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Join Naturalist Journeys founder, Peg Abbott, on an exciting 14-day journey to experience the best of Vietnam birding, beautiful culture, and delicious Vietnamese cuisine. We’ve streamlined the route to pick up the top birding spots and showcase scenic beauty and biodiversity. A country known for its long, rich history and conflicted past, Vietnam has expanded tourism greatly in the last few decades, and is now a very popular destination for Western tourists. Its incredibly diverse landscapes range from tall mountain peaks to dense rainforests, to white sandy beaches, are home to nearly 900 bird species, including more endemic species than any other country in mainland Southeast Asia, making it a great destination for birding and finding other wildlife specialties.
In classic Naturalist Journeys pace and style, our inaugural tour to Vietnam focuses on three of the best birding areas in the country, with two to four nights spent at each of these locations. Cuc Phuong National Park, located in the north, is the largest reserve in Vietnam and offers spectacular rainforest birding. Dalat, located in the cooler central highlands, is an endemic-rich birding area with lakes, mountains, and forests to explore. The tropical lowlands of Cat Tien National Park in the south make it one of the top birding spots in the country and a great location for spotting mammals like Jungle Cat, Sambar Deer, and several gibbon and langur species.




Tour Highlights
- Enjoy delicious local Vietnamese cuisine and warm, welcoming hospitality
- Admire the breathtaking landscape of this beautiful mountainous country
- Learn about endangered primate conservation in Vietnam’s oldest national park, Cuc Phuong
- Enjoy a traditional sampan ride in Van Long Nature Reserve while searching for endangered Delacour’s Langur and a variety of waterbird species
- Spend three full days exploring a variety of habitats in the endemic rich area of Dalat
- Walk in lush conifer and broadleaf forests where exciting research to catalog new species is ongoing with two new conifers described in 2022
- Visit Cat Tien National Park, one of the best birding sites in Vietnam
- Search for owls, nightjars, and a variety of mammals on a night walk in Cat Tien National Park




Trip Itinerary
Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.
Fri., Mar. 28 Arrivals in Hanoi
Welcome to Vietnam! You will be met at the airport and taken to our hotel. Our journey begins in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Situated on the Red River in northern Vietnam, Hanoi was founded over 1,000 years ago and is known for its rich culture and stunning architecture. You may wish to arrive early to enjoy the city ahead of our nature-focused journey.
Tonight, we enjoy our first taste of delectable Vietnamese cuisine as we meet for a welcome dinner to get to know our guide and fellow travelers and go over our exciting journey ahead.
Accommodations at the Grand Mercure Hotel, Hanoi (D)
Sat., Mar. 29 Cuc Phuong National Park
This morning, we depart the bustling city of Hanoi and head three hours south to Cuc Phuong National Park. The first national park to be established in Vietnam in 1962, Cuc Phuong is in the foothills of the Annamite Mountain Range on an area of limestone hills covered in lush subtropical lowland forest. At 285 square miles, it is the largest nature reserve in Vietnam. With over 300 bird species recorded, nearly 100 mammals, and over 2,000 plant species, we have a lot to search for!
Our accommodations are right in the national park; simple but comfortable with private bath, this prime location gives us easy access to spectacular birding. After settling in, we head out to walk lush trails and immerse ourselves in this superb rainforest. Experience evergreen tropical rainforest with ancient trees, strangler figs, and vines creating a complexity that encourages rich diversity. Some of the trees are estimated to be over 1000 years old, while underneath this canopy orchids and other specialty plants can be found. Specialty bird species we hope to see here include the ground dwelling Scaly-breasted Partridge, White-winged Magpie, White-tailed Flycatcher, the brightly colored Fujian Niltava, and the scraggly looking Annam Limestone Babbler, which is only found in forest-covered limestone hills.
Accommodations at the Cuc Phuong HQ Guest House (B,L,D)
Sun., Mar. 30 & Mon., Mar. 31 Cuc Phuong National Park
Enjoy a delicious cup of Vietnamese coffee while listening to birds singing right outside the guest house. We have two full days to explore Cuc Phuong National Park and we make the most of it! The park has an excellent trail system, and we spend time on the Loop Trail and the Valley Trail searching for brilliantly colored pittas like the Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped, the uniquely patterned Silver-breasted Broadbill, Red-collared Woodpecker, and the Limestone Warbler, which was only discovered in 1994. We also explore the main road through the park, which can be very productive early in the morning, especially for over-wintering thrushes.
We also tour the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Cuc Phuong. Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of Vietnam’s endangered primates, the center is home to gibbon, langur, and loris. We learn about the efforts and research being done to protect these amazing species.
