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TRAVEL TOOL

Day 1 : Travel to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
A warm welcome at Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat Airport) and transfer to hotel (Sofitel Plaza Saigon) by our friendly leaders. If arriving early in the morning, we offer an optional guided Cu Chi Tunnel tour. Cu Chi Tunnel is a renowned historical site, located 50km from Ho Chi Minh City center, where the guerrillas hid from underground and fought the Americans in the Vietnam War. If arriving late in the afternoon or evening, the rest of the day is at leisure, we will have a welcome dinner with briefing.
Night: Sofitel hotel

Day 2 : Saigon
In the early morning, we will go birding in a nearby city park (Botanical garden) where we may find such species as Spotted Dove, Common Iora, Eurasian Tree Sparrow (very common in the city); Coppersmith Barbet; Forest Wagtail; Streak-eared Bulbul; Oriental Magpie Robin; Dusky Warbler; Asian Brown Flycatcher; Common Tailorbird; Collared Kingfisher and Chestnut-tailed, White-shouldered, and Vinous-breasted starlings.

The remainder time in this afternoon, we may travel around Sai Gon to explore the city. Ho Chi Minh City is a relatively new settlement, formerly known as Saigon; the name of “Saigon” was registered for the first time in documents dating back to 1698. The expansive, bustling metropolis of the city is located just to the northeast of the vast Mekong Delta. A mix of neoclassical and modern international architecture, Ho Chi Minh City, also known as the “Paris of the East” during the French colonial period, still retains a flavor of those more elegant times.
Night: Softifel hotel

Day 3 : Drive to Cat Tien National Park, stop en rout for Orange – necked Partridge
This morning 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 fond 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 4-6 : 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.

Day 7 : Drive to Da Lat
Nights: Novotel hotel
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 8-10 : Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area.
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.

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 11 : Drive to Nha Trang
This morning we will descend the eastern slope of the Lang Bian plateau before turning north along the coast to the attractive city of Nha Trang. This is a little birded part of our route at Deo Ngoan Muc (Quanit pass), and almost anything could turn up today.
NIGHT: Vin Pearl Hotel, Nha Trang

Day 12 : Morning Nha Trang; Afternoon Fly to Hue.
Nha Trang is undeniably one of the most attractive small cities in the whole of Vietnam. Located on the coast and surrounded by fascinating antiquities and charming offshore islands it is a delightful place to wander and explore. This morning, after a rare opportunity to sleep in (at least a little bit!), we will do just that but always on the look out for birds – almost anything can turn up in such a place including some very neat migrant flycatchers and warblers.

After lunch we will fly northwards to the city of Hue and if time permits we will commence our exploration of this culturally very important centre.
Night: Morin hotel

Day 13 : Drive to Bach Ma National Park

Days 14-16 : Bach Ma National Park
Bach Ma National Park is located in Thua Thien Hue province in central Vietnam. The national park is characterised by mountainous topography and supports a range of habitat types, including lowland and lower montane evergreen forest. At lower elevations, the natural forest has been extensively cleared and replaced by scrub and grassland. Be warned: Bach Ma is one of the rainiest places in Vietnam.

Around 250 bird species have been recorded at Bach Ma National Park. Most notable is a recent record of the globally endangered Edwards's Pheasant close to the park. However, extensive loss of forest at low elevations means that it is unlikely that the park itself supports a significant population of this species, and the chances of seeing this bird at there are virtually nil. There are, however, plenty of other galliforms to attract birders, including Annam Partridge, Rufous-throated Partridge and the beli subspecies of Silver Pheasant. Bach Ma is most famous for its population of Crested Argus, although this species is more often heard than seen. In addition, the abundant and diverse forest avifauna of Bach Ma provides visiting birders opportunities to observe many other birds, such as Mountain Fulvetta and several species of barbet.

Highlights: Annam Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Crested Argus, Green-eared Barbet, Red-vented Barbet and Mountain Fulvetta.
Nights: Guest house at Bach Ma

Day 17 : Drive back to Hue city and fly to Ha Noi
Night: Metropole Sofitel hotel

Day 18 : Drive to Cuc Phuong National Park

Days 19-20 : Cuc Phuong National Park
The first protected area in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Cuc Phuong National Park comprises 22,000 ha of limestone forest on the borders of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces. Cuc Phuong attracts large numbers of domestic tourists, so avoid weekends and public holidays.

To date, over 300 species of bird have been recorded at Cuc Phuong National Park. Cuc Phuong supports an abundant forest bird community including a good selection of woodpeckers, mynas, starlings, corvids and flycatchers. The site supports a number of South-East Asian endemics, including Red-vented Barbet, Bar-bellied Pitta and Limestone Wren Babbler.
Nights: Accommodation at Cuc Phuong N.P.

Highlights: Silver Pheasant, Red-vented Barbet, Green-eared Barbet, Bar-bellied Pitta, Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Limestone Wren Babbler.

Day 21 : Drive back to Ha Noi
Night: Metropole Sofitel hotel

Day 22 : Drive to Xuan Thuy Ramsar area

Day 23 : Xuan Thuy Ramsar area
The first Ramsar Site in Vietnam, Xuan Thuy is situated in Nam Dinh province and covers an area of 7,100 ha. The major habitats are estuaries, mangroves, sedges, mudflats, sandy flats and shrimp ponds.

To date, more than 200 bird species have been recorded at Xuan Thuy. The site is the most important staging 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.
Nights: Accommodation at Xuan Thuy

Highlights: Black-faced Spoonbill, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Spotted (Nordmann's) Greenshank, Saunders's Gull and Asian Dowitcher.

Day 24 : Drive back to Ha Noi - Tour Concludes
After early morning birding, we drive back to Ha Noi, Our tour concludes with our international flight from Hanoi towards home. Some people may wish to stay an extra night in Hanoi in order to enjoy what is arguably the most beautiful city in Asia.