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Day 1: Arrive in HANOI (D)
Meet at Noi Bai International Airport. Drive to Ha noi (32 km/30 min).
Have a dinner, go for a walk and enjoy Ha Noi at night by yourself.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 2: HANOI - CUC PHUONG (B)
Pick up to Ninh Binh. Visit the first national park to be
established in Vietnam, 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 in Cuc Phuong.
Day 3: CUC PHUONG - HA NOI (B)
A full day’s birding on the trails of Cuc Phuong. 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. Transfer back to Ha Noi. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 4: HA NOI - TAM DAO (B)
Depart to Tam Dao National Park. There are several good
trails in the hills above the town, the Water Tank Trail and the Radio
Transmitter Trail in particular are normally quite productive. Species
to look out for here include the Grey Laughingthrush, Chestnut Bulbul,
Black-chinned Yuhina and Fork-tailed Sunbird. Overnight in Tam Dao.
Day 5: TAM DAO (B)
Another full day to explore the forest above Tam Dao. Winter
visitors that are possible here include Black-breasted Thrush, Japanese
Thrush and Fujian Niltava. Overnight in Tam Dao.
Day 6: TAM DAO - HA NOI - HUE - BACH MA (B)
On early back to Hanoi from Tam Dao, a hill station an hour
and a half by road. The car pick up directly to airport to catch the
flight to Hue in central Vietnam. On arrival at Hue Airport follows the
coast for 45km south down Highway One before turning inland on the road
that leads to Bach Ma National Park, 20km away. Arrive in Bach Ma, the
driver and car return to Hue and transfer by park vehicle to the summit
guest house. The road from the park entrance to the park guesthouse near
the summit is very scenic with sweeping vistas of undisturbed rainforest
and the coastal plain. The park accommodation is in renovated colonial
villas and the ruins of once grand holiday homes and hotels are
scattered along the trails from this point up to the summit. There are
many good trails for birders and for non-birders alike with several
waterfalls and small lake. Overnight in Bach Ma.
Day 7: BACH MA (B)
Bach Ma National Park is a very well-run operation and
knowledgeable park guides can be hired if required. Over 330 species of
bird have been recorded at Bach Ma and specialities include the Annam
Partridge, Crested Argus, Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo, Blyth’s
Kingfisher, Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Sultan Tit. Overnight in Bach Ma.
Day 8: BACH MA (B)
Another full day to explore the trails of Bach Ma. Other
desirable species include Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pitta,
Red-collared Woodpecker and White-winged Magpie. Overnight in Bach Ma.
Day 9: BACH MA - HUE - HO CHI MINH City(D)
There is time for some early morning birding before meeting
up with the driver and transferring to Hue Airport for the lunchtime
flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer for
hotel check - in. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in
HCM City.
Day 10: HO CHI MINH City - CAT TIEN (B)
Drive to Cat Tien National Park, 170km from Ho Chi Minh City
in Dong Nai Province. Once off Highway One, the road passes through
large areas of rubber plantations before branching off to the national
park. Check in to park guest house on arrival and the driver and car
return to Ho Chi Minh City. An incredible diversity of birds and mammals
live in the forest and wetland habitats of Cat Tien, including an
estimated 230 species of birds. Endangered birds that can be found here
include Germains Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl and the very elusive
Orange-necked Partridge. Mammals that can sometimes be seen include wild
boar, Samba Deer, the rare Black-shanked Duoc Langur, Yellow-cheeked and
Crested Gibbon. The afternoon is free for birding along the road or
trails. Overnight in Cat Tien.
Day 11: CAT TIEN (B)
A full day of birding along the road and forest trails of Cat
Tien. A jeep can be hired at the park headquarters to visit areas
further afield such as Bird Lake to look for visiting waders or
Crocodile Lake where Green Peafowl, Lesser Adjutant and Purple Heron may
be seen. During the walk through the forest to Crocodile Lake look out
for Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pitta, Red and Black and Banded
Broadbill and Orange-breasted Trogon amongst others. Overnight in Cat
Tien
Day 12: CAT TIEN (B)
Another full day to enjoy the rich bird life of Cat Tien.
Species to look out for include Woolly-necked Stork, Siamese Fireback,
Scaly-breasted Partridge, Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta,
Grey-faced Tit-Babbler, Great Slaty Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker
and Heart-spotted Woodpecker. Overnight in Cat Tien.
Day 13: CAT TIEN - DA LAT (B)
A final morning of birding along the trails or perhaps the
headquarters road where Green-eared, Blue-eared, Lineated, and if you
are lucky, Red-vented Barbet, can often be seen perched high up in the
roadside trees. Check out of the park guest house and meet up with the
driver before leaving for the 150km drive to Da Lat. It is a scenic
drive through tea and coffee plantations to the cooler climes of the
former colonial hill station. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Da Lat.
The driver and car are available for transferring to birding sites
around Da Lat over the next three days. Overnight in Da Lat.
Day 14: DA LAT (B)
A full day of birding at Mount Lang Bian where the evergreen
forests are home to many interesting species including some endemics.
Key species to be found at Mount Lang Bian include Silver Pheasant,
Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Eurasian Jay, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Mugimaki
Flycatcher, Cutia and Red Crossbill. This is also the place to see two
of Vietnam’s sought after endemics, the Collared Laughingthrush and the
Vietnamese Greenfinch. Mount Lang Bian is best avoided at weekends and
holidays when it is a very popular destination for local tourists.
Overnight in Da Lat.
Day 15: DA LAT (B)
Tuyen Lam Lake, only 3km from the centre of town, is Da Lat’s
other hotspot for birders. Take a boat to far side of the lake where a
track leads through the pines to areas of remnant tropical evergreen
forest. The rare and endemic Grey-crowned Crocias was re-discovered here
a few years ago after not being seen for nearly 60 years. Other
interesting species possible here include Slender-billed Oriole, Maroon
Oriole, Rufous-backed Sibia, Black-hooded and White-cheeked
Laughingthrush. Overnight in Da Lat.
Day 16: DA LAT (B)
The Ta Nung Valley, around 15km from Da Lat, holds a few
pockets of remnant evergreen forest where many of the Da Lat
specialities can still be found including Grey-crowned Crocias,
Black-hooded and White-cheeked Laughiingthrush, Grey-headed Parrotbill,
Blue-winged Minla and Black-throated Sunbird. Overnight in Da Lat.
Day 17: DA LAT - HO CHI MINH City out
Transfer by road the 300km back to Ho Chi Minh City. The rest
of the day is at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to Tan son nhat
International Airport. Departure.
NOTE: Best time of the year for birding in
Vietnam is November - May. Maximum size of group is 5 pax.
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