Tailormade Holidays in Vietnam

Tour Code: TVNM

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Sample Itineraries

Create your own Tailormade holiday to Vietnam with dates and an itinerary to suit you. Click one to scroll down and view more info.

Vietnam and Cambodia - Classic Culture & Wildlife

19 Days

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Best of Vietnam's Birding and Culture

23 Days

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Endemics and Specialities of Southern Vietnam

13 Days

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Vietnam - The Endangered Primate Trail

13 Days

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When to Go

Good Time to Go

January to August, November to December

Best Time to Go

January to August, November to December

Speak to a Vietnam expert

Tom Mabbett

Operations Manager

Email Call 1-844-433-9473

Where to Go

Ho Chi Minh City
Cat Tien National Park
Dalat
Hội An
+1 more

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Summary

The enchanting and superbly welcoming country of Vietnam in Southeast Asia offers a wonderful combination of wildlife, history and culture, making it an unmissable destination for a natural history holiday. The country has over 3,000 kilometres of coastline, with a densely forested and, in parts, mountainous interior that also includes fertile lowlands and deltas; such a combination of habitats lends itself to a superb array of wildlife, aided by a wonderful network of National Parks. Vietnam’s avifauna is distinctive, with a list exceeding a very respectable 900 species, with each habitat type offering its own unique species composition to delight the visiting ornithologist. Vietnam boasts the highest number of endemic bird species in all of mainland Southeast Asia, including such delights as Collared, Orange-breasted, Golden-winged and Chestnut-eared Laughingthrushes, Grey-crowned Crocias and Vietnamese Greenfinch. There is also a myriad of other exciting species, many of which are found only in Indochina, including Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, Indochinese Green Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Cutia, Indochinese Wren-Babbler, Sooty Babbler, Black-crowned Barwing and Black-headed Parrotbill. Though birding in Vietnam is superb, those with an interest in mammals will certainly not be disappointed, with chances of some of the most endangered primates in the world such as Black-shanked and Red-shanked Douc Langurs, Delacour's, Ha Tinh and Silvered Langurs and Buff-cheeked Gibbon. Other mammals that may be seen in Vietnam’s National Parks include Black Giant Squirrel, Crab-eating Mongoose, Yellow-throated Marten, Leopard Cat, Lesser Mousedeer, Sambar, Gaur and Pygmy Loris. Butterflies, too, are excellently represented, especially in spring when mud pools at Cat Tien National Park attract endless vibrant clouds. Vietnam also has a very diverse and intriguing history and culture, and those with such interests will be enthralled by such cities as the historic trading port of Hội An, with its network of narrow streets winding their way through the wonderfully atmospheric Old Town, or the energetic Ho Chi Minh City, where modern day life intermingles with beautiful pagodas, energetic markets and a plethora of museums. Many visitors to Vietnam enjoy extending their holiday to include a few days in neighbouring Cambodia. Here, one can marvel at the world-famous ruins and temples surrounding Angkor Wat; widely acclaimed as amongst the most impressive archaeological remains in the whole of Asia.

Our Locations

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam shutterstock_742290934.jpg

The energetic, cultural hub of Ho Chi Minh City – formerly Saigon - has a rich history and offers a myriad of wonderful landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, the former Presidential Palace and vibrant Ben Thanh Market, alongside many fascinating museums. The city is a mishmash of architecture, reflective of its varied history, with French colonial-style buildings and wide boulevards sitting aside modern skyscrapers interspersed with beautiful pagodas. The dominant religions within Ho Chi Minh City are Buddhism with Taoism and Confucianism, worshipped in the many ornate temples dotted around the city. A wonderful gastronomic scene can be found here, from vibrant street stalls offering delicious local delicacies through to fine dining restaurants, and a couple of days spent wandering the city allows one the chance to become fully immersed in urban Vietnamese life.

The Mekong Delta lies just south of the city, and an overnight cruise aboard a converted wooden rice barge offers a wonderful opportunity to explore these verdant waterways. As the boat drifts through lush tropical scenery, one will feel a sense of passing back in time as local villages reveal themselves along the banks, alongside fruit orchards, traditional boat yards, fields of sugar cane and handicraft markets offering colourful wares.

Accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City

Bong Sen Annex Hotel

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Majestic Saigon

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The verdant expanse of Cat Tien National Park encompasses the largest remaining tract of lowland tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest in southern Vietnam, supporting an incredible diversity of flora and fauna.

This is one of the best birding sites in Vietnam, with highlights including Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, the beautiful Siamese Fireback and the elusive Orange-necked Partridge, alongside an array of flowerpeckers, cuckoos, trogons, hornbills, barbets, woodpeckers, pittas, broadbills, bulbuls, ground babblers and sunbirds. Not only is this a top birding hotspot, but it is also the country's premier destination for mammals. The forest is home to no less than six species of primate, including such endangered regional endemics as the elusive Annamese Silvered Langur, the beautiful Black-shanked Douc, the shy Pygmy Slow Loris and the agile Southern Buff-cheeked Gibbon, whose unmistakeable song can be heard more than three kilometres away. Indeed, Cat Tien is arguably the finest location in the world to encounter all four restricted-range species. Other key mammals to look out for include Leopard Cat, Lesser Mousedeer, Gaur, Northern Slender-tailed Treeshrew, Small Indian Civet, Javan Mongoose, Yellow-throated Marten and Vietnam's last viable population of wild Asian Elephants. The endangered Siamese Crocodile can be seen at Crocodile Lake alongside birds such as Green Peafowl, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Lesser Adjutant.

Butterflies at Cat Tien are also excellent. Mud pooling often attracts swallowtails, pierids and blues, including Lesser and Spotted Zebras and Chain Swordtails, with a broad array of other species also seen in the Park, including Golden and Common Birdwing, Common Clubtail, Red Helen, Great Orange Tip pierids, Common Yeoman, Striped Albatross, Common Palmfly, Great Mormon and Peacock, Grey and Yellow Pansy. Amongst the dragonflies, the beautiful red-winged Fulvous Forest Skimmer is often recorded, with Eastern Scarlet Darters frequenting pools. Common Tree Frogs hold a constant presence, and reptiles include vibrant Tokay Geckos and the impressive Indochinese Flying Lizard.

Accommodation in Cat Tien National Park

Green Bamboo Lodge Resort

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Forest Floor Ecolodge

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Vietnamese Greenfinch, Vietnam shutterstock_1544221901.jpg

Together, the Kontum Plateau and the airy hill station of the Dalat Plateau form Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Vegetation at Dalat comprises mixed montane evergreen, coniferous and secondary forest, and there is much to explore! Mount Lang Bian, a 2,169 metre-high peak cloaked in pine and montane evergreen forests, located 20 minutes from Dalat, offers spectacular views of the city - alongside a leading cast of birds - and the shores of Ho Tuyen Lam, a man-made lake surrounded by remnant tropical evergreen forest just outside the town, are well worth a visit.

Designated by BirdLife International as an ‘Endemic Bird Area’, Dalat is home to several of Vietnam’s endemic bird species, including Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, the beautiful and skulking Collared Laughingthrush, Black-headed Parrotbill and Vietnamese Greenfinch, as well as many distinctive local endemic subspecies, including Rufous-backed and Black-headed Sibia and Red Crossbill. Intriguing near-endemics in the area include Grey-crowned Tit, White-cheeked and Black-hooded Laughingthrushes and Vietnamese Cutia. The wonderful Ta Nung Valley, a small but very ‘birdy’ area of remnant evergreen forest 10 kilometres from Dalat, is the most accessible site for the rare and endemic Grey-crowned Crocias. Very distinct endemic subspecies of Blue-winged Minla, Black-throated and Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds can also be found here, as can the beautiful yellow-breasted form of Indochinese Green Magpie.

Dalat is also an excellent area to view many striking butterflies, including the Paris Peacock, Plain Hedge Blues, Red Helen and Restricted Demon, as well as the distinctive Striped Ringlet. A variety of orchid species can also be seen within the forests here.

