VIETNAM BIRDS and PRIMATES
APR. 11TH - 24TH, 2026
4 Spaces Available!
Details
This Vietnam adventure is crafted for wildlife photographers eager to capture some of Southeast Asia’s most striking and regionally unique species.
red-tailed-laughingthrush
female-yellow-cheeked-gibbon-vietnam-primates-01
Beginning in Ho Chi Minh City, the journey quickly leads into the bird-rich forests of Ma Da and Cat Tien National Park, where hides and trails offer exceptional chances to photograph near-endemic species such as Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, and Indochinese Green Magpie.
bar-bellied-pitta-hydrornis-elliotii-vietnam-birds-01
black-throated-sunbird
In Cat Tien, you’ll also have the rare opportunity to photograph Vietnam’s charismatic primates, including the endangered Black-shanked Douc Langur and Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, in one of the country’s last remaining lowland rainforests.
delacours-langur
The tour then ascends to the biodiverse Da Lat Plateau and Di Linh, regions boasting the highest concentration of endemic bird species in Vietnam. Key photographic targets include the Vietnamese Cutia (endemic), Dalat Shrike-Babbler (endemic), Vietnamese Greenfinch (endemic), Annam Sunbird (near-endemic), Annam Prinia (endemic), and the elusive and vividly colored Blue Pitta (near-endemic). The adventure culminates in the coastal forests of Son Tra Nature Reserve, home to the stunning Red-shanked Douc Langur, one of the world’s most visually arresting primates and an icon of Vietnam’s endangered wildlife.
With a mix of bird hides, forest trails, and carefully timed access to prime locations, this tour offers unmatched opportunities to photograph Vietnam’s rarest and most beautiful species in their natural habitats.
About your leader…
Anuradha (Anu) Marwah, is an erstwhile IT-marketing professional, who has work for renowned IT companies like NIIT and MIcrosoft. She gave up, as the lure of being out in the wilderness paled in comparison to a high flying corporate career. Quitting her job gave her greater flexibility to pursue photography fulltime and over the years, she has travelled extensively across various wilderness domains, documenting natural history moments.
Anu has been a Canon brand ambassador,in the past, championing women in the field of photography. She has delivered several training sessions for canon as well as several prestigious institutions. She also conducts wildlife tours in Indian and several other Asian & African destinations.
Anu contributes her photographic and written works to photography and nature magazines, books and online platforms. She has authored the recently published Official Coffee Table book of Corbett National Park, India’s and Asia’s 1st National Park, a place she considers to be her second home. While she loves to travel and shoot for its simple pleasure and for the joy of being in the moment, awards and accolades have not eluded her, she has been honoured by Sanctuary Asia, International Nature Namur, Golden Orchid International, National Biodiversity Authority Photography Awards, Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests, PEFC International, UNESCO to name a few.
6 Particpants
$8,200
$700 single supplement*
Payment schedule: September 2025, January 2026
Custom payment plans are available upon request.
*If you would like a shared room, we will do our best to pair you with another participant, however, if a roommate is not available, the single supplement will apply.
collared-laughingthrush
germains-peacock-pheasant
ITINERARY
APR. 11TH - 24TH, 2026
Day 1 (Apr. 11th): Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
We’ll meet and welcome by Tan Son Nhat airport, Ho Chi Minh City. You will be transferred to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Night at Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2 (Apr. 12th): Ho Chi Minh City – Ma Da forest
Pick up at your hotel and drive to Ma Da forest, 2.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, located between Ho Chi Minh City and Cat Tien National Park. We will arrive in time to begin our exploration of this forest. Main targets in Ma Da bird hides: Indochinese Green Magpie, Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Indochinese Babbler. Night at Ma Da town.
