Young nature enthusiasts redefine image of snakes, reptiles through forest expeditions in Vietnam
A group of young nature lovers from Viet Herping has spent the past six years exploring forests across Vietnam to find, film, and protect snakes and other reptiles.
Their goal is to change the negative view of these animals and show that they deserve care and conservation too.
When it comes to snakes and reptiles and amphibians as a whole, many people tend to express fear or view them as 'cold-blooded' creatures full of danger.
The group of young people rides motorbikes to the forest area around Dinh Mountain in Ho Chi Minh City, then hiking through the forest to find snakes and many other reptiles.
For over six years, the group of young people from Viet Herping has been conducting herping trips—trekking through forests from Dinh Mountain in Ho Chi Minh City to various natural jungles across Vietnam.
They want to spread a conservation message about these often-misunderstood animals. To Viet Herping, even 'cold-blooded' species deserve love and protection, just like any other form of wildlife.
Despite a strong fear of snakes, 21-year-old Nguyen Minh Thong signed up for a trip in the hope of overcoming his phobia and learning to love these animals more.
Thong shared that during his first trip, he was terrified. But the more he went out with the group, the more he enjoyed walking for hours in the forest to find snakes.
“It felt like hunting for treasure,” Thong noted.
The Malayan pit viper is a venomous snake. It has a brown or reddish-brown color, measures about 0.2 to one meter in length, and weighs between 100 and 2,000 grams. This species often lies curled up in dry leaves, making it very hard to spot.
These expeditions attract not only young Vietnamese but also international travelers.
Benjamin McShane, a 30-year-old from New Zealand, shared that snakes have always fascinated him. On his first visit to Vietnam, he connected with Viet Herping to see these animals in their natural habitat.
"I had a memorable experience, especially when I saw a white-lipped pit viper in the wild for the first time. Many people fear snakes, but if you go with someone knowledgeable and experienced, it can change your perspective—they’re actually beautiful and fascinating," McShane said.
The young group releases snakes back into the wild.
Nguyen Minh Phu, 20, the founder of Viet Herping, explained that snakes do not usually attack humans unless provoked. Their venom is typically used for hunting or self-defense.
With proper understanding and approach, snakes are far less dangerous than most people think.
Beyond storytelling and exploration, the group is also committed to conservation through their project Viet Snake Rescuer. This initiative helps relocate and release snakes back into the wild, supporting residents in avoiding human-snake conflicts in populated areas.
A Malayan pit viper hunts for prey.
A male white-lipped pit viper is found during a herping trip at Dinh Mountain in Ho Chi Minh City.
In addition to spreading love for snakes, both local and international members of the Viet Herping group also raise funds for reptile conservation through the Viet Snake Rescuer project.
Nguyen Minh Thong is guided on how to safely take a photo with a Malayan pit viper. The trip helped him develop a newfound appreciation for snakes.
Thanh Ha - Bui Nhi / Tuoi Tre News