Itinerary for Endemic Bird Species Tour In Vietnam
Group size: 6 – 8 persons
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: Oscar Hotel
Day 2: 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 3-5: 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: (A/C rooms) at Cat Tien N.P.
Day 6: Drive to Da Lat
Nights: Cam Do 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 7-9: 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 of the Vietnamese subspecies, 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.
Nights: Cam Do hotel
Day 10: Drive backward Sai Gon, stop at Bao Loc town
After morning birding in Da Lat, we will descend the southern slope of the Lang Bian plateau to Bao Loc town, one of the strong coffee area, stay at Bao Loc hotel for a night.
Day 11: Deo Nui San
This morning, we will spend time for searching Orange-breasted Laughingthrush if we miss at Da Lat plateau. Other way, we hoping to see Blue Pitta, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Asian Emeral Cuckoo.
Afternoon, drive to Sai Gon and breacking.
Day 12: Morning Fly to Hue, drive to Bach Ma National Park
Day 12-16: 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 16: Drive back to Hue city and fly to Ha Noi; Drive to Cuc Phuong National Park
Days 16-19: 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 19: Drive to Xuan Thuy
Day 20-21: 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 21: Drive to Tam Dao
After early morning birding at Xuan Thuy, we drive toward Ha Noi direction to go to Tam Dao.
Night: Green World hotel
Day 22-23: Tam Dao National Park
Two morning birding at Tam Dao where our target are Green Cochoa, Black-chinned Yuhina and Grey Laghingthrush could be found.
Day 23: Drive to Noi Bai airport (Ha Noi) – Tour concludes
After morning birding at Tam Dao, we drive to Noi Bai airport. 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.
Price
The fee for whole the trip is $2.843 per person in double occupancy from Ho Chi Minh City. This includes all meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 23, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, the internal flights from Sai Gon to Hue and Hue to Hanoi, ground transportation during the tour, gratuities, and guide services provided by the tour leaders. It does not include airfare from your home to Ho Chi Minh City and return from Hanoi, airport departure taxes, visas, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, telephone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration, a small-party supplement may have to be charged.
The single supplement for this tour is $459. You will be charged a single supplement if you desire single accommodation, or if you prefer to share but have no roommate and we cannot provide one for you. Please note that singles may not be available at all locations. This has been taken into consideration in our costing
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
he fee for whole the trip is $2.843 per person in double occupancy from Ho Chi Minh City. This includes all meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 23, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, the internal flights from Sai Gon to Hue and Hue to Hanoi, ground transportation during the tour, gratuities, and guide services provided by the tour leaders. It does not include airfare from your home to Ho Chi Minh City and return from Hanoi, airport departure taxes, visas, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, telephone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration, a small-party supplement may have to be charged.
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