Due to its altitude, Dalat is favoured by a pleasant climate; often referred to as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, the average temperature is around 18°C, offering a welcome respite from the heat and comfortable wildlife viewing.

Accommodation in Dalat

Dreams Hotel

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Hôtel du Parc

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Hoi An, Vietnam shutterstock_543460288.jpg

Hội An, once known as Faifo, was the principal port of the Cham Kingdom between the 7th and 10th centuries, from which spices were traded with surrounding regions such as Indonesia. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hội An then held the torch as the best trading port in Southeast Asia. Today, the wonderfully atmospheric and historic Old Town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason. Wandering the network of winding streets lined with well-preserved architecture, which has taken its influences from the eclectic mix of nationalities that have visited or called the city home through its history, one is transported back to a time when nations stretching across the globe came together to trade a plethora of goods, including many beautiful ceramics.

The centre of the city is pedestrianised, so exploration is on foot or via bicycle, adding to the historic atmosphere, and there is much to explore, including the iconic covered ‘Japanese Bridge’, with its unique interconnected ancient Buddhist temple, alongside a plethora of historic merchants’ homes little changed over the centuries. One can sample the city’s delicious and unique cuisine at one of the many vibrant markets; a fusion of influences from the many nationalities that once traded here, and even partake in a cooking class, purchasing fresh local ingredients from the river-side markets. Hội An’s speciality dish is Cao lầu; a traditional noodle delicacy with leafy greens, plentiful fresh herbs and spices, bean sprouts and sliced pork served within a delicious broth.

The city also provides an excellent base from which to visit the nearby Son Tra Nature Reserve.

Accommodation in Hội An

Betel Garden Villas

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Maison Vy Hoi An

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Bar-bellied Pittas shutterstock_503263030.jpg

Located a three hour drive south of Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is Vietnam’s first established National Park, being established in 1962 by President Ho Chi Minh. Encompassing an area of limestone hills clothed in evergreen-dominated primary and secondary forest, specialities here include Red-collared Woodpecker, Bar-bellied, Blue-rumped and Eared Pittas, Silver-breasted Broadbill, White-tailed Flycatcher, White-winged Magpie, Greyish Limestone Babbler, Limestone Leaf Warbler, Fujian Niltava and Pied Falconet. Large numbers of thrushes can be found overwintering in the park, best spotted early in the morning along the access road. The park can be explored via a superb network of walking trails, taking one deep into the centre of the park and the best birding spots. Mammals can be elusive here, but both Yellow-bellied and Back-striped Weasels can be spotted in grassy secondary forest, while a variety of squirrels frequent the trees. Cuc Phuong is also famous for Owston’s Civet, but a huge stroke of luck would be required to chance across this nocturnal creature.

Time spent exploring Cuc Phuong combines well with a visit to the nearby Van Long Nature Reserve.

Accommodation in Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong Headquarters Guesthouse

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On the outskirts of Da Nang City – a sprawling metropolis and the fifth largest city in Vietnam – lies Son Tra; a scenic peninsula that juts out into the South China Sea. The natural geography of Son Tra is significant, as it acts as a natural barrier, sheltering the city from strong storms. The peninsula’s strategic position also made it an important US military base during the Vietnam War. Son Tra is covered in lush and relatively undisturbed forest, and has become an isolated island of biodiversity, cut off from mainland forests by the city. The wide variety of wildlife that lives here is now ‘packed’ into an area roughly 30 km². Son Tra is a particularly important stronghold for the critically endangered Red-shanked Douc, quite possibly the most attractive monkey in the world and an emblematic species for Vietnam. During the Vietnam war, there were so many of these beautiful primates here that US military personal stationed here colloquially named the peninsula ‘monkey island’. The Douc’s have since been hunted close to extinction throughout Vietnam and today the reserve remains the most reliable location in which they can still be seen, holding a significant proportion of their global population. The 30 square-kilometre reserve also harbours a diverse array of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

