Tourists often visit Da Nang for its familiar attractions: clear blue beaches, proximity to Hoi An ancient town, diverse cuisine, and vibrant nightlife. However, according to Andrew Sun, a writer for the South China Morning Post, the city's natural experiences are often underestimated. After trekking across Son Tra Peninsula and encountering red-shanked douc langurs, Andrew suggests visitors explore this pristine conservation area when in the central coastal city.

During the trek, Andrew was accompanied by guide Chu Duc Huy from Next Continent, a company specializing in wildlife consulting and nature tourism in Vietnam. The guide noted that the ideal time to visit Son Tra Peninsula is after the rainy season, starting from February. In April, approximately 4,000 butterfly species emerge.

Paragliders fly over Son Tra Peninsula. Photo: Nguyen Dong

Separated from Da Nang city center, the roads on Son Tra Peninsula offer sea views, providing visitors opportunities to observe the rare red-shanked douc langurs. The nature reserve spans about 60 km2, with a famous landmark being the 67 m-tall Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue at Linh Ung Pagoda, completed in 2010.

Son Tra has limited hiking trails to protect the habitats of its diverse wildlife, including over 100 bird species, numerous butterflies, deer, snakes, wild monkeys, and especially the red-shanked douc langurs. Globally, there are approximately 3,000 red-shanked douc langurs remaining, with 2,000 residing on Son Tra Peninsula. This draws nature enthusiasts to the reserve.

According to Andrew, trekking Monkey Mountain on Son Tra Peninsula requires good physical fitness. The hike covers approximately 10 km along a shared road with vehicles, leading to a mountain peak 700 m high. Andrew combined traveling by car on winding mountain passes with walking on forest trails. Along the trekking route, several distinctive orange-colored iguanas were seen basking in the sun on the road dividers.

The 67 m-tall Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue at Linh Ung Pagoda on Son Tra Peninsula, shrouded in mist. Photo: Nguyen Dong

The SCMP writer noted that Son Tra Peninsula retains its pristine character due to limited over-tourism development. Some trekking routes are temporarily closed due to landslides following major storms. Camping is currently prohibited to prevent forest fires.

Resorts within Son Tra Peninsula's conservation area regularly organize short guided treks to showcase the flora and fauna on their grounds. Around the premises, ancient banyan and fig trees serve as primary food sources, attracting red-shanked douc langurs. The ideal times for visitors to observe these primates are early morning or late afternoon, when the weather is cooler.

On their return trek in the afternoon, Andrew's group "luckily encountered" a family of douc langurs. On a branch, an alpha male langur rested, while females and young ones foraged on higher branches. When the guide signaled, the group quietly approached the langur family, which paid little attention to the human presence.

Son Tra Peninsula is currently home to the world's largest wild population of red-shanked douc langurs. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Unlike long-tailed macaques, which are often accustomed to humans and seek food from tourists, red-shanked douc langurs are shy herbivores, feeding on leaves and fruits on high branches, with no tendency to approach humans for food.

These langurs typically move in family groups. This particular group included several young males constantly swinging from tree to tree. The adult male remained still, identifiable by its white beard, black hands, red lower legs, and long white tail. This distinct coloration leads naturalists to classify them among the world's most morphologically unique primates.

To explore Son Tra's ecosystem more deeply, visitors can choose forest trekking routes suitable for their fitness levels. The most challenging route is an 8 km steep path connecting from Yet Kieu road directly to Ban Co Peak. A gentler option is a 3 km walk leading to an 800-year-old heritage banyan tree.

Mai Phuong (According to SCMP)