The Fourth Bulgarian-Vietnamese Zoological Expedition of the NMNHS

On 25 October 2026, a team of scientists from the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia (NMNHS): Assoc. Prof. Dr Rostislav Bekchiev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nikolay Simov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Mario Langourov, Dr Svetlozara Kazandzhieva, Sen. Assist. Dr Ilya Acosta, and assoc. Dr Kaloyan Ivanov from Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, along with researchers from the Regional Natural History Museum Plovdiv — Kristian Vladov and Tsvetelina Petrova, departed for Vietnam. The team was welcomed by their hosts from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Prof. Dr Vuong Tan Tu, Dr Quang Tuan, Dr Thai Pham, and Vu Thanh Trung.

This year, the researchers aim to conduct observations in Ba Bể National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Ba Bể) in northern Vietnam and to study the rich biodiversity of the still under-researched Pa Koang Lake, located in the northeastern part of the country, near the border with Laos.

Over the coming week, the team will visit various habitats within Ba Bể National Park to investigate the diversity of bat and invertebrate fauna. Spanning an area of ​​10,048 hectares, the park features massive karst formations, dense tropical evergreen forests, and the country’s largest natural freshwater lake — Ba Bể Lake. Designated as a Heritage Park by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and recognized as a Ramsar wetland, the park features impressive landscapes of exceptional conservation value.

The Fourth Bulgarian-Vietnamese Zoological Expedition, organized by the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia is financially supported through a bilateral cooperation program between the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

The expedition is being carried out in full compliance with all regulatory requirements and holds all necessary permits for the collection, study, and export of zoological specimens; it will continue until November 10, 2026.