Silver Pheasant Vietnam shutterstock_1346754701.jpg

Located around 40 km south of Hue, Bach Mã Mountain was initially claimed as a French colonial ‘hill station’ and quickly turned into a holiday destination for the French aristocracy in the 1930s. Today, the mountain range is a designated national park made up of three core zones: a strictly protected core area, an administrative area and a buffer zone. The park constitutes a large section of remote Annamite Mountain habitat, one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse regions, and contains some of Vietnam’s most secretive wildlife. One such creature is the elusive Soala. Nicknamed the ‘Asian unicorn’, this forest-dwelling bovine is one of the world’s rarest large mammals, having only been discovered as recently as 1992. This mysterious forest holds populations of other rare and localised mammals too, such as the Annamite Rabbit, Northern Buff-cheeked Gibbon and Owston’s Civet. Bach Mã is also widely considered to be Vietnam’s top birding destination, with more than 300 species present, including Annam Partridge, Red-headed Trogon, Mountain Fulvetta, Rufous-throated Partridge, Golden-throated Barbet, Black-capped Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Grey-headed Parakeet, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Blue-rumped Pitta, Long-tailed Broadbill, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Scarlet Minivet and Asian Paradise Flycatcher. Near-mythical birds have been recorded here too, including the critically endangered Vietnamese Crested Argus and the, until recently thought to be extinct, Edwards’s Pheasant. The region is also considered to be Vietnam’s wettest, and frogs, lizards and snakes abound here, including the sought-after Red River Krait (Bungarus slowinskii).

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (or Phong Nha for short) is Vietnam’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed on the sole basis of its exceptional biodiversity and conservation value. Phong Nha is situated in the Central Annamite range, crossing from the Vietnamese province of Quang Binh over the border into the Lao PDR. The park covers a vast 1233 km² of stunning landscape, made up of protected primary and secondary tropical forest, cave systems, savannah and aquatic habitat. Phong Nha is famous for its incredibly complex karst limestone geology, which has given rise to an extensive system of caves and underground rivers, many of which remain totally unexplored today. One of which, the Son Doong Cave, discovered as recently as 2009, is thought to be the largest continuous cave system in the world. The theoretical wildlife encounters on offer here are nothing short of mouth-watering, with an estimated list that includes more than 300 species of bird, 117 reptiles, 58 amphibians and 154 mammals! Regrettably, much of the park remains off-limits to the public, but the secretive forest acts as potential wildlife habitat for some of the regions most endangered and elusive species, including the Saola, Mainland Clouded Leopard, Banteng, Dhole and Sun Bear. From the trails that can be explored, exciting possibilities include four sought-after primates (Red-shanked Douc, Southern White-cheeked Gibbon, Indochinese Black Langur and Hatinh Langur) and a host of birdlife, including Tonkin Partridge, Siamese Fireback, White-bellied Green-pigeon, Brown Fish-owl, Austen’s Brown Hornbill, Red-collared Woodpecker, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, White-winged Magpie and Indochinese Wren-babbler.

Van Long Nature Reserve is the large conserved inland wetland in northern Vietnam. It contains an expanse of freshwater that is partially covered by a network of lily pads and reeds, and towered over by imposing limestone cliffs. The cliffs are clad in an impenetrable forest that is home to the last remaining viable population of the critically endangered Delacour’s Langur. With severe fragmentation and less 250 individuals remaining, the primate has been inscribed on the ‘World's 25 Most Endangered Primates’ list in almost every year since its maiden publication in 2000. The reserve is only accessible by traditional rowing boat, which permits you an opportunity to drift quietly through the reeds in which a good number of waterbirds make their home. Highlights here include Little Grebe, Chinese Pond Heron, Openbill Stork, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, White-browed Crake, Pheasant-tailed Jacana and White-throated Kingfisher. Higher up, look out for raptors, woodpeckers, hornbills and of course the Delacour’s Langur.

View Map

View key locations on the map.