Dinners are at the park restaurant, located very close to the Guest House.
Accommodations for two nights at the Cuc Phuong HQ Guest House (B,L,D)
Tues., Apr. 1 Van Long Nature Reserve | Hanoi | Dalat
After breakfast, we leave Cuc Phuong National Park to head north back to Hanoi for an afternoon flight to Dalat. On the way to Hanoi, we stop at the Van Long Nature Reserve, a wetland that is home to the largest population of one of Vietnam’s critically endangered primates, Delacour’s Langur. This species was rediscovered in remote and rugged karst mountain ranges of Vietnam in the 1990s after it was thought to have been extinct.
It’s always fun to explore by boat and doing so gives us a unique perspective of the reserve of flooded rice fields. We venture out in a sampan, a traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat, admiring the dramatic limestone pinnacles that surround us. While floating through this tranquil reserve, we may see Oriental Honey Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Crescent Serpent Eagle, or Eastern Marsh Harrier soaring above and we search closely for the impressive looking Pheasant-tailed Jacana and three possible bittern species: Cinnamon, Black, and Yellow. Among the reeds and channels of this 7500-acre wetland, look for White-breasted Waterhen, Gray-headed Swamphen, flocks of Asian Openbill, Chinese Pond Heron, and both White-throated and Common Kingfisher. After our relaxing sampan ride with such impressive views of the mountains, we continue to Hanoi and transfer to the airport for our flight to Dalat. We arrive in the early afternoon and settle into our comfortable, family-run hotel.
Surrounded by the Langbiang Mountain Range with an abundance of pine forests, lakes, and waterfalls, Dalat is not only a great tourist destination, but a fantastic birding area. Located in Vietnam’s central highlands, it is situated on the Dalat Plateau, a mile-high city at around 5000 feet. Because of its cooler climate, it is both a domestic and international tourist destination for those looking to escape the heat of the lowlands. This is a rich agricultural area, and its lovely mountain scenery has made it a popular honeymoon spot for Vietnamese. Built by the French in the early 1900s with the intention of reminding Europeans of home, the inspiration of that era is unmistakable in the architecture throughout the city with modern influences of Vietnamese charm.
Home to several of Vietnam’s endemic bird species and many distinctive local subspecies, we have several days to explore the montane evergreen and coniferous forests around Dalat. After checking into our hotel, we begin our exploration at one of the exciting birding sites in the area.
Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant where we continue to sample some superb Vietnamese food.
Accommodations at the Dreams Hotel (B,L,D)
Wed., Apr. 2 – Fri., Apr. 4 Dalat
We have three full days to explore the many great birding areas around Dalat, one of five endemic bird areas (EBA) of Vietnam. We visit Mount Lang Bian, an iconic landmark that rises to a height of about 7000 feet and is considered the ‘roof of Dalat’. While known for its stunning views and recreational opportunities, Mount Lang Bian is also a birding hotspot. Specialties here include the brightly colored Necklaced Barbet, Annam and Langbian Sunbirds, Green-backed Tit, Vietnamese Greenfinch, and Lesser Shortwing.
Another great birding spot we visit is Ta Nung Valley, located just west of the city. This small, but very productive birding area has over 300 species recorded. The sub-montane forest here is a good location for the very rare endangered and endemic Gray-crowned Crocia, which has a highly restricted range in the Dalat area. Other birds in this area include the Dalat Shrike-babbler, Indochinese Barbet, the exquisitely colored Blue Pitta, and Black-headed Sibia. We walk in lush tropical evergreen and conifer forests. Vietnam has 33 species of conifer trees! The region has a variety of small mammals including squirrels and porcupines.
We also spend time along the shores of Tuyen Lam Lake, a large reservoir constructed in the 1930s. “Tuyen” means stream and “Lam” means forest in Vietnamese and it’s a fitting name for this picturesque jade-green lake surrounded by forest and mountains. This is a good spot for finding White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Ashy Bulbul, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Annam Minivet (a local subspecies of Long-tailed Minivet), and the uniquely long-billed Streaked Spiderhunter.
Our hotel is in the city, often called the City of Flowers, so you should have some time to explore. Dinners are at local restaurants selected by our guide to give us a taste of even more excellent Vietnamese cuisine featuring the many locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Some Birding Highlights here include White-browed Shrike-babbler, Annam Minivet, Annam Prinia, Annam Grasshopper-warbler, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Collared Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocia, Langbian Sunbird, Annam Sunbird, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Pin-tailed Green-pigeon, Red-vented Barbet, Necklaced Barbet, Indochinese Barbet, Blue Pitta, Slender-billed Oriole, Yellow-crowned Green Magpie, Green-backed Tit, Grey-crowned Tit, Ashy Bulbul, Black-headed Parrotbill, Vietnamese Cutia, White-spectacled Sibia, Manipur Treecreeper, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Lesser Shortwing, and Red Crossbill.
