GRAND 25-DAY VIETNAM BIRDING

You will have two days discovering the majestic mountain, montane evergreen, pine forest and variety of birds around Tam Dao Town.

Here in Tam Dao we will catch sight of Blue-naped Pitta, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Grey Laughingthrush, and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler. Seeing several other sought-after species will be the best way to finalise our trip, and here we may see Ashy Bulbul, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Chestnut Bulbul, Fujian Niltava, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Spot-necked Babbler, Chestnut-collared Yuhina (split from Striated), Greater Rufous-headed and Collared Treepie.

You will have time for some final birding early in the morning at Tam Dao before setting off to Ba Be National Park – where the star White-eared Night-heron is rarely seen. It was almost impossible to see this mythical species until this site has been discovered recently.

We will reach here in the afternoon and have opportunities to seek out White-eared Night-heron as the birds leave their day roost for their nighttime feeding sites.

After your long day, relax at Mr.Linh Homestay and enjoy the ethnic vibe surrounding.

Birding in the early morning to search again for the White-eared Night-heron as they return to their roost in the predawn. You may also take a look at other special species such as Mandarin Duck, Tufted Duck, Limestone Leaf-warbler, White-winged Magpie and Streaked Wren-babbler.

We will leave for Cuc Phuong National Park – which was the first national park established in Vietnam, late in the morning. The center of the national park is the best location for birding where there are several excellent trails including the Loop Trail and the Valley Trail.

You may also pass over the main road through the park to easily have a sight of over-wintering thrushes early in the morning.

Stay overnight at Cuc Phuong Resort. (3 nights)

Two full days of birding at Cuc Phuong where you have a fortune to see those special kind of birds such as Pied Falconet, Bar-bellied, Bluerumped & Eared pittas, Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-winged Magpie, White-tailed Flycatcher, Fujian Niltava, Limestone Warbler and Limestone Wren-babbler.

We will transfer to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park after your early breakfast.

Reach Phong Nha late in the afternoon. Relax at Phong Nha Lake House resort. (2 nights)

Spend completely a full day here to exploring the magnificent caves systems and outstanding scenery. The main targets here are the Indochinese endemic Sooty Babbler, which lives on the limestone outcrops, and the recently-split Limestone Leaf-warbler. Red-collared Woodpecker and Northern Brown Hornbill are among the other specialities at Phong Nha as well as an endangered primate, the Ha Tinh Langur.

Depart from Phong Nha after your early breakfast, drive South right away to Bach Ma National Park.

Arriving in time for some afternoon birding.

Overnight at Phong Lan Villa, which was built by the French for tourism purposes 80 years ago. Enjoying tempting and mouthwatering BBQ grill in the chilly cool weather of Bach Ma is nothing more perfect.

Trekking and morning birding at Bach Ma National Park, searching for the endemic Annam Partridge and near-endemic Indochinese Wren-babbler.

Have a break and enjoy picnic lunch in the jungle.

Head up to Kham Duc and bird at the nearby Lo Xo Pass in the late afternoon. Our goals here is the Indochinese endemic Black-crowned Barwing.

Overnight at Kham Duc.

We still have enough time to return to the Lo Xo Pass in the morning and look for other signature species such as White-winged Magpie and Red-tailed Laughingthrush.

Downward the Ho Chi Minh Highway to Mang Den and stay overnight here. (2 nights)

We will go search for Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush – the rarely-seen endemic. Moreover, we will spend two full days at Mang Den looking for other specialities such as the scarce Pale-capped Pigeon, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Black-hooded Laughingthrush and Indochinese Wren-babbler.

Have your breakfast early before we set off for the long drive South to Yok Don National Park. Arrive here in time for lunch before exploring the banks of the Srepok River and the dry forest of Yok Don.

You can’t easily catch sight of these species elsewhere in Vietnam including Fulvous-breasted, Rufous-bellied, Black-headed Woodpeckers, Alexandrine, Blossom-headed parakeets, White-rumped Pygmy-falcon, Rufous Treepie and near endemic Mekong Wagtail.

Spend one night at Yok Don National Park with the surrounding local vibe.

Morning birding at Yok Don again before moving forward to Dalat – once served as the French hill station at the Southern.

As you arrive in Dalat, we will transfer you directly to your hotel.

Stay here for 4 nights.

Dalat - with its cool climate and mountainous terrain – is home to several of Vietnam’s endemic bird species as well as many distinctive local subspecies. We will start exploring some of the exciting birding sites around Dalat in the afternoon.

With a progressively-steeper footpath, we will easily access the Langbiang peak with 2169m in height – surrounded with evergreen forest and variety of species.

Our goals in Dalat are Dalat Shrike-babbler, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Orange-breasted & Collared laughingthrushes and Grey-crowned Crocias. Near endemics here include Grey-crowned Tit, Black-crowned Parrotbill, White-cheeked and Black-hooded laughingthrushes, and Vietnamese Cutia. Other target birds in this bird-rich area are the elusive Blue & Rusty-naped pittas, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Hume’s Treecreeper, Yellowbilled Nuthatch and a very distinctive race of Red Crossbill.

Short drive to Nui San Pass - Di Linh, where you can easily locate certain kind of birds such as Blue and Rusty-naped Pittas, Spotted Forktail, White-cheeked, Black-hooded and Orange-breasted Laughing-Thrushes, Vietnamese Cutia and “Black-headed” Parrotbill, a probable split from the more widespread Grey-headed Parrotbill.

Stay overnight at Bao Loc Homestay.

Visit Suoi Lanh Pass in the early morning to look for other interesting species that could include Blue Pitta, Indochinese Green Magpie, Spotted Forktail and handsome Green Cochoa.

From Dalat, we will move along to Cat Tien National Park.

Enter the Nam Cat Tien National Park and we shall begin our wildlife exploration in the afternoon. Checkin and have lunch at Cat Tien Jungle Lodge with the river view.

Take a 8-km-walking into the beauty of tropical forest to find out more about the diversity ecosystem and unspoilt wildlife. You can freely ride a bike on small trails through the jungle or simply chill down in the glorious view.

Electric car will transfer you back to the center of the National Park for dinner. Then you will have a memorable night on the night jeep riding to Ta Lai buffer zone for animal spotting like Loris, Pangolins, Civets, …

Enjoy breakfast in the forest with the lively sounds of bird singing and gibbon calling.

Our jeep driver will transfer you to the Crocodile Swap, which is the home to not only Siamese crocodiles but also a lot of rare birds in the World Red Book.

We will bird using jeep tracks and forest trails to seek out the endemic Germain’s Peackock-Pheasanr, other spectacular birds such as Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl and Scaly-breasted Partridge, endemic Pittas, the endemic Grey-faced Tit-Babbler and a host of other species also known from Malaysia and Thailand.

*Birding highlight: Orange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Wreathed Hornbill, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, Pale-headed and Black-and-buff Woodpeckers, Black-and-red, Banded, Dusky Broadbills, Blyth’s Frogmouth, Grey-faced Tit Babbler.

Some time left for early morning birding before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.