Sample Itineraries

Day

Depart UK

Day

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, travel to Cat Tien National Park

Days

3 - 5

Cat Tien National Park

Day

Di Linh

Days

7 - 10

Dalat

Day

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Day

Tmatboey via Kompong Thom

Days

13 - 14

Tmatboey

Day

Kratie

Day

Siem Reap

Day

Angkor

Day

Depart Siem Reap, fly to UK

Day

Arrive UK

19 Days (Flight Inclusive)

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Day

Depart UK

Day

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

Day

Mekong Delta overnight cruise

Day

Return to Ho Chi Minh City; sightseeing

Days

5 - 7

Cat Tien National Park

Days

8 - 11

Dalat

Day

Hoi An via Danang

Day

Hoi An

Days

14 - 15

Hue

Day

Hanoi

Days

17 - 18

Cuc Phuong National Park

Day

Hanoi via Van Long Nature Reserve

Day

Halong Bay overnight cruise

Day

Hanoi; sightseeing

Day

Depart Hanoi; fly UK

Day

Arrive UK

23 Days (Flight Inclusive)

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Day

Fly UK to Ho Chi Minh City

Day

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City; transfer to Cat Tien National Park

Days

3 - 5

Cat Tien National Park

Day

Di Linh

Days

7 - 10

Dalat

Day

Fly Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City

Day

Depart Ho Chi Minh City; fly to London

Day

Arrive UK

13 Days (Flight Inclusive)

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Day

Depart UK

Day

Arrive Ho Chi Minh City; transfer to Cat Tien National Park

Days

3 - 5

Cat Tien National Park

Day

Return to Ho Chi Minh; fly to Danang

Day

Son Tra Nature Reserve; transfer Bach Ma National Park

Day

Bach Ma National Park

Day

Transfer to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Day

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Day

Van Long Nature Reserve

Day

Transfer Hanoi; depart

Day

Arrive UK

13 Days (Flight Inclusive)

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The Essentials

Wildlife Guides

Good local English-speaking birding and cultural guides are available.

When to Visit

Vietnam has a tropical, monsoon climate, with relatively complicated and localised weather conditions between the northern, central and southern regions. Generally, as one area receives its highest rainfall another area experiences its driest conditions. Therefore the best time to travel depends on what you would like to see and which areas you would like to visit. If one wishes to visit the northern regions, the best time to travel is during the region’s winter, between November and April. Temperatures are in the region of 15-20°C and rain is usually minimal, although drizzle is common in February and March. Summers (May to October) in the north experience very hot, humid conditions with regular heavy downpours. Conversely, those visiting the central regions might wish to aim for the period between February and August, where temperatures average in the mid 30’s and rain is minimal. The rainy season here usually spans September to January. The south’s rain falls predominantly between May and November, with the dry season spanning December to April and temperatures generally increasing towards March and April. Temperatures in the south generally fall between 20°C and the mid 30’s. If limiting a holiday in Vietnam to only one region of the country does not appeal, the best period to tour the full extent of the country is generally considered to be between the start of December and the end of April/early May. The (generally) drier conditions make for slightly easier forest birding, as birds become more concentrated around water sources and more vocal due to breeding activity (from January), and an eclectic mix of overwintering migrants are also possible. Temperatures are generally cooler across the northern and central regions during this period, as well, making for a more comfortable experience. Although southern regions will be hot, rain is less likely.

Getting Around

Most Tailormade guests will choose to travel around Vietnam in a private vehicle with a driver. There are also good options for internal flights, which connect the north, centre and south of the country.

Why Naturetrek Tailormade?

A Naturetrek Tailormade holiday allows you, with the benefit of our wildlife travel expertise and destination experience, to enjoy the perfect private wildlife holiday – one that truly matches your requirements, expectations and ambitions. We will ensure the most competitive prices, superb naturalist guides and seamless ground services.

Some of the benefits of Naturetrek Tailormade travel include:
• A bespoke itinerary which is crafted by experts and designed specifically for you
• Private guiding by the very best local naturalists
• Travel with people you know, at your own pace
• Incorporate as much culture, history or relaxation time as you wish
• Choose dates to suit you
• Select your preferred style of accommodation
• Travel with families and children of any age

Furthermore, our Tailormade team are always on hand to help and guide you along the way, with friendly advice, first-hand knowledge and inside information specific to your destination of choice. So if you have any queries about your holiday, we will be delighted to answer them. Please just give us a call!