2025
Vietnam has a highly diverse avifauna and amongst its birds are many of the most sought-after species of the Oriental region, including 13 endemic species. Our Bird-Photo-Tours Asia’ Vietnam trip will explore some of the finest areas for bird photography in the still rarely visited country with high chances for close photographic encounters with some fabulous bird families including Pittas, Pheasants, Partridges, Trogons, Owls, Nightjars, Frogmouths and well as many of Vietnam’s endemic species.
Laughingthrushes: Collared Laughingthrush / Orange-breasted Laughingthrush / White-cheeked Laughingthrush / Black-hooded Laughingthrush.
Broadbills: Black-and-Red Broadbill / Banded Broadbill / Dusky Broadbill / Silver-breasted Broadbill / Long-tailed Broadbill.
Flycatchers: Little Pied Flycatcher / Black-naped Monarch / Rufous-browed Flycatcher / Snowy-browed Flycatcher / Verditer Flycatcher / Large Niltava.
Thrushes: Siberian Thrush / Orange-headed Thrush / Dark-sided Thrush / White-throated Rock Thrush.
Babblers: Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler / White-browed Scimitar Babbler / Clicking Shrike Babbler.
Woodpeckers: Black-and-Buff Woodpecker / Lesser Yellownape / Greater Yellownape / Common Flameback.
Owls / Nightjars / Frogmouths: Spot-bellied Eagle Owl / Collared Scops Owl / Northern Boobook / Oriental Scops Owl / Large-tailed Nightjar / Blyth’s Frogmouth.
Pheasants / Partridges: Green-legged Partridge/ Orange-necked Partridge / Red Junglefowl / Rufous-throated Partridge / Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant / Siamese Fireback / Red Junglefowl.
Pittas / Trogons: Bar-bellied Pitta / Blue Pitta / Blue-rumped Pitta / Rusty-naped Pitta / Red-headed Trogon / Orange-breasted Trogon.
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 0-1 Ho Chi Minh (1N, 0D, 1S). Arrive in Ho Chi Minh, Check-in hotel, 17:00 Presentation and Dinner.
Days 1-5 Dong Nai Province (4N, 3D, 8S). Drive 3-hours to Dong Nai Province. Photographic Targets: Bar-bellied Pitta / Blue-rumped Pitta / Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher / Green-legged Partridge / Orange-necked Partridge / Abbott’s Babbler / Black-and-Red Broadbill / Banded Broadbill / Dusky Broadbill / Banded Kingfisher / Orange-breasted Trogon / Blyth's Kingfisher.
Days 5-7 Lam Dong Province (2N, 1D, 4S). Drive 2-hours to Lam Dong Province. Photographic Targets: Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant / Black-and-Red Broadbill / Spot-bellied Eagle Owl / Collared Scops Owl / Asian Barred Owlet / Collared Owlet / Brown Boobook.
Days 7-9 Lam Dong Province (2N, 1D, 4S). Drive 3-hours next Lam Dong Province location. Photographic Targets: Red-headed Trogon / Indochinese Green Magpie / Black-headed Parrotbill / Mrs Gould's Sunbird / Black-throated Sunbird.
Days 9-13 Lam Dong Province (4N, 3D, 7S). Drive 2-hours to final Lam Dong Province location. Photographic Targets: Collared Laughingthrush / Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler / White-cheeked Laughingthrush / Indochinese Green Magpie / Grey-bellied Tesia / Blue Pitta / Rusty-naped Pitta / White-tailed Robin / Lesser Shortwing / Rufous-throated Partridge / Snowy-browed Flycatcher / Grey-crowned Crocias / Black-crowned Fulvetta / Vietnamese Cutia / Spot-bellied Eagle Owl / Oriental Scops Owl / Collared Owlet / Large-tailed Nightjar / Hodgson’s Frogmouth.
Day 13 Lam Dong Province (0N, 0D, 0S). Drive 1-hour to Lien Khuong Aiport for Transfer to Ho Chi Minh Airport.
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day]
Nick, a UK National, has been living in Asia for over 15-years and in this time has conducted over 125 bird photography trips across the whole of the Asian continent ranging from Kazakhstan in the west, through India and China to Japan in the east, and from the Kamchatka coastline in the north to as far south as Indonesia. In China alone Nick has photographed to portrait-quality standard over 1,200 of China's bird species taking him to all of China's provinces as well as most of those nations bordering China. These bird photography trips have ranged in length from a few days to many months, including a three-month bird photography expedition to China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, becoming quite possibly the most travelled foreigner in this region over the past decade. Nick has also conducted a four-month bird photography trek across the Himalayas, ranging from the Indian States of Ladakh and Kashmir in the west, into the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, then onto the Indian States of West Bengal and Sikkim, ending in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the eastern Himalayas. Nick has had his images published across numerous media channels including the BBC and Chinese state-owned media outlets, various bird magazines and journals including the Oriental Bird Club's BirdingASIA. He has his own website on the Birds of China at www.BirdingInChina.com and his book 'Portraits of the Birds of China' is due for publication in 2026. Furthermore, Nick has presented films on photographing birds both in Asia and Europe, has his bird images published across many social media platforms within and outside Asia, and has led a number of bird photography lectures and walks, particularly targeted at children. Consequently, Nick has accumulated significant experience of photographing birds within the Asian continent and this expertise has formed the backdrop to setting up Bird-Photo-Tours Asia, trips designed by bird photographers for bird photographers.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping.
