The Vietnam BirdRace 2026 wildlife photography competition will be held at Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai province, Vietnam, from May 8 to 10.
Photographers, conservation experts, researchers, and tourists from Vietnam and elsewhere are expected to come together for this distinctive event honoring the wonders of nature and advocating environmental preservation.
This year’s activities will include field competitions, exhibitions, seminars, and community exchanges, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Combining competition and nature observation
Participating teams of three to four persons are tasked with photographing as many wild bird species as possible throughout the official competition time.
Artistic quality is not required, but pictures must be good enough for species identification, ensuring authenticity and minimising disruption to natural habitats.
The competition aims to collect field data and promote ethical birdwatching tourism.
The prize pool exceeds VND250 million (US$9,493), including both team and individual categories, Nhan Dan newspaper reported.
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Vietnam BirdRace 2026 is anticipated to draw hundreds of photographers from all over the world, including renowned personalities in the field, which will help in boosting eco-tourism and environmental education in the national park and throughout Vietnam.
The location, Cat Tien National Park, is well-known for its forest and wetland ecosystems, and has long been regarded as a top birdwatching destination on a regional and global scale.
Vietnam BirdRace’s vision
Vietnam BirdRace is anticipated to develop beyond being a photography competition into a platform that links nature lovers both in Vietnam and abroad.
This platform will be leveraged to support biodiversity conservation and encourage sustainable tourism in Vietnam’s protected areas.
Vietnam BirdRace 2026 is the third season of this image-based bird recording platform in Vietnam, after events at Tram Chim National Park in 2024 and Bidoup Nui Ba National Park in 2025.
The Vietnam Wildlife Photography Club, Cat Tien National Park, BirdLife International, Wildtour, Vietnam’s first bird tour operator.
Several media, professional, and conservation partners collaborated to organize the 2026 event.
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