Bird Watching South Vietnam (#602)

Day 1: Drive to Cat Tien National Park, stop en route for Orange – necked Partridge

Picking you up at your hotel in early morning, driving northwards to Cat Tien National Park, stopping en route for interesting thing. We should stop at Tan Phu Forest Enterprise Special Use for an endemic of Orange – necked Partridge. Having Lunch at a restaurant nearby there, after that going on Cat Tien. Commence exploration of this mysterious reserve during the afternoon.

Day 2 & 3: Cat Tien National Park (B)

Located in Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces, in the lowlands of southern Vietnam, Cat Tien National Park is arguably the top birding site in vietnam The topography of the site is characterized by a flat plain in the West, and low, gentle hills in the east. Cat Tien has amazing habitats such as: semi-evergreen forest; evergreen forest; beside extensive swamps and other wetland, together with diversity fauna and flora.
Cat Tien Park supports one of the most intact lowland forest avifauna in Vietnam where is confirmed records of 16 globally threatened and near-threatened bird species from the national park, the highest total for any protected area in Vietnam. They  support 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. This national park of Cat Tien is also one of the best sites in Vietnam to see Green Peafowl.
Accommodation (air conditioner) at Cat Tien National Park hotel

Day 4 : Drive to Da Lat (B)

Da Lat has the cool climate, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls, and only a market garden, vegetable and flower. It becomes well-known destination for tourists.
The Dalat Plateau is among the five endemic bird areas (EBAs) in Vietnam identified by BirdLife International. Habitats are 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 Biang 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 interesting waterfalls. The hill resort of Da Lat, among the most attractive large towns in Vietnam,  at 4,900 feet heigh (ca. 1,475 meters) in a temperate region dotted with lakes and waterfalls and surrounded by evergreen forests, including various native pine woodlands.
Overnight at hotel in Dalat

Day 5 & 6: Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area.

 Day 5: Mount Lang Biang

After breakfast and preparing food for lunch, starting 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 specialties.
Afternoon: After finished biding, we have lunch 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 ends)

Interested? Please email us for detail costings.

Price inclusive

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a double room.
• Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver.
• English speaking local guide
• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
• VAT and other taxes

Price exclusive

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas
• Dinners, lunches except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Camera fees (if any)
• Diving fees
• Insurance.

Hotels used for Standard class