High light: Ho Chi Minh City - Nam Cat Tien - Da Lat - Bach Ma - Hue - Cuc Phuong - Ha Noi

(TRAVPR.COM) VIETNAM - December 26th, 2011 -
Price: Contact us
Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
Tour route: Hanoi, Saigon, Ninh Binh, Hue, Dalat
Transportation type: Car, Airplane
Tour code: IET - VN 5.8

Day 1: Arrival - Ho Chi Minh City Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in the City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Nam Cat Tien Drive to Nam Cat Tien National Park , 170 km from HCMC in Dong Nai Province . Once off Highway One, the road passes through large areas of rubber plantations before branching off the highway on a rough track to the national park. An incredible diversity of birds and mammals, live in the forest and wetland habitats of Nam Cat Tien, including an estimated 230 species of birds. Endangered birds to be found here include White-winged Duck, White-shouldered Ibis, Germains Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl and the very elusive Orange-necked Partridge. Mammal species found in the park include Indochinese Tiger, Asian Elephant and the last surviving Annamese Rhino, a sub species of the Javan Rhino, although you would have to be extremely lucky to catch a glimpse of any of these. Wild boar, several species of deer and the rare Duoc Langur and Crested Gibbon are sometimes seen. The Afternoon is spent birding along the road from the park headquarters. Overnight at Nam Cat Tien.

Day 3: Nam Cat Tien A full day of birding begins with an early start along the river road from the headquarters by jeep and foot. Also visit Bird LakeNam Cat Tien. to look for visiting waders and perhaps a glimpse of Green Peafowl. Interesting species to look out for include Germain's Peacock-Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Bar-bellied Pitta, Grey-faced Tit-Babbler, Green Imperial Pigeon and Mountain Hawk-Eagle. Overnight at

Day 4: Nam Cat Tien Another early start for the 6 km walk through forest to Crocodile Lake . Species that can be seen here include Green Peafowl by Crocodile Lake in the early morning or late afternoon, Bronze-winged Jacana, Lesser Adjutant and Purple Heron. In the forest look out for Red and Black and Banded Broadbill, Orange-breasted Trogon and Pale-headed Woodpecker amongst others. Overnight at Nam Cat Tien.

Day 5: Nam Cat Tien – Da Lat A final morning of birding along the headquarters road where Green-eared, Blue-eared and Lineated Barbet can often be seen perched high up in roadside trees. Leave for Da Lat after lunch. It is a scenic drive through tea and coffee plantations to the cooler climes of the former colonial hill station, Da Lat. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Da Lat. Overnight in Da Lat.

Day 6: Da Lat A full day of birding at Mount Lang Bian where the evergreen forests are home to many interesting species including some endemics. Key species to be found at Mount Lang Bian include Silver Pheasant, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Rufous-capped Babbler, Yellow-billed Nuthatch and Mugimaki Flycatcher. This is also the place to see two of Vietnam 's endemics, the Collared Laughingthrush and the Vietnamese Greenfinch. Overnight in Da Lat.

Day 7: Da Lat Tuyen Lam Lake , only 3 km from the centre of town, is Da Lat's other hotspot for birders. Take a boat to far side of the lake where a track leads through scrub up to areas of tropical evergreen forest. This is where the Grey-crowned Crocias was recently re-discovered after not being seen for 60 years. Other interesting species here include Red-vented Barbet, Spotted Forktail, Cutia, Black-hooded, White-cheeked and Collared Laughingthrush. Overnight in Da Lat.

8: Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City . On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City . Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City .

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Hue - Bach Ma An early transfer to the Airport to catch the early morning flight to Hue in the centre of Vietnam . On arrival at Hue follow the coast for 45 km south down Highway One before turning inland on the road that leads to Bach Ma National Park, 20 km away. The road from the park entrance to the park guesthouse near the summit is very scenic with sweeping vistas of undisturbed rainforest and the coastal plain. The park accommodation is in renovated colonial villas and the ruins of once grand holiday homes and hotels are scattered along the trails from this point up to the summit. There are many good trails for birders and for non-birders alike with several waterfalls and small lakes. Overnight at Bach Ma.

Day 10: Bach Ma Bach Ma National Park is a very well-run operation and knowledgeable park guides can be hired if required. Over 330 species of bird have been recorded at Bach Ma and specialities include the endemic Annam Partridge, the Crested Argus, Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo, Blyth 's Kingfisher and the Ratchet-tailed Treepie. Overnight at Bach Ma.

Day 11: Bach Ma – Hue - Ha Noi - Cuc Phuong A final morning exploring the forest trails before leaving for Hue Airport to catch the early afternoon flight north to Ha Noi. On arrival in Ha Noi transfer directly to Cuc Phuong National Park , a 3 hours-drive to the south. Overnight in Cuc Phuong.

Day 12: Cuc Phuong The first national park to be established in Vietnam , Cuc Phuong is an area of limestone hills covered with large tracts of primeval rainforest. Key bird species here include Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Brown Hornbill, Bar-bellied, Blue-rumped and Eared Pitta, White-winged Magpie, Sultan Tit, Red-Vented Barbet, Limestone Wren-Babbler, Fujian Niltava and Pied Falconet. Overnight in Cuc Phuong.

Day 13: Cuc Phuong A fulot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Ruddy Kingfisher, Silver-breasted Broadbill and White-tailed Flycatcher. Overnight in Cul day's birdwatching on the trails of Cuc Phuong. The birding is good at Cuc Phuong with over 300 species recorded in the park. Endangered mammals such as Indochinese Tiger, Clouded Leopard and the rare Delacour Langur also inhabit the forests of Cuc Phuong. Overnight in Cuc Phuong. Other possible bird species include Spc Phuong.

Day 14: Cuc Phuong - Ha Noi - Departure A morning of birdwatching before driving back to Ha Noi in the afternoon and transferring to Noi Bai Airport for departure flight

INCLUDING  * English Speaking tour leader (other languages upon requests)  * All accommodations base on twin-share at hotel, guesthouse and Home stay.etc…  * Meals detailed in the itinerary (B = Breakfast , L = Lunches ,D = Dinners)  * A/C transfers and transportation.  * Boat trip mention in itinerary  * Sightseeing excursions as outlined in itinerary  * Domestic Flight Ticket   * Mineral water drinking.  * Seasonal fruits.  * Snacks

NOT INCLUDING  * International airfares  * Travel insurance and bike helmet (compulsory)  * Items of a personal nature  * Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks  * Mineral water beyond that supplied  * Single Supplement  * Optional excursions  * Additional transport required due to any emergency situation  * Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills  * Visa fees  * Departure taxes  * Tipping for guiding

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