Vietnam

Day 1: Participants should arrive in Hanoi no later than 5 p.m. Night in Hanoi.

Days 2-4: After an early breakfast we’ll depart Hanoi for Cuc Phuong National Park, an area of limestone hills covered in primary rainforest and the first national park to be established in Vietnam. We’ll have two full days to explore the park, where we’ll hope to see such special birds as Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pittas, Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-tailed Flycatcher, White-winged Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Annam Limestone Wren-Babbler, Fujian Niltava, and Pied Falconet. At some stage we’ll visit Van Long Nature Reserve. Here we’ll take a sampan to the dramatic limestone cliffs that are home to the largest population of one of Vietnam’s most beautiful of its many endangered primates, the Delacour Langur. Various waders, herons, bitterns, and raptors are often seen here. Nights at the Park Headquarters guesthouse.

Day 5: We’ll have a bit of time for early morning birding at Cuc Phuong before heading south overland to the small town of Phong Nha in central Vietnam. The town is the jumping off point for access to the scenically stunning Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extensive cave systems and rugged limestone karsts. Night at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. 

Day 6: We’ll have a full day to explore Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in search of such limestone specialists as the near-endemic Sooty Babbler and Limestone Leaf-warbler. The scarce and rarely seen Red-collared Woodpecker is also possible, as is another scarce endemic primate, Ha Tinh Langur. The birdlife is active and exciting, and large mixed flocks often contain some very glamorous species: Sultan Tit is common and the elusive Short-tailed Scimitar-Babbler and Purple Cochoa are sometimes seen. This afternoon we’ll visit the world-renowned cave system of this remarkable area. The Phong Nha Cave is the second largest in the world (the first and third largest are found deeper within Phong Nha National Park) and a short boat trip and walk deep inside the cave is an unforgettable experience. Night in Phong Nha.

Day 7: After an early morning birding session back at Phong Nha National Park, we’ll depart for the long drive south to the Sa Mu Pass located in the Bac Huong Hoa Natural Area. We’ll have an afternoon and full morning (day 8) to explore this little-known area, which is located right on the Laos border in the narrowest part of Vietnam in the centre of the Annamite Mountains range. This lovely, forested area is home to several Vietnamese and regional endemics, including Red-vented Barbet, White-winged Magpie, and Blyth’s Kingfisher (very rare). But our most wanted birds will be the range restricted Central Vietnam specialities – Red-collared Woodpecker, Black-crowned Barwing, Rufous and White-cheeked Laughingthrushes. Night in Khe San.

Day 8:  Other spectacular birds here include Golden Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Indochinese Green Magpie, Black-throated and Lesser-necklaced Laughingthrushes, and a distinctive subspecies of Sultan Tit with a glossy blue-black crown—a possible future split. Red-shanked Douc Langur, a beautiful and endangered primate, is sometimes seen in the treetops below the summit trails. We’ll next drive further south to Lang Co on the coast where after lunch we’ll look for the recently described White-faced Plover. Night in Lang Co.

Day 9: After some more birding, we’ll leave Lang Co after breakfast for the drive south to Ngoc Linh on the newly constructed Ho Chi Minh Highway. After some birding stops en route, we should arrive in the Ngoc Linh area in the late afternoon. Night at Tu Mo Rông.

Day 10: Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve is one of the best birding hotspots in Central Vietnam; the area is the second highest mountain range in Viet Nam and is recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area, Important Bird Area, and a Global Endemic Bird Area. There are many birding highlights here, amongst them the endemic Golden-winged and Red-tailed Laughingthrushes, more chances for Black-crowned Barwing, as well as Indochinese Fulvetta, Annam Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Red-tailed Minla, and Ferruginous Flycatcher. Night at Tu Mo Rông.

Day 11: After a final morning birding in Ngoc Linh we’ll continue south down the Ho Chi Minh Highway to Mang Den, a quiet town located in Vietnam’s central highlands. A stop en route at a small wetland should be quite productive with possible sightings including Wire-tailed Swallow, Grey-breasted Prinia, or White-browed Crake. Night at Mang Den. 

