This 7-day Northern Vietnam expedition targets key endemic and regional species across Van Long, Cuc Phuong, and Tam Dao. Search for Delacour’s Langurs, Pittas, and Limestone Wren-Babbler through limestone karst, lowland forest, and montane habitats.
A seven-day northern Vietnam circuit from Hanoi combining Van Long’s limestone landscape with the forests of Cuc Phuong and Tam Dao. Key targets include Delacour’s Langur, pittas, Red-collared Woodpecker, Limestone Wren-Babbler, and montane northern specialties.
Explore the rich biodiversity of Northern Vietnam on this targeted 7-day birding and wildlife expedition. The tour begins with a scenic sampan ride through the dramatic limestone karst landscape of Van Long Nature Reserve – one of the last sanctuaries for the critically endangered Delacour’s Langur, before heading deep into Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam's oldest protected area. Across three days of lowland forest exploration, birders will search for key species including Bar-bellied and Eared Pittas, White-winged Magpie, Red-collared Woodpecker, and the endemic annamensis Limestone Wren-Babbler.
The journey then transitions to the cooler, montane habitats of Tam Dao National Park, where high-altitude trails yield prized targets such as the Blue-naped Pitta, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Grey Laughingthrush, and a diverse supporting cast of babblers, scimitar-babblers, and flycatchers. Round-trip transfers from Hanoi/Noi Bai Airport, full-board accommodation, and expert guiding make this an ideal itinerary for serious birders and nature enthusiasts looking to maximize target species in a week.
Pick-up from hotel in Ha Noi or Noi Bai airport, then drive to Cuc Phuong National Park (about 3 hours without traffic delays) and stop en route at Van Long Nature Reserve, 30km from Cuc Phuong. There we will take a sampan ride to look for birds and to visit some dramatic limestone cliffs that are one of the last haunts of the critically endangered Delacour’s Leaf-Monkey. Overnight at Cuc Phuong HQ (3 nights).
We will spend 2 full days exploring and birding in Vietnam’s oldest National Park, an area of lowland forest and lakes easily accessed by a paved road. It is rich in bird species, and we have our last chances here for both Pitta species, Red-collared Woodpecker, and White-winged Magpie, as well as a supporting cast that includes Malayan Night-Heron, Pied Falconet, Eared Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-tailed Flycatcher, Fujian Niltava, and the annamensis subspecies of Limestone Wren-Babbler.
We will spend our last morning in Cuc Phuong looking for White-winged Magpie and Rachet-tailed Treepie if we missed them earlier. This afternoon, we will drive to Tam Dao Mountain for 2 nights (Gia Le Hotel)
Our targets in Tam Dao are the Blue-naped Pitta, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Grey Laughingthrush, and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler. Seeing several other sought-after species will be the best way to finalise our trip, and here we may see Ashy Bulbul, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Chestnut Bulbul, Fujian Niltava, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Spot-necked Babbler, Chestnut-collared Yuhina (split from Striated), Greater Rufous-headed and Short-tailed Parrotbills, and Collared Treepie.
We will spend this last morning seeking species we haven't seen on the mountain, or moving a bit lower down the mountain for other interesting species like Fork-tailed Sunbird, Red-billed Magpie, Grey Treepie, and some wintering thrushes.
The trip ends with a transfer to your airport/hotel in Ha Noi.
| Group size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 to 10 |
| USD/pax | 1,800 | 1,340 | 1,180 | 1,130 | 1,100 | 1,070 |
Tell us your travel dates, target birds, group size and preferred pace. Wildtour will help design a realistic and rewarding itinerary.