Xuân Thủy National Park
Xuân Thủy National Park
Xuân Thủy National Park is a coastal wetland area in Giao Thủy District, Nam Định Province, northern Vietnam. It covers about 71 square kilometers and sits near the mouth of the Red River.
What it is and why it matters
- It started as Xuân Thủy Wetland Nature Reserve and became a national park in 2003.
- It is part of the Red River Delta and a core zone of the Red River Biosphere Reserve.
- It was the first Ramsar wetland site in Southeast Asia (designated in 1989), recognized worldwide for being an important migratory bird habitat.
Key features
- The park protects mangrove forests, mudflats, and estuary habitats that support many species.
- It is home to about 250 bird species (150 migratory and 50 water birds), including endangered ones like the spoon-billed sandpiper and Nordmann’s greenshank. Around 65–75 black-faced spoonbills winter here.
- Other wildlife includes otters, Chinese white dolphins, finless porpoises, and various reptiles and insects.
- The core zone is about 7,100 hectares with three islets—Con Ngan, Con Lu, and Con Xanh. The buffer zone covers about 8,000 hectares.
People, livelihoods, and pressures
- About 47,000 people live in the park’s surrounding areas (Buffer Zone), mostly farming and fishing communities.
- Most families rely on rice farming and growing aquaculture products like shrimp and crabs. Mangroves provide important income, but poverty remains a challenge.
- Pressures include land and water use conflicts, overfishing, pond construction, and illegal hunting.
Conservation and community programs
- The park promotes conservation of birds, mangroves, and the wetlands, while encouraging sustainable livelihoods.
- Projects help communities develop new income sources, such as the Mushroom Club (growing mushrooms) and a Honeybee Group, to reduce pressure on protected areas.
- Ecotourism and education are being developed to raise awareness and provide sustainable income.
- In the Core Zone, human activity is not allowed to protect wildlife and habitats. In the Buffer Zone, activities are managed to balance people and nature.
Management and challenges
- Since 2003, the park has expanded staff, built facilities, and started a natural museum to improve management and protection.
- Coordinating among local authorities, state agencies, NGOs, and communities remains a challenge.
- Ongoing efforts focus on strengthening institutional capacity, reducing illegal activities, and promoting sustainable uses like clam farming and other livelihoods.
- The park aims to expand ecotourism, improve waste management, and continue research to better protect the ecosystem.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 00:44 (CET).