Northern Vietnam Bird Photography Tour 10-Days

Duration: 10 Days 9 Nights

Destination: Hanoi - Cuc Phuong - Mu Cang Chai – Phia Oac - Phia Den National Park - Cao Bang - Hanoi

From US Tour Enquiry

Our Vietnam birding tours focus on finding as many of Vietnam’s bird endemics, near-endemics and regional specials while also offering excellent photographic opportunities.

Tour brief

Bird Photography Tour – Best of Northern Vietnam 10-Days is especially focused on Pittas and Specialties of Northern Vietnam. We will spend 60% of time at bird hides giving you the opportunity for excellent photos. We will spend 40% of time trying our luck on birding trails, we will walk to look for birds that do not come to feeders like parottbills, bulbuls, sunbirds and many more classic tropical species.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Capital – Cuc Phuong National Park
We'll meet and welcome by Noi Bai airport or your hotel in Hanoi Capital. You will be transferred to Cuc Phuong National Park. We will arrive in time for some initial exploration this wonderful park and have a welcome dinner in the evening. Night at Cuc Phuong.

Day 2-3: Cuc Phuong National Park
We will have two full days to explore this beautiful, unique and fascinating park. We will spend most of time at Bird Hides, our main photographic targets will be the stunning Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta and Tonkin Partridge. If time permits we will try our luck on some other beautiful species on birding trails such as "Greyish Limestone-babbler" and "Fork-tailed Sunbird". Night at Cuc Phuong.

Expected birds in Cuc Phuong Bird Hides: Bar-bellied Pitta (Near Endemic), Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic), Tonkin Partridge (Endemic - Subspecies), Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Siberian Thrush, Orange-headed Thrush, Japanese Thrush, White-tailed Flycatcher, Fujian Niltava, Rufous-tailed Robin,…and more.

Expected birds on Cuc Phuong Birding Trails: Pied Falconet, Sultan Tit, Greyish Limestone-babbler, Fork-tailed Sunbird, bulbuls, flycatchers, warblers,…and more.

Day 4: Cuc Phuong National Park – Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao forest)
After an early morning birding at Cuc Phuong National Park, we will depart for the long drive to Mu Cang Chai, a new birding site that VietBird Ltd recently discovered that gives us a great opportunity to see the near-endemic "Pale-throated Wren Babbler", seen by only a handful of birders. Night at Mu Cang Chai.

Day 5-6: Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao forest)
We will have two full days to explore this excellent birding site. We will spend most of time walking along the roads and birding trails (*One mountain trail to the bird hide*). Our main photographic targets will be the near endemic Pale-throated Wren Babbler, Spectacled Barwing, Golden Parrotbill, Red Avadavat and Crested Bunting. If we are really lucky we will have a chance to get the rarest endemic "White-throated Wren-babbler". Nights at Mu Cang Chai.

Expected birds in Mu Cang Chai Bird Hides: Pale-throated Wren-Babbler (Near Endemic), Himalayan Shortwing, Pygmy (Blue) Flycatcher,…

Expected birds on Mu Cang Chai Birding Trails: Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, Crested Finchbill, Collared Finchbill, Black-faced Warbler, Chinese Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Manipur Fulvetta, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Pale-billed Parrotbill, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Black-streaked Scimitar-Babbler, White-throated Wren-Babbler (Endemic), Chestnut-tailed Minla/Bar-throated Minla, Spectacled Barwing, Red-tailed Minla, Green-tailed Sunbird, Red Avadavat, Crested Bunting,…and more.

Note extensions: You can spend time for capturing the beautiful landscapes of rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai, the land of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world.

Day 7: Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao forest) – Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park
Today we will depart Mu Cang Chai in the early morning and take a long drive to Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, located in Cao Bang province. During our journey to Cao Bang, we will take some stopping off for birds and wonderful landscapes of Northwest Vietnam. Night at Cao Bang.

Day 8-9: Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park
We will have two full days to explore Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park (located in Cao Bang province), this is a new birding site that VietBird Ltd recently discovered that gives us a great opportunity to see the rare and shy "Blue-naped Pitta". We also hope to get photos of other specialties such as Gray Laughingthrush, Silver-eared Laughingthrush and the cutest species of "Tesias". Nights at Cao Bang.

Expected birds in Phia Oac-Phia Den Bird Hides: Blue-naped Pitta, Gray-bellied Tesia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Spot-necked Babbler, Tonkin Streaked Wren-babbler (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Fujian Niltava, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher,…and more.

Expected birds on Phia Oac-Phia Den Birding Trails: Western Grey Treepie, Chestnut Bulbul, Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Whiskered Yuhina, Gray Laughingthrush, Russet Sparrow,…and more.

Day 10: Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park – Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport (Departure flight)
After some final birding at Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park before going to Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport for departure flights.

Inclusions

Private transfer
Food
Complimentary mineral water
Entrance fees
English speaking guide.

Exclusions

Drinks, Personnal expenses., etc.

Hotels

Accommodation: Comfortable hotel and Guesthouse at the Parks. All accommodations have hot water, free Wi-Fi and most have air-conditioning.
Leeches do occur in some of the reserves and encountering them really depends on how much recent rain there has been. If you do have leach socks, it might therefore be a good idea to bring them along.

Tour Enquiry