Cambodia & South Vietnam

Our tour begins in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

We will depart early from Ho Chi Minh City and make a detour to the Mekong coast for shorebirding. The main objective is to visit suitable tidal flats and coastal wetlands during a productive tide window, with a special search for Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other East Asian-Australasian Flyway migrants.

After lunch, we will begin the drive north to Cat Tien National Park. We expect to arrive in the late afternoon and may have a short introductory birding session before dinner, depending on timing and light.

Key birds and targets: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Chinese Egret and other coastal birds.

We will spend the next 3 nights in Cat Tien National Park.

Cat Tien National Park contains the largest remaining tract of lowland tropical forest in southern Vietnam – a mosaic of primary and secondary forest, seasonal wetlands and large swaths of grassland and bamboo. Cat Tien is one of Vietnam’s premier birding sites and exploring the jeep tracks and forest trails here should give us a good chance of finding our key targets. Early morning and late afternoon will be especially important for pheasants, pittas, broadbills, woodpeckers, hornbills, and mixed forest flocks. During the warmer part of the day, bird activity may slow down. We will use this time for lunch, rest, and moving between sites so that we can maximize effort during the best birding periods.

Key birds and targets: Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Blue-rumped Pitta, Bar-bellied Pitta, Orange-necked Partridge, Wreathed Hornbill, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Black-and-red Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Dusky Broadbill and Grey-faced Tit-Babbler.

Overnights Cat Tien National Park Headquarters Guesthouse.

After a final early-morning birding session in Cat Tien, we will leave for Di Linh. The transfer also moves the tour from lowland forest into the southern highlands, with a different suite of birds and cooler conditions.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Nui San Pass area if timing allows. This is one of the best-known birding sites in Vietnam’s southern highlands and is particularly important for pittas and highland forest birds.
Key birds and targets: Blue Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, Green Cochoa, Spotted Forktail, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Cutia and Black-crowned Parrotbill. Overnight: Ivory Falls Villa Resort, Di Linh

We will return early to Nui San Pass for another chance at key species such as Blue Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, Green Cochoa, laughingthrushes, and mixed-flock birds.

After birding, we will continue to the Langbian Plateau and Da Lat. If time allows, we may make birding stops en route.

Da Lat is known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its comfortable temperate climate. The region’s landscape is picturesque – dotted with lakes and surrounded by woodland full of native pines. The distinct weather and habitats make the Da Lat Plateau a biodiversity hotspot, recognized by Birdlife International as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA).

Key birds and targets: Blue Pitta, Rusty-naped Pitta, Green Cochoa, Spotted Forktail, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush and other highland forest birds.

We will spend the next 3 nights at La Sapinette Hotel, Da Lat.

We will spend the day exploring the Da Lat Plateau, including forested areas around Mount Langbian and other productive birding sites depending on access and recent bird activity.

The plateau supports a remarkable concentration of Vietnamese endemics, near-endemics, and highland specialties. Early starts will be important, and breakfast may be arranged flexibly depending on birding priorities.

Key birds and targets: Collared Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Grey-crowned Tit, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Dalat Shrike-babbler, Black-headed Sibia, Rufous-backed Sibia, Hume’s Treecreeper, Bar-backed Partridge and Silver Pheasant.

Today we will continue birding around Da Lat, with particular attention to Ta Nung Valley, one of the best sites for the rediscovered Grey-crowned Crocias. We will also search for additional Da Lat endemics and other highland forest species.

The day will remain flexible so that the local guide can decide the best sequence of sites based on weather, bird activity, and the species already recorded by the group.

Key birds and targets: Grey-crowned Crocias, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Parrotbill, Dalat Shrike-babbler, Black-crowned Fulvetta, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Streaked Wren-Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler and Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird.

We will have a final morning of birding around Da Lat, targeting any remaining species. After birding, we will transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

This timing is intentional: the Vietnam birding section is completed before the main Tet travel period, reducing risks related to transport congestion, service closures, hotel pressure, and reduced staffing during the holiday.

