Tours

DAY 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive in Tan Son Nhat Airport - Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Have a welcome dinner. Escape the bustle of the city, cruise along Saigon River and enjoy a buffet dinner on a dragon boat with entertainment and music.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City (D)

DAY 2: Saigon- Cat Tien

Depart by vehicle from Saigon and arrive at the park before lunch. Stay at the park headquarters in rooms with air-conditioning and hot showers. We'll eat lunch at the park then prepare for a three-hour trek to Ben Cu Rapids. This offers great opportunity to see a group of Hornbills. We trek quietly through the jungle to Uncle Dong Tree, late noon is the time to see birds coming home to roost. That night, a jeep equipped with a spot light will take us night spotting. We drive slowly from headquarters to Nui Tuong- Elephant Mountain area. If we're lucky, we may spot a wild cat. Our guide will help to spot indigenous wildlife. Overnight in the park's headquarters. Bungalow accommodation.
Overnight at Cat Tien (B, L, D)

DAY 3: Cat Tien

A full day of bird watching begins with an early start along the river road from headquarters on foot. We take a trek to Crocodile Lake, looking for visiting waders and perhaps a glimpse of a Green Peafowl. Interesting species to look out for include Germain's Peacock-Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Green Bar-bellied Pitta, Grey-faced Tit-Babbler, Silver Pheasant, Green Imperial Pigeon and Mountain Hawk-Eagle.
Overnight at Cat Tien (B, L, D)

DAY 4: Cat Tien-Dalat

Up early, we take a Jeep and drive through a forest to Bird Lake. Species that can be seen here include Green Peafowl and many other sea-birds, Bronze-winged Jacana, Lesser Adjutant and Purple Heron. It is interesting to look out for Red and Black and Banded Broadbill, Orange-breasted Trogon and Pale-headed Woodpecker and others. Afternoon coach trip to Dalat. It is a scenic drive through tea and coffee plantations to the cooler climate of the former colonial hill station, Dalat.
Overnight in Dalat. (B, L, D)

 

DAY 5: Dalat

Up early, then a boat trip takes us through Tuyen Lam Lake and begin bird watching at Elephant Mountain. The evergreen forests are home to many interesting species of bird: including Minivets, Cuckoo-shrikes, Asian Barbets, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Mugimaki Flycatchers, Black Drongos, Ospreys... Picnic lunch in forest, followed by an afternoon trek to Pinhatt Mountain for more bird watching.
Overnight in Da Lat. (B, L)


DAY 6: Dalat

A full day of bird watching at Lang Bian Mountain. It is Dalat's other hotspot for birdwatchers. Drive to the side of the mountain, where a track leads us up to areas of evergreen pine forest and more walking to the jungle. This is the place to see two of Vietnam's endemic species, the Collared Laughing Thrush and the Vietnamese Greenfinch. Other interesting species here include Red-vented Barbet, Spotted Forktail, Cutia, Black-hooded, White-cheeked and Chinese Laughing Thrush...Late noon transfer back to hotel.
Overnight in Dalat. (B, L)

 

DAY 7: Dalat-Hue-Bach Ma

Transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Upon arrival, our guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer to Bach Ma National Park.
Overnight in Bach Ma (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Bach Ma National Park

Bach Ma National Park is located in Central Vietnam and is home to 233 species of birds and 55 species of mammals. Many Indochinese species can be found in the park such as the Red Collared Woodpecker, Blue-Rumped Pitta, the Bar Backed and the Rufous Throated Partridge. You may discover two special birds, only found in Vietnam - the Bar Bellied Pitta and Blue-Rumped Pitta.
Overnight in Bach Ma (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Bach Ma National Park

Full day bird watching at Bach Ma National Park.
Overnight in Bach Ma (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Bach Ma-Hue-Hanoi

Transfer to Hue Airport for a direct flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi, welcome and transfer to the hotel for the night.
Overnight in Hanoi (B)

DAY 11: Hanoi-Xuan Thuy

Our driver will pick you up and take you to Xuan Thuy National Park for two days of bird watching.
Overnight in Xuan Thuy (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Xuan Thuy

To date, more than 200 bird species have been recorded at Xuan Thuy. The site is the most important staging and and wintering area for migratory waterbirds in the coastal zone of the Red River Delta. It regularly supports large numbers of commoner migratory waterbird species, including Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Eurasian Curlew. Many rare species can also be found at Xuan Thuy, including the largest wintering population of Black-faced Spoonbill in Vietnam, with around 60 birds each winter in recent years. Other rare species that regularly occur at the site include Saunders's Gull, Spotted Greenshank, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Asian Dowitcher. In addition to its importance for waterbirds, Xuan Thuy is also an important migratory stop-over for non-waterbirds, with large numbers of passerines and cuckoos passing through the site during the spring and autumn migrations.
Overnight in Xuan Thuy (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Xuan Thuy

Full day bird watching at Xuan Thuy.
Overnight in Xuan Thuy (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Xuan Thuy-Cuc Phuong National Park

Drive to Cuc Phuong National Park. The birding is good at Cuc Phuong with over 300 species recorded in the park. Endangered mammals such as Indochinese Tiger, Clouded Leopard and the rare Delacour Langur also inhabit the forests of Cuc Phuong though they are seldom seen. Other possible bird species include Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Ruddy Kingfisher, Silver-breasted Broadbill and White-tailed Flycatcher. Cuc Phuong is an area of limestone hills covered with large tracts of primeval rainforest. Key bird species here include Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Bar-bellied, Blue-rumped and Eared Pitta, White-winged Magpie, Limestone Wren-Babbler, Fujian Niltava and Pied Falconet.
Overnight at Cuc Phuong (B, L, D)

DAY 15: Cuc Phuong National Park

Full day bird watching at Cuc Phuong National Park. Overnight at Cuc Phuong (B, L, D)

DAY 16: Cuc Phuong National Park

Full day bird watching at Cuc Phuong National Park. Overnight at Cuc Phuong (B, L, D)

DAY 17: Cuc Phuong National Park

Full day bird watching at Cuc Phuong National Park. Overnight at Cuc Phuong (B, L, D)

DAY 18: Cuc Phuong -Hanoi

A final morning of birding before meeting up with the driver and heading back to Hanoi. Relax in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L)

DAY 19: Hanoi-Departure

Free at leisure until transfer to Noi Bai Airport for onward flight. End of tour. (B)