Accommodations at the Dreams Hotel (B,L,D)
Sat., Apr. 5 Cat Tien National Park
After an early breakfast, we may have time for some birding around Dalat before heading south to Cat Tien National Park, one of the top birding and wildlife spots in Vietnam. The park contains the largest remaining area of lowland tropical forest in south Vietnam and is a popular tourist destination, partially due to its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, which is only three hours away. Cat Tien also has large areas dominated by grassland and bamboo, which is a result of wartime defoliation and post-war logging that continued into the 1990s. Geologically, the park is in the transition zone between the Southern-Central Highland and the Central Plain. Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the park has an incredible diversity of birds and mammals that include approximately 350 bird species and 100 mammal species.
The park is accessed via the Dong Nai River, and we take a ferry to cross and then jeeps take us the rest of the way. Our accommodations in the park are simple but once again give us access to supreme birding and the chance to find some mammals. We arrive in the afternoon and after getting settled, we head out to explore around the headquarters area.
Accommodations at the Cat Tien HQ Guesthouse (B,L,D)
Sun., Apr. 6 – Tues., Apr. 8 Cat Tien National Park
We have three full days to explore this gem of a park to maximize our bird and mammal viewing. The park, established in 1998, combines three former protected areas; the earliest sector was the first protected area in the country, established in 1978. It is the most protected park in the country, with a natural river border between it and surrounding settlements.
There are excellent trails that start right from the headquarters area, and we use jeeps to explore further out in the field. Our days begin early, with breakfast at 5:30 AM, but luckily we have delicious coffee to get us going! Mornings are spent searching for birds and mammals in a variety of locations in the park until late morning. We return to headquarters for lunch and take a break from the mid-day heat before resuming our field time in the late afternoon.
Bird species we hope to see are three species of broadbills, including the unmistakable Black-and-red Broadbill that builds pendulous nests that hang over forested waterways. With luck we may find one building its nest. This forested area also provides good opportunity to see several woodpecker species including the small Black-and-buff and Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, the unique bamboo specialist Pale-headed Woodpecker, and the largest woodpecker in the world, the prehistoric looking Great Slaty Woodpecker. A few vulnerable and endangered bird species can also be found in Cat Tien including Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, a beautiful brown pheasant with iridescent sapphire spots on its body, Green Peafowl, and the elusive and intricately patterned Orange-necked Partridge.
Cat Tien is not only great for birding, but we also have the chance to see several mammal species as well; this is our best location to do so. This is lush, thick lowland evergreen forest and our visit is timed for the end of the dry season, so wildlife may congregate at water sources. There are a number of freshwater streams and lakes. The most sought after species is the Clouded Leopard but they are extremely rare and difficult to find (most often caught on camera traps). We should find Southern Red Muntjac, Sambar Deer, Gaur (the Asian equivalent of bison), and we may possibly find two endangered primates, Black-shanked Douc Langur and Buff-cheeked Gibbon.
We take a night walk to look for night birds and mammals on at least one of our nights here. Possible bird species include Great-eared Nightjar, Asian Barred Owlet, Collared Scops-Owl, and Brown Boobook. With luck we might find a Common Giant Flying Squirrel.
Birding Highlights: Germain’s Peacock-pheasant, Green Peafowl, Orange-necked Partridge, Green-legged Partridge, Siamese Fireback, Asian Woollyneck, Lesser Adjutant, Dollarbird, Coppersmith Barbet, Green-eared Barbet, White-bellied Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Banded Broadbill, Dusky Broadbill, Black-and-red Broadbill, and the Indochinese-endemic Grey-faced Tit-Babbler.
Accommodations at the Cat Tien HQ Guesthouse (B,L,D)
Wed., Apr. 9 Ho Chi Minh City
We spend our final morning birding at Cat Tien National Park to look for any species we may have missed over the last few days. After lunch we make our way to Ho Chi Minh City, which is a three-hour drive. We check into our hotel and get settled.
Tonight, we enjoy a final celebratory dinner, recount our trip highlights, and tally our species.
Accommodations at the Icon Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)
Thurs., Apr. 10 Departures
Today is at leisure for flights back home out of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN).
