VN017
Xuan Thuy


Country/territory: Vietnam

IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii (2002)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 12,000 ha

BirdLife International in Vietnam
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2008 unfavourable medium high
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2002 baseline)
Xuan Thuy Nature Reserve is situated in the coastal zone of the Red River Delta, at the mouth of the main channel of the Red River, known as the Ba Lat River. The southern boundary is formed by the Vop River. The site comprises three islands and intervening areas of intertidal mudflats. Ngan island, the largest island, consists mainly of aquacultural ponds, most of which contain mangrove. Lu island consists of a large sandy area, as well as coastal marshes and a small area of aquacultural ponds. Xanh island, the smallest island, is a thin sandy island, which is still increasing in size as a result of deposition of sediment carried by the Red River. This island together with parts of Lu island, is submerged at high tide.

Key biodiversity
The site is an important staging and wintering area for migraory waterbirds. During surveys in 1988 and 1994, more than 20,000 waterbirds were observed. During the spring of 1996, it was estimated that 33,000 shorebirds passed through the nature reserve.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Xuan Thuy. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/xuan-thuy-iba-vietnam on 19/03/2024.