8 days Northern Vietnam Birding Tour Hanoi

Day 1: Arrive in Noi Bai airport and transfer to Sapa.

Day 2: Two nights camping on Fansipan.

From Sapa town, we take a short cable car ride to 3143m. Then hiking and birding on the way down to 2800m for first night of camping. Our target here are: Black-faced, Scaly, Silver-eared, Red-winged Laughingthrushes, White-browed (Tonkin) Fulvetta, Golden-breasted, Manipur Fulvetta; White-collared, Stripe-throated, Bar-throated Yuhinas, Golden Parrotbill, Sickle-billed Scimitar Babbler, White-browned Bush-robin… and a species newly recorded in Vietnam (2010), Bar-winged Wren Babbler.

Day 3: Depart campground in early morning and bird on the way down to 2100m. Our main targets are Pale-throated Wren Babbler, our first Tonkin endemic. Overnight at Tram Ton.

Day 4: Tram Ton – Sapa town.

Morning birding around Tram Ton for main target Pale-throated Wren. Other species include: Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, White-tailed and Chestnut-belled Nuthatches and the rare Beautiful Nuthatch. An assortment of wintering warblers is also possible. Overnight at Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa – Mu Cang Chai.

Depart in the early morning to Mu Cang Cha. Our two main targets along the way are the endemic White-throated Wren Babbler and Pale-throated Wren Babbler. Overnight at Mu Cang Chai.

Day 6: At Mu Cang Chai.

This will be our last chance the endemic White-throated and Pale-throated Wren Babblers. Other beautiful species in this area include: Pale-billed Parrotbill, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Striated Bulbul, Black-faced Warbler, Spectaled Barwing, Steaked Barwing. Overnight at Mu Cang Chai.

Day 7: Mu Cang Chai – Sapa town.

A morning birding at Mu Cang Chai then back to Sapa. Birding around Topas Riverside Lodge area for Brown Dipper. Overnight at Topas Riverside Lodge.

Day 8: Sapa – Hanoi airport.

A full days birding in the Sapa are for Brown dipper, Spot-breasted, Masked, White-browed Laughingthrushes, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Slaty-backed, Little Forktail, White-capped Redstar. After birding we will take an overnight drive on Express back to Hanoi. Trip ends at the airport the next morning morning.