This species is associated with hilly evergreen forest and has been observed both on the banks of rocky streams and on leaf litter away from water (Lathrop et al. 1998, Stuart 2005, Bain et al. 2007). Males of this species have been documented calling in September in Viet Nam, including one from a burrow under mud and leaf litter (Lathrop et al. 1998). Much of the species' reproductive biology remains unknown, however it presumably breeds in streams by larval development, as do other Leptobrachium for which the reproductive strategy is known. Habitat in a considerable portion of the species' range has been degraded by conversion to agricultural land (Meyfroidt and Lambin 2008, Sodhi et al. 2009 Meyfroidt et al. 2013), and some of the type series were collected from a forest in Gia Lai Province, Viet Nam, that had had all of its understory cut and mostly removed (Lathrop et al. 1998).

This species is currently known only from between approximately 650–1,400 m Asl in Gia Lai and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces, central Viet Nam (Lathrop et al. 1998, Bain et al. 2007), and Xe Kong Province, southern Laos (Stuart 1999, Stuart 2005). These are unlikely to represent the actual limits of the species' range as similar habitat and elevations to those in the species' known localities extend into adjacent and intervening parts of both countries. Further surveys in these areas may uncover its presence there, therefore its range has been projected beyond known sites to include these areas of suitable habitat. The species' estimated EOO is 42,725 km², which represents 11 threat-defined locations.

This species is known from Xe Sap National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos (Stuart 2005). Considerable portions of approximately eight additional protected areas are included within the species' predicted range; it very likely occurs in some of these also. In order to ensure the species' long-term survival, the lack of data must be addressed; research should be carried out to determine its true distribution, relative abundance, natural history, and threats.