Expected birdsin Ma Da Bird Hides: Indochinese Green Magpie, Bar-bellied Pitta (near endemic), Blue-rumped Pitta (near endemic), Silver-breasted Broadbill, Laced Woodpecker, Indochinese Babbler, Puff-throated Babbler,
Buff-breasted Babbler, Abbott’s Babbler, Black-crested Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Gray-eyed Bulbul, Ochraceous Bubul, White-rumped Shama, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Indochinese Blue Flycatcher, and more.
✧ Travel time: 2.5 hours
Day 3 (Apr. 13th): Ma Da forest – Cat Tien National Park
We will have a full day birding at Ma Da forest. In the late afternoon we will go to Cat Tien National Park, the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Vietnam, and one of the best birding destinations in the country, and harbours an incredible diversity of wildlife, including over 350 bird species has been recorded. Night at Cat Tien National Park.
✧ Travel time: 2.5 hours
Day 4 (Apr. 14th): Cat Tien National Park
We will have a full day birding in this wonderful park, the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Vietnam, and one of the best birding destinations in the country. We will spend most of our time at bird hides, our main targets include: Bar-bellied Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta, Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback. We will explore some birding trails and look for other beautiful birds such as Green Peafowl, Orange-breasted Trogon Banded Kingfisher
and the beautiful species of broadbills. We also have a chance to see the most, especially primates “Black-shanked Douc Langur” and “Yellow-cheeked Gibbon”. Nights at Cat Tien National Park.
Expected birds in Cat Tien Bird Hides: Siamese Fireback, Green-legged Partridge, Germain’s Peacock- Pheasant (Near Endemic), Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic), Bar-bellied Pitta (Near Endemic), Black-crested Bulbul, Stripe throated Bulbul, Gray-eyed Bulbul, Puff-throated Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Abbott’s Babbler, White-rumped Shama, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Indochinese Blue Flycatcher,…and more.
Expected birds on Cat Tien Birding Trails: Gray-faced Tit-Babbler (Near Endemic), Indochinese Babbler (Near Endemic – Subspecies), Green Peafowl, Orange-breasted Trogon, Banded Kingfisher, Black-and-red Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, woodpeckers, sunbirds,…and more.
Expected mammals: Black-shanked Douc Langur, Yellow-cheeked Gibbon
Day 5 (Apr. 15th): Cat Tien National Park – Da Lat Plateau
After some final birding at Cat Tien we will drive north to Da Lat Plateau for a two nights stay. We will arrive in time to begin our exploration of Da Lat Plateau, the place with the largest number of endemic species and specialties of Vietnam. Night at Da Lat City.
✧ Travel time: 5 hours
Day 6-7 (Apr. 16th-17th): Da Lat Plateau
We will have two full days to explore the excellent birding sites and bird-hides in Da Lat Plateau. Our main targets include the rare Rusty-naped Pitta, Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), Langbian Sunbird (Endemic – Subspecies), Annam Sunbird (Near Endemic – Subspecies), Vietnamese Greenfinch (Endemic) and other specialties. Nights at Da Lat City.
Expected birds in Da Lat Bird Hides: Rusty-naped Pitta, Indochinese Wren Babbler (Near Endemic), White cheeked Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Langbian Lesser Shortwing (Near Endemic – Subspecies), Gray-bellied Tesia, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Siberian Thrush, Orange-headed Thrush, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Large Niltava, White-tailed Robin, Snowy-browed Flycatcher,and more.
Expected birds on Da Lat Birding Trails: Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), Gray-crowned Crocias (Endemic), Vietnamese Greenfinch (Endemic), Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Indochinese Barbet (Near Endemic), Annam Minivet (Endemic – Subspecies), Langbian Tit (Endemic – Subspecies), White-spectacled Sibia (Endemic – Subspecies), Plain Minla (Near Endemic – Subspecies), Annam Sunbird (Near Endemic – Subspecies), and more.
Day 8 (Apr. 18th): Da Lat Plateau – Deo Nui San (Di Linh)
After some final birding at Da Lat Plateau this morning, we will drive south to Di Linh town. In the afternoon we will start the exploration of the Deo Nui San area. Night at Di Linh town.
