North Vietnam Wildlife & Primate Discovery: Cuc Phuong & Van Long Wetlands
Embark on a fascinating 3-day journey through the natural wonders of North Vietnam, exploring two of the region’s most important conservation areas: Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Wetlands. This tour is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and eco-travelers looking to discover rare species in their natural habitats. Trek through ancient forests to spot colorful and endemic birds like the Tonkin Partridge and Blue-rumped Pitta, and observe nocturnal wildlife on guided night walks. Visit renowned conservation centers, and witness the critically endangered Delacour’s Langur in the limestone karsts of Van Long. With expert guides and meaningful encounters, this tour offers an unforgettable glimpse into Vietnam’s diverse and endangered wildlife.
Tour Highlights
- Discover the rich biodiversity of Cuc Phuong, Vietnam’s oldest national park.
- Spot rare and endemic birds such as the Tonkin Partridge and Blue-rumped Pitta.
- Take a night walk through the forest to observe owls and other nocturnal species.
- Visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center and Turtle Conservation Center.
- Explore the peaceful Van Long Wetlands, home to the critically endangered Delacour’s Langur.
- Enjoy guided nature walks, bird hides, and forest trails with expert wildlife guides.
- Travel comfortably with private transfers from Hanoi and stay in simple but scenic park accommodations.
What’s included
• Accommodation room with breakfast at the park’s guest house
• The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated
• Bikes
• Boat cruise as program
• Private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
• Entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program
• Meals as specified in the best local restaurants, picnics where suitable restaurants are not available
• VAT and other taxes
What’s not included
• International airfare
• Travel insurance (available for purchase after booking your tour).
• Visas (if needed).
• Gratuities for services and experiences.
• Extra activities not included in the itinerary.
Itinerary ideas
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1
Your journey begins with a pick-up from Hanoi, followed by a scenic drive to Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam’s oldest national park known for its rich biodiversity. Upon arrival, you’ll check in and take a gentle walk around the park headquarters, where you may spot vibrant birdlife including sunbirds, flowerpeckers, tits, white-eyes, and barbets among the tree canopies.
After lunch, transfer into the central forest zone. Here, you’ll explore the shaded forest trails in search of elusive bird species. As night falls, enjoy dinner at the central restaurant, then join a guided nocturnal walk to observe and photograph forest owls and other night-active species. Overnight at the guest house near the park headquarters.
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2
Wake up early for a full day of birding. After breakfast, you’ll head deeper into the park’s interior by vehicle, stopping along the way to spot thrushes and the elusive Malaysian Night Heron. Continue to a hidden birding hide, a perfect location for viewing and photographing rare species such as:
Tonkin Partridge (endemic)
Bar-bellied Pitta
Blue-rumped Pitta
Various babblers, thrushes, and flycatchers
After a picnic lunch, set off along another trail in search of woodpeckers, rock babblers, and other forest-dwelling birds. Return to the headquarters in the late afternoon for rest and dinner.
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3
In the morning, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the Botanical Garden, a hotspot for birdwatching and plant lovers. You’ll also have a chance to visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center and Turtle Conservation Center, where conservationists work to protect Vietnam’s rarest species.
After lunch, travel to Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, a peaceful area of limestone peaks and tranquil marshes. Here, you can spot migratory and resident wetland birds like ducks, teals, and Asian Openbill storks. Most notably, Van Long is the last wild home of the critically endangered Delacour’s Langur, one of Vietnam’s most iconic endemic primates.
Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Accommodation options
What our clients say about us
John
20 December 2024 ★★★★★The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the Battle, had heaps of actual photos. Was very passionate about it, and extremely grateful for the help given by Australia to the local communities at the time.
Jeremy
19 December 2024 ★★★★★Stephen arranged a private tour to non-tourist locations that i wished to see. It included guides, drivers, air transportation, airport pickup and dropoff and hotel accommodations. The service was excellent and everything went extremely smooth. I was completely satisfied with the service he provided and I highly recommend him.
Steven
21 November 2024 ★★★★★Alex was an incredible tour guide for the Cu Chi tunnels trip myself and my friends took. He brought the good vibes and had excellent English. He taught us so much about the history of Saigon / Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam War. 100% recommend this tour.
Naad
26 December 2024 ★★★★★Our group of 6 couples traveled from North to South Vietnam through many cities in 18- days tour. Stephen, from My Way Travel, provided quality service in the planning and organizing our trip, and he was very patient with our changes. The hotels were great; especially in Hoi An, Hanoi and Saigon, as we were within walking distance of the restaurants, shops, and markets. Our personal tour guides in every city were respectful, knowledgeable, and ensured our safety. They guided us through many beautiful places from caves in Halong Bay in the North, to the historical city of Hoi An in central Vietnam, to the picturesque Mekong Delta in the South. Furthermore, every guide recommended fantastic places for regional food specialties. This was a great and memorable experience! We highly recommend their service and will definitely contact Stephen for our next tour.
Alex Boshoff
19 April 2024 ★★★★★Our Thailand Vietnam Bike Tour was very well managed. The teams took great care of us, they support van was always available when needed. The food was excellent. We loved all the restaurent. The accommodations were great, offering a variety of options from resorts to boutique hotels to city hotels, all of which were comfortable. Biking on and off-road was enjoyable. The people in both countries are warm, welcoming & kind. The experience in the Mekong Delta was fantasic. We definitely recommend this trip.
Erik
19 December 2024 ★★★★★Absolutely amazing service that made our trip amazing. We traveled in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. At all destinations we had amazing tour guides and plans for full days of fun and traveling. Every tour guide was nice, informative, and made our time in each destination amazing. Using Steven is a must if you plan to go to asia
Scott
26 December 2024 ★★★★★The host of our hotel in Saigon (Stephen from the My Way hotel) booked us a tailor-made stay in the Mekong Delta. We didn't worry about anything and the stay met our expectations. The first day we visited the Mekong Delta by boat (Ben Tre and Can Tho) with many tastings. We spent the night in a 4 star hotel with swimming pool in Can Tho. The next day we visited the floating market on the Mekong (coffee on a shopping boat and breakfast at the hotel). In the afternoon we were taken by taxi to a port near Soc Trang which allowed us to take the boat early the next day to go to the island of Con Dao. It is a magnificent island where we were able to hike and enjoy the beautiful views. A great stay, thank you Stephen