Day 12: We’ll have a full day at Mang Den, where the seldom-seen and exceptionally shy endemic Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, discovered in 1999 and seen by only a handful of birders, will be our main quarry. Just a few kilometers from the town we’ll explore a large area of excellent montane forest, the most reliable site in Vietnam for three other scarce birds: Indochinese Barbet, Clicking Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, and Black-hooded Laughingthrush. We may find Grey Nightjar right outside our hotel in the evening! Night at Mang Den.

Day 13-14: We’ll have a second morning’s birding at Mang Den before taking the scenic drive further west to Yok Don National Park, arriving in time for a late lunch and some afternoon birding. This recently declared national park borders the Mondulkiri Protected Area in Cambodia and constitutes one of the largest areas of protected lowland forest in Southeast Asia. The habitat is characterized as a mosaic of deciduous and semi-evergreen forest interspersed with small patches of rainforest. Specialties here include the scarce White-rumped Falcon, Collared Falconet, several woodpeckers including the beautiful Black-headed, Rufous Treepie and the curiously-named Neglected Nuthatch. Not surprisingly, it’s considered one of the most biodiverse areas of Vietnam and a number of species that have disappeared elsewhere in the region can still be found here. Nights at Yok Don National Park HQ. 

Day 15: After an early breakfast we’ll cross the Srepok River to bird in and around the Yok Don Botanical Gardens. We’ll leave Yok Don mid-morning for the drive to Da Lat, stopping en route for lunch and, if time permits, some birding. Night at Da Lat. 

Days 16–17: We have two full days to explore the excellent birding sites around Da Lat. In the Ta Nung Valley, a small but bird-filled area of remnant evergreen forest about 6 miles (10 km) from Da Lat, we’ll look for the rare and endemic Grey-crowned Crocia as well as White-cheeked Laughingthrush. The distinctive subspecies of Blue-winged Minla, Rufous-backed and Black-headed Sibias, and Black-throated Sunbird can also be found here.  

In addition to the wonderful Ta Nung Valley two other sites around Da Lat are well worth visiting: Mount Lang Bian and Bi Doup National Park. Mount Lang Bian is a 6700-foot peak about 20 minutes by road from Da Lat, and we’ll spend a day exploring its pine and montane evergreen forests. Our target species here include wintering Mugimaki Flycatcher, Grey-crowned Tit, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Fulvetta, and Vietnamese Greenfinch. Bi Doup National Park is a wonderful birding area where we might find birds such as Burmese Shrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, and Vietnamese Crossbill, among many other species in the coniferous forests, while the evergreen forests hold one of the most sought-after species on the Da Lat Plateau, the beautiful and very secretive endemic Collared Laughingthrush. We’ll also appreciate Da Lat’s cooler climes and its old French colonial buildings and numerous outdoor cafes, restaurants, and markets. Nights at Da Lat. 

Day 18: This morning we’ll head to Di Linh, a two-hour drive from Da Lat. Descending from the plateau, we’ll pass by a virtual mosaic of rubber, teak, tea, and coffee plantations, as well as fascinating Vietnamese architecture. The forested mountain pass known as Deo Suoi Lanh is an ideal site to look for several Da Lat Plateau specialties, including Black-hooded and White-cheeked Laughingthrushes and the near-endemic Black-crowned Parrotbill. We may also find the gorgeous Blue Pitta. We’ll continue onward from the pass to arrive at Cat Tien National Park in the late afternoon. Night at Cat Tien headquarters.

Days 19-21: Cat Tien National Park contains the largest remaining area of lowland tropical forest in southern Vietnam. We’ll have an amazing three full days around the park. There are more than 330 bird species here, including the endangered Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl, and the very elusive Orange-necked Partridge. The list of mammals includes Eurasian Wild Pig, Sambar, Red Muntjac, and Gaur (very scarce, although increasing in numbers) as well as two endangered primates, Black-shanked Douc Langur and Buff-cheeked Gibbon.