✧ Travel time: 2.5 hours
Day 9 (Apr. 19th): Deo Nui San (Di Linh)
Today we will have a full day birding at Deo Nui San, a pass surrounded by impressive forested hills. Our main targets here include Annam Prinia (Endemic), Red-vented Barbet ((Near Endemic), Black-headed Parrotbill (Near Endemic) and the beautiful Blue Pitta. Night at Di Linh town.
Expected birds in Di Linh Bird Hides: Blue Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic), Black-headed Parrotbill (Near Endemic), Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-bellied Erpornis, Ochraceous Bulbul, Brown-backed Bulbul (Near Endemic – Subspecies), White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Siberian Thrush, Orange headed Thrush, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, White-throated Rock-Thrush,…and more.
Expected birds on Di Linh Birding Trails: Annam Prinia (Endemic), Red-vented Barbet((Near Endemic), Long- tailed Broadbill,…
Day 10 (Apr. 20th): Deo Nui San (Di Linh) – Ho Chi Minh City
Today we will have a full day birding at Deo Nui San, a pass surrounded by impressive forested hills. Our main targets here include Annam Priania (Endemic), Black-headed Parrotbill (Near Endemic), Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic) and Blue Pitta. Night at Di Linh town.
Expected birds in Di Linh Bird Hides: Blue Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic), Black-headed Parrotbill (Near Endemic), Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-bellied Erpornis, Ochraceous Bulbul, Brown-backed Bulbul (Near Endemic – Subspecies), White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Siberian Thrush, Orange headed Thrush, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, White-throated Rock-Thrush,…and more.
Expected birds on Di Linh Birding Trails: Annam Priania (Endemic), Red-vented Barbet(Near Endemic), Long- tailed Broadbill,…and more.
Day 11 (Apr. 21st): Ho Chi Minh City – Son Tra Nature Reserve (Da Nang City)
This morning, we will take a domestic flight to Da Nang City. In the afternoon we will start the exploration of the Son Tra Nature Reserve, where we have great opportunity to see the most colorful primates of the world “Red-Shanked Douc Langur”. Night at Da Nang City.
✧ Travel time: Domestic flight
Day 12 (Apr. 22nd): Son Tra Nature Reserve
We have a full day to explore Son Tra Nature Reserve, only half an hour from Da Nang City. This Reserve is a beautiful peninsula, the only peninsula in Vietnam that has a natural forest ecosystem associated with the
sea. Especially, this area is also considered the kingdom of the ”Red-Shanked Douc Langur” – Indochina’s endemic primate which is a species that could face extinction in the near future without proper conservation
efforts. This area is also the best and easiest place in the world to observe this wonderful primate in its natural habitat. Night at Da Nang City.
Day 13 (Apr. 23rd): Son Tra Nature Reserve – Ho Chi Minh City
After a morning round for “Red-Shanked Douc Langur” at Son Tra Nature Reserve, we will drive to the Da Nang Airport to take a domestic flight back to Ho Chi Minh City. Night at Ho Chi Minh City
✧ Travel time: 1 domestic flight
Day 14 (Apr. 24th): Tour concludes with international departure from Ho Chi Minh City
The tour concludes with your departure from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City anytime during the day. Please note thatbreakfastisincluded today butno othermeals are included.Also note thatthe hotel check out time is noon, if you intend to stay beyond check-out time additional fees will be payable to the hotel and will depend on their availability situation.
RESERVE SPACE
APR. 11TH - 24TH, 2026
INCLUDED
Accommodations day 1-14
All ground transportation
Domestic flights
All meals
Photography mentoring from an experienced, award winning tour leader
Expert guiding services
All entrance fees
Bird-hide fees
Local bird guide fees
Pre-trip zoom meeting
EXCLUDED
International flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Laundry and other personal items
Gratuities
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Easy-moderate. There will be walking short distances to hides etc. Some surfaces may be uneven or on a slight incline.