Thu 14 Nov: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

Pick-up from flight XX XXX arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at XX:XX and transfer to hotel for the night. Overnight at Ho Chi Minh City.

Fri 15 Nov: Ho Chi Minh City to Bach Ma National Park via Hue

Pick-up from hotel at 08:30 and transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport in good time for flight VN 1372 departing for Hue at 11:10. Arrive at Hue Airport at 12:35 and transfer directly to Bach Ma National Park, a short drive to the south. After checking in at the summit HQ accommodation the afternoon is spent exploring the forest below the summit where target species include Silver Pheasant, Indochinese Green Magpie and the near-endemic Indochinese Wren-babbler. Overnight at Bach Ma National Park.

Sat 16 Nov: Bach Ma National Park to Dak To

A full morning for birding at Bach Ma National Park where other specialities include Long-tailed & Silver-breasted broadbills Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Masked, Lesser-necklaced & Black-throated Laughingthrushes. Overnight at Dak To.

Sun 17 Nov: Dak To to Ngoc Linh. Ngoc Linh to Mang Den via Dak To

Depart Dak To at around 4 am for the two-hour drive on pot-holed roads towards Mount Ngoc Linh. On arrival at the site spend a full morning searching for the beautiful endemic Golden-winged Laughingthrush, seen only by a handful of birders since its discovery in the late 1990s. The two other specialities that can most easily be seen around here are the near-endemic Black-crowned Barwing and Indochinese Fulvetta. Return to Dak To around noon and continue travelling south to Mang Den, arriving at the hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight at Mang Den.

Mon 18 Nov: Mang Den

A full day’s birding at Mang Den where the recently-discovered and seldom-seen endemic, Chestnut- eared Laughingthrush, is the main target. Other specialities of the Mang Den area include the scarce Pale-capped Pigeon, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded Laughingthrush and Indochinese Wren- babbler. Overnight at Mang Den.

Tue 19 Nov: Mang Den to Yok Don National Park

Depart Mang Den after breakfast for the scenic drive south to Yok Don National Park in Daklak Province. Arrive at Yok Don in the early afternoon and set out to explore the banks of the Srepok River and the dry deciduous forests of Yok Don. Specialities here that are not easily seen elsewhere in Vietnam include Fulvous-breasted, Rufous-bellied and Black-headed woodpeckers, Alexandrine and Blossom-headed parakeets, White-rumped pygmy-falcon, Red-billed Blue Magpie & Rufous Treepie. Overnight at Yok Don National Park.

Wed 20 Nov: Yok Don National Park to Dalat

An early morning of birding at Yok Don before departing on the long drive south to the cooler climes of Dalat. In the late afternoon if time allows make the first of several visits to the Ta Nung Valley, a small but bird-filled area of remnant evergreen forest 10 km from Dalat. This is the most accessible site for two rare Vietnamese endemics, Grey-crowned Crocias and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush. In addition to these two beauties, the very distinct local subspecies of Blue-winged Siva, Black- headed Sibia and Black-throated Sunbird can found here. Overnight at Dalat.

Thu 21, Fri 22 & Sat 23 Nov: Dalat

There are several other excellent birding sites around Dalat. At Mount Lang Bian, a 2,169 m high peak 20 minutes from Dalat, Hume’s Treecreeper, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Grey-crowned Tit, Vietnamese Cutia and Black-crowned Fulvetta are found in the remaining evergreen forest below the summit. The most sought-after species here however is the beautiful and skulking endemic Collared Laughingthrush. Ho Tuyen Lam, a man-made lake just out of town, is a great place to look for some of the local pine specialists including Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Burmese Shrike, Red Crossbill and Vietnamese Greenfinch. Overnight at Dalat.

Sun 24 Nov: Dalat to Di Linh

There is time for some final early morning at Dalat before continuing south for two hours to Di Linh. In the afternoon make the first of two visits to Deo Suoi Lanh, an excellent site to look for several Dalat Plateau specialities including Black-hooded, White-cheeked and Orange-breasted Laughingthrushes and the near-endemic Black-crowned Parrotbill. After an afternoon’s birding at Deo Suoi Lanh return to Di Linh for the night. Overnight at Di Linh.

Mon 25 Nov: Di Linh to Cat Tien National Park

A second visit to Deo Suoi Lanh to look for other exciting possibilities that could include Blue Pitta, Indochinese Green Magpie, Spotted Forktail and Green Cochoa, before continuing south along Highway 20 to Cat Tien National Park. Cat Tien contains the largest remaining area of lowland tropical forest in southern Vietnam and an incredible diversity of birds and mammals. Endangered birds found at Cat Tien include Germain’s Peacock-pheasant, Green Peafowl and the elusive Orange-necked Partridge while the mammal list includes Leopard Cat, Lesser Mousedeer, Gaur and three beautiful primates, Black-shanked Douc Langur, Silvered Langur and Buff-cheeked Gibbon. Overnight at Cat Tien National Park.

Tue 26 & Wed 27 Nov: Cat Tien National Park

Two full days of birding at Cat Tien National Park. There are excellent trails starting right at the park headquarters and for areas further afield such as Crocodile Lake jeeps are used. The 5 km walk through semi-evergreen forest to Crocodile Lake can be good for the near-endemic Germain’s Peacock-pheasant and Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied pittas while the beautiful Siamese Fireback can often be seen on an early morning drive to the start of the Crocodile Lake trail. Among the many other avian treats to be found at Cat Tien are Scaly-breasted Partridge, Woolly-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, a dozen species of woodpecker, three species of broadbill and the Indochinese-endemic Grey-faced Tit-Babbler. Overnight at Cat Tien National Park.

Thu 28 Nov: Cat Tien National Park to Ho Chi Minh City

A final morning of birding at Cat Tien National Park before heading south on Highway One to Ho Chi Minh City, transferring to Tan Son Nhat International Airport on arrival in good time for departure flight to Europe.