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TRAVEL TOOL

Day 1: Drive to Cat Tien National Park, stop en rout for Orange – necked Partridge
Pickup you at your hotel in early morning, then we will drive northwards from Saigon to Cat Tien National Park, stopping en route for anything of interest. We should stop at Tan Phu Forest Enterprise Special Use where we can find an endemic of Orange – necked Partridge. Lunch at a restaurant nearby there, and will continue to drive to Cat Tien. Commence exploration of this fabulous reserve during the afternoon.

Days 2-3: Cat Tien National Park
Arguably the top birding site in Vietnam, Cat Tien National Park is located in Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces, in the lowlands of southern Vietnam. The topography of the site is characterised by a flat plain in the west, and low, gentle hills in the east. The major vegetation types at the park are lowland semi-evergreen forest and lowland evergreen forest, although the park also supports extensive swamps and other wetlands.

Cat Tien supports one of the most intact lowland forest avifaunas in Vietnam. Most notably, there are confirmed records of 16 globally threatened and near-threatened bird species from the national park, the highest total for any protected area in Vietnam. Cat Tien supports all three restricted-range species that define the South Vietnamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area: Orange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant and Grey-faced Tit Babbler. Cat Tien is also one of the best sites in Vietnam to see Green Peafowl.

Highlights: Orange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Wreathed and Greater Hornbill, Lesser Adjutant, Woolly-necked Stork and Bar-bellied Pitta.
Night: Accommodation (air conditional) at Cat Tien N.P.

Notes: The part of Cat Tien basically similar as Cat Tien Tour (see more detail here)

Day 4 : Drive to Da Lat
The cool climate, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls make Dalat a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists. The Dalat area is also known throughout Vietnam for its market gardens and nurseries growing vegetables and flowers.

The Dalat Plateau is one of the five endemic bird areas (EBAs) in Vietnam identified by BirdLife International. The vegetation is a mixture of coniferous (dominated by Pinus kesiya), montane evergreen and secondary forest. Three bird species, Collared Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias and Vietnamese Greenfinch, are only to be found within this EBA. The Dalat Plateau also has distinct subspecies of Spot-breasted Laughingthrush (considered by some authorities as a separate species: Orange-breasted Laughingthrush), Cutia, Rufous-backed and Black-headed Sibias, Blue-winged Minla, Grey-headed Parrotbill and Black-throated Sunbird.

After early morning birding, we will drive northwards through the cultivated lowlands before climbing up onto the Lang Bian Plateau and the charming town of Da Lat. We will make several stops along the way at any patch of interesting-looking habitat, including some very attractive waterfalls. The hill resort of Da Lat, perhaps the most attractive large town in Vietnam, is located at 4,900 feet (ca. 1,475 meters) in a temperate region dotted with lakes and waterfalls and surrounded by evergreen forests, including various native pine woodlands.

Days 5 - 6: Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area.

Day 5: Mount Lang Bian
After breakfast and preparing food for lunch, we will start to climb up to the mountain through pine forest. Vietnamese Greenfinch can be found in the pines all the way along the trail, with Red Crossbill in the pines nearer the summit. The endemic Collared Laughingthrush can be found in the evergreen forest leading up to the summit. Other interesting species found here include Green Cochoa, White-cheeked Laughingthrush and Cutia.

Day 6: Tuyen Lam lake - Ta Nung valley
Morning: We will visit a man-made lake named Tuyen Lam, that locates just 3km outside of the city, the remnant forest at the far end of the lake where the best birding is to be found. Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias and Vietnamese Greenfinch are among the local specialities.

Afternoon: After finished biding, we have luch then go to Ta Nung valley. This site, around 15 km from Da Lat , is one of the best sites for Grey-crowned Crocias. Indochinese Green Magpie, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded, White-cheeked and 'Orange-breasted' Laughingthrushes, and Grey-headed Parrotbill can also be seen here.

Nights: Novotel hotel
Highlights: Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Grey-crowned Crocias, Indochinese Fulvetta, Collared Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted (Spot-breasted) Laughingthrush, Red Crossbill and Vietnam Greenfinch

Day 7. Drive back to Sai Gon, Tour Concludes