Over the next three days we’ll take jeeps to visit areas around the park such as Heavens Rapids and Crocodile Lakes, where Grey-headed Fish-Eagle and Lesser Adjutant may be seen. We will visit two hides, one of which is great for Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, the other offers the best opportunity to see and photograph two spectacular pheasants: Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant and Siamese Fireback, as well as Scaly-breasted (Green-legged) Partridge. We’ll spend much of our time birding along the quiet park road (only park vehicles and bicycles are allowed), which always excellent for birds and we should find Red-and-Black and Banded Broadbills, Orange-breasted Trogon, White-bellied, Great Slaty, and Black-and-buff Woodpeckers, Red-vented Barbet, and Grey-faced Tit-Babbler among many others. Nights at Cat Tien headquarters.

Day 22: We’ll have a last morning of birding in Cat Tien National Park before driving back to Ho Chi Minh City for our final dinner. Night at Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 23: The tour concludes this morning in Ho Chi Minh City with transfers to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for flights home.

2025 Narrative

Our Vietnam adventure began with a group assembly at our hotel, followed by a welcome briefing and delicious dinner. Spirits were high as participants settled in, ready for the diverse avifauna and rich landscapes that lay ahead.

Our first full day of birding took us to Van Long Wetland Reserve, a scenic site characterized by dramatic limestone karsts and tranquil wetlands. At 3,000 hectares, this is the largest wetland reserve in northern Vietnam and in 2017, it was designated as Vietnam’s ninth Ramsar site. While our primary target here was the endangered Delacour’s Langur, birding from traditional sampans with two to a boat, also produced sightings of huge numbers of Asian Openbills, migrating Grey-faced Buzzards, and the first of many handsome White-throated Kingfishers.  

Following lunch, we transferred to Cuc Phuong National Park. Vietnam’s oldest national park, Cúc Phương National Park, established in 1962, is Vietnam’s first and one of its most significant national parks. Officially recognized by President Hồ Chí Minh himself; he visited the park and emphasized the importance of forest conservation for future generations. It is also the home to several key conservation facilities: the Endangered Primate Rescue Center (est. 1993), the Turtle Conservation Center and the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program. On arrival we began birding along the entrance road, where highlights included Green-eared Barbet, Rufescent Prinia, and plentiful Plain Flowerpeckers and Crimson Sunbirds.

The next two days were focused on the forests around Bong Substation, where early mornings and strategic use of forest hides allowed us to observe secretive species such as the Tonkin Scaly-breasted Partridge, Fujian Niltava, Rufous-tailed Robin and hordes of Japanese Thrushes! Roadside birding and trail walks were equally productive with  Red-vented Barbet, Streaked Spiderhunter, and, best of all, Annam Limestone Babbler added to our growing list. The forest trails and roadside birding also yielded White-tailed Flycatcher, a furtive Red-headed Trogon and Fork-tailed Sunbird, among other specialties.

On our final morning in Cuc Phuong, we explored the Botanic Gardens near park headquarters. Birding was productive with notable sightings including Mountain Hawk-Eagle and White-winged Magpie. We then departed on the long journey to Phong Nha, arriving late in the day.

The spectacular Phong Nha National Park offered a blend of karst forest and hill country habitats. The reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in central Vietnam; covering over 123,000 hectares, the park is renowned for its extensive limestone karst landscapes and vast cave systems, as well as its outstanding biodiversity. Sadly, during the Vietnam War, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park was subjected to extensive bombing and defoliation, including the use of Agent Orange. The ecological impact of Agent Orange was profound, and the effects are still clearly visible to this day. Nevertheless, our birding was excellent! ​Our main target, the localized Sooty Babbler, initially eluded us, although we did enjoy excellent views of the fascinating Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, the highly sought-after Short-tailed Scimitar-Babbler, and the elusive Red-collared Woodpecker. A boat excursion to the astounding Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in Asia, stretching for 31 kilometers boasting spectacular limestone formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, added scenic interest. We returned the next morning and, with the help of Nam and Thú, successfully located the Sooty Babbler, alongside Streaked Wren-Babbler and others.

