Exploring Vietnam

Our 2026 Vietnam birding tour began with an introduction to the country’s remarkable habitats at Van Long Wetland Reserve. Birding from traditional sampans through limestone karsts produced Asian Openbill, Cinnamon Bittern and Chinese Pond-Heron, while a close encounter with the endangered Delacour’s Langur provided an unforgettable start. 

In Cúc Phương National Park, forest birding around Bong Substation yielded Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Malayan Night-Heron and the localized Annam Limestone Babbler, despite challenging heat.

At Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, karst forests delivered Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, White-winged Magpie and eventually the sought-after Sooty Babbler, amongst a host of others, in a stunning setting. 

Sa Mu Pass added montane specialties including Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, while coastal birding near Lang Co produced White-faced Plover. 

The Central Highlands proved especially rewarding, with Ngoc Linh and Mang Den producing Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-crowned Barwing and Pale-blue Flycatcher.

Yok Don National Park provided a striking contrast with its open dipterocarp forest and seasonal pools along the Srepok River. Despite high temperatures, bird activity was impressive and woodpeckers were a major feature, with seven species recorded including the spectacular Great Slaty Woodpecker and Black-headed Woodpecker. Other highlights included Burmese Nuthatch, Crested Treeswift, Asian Barred Owlet, Eurasian Hoopoe, Rufous Treepie and Common Woodshrike, giving us an excellent introduction to this unique dry forest ecosystem. 

On the Da Lat Plateau, cool montane forests and pine woodland produced a suite of Vietnamese endemics and near-endemics. Highlights included the once-thought-extinct Grey-crowned Crocias, Vietnamese Cutia, Blue Pitta, Collared Laughingthrush and Vietnamese Greenfinch, reflecting the exceptional biodiversity of this highland region. 

The tour concluded at Cat Tien National Park, where lowland tropical forest and grasslands delivered some of the most exciting sightings of the trip. Visits to bird hides produced Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pittas and the impressive Siamese Fireback, while forest birding added Orange-breasted Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater and Green-billed Malkoha. A safari to the grasslands crowned the journey with a memorable encounter with Green Peafowl.

Across the length and breadth of Vietnam, with its diverse habitats, the group recorded more than 300 species in a rewarding and memorable expedition.