Mekong Delta River Cruise Post-Tour Extension
Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, bustling with activity. There are museums, markets, temples, and numerous sightseeing activities. One of the most popular is a floating market visited by boat, the Cai Rang Market. Our two-day extension combines some of the city highlights with a visit to the market on a two day cruise. Longer cruises are available that continue on to Siem Reap, Cambodia, home to World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat. Aqua Expeditions has a luxury cruise on a small, 40-passenger, ship that pairs well with our journey.
Thurs., Apr. 10 : Ho Chi Minh City | Mekong Delta
After breakfast, we head out of the bustling city and south toward the more peaceful Mekong Delta. The drive is approximately three hours and we arrive late morning. In Can Tho, we board the Mekong Eyes river cruiser, built from a traditional rice barge, but with modern comforts to make this a delightful journey. Once aboard, enjoy a welcome drink with the crew and settle into your comfortable ensuite cabins with a lovely panoramic view of the river. A delicious lunch is served as we depart downstream on the Hau River toward Mang Thit. After lunch, enjoy some time to relax on the upper deck as we cruise by lush tropical scenery, fruit orchards, and sugar cane fields.
In the afternoon, we disembark to visit a village on the banks of the River Mang Thit to appreciate the way of life and warm hospitality of the locals. Back on the boat, we admire the beautiful sunset from the upper deck, perhaps with a pre-dinner drink!
Accommodations on the Mekong Eyes (B,L,D)
Fri., Apr. 11 : Mekong Delta | Ho Chi Minh City
Awaken to the beautiful scenery along the riverbank as we cruise toward Cai Be. Breakfast is served as we cross the Co Chien River and Co Lach Canal, passing rice and sand barges. Traditional boat building yards and fruit dying facilities line the riverbanks as we relax and take in the scenery.
We transfer to a sampan to enjoy floating through the quiet backwaters, lined with lush vegetation. Once at Cai Be, we visit a local floating market where merchants sell exotic fruits and vegetables and skillfully designed handicrafts. We then make our way back to Can Tho mid-morning to disembark and make our way back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Once back in the city, we visit some iconic landmarks including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office, both dating back to the 1800s, as well as the former Presidential Palace, an important site in Vietnamese history. We also visit the famous Ben Thanh Market, which has over 1,500 booths selling everything from fruit and vegetables to fabrics and crafts.
After a fun afternoon exploring Ho Chi Minh City, we head to our hotel. We settle in our rooms and then enjoy one last wonderful Vietnamese dinner and recount the highlights of the last few days.
Accommodations in Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)
Sat., Apr. 12 : Departures
After breakfast, we head to the Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for flights home. (B)
Cost of the Journey
Cost of the journey is per person, based on occupancy: $4990 DBL / $5550 SGL from Hanoi, departing Ho Chi Minh City. The cost includes 13 nights’ accommodations; all meals as stated in the itinerary; group airport transfers; internal flight; ground transportation; professional guide services; park, preserve, and other activity fees; and miscellaneous program expenses.
Cost of the extension is $1195 DBL / $1555 SGL.
Cost of the journey does not include airfare from your home to Hanoi and from Ho Chi Minh City, visa cost, or items of a personal nature, such as drinks from the bar, telephone, and local guide gratuities.
Travel Details
Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.
Arrival Airport: Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi
Arrival Details: Please plan flights to arrive March 28, 2025, at your leisure. If you wish to join the group for dinner, please plan to arrive by 5:00 PM.
Departure Airport: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City
Departure Details: Please plan flights to depart April 10, 2025, at your leisure
Extension Departure Airport: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City
Extension Departure Details: Please plan flights to depart April 12, 2025, at your leisure
Travel Tips: If you arrive early to rest up from your travels or explore Hanoi, we can book you early nights at our first night tour hotel, the Grand Mercure Hanoi.
Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.
Vietnam
- March 2025
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Peg Abbott
Peg Abbott is the owner and lead guide of Naturalist Journeys, LLC. She has been designing, guiding, and organizing natural history tours for more than 25 years, working for the National Audubon Society and other organizations before launching Naturalist Journeys, LLC in 1998. Her work has taken her from Alaska to Africa and Argentina, as well as many other locations around the world. She has conducted research on several bird and mammal species and keeps a close interest in Yellowstone and Mexican wolf reintroduction projects. Her interests include all aspects of natural history and geology. After 20 years in and around the Yellowstone area, Peg relocated in 2003 to the birding mecca of Portal, AZ.
Photo credit: Carol Simon
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Photo credits: BANNERS: Bar-bellied Pitta, Black-and-red Broadbill, Rice Fields, Asian Barred Owlet THUMBNAILS: Bar-bellied Pitta, Northern White-cheeked Gibbon, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black-and-red Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Fujian Niltava, Necklaced Barbet, Gray-headed Swamphen