Our journey continued northward with a stop at Sa Mu Pass, where Necklaced and Moustached Barbet, Silver-eared Mesia, Golden Babbler and Orange-bellied Leafbird were among the highlights. The following day at the pass was slower due to very windy conditions but still offered views of White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-bellied Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit. We continued to the Lang Co area for coastal birding. And the next morning on the beach near our hotel, we successfully found a distinctive White-faced Plover amongst the sand-plovers and Kentish Plovers at a quieter stretch of shoreline. 

Inland travel resumed with a full day’s drive to Tu Mo Rong, punctuated by a productive birding stop at Lo Xo Pass, where we observed Plumbeous Redstart and Black-throated Sunbird.

The remote reserve of Ngoc Linh, recognized as one of Vietnam's four major biodiversity hotspots, was a major highlight of the tour. After a steep and challenging hike, we reached the hide and were rewarded with outstanding views of the highly sought-after Golden-winged and Red-tailed Laughingthrushes, not to mention Brown-crowned Scimitar-Babblers (the gangsters), Black-headed Sibias and the endemic Black-crowned Barwing and Indochinese Fulvetta. The Golden-winged Laughingthrush was discovered as recently as 1999 during Birdlife International ornithological surveys Vietnam's Central Highlands. It is endemic to the Ngọc Linh Mountain Range and is currently classified as Endangered due to its restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.​

Afternoon birding at nearby Ngoc Lay was equally exciting and produced Black Eagle, Maroon Oriole, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, and best of all, a small group of charming Grey-headed Parrotbills.

From Tu Mo Rong, we birded a wetland area en route to Mang Den, where Grey-breasted Prinias and gorgeous Wire-tailed Swallows were observed. Mang Den is located in Kon Tum Province, and at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level, it boasts a cool, temperate climate year-round, earning it the nickname "the second Da Lat". Thanks to its pleasant climate and scenic vistas it is a popular destination among domestic travelers but is yet to be discovered by international toursits. On arrival, we soon headed to Ba Xi Waterfall for our afternoon birding where we found our first Indochinese Barbets, White-winged Magpie, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, and Blue-winged Minla.

A targeted search for Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush in Mang Den was unsuccessful—likely due to nearby roadworks—but we made up for it with sightings of Clicking Shrike-Babbler, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, and White-browed Piculet. A handsome Blue-and-white Flycatcher was a pleasant surprise, and we were very pleased to find the spritely Rufous-faced Warbler as well as cooperative Pale-blue Flycatchers. One afternoon an unfortunate hand injury required a brief hospital visit for Susan, though birding continued with the group in the capable hands of Trong. Finally, a brief return visit to the nearby Dak Ke Bridge was rewarded with sighting of the scarce Pin-tailed Green-Pigeon, Bay Woodpecker and Black-eared Shrike-Babbler. 

We made a brief stop at Dak Ke Bridge, spotting Black-collared Starling and Vinous-breasted Starling, before continuing to Yok Don National Park. 

Despite the high heat, the birding at Yok Don, with its unique dipterocarp forest ecosystem was fruitful indeed! 

The reserve is characterized by lowland dry forest studded with seasonal pools as well as semi-evergreen forest along watercourses. From our park accommodation we crossed the Srepok River, a major tributary of the Mekong and entering the forest we enjoyed some of our best birding of the trip. Over two days we encountered some fantastic birds including Burmese (Neglected) Nuthatch, Coppersmith and Lineated Barbets, Crested Treeswift, Asian Barred Owlet, Eurasian Hoopoe, Brown-rumped Minivet, Rufous Treepie, and Common Woodshrike. Woodpeckers abound here and we found seven species in this reserve alone – Black-headed and Great Slaty Woodpeckers were the undoubted stars of the show! One of our main targets was the charismatic and scarce White-rumped Falcon and this wonderful reserve is a stronghold of this Near Threatened raptor. So, we were thrilled to find a stunning female with her beautiful rufous head that we were able to watch at length. 

The journey to Da Lat included a successful stop for Grey-crowned Crocias at Dam Rong. This Da Lat Plateau endemic was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994 by a Birdlife International team so this was indeed a significant sighting for us!