Key birds and targets: Final attempts for missed Da Lat specialties such as Grey-crowned Crocias, Collared Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Cutia, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Black-crowned Parrotbill, Dalat Shrike-babbler and other highland birds.

Overnight: Park Royal Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Today we will take a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. On arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day will be kept relatively light after the travel day. Depending on the flight schedule, there may be time for optional local birding, a short cultural walk, or a Cambodia briefing with the local guide team.

We will spend the next 2 nights at Grand Yard La Residence, Siem Reap.

Today we will visit Angor Wat, one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, and together with neighboring temples form the remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. As we revel in the historical grandeur of these UNESCO World Heritage sites, we will also look for birds – moats and forest patches within the temple walls can hold special birds such as Oriental Darter, Alexandrine Parakeet, White-throated Rock-thrush, Forest Wagtail, and much more.

Key birds and targets: Alexandrine Parakeet, Blossom-headed Parakeet, Lineated Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Asian Barred Owlet, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Oriole, White-throated Rock Thrush, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Forest Wagtail and other resident and wintering species.

Overnight: Grand Yard La Residence, Siem Reap

We will start with an early-morning visit to the grasslands around the edge of Tonle Sap. Our main target will be Bengal Florican, one of Cambodia’s most special grassland birds. Mid-morning, we will head north into Preah Vihear Province, arriving at Tmatboey in the mid-afternoon with time for late-afternoon birding if conditions allow.

Key birds and targets: Bengal Florican, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pied Harrier, Oriental Skylark, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Sarus Crane, Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill and other wetland and grassland birds.

Overnight: Tmatboey Ecolodge

We will spend the day exploring the open forest around Tmatboey. The area is famous for small seasonal waterholes, locally known as trapeangs, which are scattered throughout the forest and are the best spots to find the near-mythical Giant Ibis and White-shouldered Ibis. As we jump from one trapeang to another looking for ibis, we will find other species along the way including Black-headed Woodpecker, the enormous Great Slaty Woodpecker, the striking White-bellied Woodpecker, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Burmese Nuthatch, Burmese Shrike, Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, Brown Prinia, Blossom-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Indochinese Bushlark, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Black-hooded Oriole and White-rumped Falcon.

Depending on energy and conditions, night-birding is also often productive, and the local guides should know where several roosts are with Spotted and Brown Wood-Owls, Collared and Oriental Scops-Owls, Brown Fish-Owl and Spotted Owlet all possible along with Savannah and Large-tailed Nightjars.

Overnight: Tmatboey Ecolodge

After a final morning of birding around Tmatboey, we will search for any missing dry forest species and make another attempt for the key targets if needed.

Later, we will drive back to Siem Reap. Depending on timing, we may have some additional birding stops en route.

Key birds and targets: Final attempts for Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis, dry forest woodpeckers, parakeets, raptors, Brown Prinia, Burmese Shrike and other dry dipterocarp forest species.

We spend the next 3 nights at Grand Yard La Residence, Siem Reap

We will leave early for a full-day visit to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary on Tonle Sap. This is one of Southeast Asia’s most important waterbird colonies and a major highlight of the Cambodia section.
The exact timing of the visit will depend on water levels, boat access, local conditions, and advice from the Cambodia guide team.

Key birds and targets: Greater Adjutant, Lesser Adjutant, Milky Stork, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, Black-headed Ibis, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, herons, egrets, cormorants and other wetland birds.

Overnight: Grand Yard La Residence, Siem Reap

We will spend a full day exploring Ang Trapeang Thmor, a nature reserve that is a patchwork of grasslands, dry forest and rice fields. The reserve is an important wintering site for the endangered eastern population of Sarus Crane. The wide-open spaces are also good for raptors such as Greater Spotted Eagle, rarely Imperial Eagle, Black Baza, and harriers while owls such as Spotted Owlet, Barn Owl and Spotted Wood-owl roost in the scattered copses.

Key birds and targets: Eastern Sarus Crane, Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Spot-billed Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Garganey, Black-backed Swamphen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana and other wetland birds.

Overnight: Grand Yard La Residence, Siem Reap