting the unique value of the native ecosystem. Thanks to these outstanding values, in 1988 Xuan Thuy became the first Ramsar site in Vietnam and Southeast Asia; in 2004, it was recognized by UNESCO as the core area of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve. Recently, at the 36th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Environment, Xuan Thuy was again nominated as an ASEAN Heritage Park – an important step to affirm its role in the regional conservation network.
In the context of increasing urbanization, industrialization, and climate change putting pressure on coastal areas, the fact that Xuan Thuy has maintained its intact ecosystem is a testament to the resilience of nature and humanity. The birdsong returning here each migration season is a reminder that if we cherish it, nature is always ready to regenerate.