Vietnam Birding & Cultural/ Historical Luxury Package Trip (23 days)

The option of Vietnam birding and culture combination tour is a full-on birding tour or are travelling with a non-birding partner or friends we will create a personalized tour for you combining the best of Vietnam’s birding with the best of its culture including historical sites, river cruises, ethnic minorities, cuisine, beaches, mountain retreats, spa resorts, cycling, in fact whatever you want

Day#1 Pick up from Noi Bai International Airport

Day #2 : Ha Noi City Tour

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. At its heart is the chaotic Old Quarter, where the narrow streets are roughly arranged by trade. There are many little temples, including Bach Ma, honoring a legendary horse, plus Dong Xuan market, selling household goods and street food and shopping.

Day#3 Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders of the world. At noon board the Bhaya, a luxurious oriental cruise boat. With comfortable air-conditioned cabins, a restaurant, bar and a sundeck this is the ultimate Halong Bay experience. After a sumptuous buffet lunch enjoy the wonderful natural scenery while relaxing on deck or exploring some of the spectacular caves on a shore excursion. Other options include kayaking, spa treatments and a cooking demonstration

Day#4 Ha Long Bay- Ha Noi – Van Long Nature Reserve- Cuc Phuong National Park

About 2 hours from Hanoi to Van Long Nature Reserve en route. Take a sampan through flooded rice fields to the dramatic limestone cliffs that are home to the largest population of one of Vietnam’s critically endangered primates, Delacour’s Langur. Then driving to Cuc Phuong national park- the first national park to be established in Vietnam, Cuc Phuong is an area of limestone hills covered in primary rainforest. The best birding is in the centre of the park where there are several excellent trails including the Loop Trail and the Valley Trail. The main road through the park can also be very productive especially for over-wintering thrushes early in the morning

Day#5#6: Cuc Phuong Birding

Cuc Phuong where specialities include Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Red-collared Woodpecker, Red-vented Barbet, Brown Hornbill, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Pied Falconet, Malayan Night Heron, Bar-bellied Pitta, Eared Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Rachet-tailed Treepie, White-winged Magpie, White-tailed Flycatcher, Spotted Forktail, Limestone Wren Babbler, Rufous-throated Fulvetta and Black-browed Fulvetta

Day#7 Cuc Phuong Birding then taking a domestic flight to Hue

After breakfast and morning bird watching in the park, we are going to Noi Bai Airport then taking a domestic flight to Hue City -the UNESCO World Heritage where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 and Thien Mu Pagoda with its seven-tiered tower.

Day #8 Hue UNESCO World Heritage then driving to Bach Ma National Park

Bach Ma National Park is situated in the Annamite Mountains. Its mountains are composed mainly of granite. Bach Ma’s position, at the bio-geographical border between northern and southern Vietnam, combined with its variety of habitats, ranging from the coast to high mountains, means the park is rich in biodiversity. It is located in an area that is considered a center of plant diversity in Vietnam. The main vegetation type is moist evergreen and montane forest, as well as areas of scrub and grassland.

Day #9 Bach Ma Birding

highlight species of Indochinese Wren-Babbler, Chestnut-collared Yuhina, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Sivver-eared Mesia, Sultan Tit, Long-tailed Broadbill, Siver-breasted Broadbill, Red-headed Trogon, particularly the Vietnamese endemics such as the Crested Argus, Annam Partridge and Edwards’s Pheasant

Day#10 Bach Ma Birding then driving to Monkey Mountain – Hoi An

After birding in the morning at park, we take a drive through Lang Co bay and Lap An lagoon heading to Monkey Mountain for Red-shanked Douc Langur and some birds at the mountain.

Day#11 Hoi An UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ancient and peaceful, Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam that caters to travellers of all tastes and across the continents. In 1999, UNESCO formally recognizes Hoi An as a World Heritage Site. There are the things that make up the reputation. Hoi An is home to many temples, pagodas and the ancient homes that bear its very unique mark. The density of such sites is unlike any other in Vietnam. In the afternoon take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market. Enjoy with the lantern festival at night.

Day#12 Hoi An Birding At The Wetland and Beach Relaxing

Short countryside cycling tour through the rice field, river mouth, fishing village, shrimp pond, lotus dam. On the cycling route, you can stop some where for Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Masked Laughingthrush, Grey Heron, White-browed Crake, Black-winged Stilt …Then stopping at vegetable village for cooking class ,making Vietnamese food and relaxing at beautiful beach named An Bang.

Day#13 Take A Domestic Flight From Hoi An – Da Lat

 The plateau reaches elevations of over 2,000 meters, making it much cooler than the surrounding countryside . This is among the best places to find endemic birds in Vietnam.

Day #14 #15#16 Da Lat Birding

Three full days searching to Ta Nung Valley, Suoi Tia trail, Bi Doup national Park for high light species such as Grey-crowned Crocias, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Collared Laughingthrush, Hume’s Treecreeper, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Grey-crowned Tit, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Burmese Shrike, Red Crossbill, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Da Lat Shrike Babbler, Indochinese Barbet, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Slaty-backed and Spotted Forktail, Rufous-backed and Black-headed Sibia, Mr.Gould’s and Black-throated Sunbird, White-browed and Speckle Piculet, Chestnut -crowned and Grey-cheeked Warbler, Black-crowned Parrotbill, Rufous-browed and Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Blue-bearded Bee-eater .

Day#17 Da Lat -Di Linh birding

About two hours driving through coffee and tea field to Di Linh, then birding at Suoi Lanh pass in Di Linh for  Blue Pitta, Black-hooded and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Black-crowned Parrotbill, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Indochinese Barbet, Red-vented Barbet, Black-chinned Yuhina, Green Cochoa.

Day#18 Di Linh Birding – Cat Tien National Park.

A morning birding at Suoi Lanh Pass then taking about two hours driving to Cat Tien birding site. Cat Tien National Park contains the largest remaining area of lowland tropical forest in southern Vietnam and an incredible diversity of birds and mammals. Endangered birds found at Cat Tien included Germain’s Peacock-pheasant, Green Peafowl and the elusive Orange-necked Partridge while the mammal list includes Leopard Cat, Lesser Mouse deer, Gaur and three beautiful primates, Blackshanked Douc Langur, Silvered Langur and Golden-cheeked Gibbon.

Day#19#20 Cat Tien Birding

Highlight species: Germain’s Peacock-pheasant, Green Peafowl, Orange-necked Partridge, Blue-rumped Pitta, Bar-bellied Pitta, Siamese Fireback, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Woolly-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant; Black and red Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Dusky Broadbill; (White-bellied, Great Slaty, Pale-headed, Black-and-buff and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers), Great Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Banded Kingfisher and Grey-faced Tit-Babbler

Day#21 Cat Tien -Sai Gon

Leaving Cat Tien in the morning to Ho Chi Minh City as known as named Sai Gon. Take a city tour to visit War Museum and the city in this afternoon.

Day#22 Sai Gon – Mekong Delta- Floating Life.

Head to the Mekong River on this full-day excursion to experience the trading culture of the people who live by the river and make their living from it. See local production activities and the busy and noisy Cai Be floating market and enjoy a tasty lunch

Day#23 Leaving Sai Gon to Tan Son Nhat International Airport Back Home

The tour ends at Ho Chi Minh City (Sai Gon).