Da Lat, often dubbed “the City of Eternal Spring,” is a charming hill station city in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, known for its cool climate, pine forests, colonial architecture, and flower gardens. A very popular destination for locals and overseas visitors alike, it’s especially popular during summer as a cool escape from the heat of the lowlands. Located on the Đà Lạt Plateau, part of Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is one of the country’s most important regions for avian biodiversity. Stretching across Lâm Đồng Province and into neighboring areas, the plateau features high-elevation pine forests, montane evergreen forests, and misty valleys — habitats that support a suite of endemic and near-endemic bird species.

Located just north of Da Lat, we headed to Bi Doup National Park, with a short stop for the fabulous Vietnamese Cutia, before heading to a pair of strategically located forest hides. To our delight a White-browed Scimitar-Babblers, White-tailed Robins, Large Niltavas, and a pair of Spotted Forktails soon appeared. We were even more delighted when our patience was rewarded with a visit from a truly stunning Blue Pitta, soon followed by an exceptionally cute Grey-bellied Tesia!  

After a delicious lunch at a small café operated by the local indigenous Koho people (and surprisingly good coffee!) we departed Bi Doup and headed to nearby Ta Nung Valley where we added Hill Prinia, white-cheeked Laughingthrush and Vietnamese Greenfinch to our ever-growing list. We also visited a known site for Dalat Bush Warbler, which was seen well, with some bonuses including a stunning Siberian Rubythroat, Barred Buttonquail, and Yellow-eyed Babbler, which was very unexpected. A brief stop in the pine forest on our way out of Da Lat was very worthwhile with sightings of Banded Bay Cuckoo, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch and the uncommon Slender-billed Oriole. 

The final leg of the tour brought us to the fabulous Cat Tien National Park. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve has an area of about 720 km² and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical forests left in Vietnam. Although large swathes of the park were damaged by defoliants during the war, much of the forest in the park is still in (or close to) pristine condition. Almost immediately on arrival we set out birding and it quickly became apparent how great this park is, with some very high-quality sightings – Viole(n)t Cuckoo, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Pale-headed Woodpecker. Collared Falconet and Indochinese Blue-Flycatcher were all very exciting finds. 

We utilised two hides that are managed by the park authorities – one is known as the pitta hide, the other as the pheasant hide. Our visits to the pitta hide were a huge success with appearances by stunningly colorful Bar-bellied Pitta and its drabber, but equally exciting, cousin the Blue-rumped Pitta. In between pittas, plenty of other forest denizens put in appearances; amongst them Puff-throated Babbler, Siberian Blue Robin and Scaly-breasted (Green-legged) Partridge. In the evening, a close call caught our attention, and we spotted an adorable Collared Scops Owl right outside the restaurant. At the pheasant hide, a handsome Siamese Fireback almost immediately made an appearance – we couldn’t believe our luck given the bird had not been seen for many weeks prior to our visit. Not to be outdone, after a pair of Germain’s Peacock-Pheasants also graced us with their presence. 

Further explorations along the main road and the Heaven Rapids Road turned up more excitement with Banded Kingfisher, Green-billed Malkoha and Laced Woodpecker being particularly memorable. Our final birding outing in the southern grasslands was equally productive, yielding Green Peafowl, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-bellied Woodpecker, and Indochinese Cuckooshrike. At dusk we slowly headed back to the park headquarters, stopping along the way to look for Great-eared and Large-tailed Nightjars and an exceptionally cooperative Brown Boobook. 

 This extensive birding expedition through Vietnam encompassed a wide array of habitats, including wetlands, coastal plains, montane forests, and tropical lowlands, resulting in the observation of many of the country's most sought-after species. We recorded over 300 species, which is an excellent outcome for this region. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in this remarkable journey. Special thanks are due to Trong for his exceptional company, organizational skills, and keen birding eye. Additionally, I appreciate Nam and Thú for their exemplary driving abilities and sharp observational skills. 

Some more of my photos of birds and other wildlife can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/wingsbirds/6571Cy8e47

                                                                                                                                                                                 -          Susan Myers

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