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Intinerary - medium length birding tour - Dalat Cat Tien Birding tour - Endemic birding focus - Vietnamese Greenfinch
Bird
Wildlife Watching journey

[7-Day] Southern Vietnam Birding Tour – Cat Tien, Da Lat & Di Linh

A focused week of birding across southern Vietnam, moving from Cat Tien’s lowland forest to the cooler Da Lat Plateau and Di Linh. A strong first journey for birders wanting diverse habitats and regional specialties without a longer expedition.
Cat Tien National Park
Private
Moderate field pace
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Why This Route Works

Lowlands to highlands in one birding week

This route brings together three of southern Vietnam’s most productive birding areas in seven days. Cat Tien provides lowland forest, hides and open grassland, while Da Lat and Di Linh introduce cooler montane forest and a different set of regional s

Best for

Birders visiting Vietnam for the first time with around one week available, especially those who want a broad southern birding experience rather than concentrating on a single site or species group.

Keep in mind

This is a full birding week with early starts, several habitat changes and some longer road transfers. Field plans remain flexible around weather, bird activity, hide conditions and access.

What We’ll Be Looking For

Birding highlights

Lowland pittas and pheasants, productive forest trails and hides, open grassland, and the distinctive highland bird communities of Da Lat and Di Linh make this one of Go-WILD’s most complete one-week birding routes.
Target emphasis changes with season, weather and recent activity. Individual species cannot be guaranteed, and guides may adjust trails or hides.
Pitta-tour
Strong focus
Bar-bellied Pitta
Hydrornis elliotii
A key lowland forest target searched for on trails and selected hides.
Initerary - 4 Days bird-photography in Cat Tien unique Germain's Peacock pheasant.
Strong focus
Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant
Polyplectron germaini
A secretive southern forest bird often approached through patient hide sessions.
chưa sửa
Strong focus
Grey-crowned Crocias
Laniellus langbianis
A distinctive Da Lat Plateau specialty of cooler montane forest.
Species_profile - Collared Laughingthrush, an endemic bird species found only on the Da Lat Plateau in central Vietnam.
Strong focus
Collared Laughingthrush
Trochalopteron yersini
A highland specialty strongly associated with the Da Lat Plateau.

Strong focus

Birds and habitats that strongly influence where time is spent across the lowland and highland

Possible / seasonal / route-dependent

Additional targets vary with elevation, season, weather, hide conditions and recent bird activity.

Journey Itinerary

Seven days from lowland forest to the Da Lat Plateau

The journey begins in southern lowland forest before climbing into the cooler highlands of Da Lat and finishing around Di Linh. Rather than listing every field session separately, the route is organised around four distinct birding chapters.
7 Days / 6 Nights
Ho Chi Minh City → Tan Phu Forest → Cat Tien National Park → Da Lat → Di Linh → Ho Chi Minh City
Lowland evergreen forest Forest hides, grassland & open edges Montane evergreen forest Highland valleys & transition forest field pace
Day 01
Ho Chi Minh City → Tan Phu Forest → Cat Tien
Lowland entry · Tan Phu birding · Tung Trail · first hide session
Leave Ho Chi Minh City early and begin the journey with a short birding session in the lowland forest around Tan Phu before continuing to Cat Tien. After lunch and check-in inside the park, start exploring forest trails and a selected hide, introducing the pittas, broadbills, trogons and woodpeckers that characterise this part of the route.
Overnight
Cat Tien HQ Guest House
Day 02-03
Cat Tien — Lowland Forest, Hides & Grassland
Forest trails · pittas & pheasants · Heaven’s Rapids · open grassland
Spend two full days working different parts of Cat Tien’s lowland landscape. Morning sessions use forest roads and quieter trails, with hide time for selected ground birds where conditions are suitable. The route also reaches the quieter Heaven’s Rapids area and open grassland, adding raptors, peafowl and a different mix of woodland and edge species.
Overnight
Cat Tien HQ Guest House
Day 04-05
Da Lat Plateau — Into the Highlands
Elevation change · highland forest · Da Lat specialties · Bidoup-Nui Ba
Leave Cat Tien and climb toward Da Lat, where cooler temperatures and montane forest bring a noticeable change in both landscape and bird community. Bird around selected Da Lat sites before dedicating the following day to the forests of Bidoup-Nui Ba, with the focus shifting toward highland specialties and mixed forest flocks.
Overnight
Da Lat
Day 06-07
Da Lat → Di Linh → Ho Chi Minh City
Highland valley birding · Nui San Pass · final forest session · return
Use the final part of the journey to bird another highland valley before continuing to Di Linh. Late-afternoon and morning sessions around the surrounding forest add another change in habitat and opportunities for pittas, broadbills, trogons and other regional targets. After the final birding session and lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight
Di Linh
FIELD NOTE
The exact combination of trails, hides and highland sites may change with weather, access and recent bird activity.

practical

What to expect across the week

This is an active but manageable birding journey, with early starts, moderate forest walking and regular changes in elevation and climate. Midday breaks are used when appropriate, especially in the warmer lowlands.

walking

Moderate

starts

Early mornings

climate

Warm & humid

stay

Park lodge

transfer

Long day transfers

style

Private
Included & Excluded
Included: private road transport throughout the journey, six nights’ accommodation, meals listed in the confirmed itinerary, bird guide, national park and hide fees, and planned local jeep transfers. Not included: flights, personal travel insurance, personal expenses, tips and optional activities not included in the confirmed itinerary.
Binoculars, comfortable walking shoes or light hiking boots, lightweight long-sleeved field clothing, insect repellent, rain protection, warmer layers for Da Lat mornings and evenings, and any personal birding or photography equipment.
This journey can be arranged privately around your travel dates, subject to guide, accommodation and field-service availability. Early enquiry is recommended, especially during the main birding season, so we can secure the strongest route and local arrangements.
Final pricing depends on group size, travel dates, accommodation and current field-service arrangements. We provide a clear quotation once the route and availability have been confirmed.
The route deliberately changes elevation through the week. Expect warmer, more humid birding in Cat Tien and noticeably cooler mornings and evenings around Da Lat and Di Linh.

from the field

From lowland forest to the highlands

Plan This Journey

Plan your week of southern Vietnam birding

Tell us your travel dates, birding experience and any priority species or families. We’ll confirm current field conditions and shape the detailed sessions around the strongest opportunities across Cat Tien, Da Lat and Di Linh.
7 days / 6 nights from Ho Chi Minh City
Cat Tien lowland forest and birding hides
Da Lat Plateau highland specialties
Di Linh as the final transition-forest section

Let’s plan your adventure!

Tell us a bit about your trip – we’ll send you a personalized itinerary soon! 

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