Day 2-Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien National Park. B/L/D.
Cat Tien National Park, established in 1978 is probably the richest lowland birding site in the country. It was not defoliated during the Vietnam War and is covered in forests, thickets of bamboo, marshes and streams. Rarities like Siamese Fireback, Germain's Peacock-Pheasant, Orange-necked Partridge (rediscovered in 1991 after over 60 years of no records), White-bellied and Great Slaty woodpeckers, Red-vented Barbet, Great and Wreathed Hornbills and Banded Kingfisher will be sought among many others. Our overnight accommodations are at the newly redesigned Cat Tien Guest House.

Day 4-Full day's birdwatching in Cat Tien Forest. B/L/D.
New species to be sought today may include the endemic Indochinese Green Magpie, Green Peafowl, Heart-spotted Woodpecker and Scaly-breasted Partridge. The park hosts several primates and animals which we may be fortunate to spot : Buff-cheeked Gibbon, Black-shanked Langur, Pig-tailed Macaque, Wild Boar, Gaur, Sambur, Leopard Cat and Lesser Mousedeer.

Day 6-Tuyen Lam all day. B/L/D.
All-day birding in Tuyen Lam forest .Search for Rufous-throated and Bar-backed Partridge, Black-browed and Moustached Barbet, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Lesser Shortwing, Jerdon's Baza, Gray-chinned Minivet and Blue-winged Minla, and many more. Overnight in Novotel Hotel, Dalat.

Day 7-Lang Biang Mountain. B/L/D.
Morning birding in Lang Biang Forest. Late afternoon birding in Tuyen Lam forest. Overnight at Novotel Hotel, Dalat.
Species possible are Asian Drongo-Cuckoo, Blue Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, Long-tailed Minivet, Slaty-backed and Spotted forktails, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Brown Prinia, Mountain Fulvetta, Cutia, Pygmy-wren Babbler, Brown Bullfinch, Gould's Sunbird, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Gray-bellied Tesia,  Blue-winged Minla, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Green-backed and Yellow-cheeked tits.

Day 8-Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City. B/L/D.
Morning bird watching at Da Lat. In the afternoon, leave for Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight at Kim Do Hotel.
Da Lat is a beautiful resort area siituated at 1475 metres, where recent finds have been Grey-crowned Crocia, Black-hooded Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch.

Day 9-Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi B/L/D.
After breakfast, we transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for our flight to Hanoi. Overnight in the   Flower Hotel.

Day 10-Hanoi to Cuc Phuong National Park. B/L/D.
We leave Hanoi after breakfast and head to Cuc Phuong Nat. Pk. It is approximately 3 hours' drive. This was the first national park to be assigned in Vietnam in 1962. It is an area of limestone hills covered in primary rainforest. There are many very good trails in the park, particularly in the centre. Over-wintering thrushes can be seen along the main road.
Target species include Silver Pheasant, Pied Falconet, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Blue-rumped and Eared pittas, Fujian Niltava, White-winged Magpie and Limestone Wren-Babbler. Overnight in Cuc Phuong Guest House.

Day 15-Xuan Thuy. B/L/D.
A final day in this excellent habitat comprising shrimp ponds, flooded fields, salt pans, mangrove swamps and estuarine mudflats.

Day 18-Sapa to Ba Be National Park. B/L/D.
After breakfast, we take a long van trip to Ba Be National Park, where we will be staying 2 nights in the Guest House.

Day 19-Ba Be National Park : all-day birding. B/L/D.
Ba Be was established as a national park in 1992. It is 240 km. from Hanoi. It is named after its 3 major lakes. Numerous bird, mammal (65) and butterfly (354) species have been recorded here, including birds such as Asian Barred Owlet, White-eared Night Heron, Puff-throated Bulbul, Black-throated Sunbird, Siberian and Scaly Thrush, Crested Goshawk, Orange-headed Thrush, Mountain Tailorbird, Red-headed Trogon, Grey Bushchat and Orange-bellied Leafbird.
King Cobra occurs. Mammals include Chinese Pangolin, Slow Loris, Asiatic Black Bear, Rhesus Macaque, Owston's Palm Civet and Mainland Serow.