Vietnam is a native country of three flying fox taxa: Pteropus cf. condorensis/hypomelanus condorensis, P. lylei, and P. vampyrus. Prior to 2004, these bat species were widespread and common within the central and southern region of the country. However, over the past ten years, their range has reduced significantly so that they are now known only from small sites in five provinces within the Mekong Delta region. Currently, there are only two permanent roosting sites in Ho Chi Minh City and Soc Trang province.

Flying foxes in Vietnam are critically threatened by a variety of factors, including habitat loss and roost disturbance, and they face national extinction in the absence of urgent conservation action. The taxonomic status of the species in Vietnam is also unclear and requires evaluation. Through the planned surveys with relevant actions, this project aims to fill in knowledge gaps by providing much-needed taxonomic confirmation, colony size, ecological data and threat assessment for practical conservation of each species. It will contribute to capacity building of Vietnamese wildlife conservation management by training local rangers in conservation field techniques for identifying the species, monitoring colony abundance, and protecting roost sites from disturbance. Its results will also contribute to research and conservation of the bat fauna of Vietnam, and play an important role in general biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.