Day 1: International arrivals into Ho Chi Minh City International Airport (SGN). Night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Following an early morning breakfast, we'll head to a small forest reserve where Orange-necked Partridge can reliably be seen at a feeding hide, along with the exquisite Siamese Fireback. After lunch, we'll continue to Cat Tien National Park for a three-night stay. 

Day 3-4: This extensive tract of lowland forest provides some of the best birding in Indochina, with endemics like Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Blue-rumped Pitta, and Bar-bellied Pitta remaining reasonably common. These days, all three visit hides and provide intimate views as they feed unconcernedly in front of us. Some other much-wanted species include Green Peafowl, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Red-vented Barbet and Grey-faced Tit Babbler. More widespread species include Orange-breasted Trogon, Black-and-red Broadbill, Banded Kingfisher, and many more. We should also see the stunning Black-shanked Douc, along with Buff-cheeked Gibbon. Those who wish to join for some spotlighting may get lucky with Leopard Cat, Pygmy Loris, or Ruby-eyed Green Pitviper! 

Day 5-6-7-8: Heading into the mountains for four nights split between Di Linh and Dalat, much of our time will be spent in hides where some of Vietnam's rarest species are regular visitors. There are dozens of these spread across the area, and our visits will be determined by what species are known to be regularly visiting. In particular, the glowing Collared Laughingthrush and skulking Orange-breasted Laughingthrush will be our two biggest targets, while other hide visitors might include Silver Pheasant, Bar-backed Partridge, Blue Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-crowned Fulvetta, and sometimes even Indochinese Green Magpie. 

Forest birding along roads and trails will focus on Yellow-vented Green Pigeon, Grey-crowned Crocias, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-headed Parrotbill, Vietnamese Greenfinch, and the newly-split Annam Prinia. Other species around include Red-headed Trogon, Slender-billed Oriole, White-spectacled Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, and Rufous-backed Sibia, plus endemic forms of Black-throated Sunbird, Black-headed Sibia, and Blue-winged Minla.

Day 9: Today we will transit north to Mang Den, via two flights and a short drive! Night in Mang Den.

Day 10: While only discovered in 1999, the extremely range-restricted Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush is now straightforward to see at feeding blinds along a newly-constructed road into the hill forest above town. This is an excellent site to see Black-hooded Laughingthrush, along with Necklaced Barbet, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, and the distinctive black-crested "Annam" Sultan Tit. Night in Mang Den.

Day 11: After another morning around Mang Den, we'll head to Dak To, possibly arriving in time for an afternoon session. Night at Dak To.

Day 12: For many years, Ngoc Linh National Park was almost impossible to access, and the special birds present here were seen by very few. However, just recently, another excellent feeding blind a short walk from the road has been developed. Attended daily by the star bird of this area, Golden-winged Laughingthrush, we should also have intimate encounters with the near-endemic Black-crowned Barwing and Indochinese Fulvetta, plus Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler and the stunning Red-tailed Laughingthrush. Other more widespread species include Clicking Shrike-Babbler, Green Shrike-babbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Mountain Fulvetta, Black-faced Warbler, Red-tailed Minla, and Green-tailed Sunbird. Night at Dak To.

Day 13: Departing early, we will arrive at Bach Ma National Park in time for afternoon birding. This is a good backup site for several important species we may have missed further south, like Indochinese Green Magpie, Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler (aka Indochinese Wren-Babbler), and Black-browed Fulvetta. Birding in this area can be hard work, but we hope to add a few extra new species like White-winged Magpie, White-gorgeted Flycatcher and Black-throated Laughingthrush. Night at Bach Ma National Park.

Day 14: After a full morning birding inside the national park again, we will head to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) where the tour ends at midday in time for afternoon flights. There are multiple flights each day to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Hong Kong. 

NOTE: Two other endemics, Pale-throated Wren-Babbler and White-throated Wren-Babbler, are available in the far north of the country, but doing both require several days and some extensive hiking. Please let us know if you are interested and we can coordinate a plan between participants. It is also relatively straightforward to visit Laos for a couple of days in search of Bare-faced Bulbul and Sooty Babbler at the best site for these species.