Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City to Tra On via Cai Be
Leave Ho Chi Minh City after breakfast and head south to the Mekong Delta by road. Board the Bassac, a converted traditional wooden rice barge, at Cai Be at noon and enjoy a welcome drink with the crew. As the Bassac departs towards Cho Lach on the Tien Giang River enjoy lunch on the upper deck. Relax on deck and take in the lush tropical scenery of the verdant delta waterways and fruit orchards. A visit to a village on the banks of the River Mang Thít offers an opportunity to appreciate the way of life and hospitality of the locals. Back onboard enjoy complimentary drinks from the open bar on deck as the sun sets. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac cruises before mooring for the night at Phuoc Huu Pagoda, in Tra On. Overnight on board the Bassac.

Day 3: Tra On to Ho Chi Minh City via Can Tho
Breakfast is served while the Bassac cruises to the Tra On floating market. The Bassac then departs towards Can Tho. After arrival at Cai Rang floating market, transfer to a smaller boat for a closer look at the floating market, the nearby arroyos and gardens – a real photographer’s paradise. Arrive at Can Tho late morning and return to Ho Chi Minh City by road. The rest of the day is at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight at the Majestic Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien National Park
Leaving Ho Chi Minh City after breakfast, transfer by road the 150 km to Cat Tien National Park. Cat Tien National Park contains the largest remaining area of lowland tropical forest in southern Vietnam and an incredible diversity of birds and mammals including over 330 bird species. Endangered birds found here include Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Green Peafowl and the very elusive Orange-necked Partridge. Mammals that may be seen along the trails include Leopard Cat, Eurasian Wild Pig, Lesser Mousedeer, Sambar, Red Muntjac and Gaur as well as two endangered primates, Black-shanked Douc Langur and Buff-cheeked Gibbon. Overnight at Cat Tien National Park HQ.

Day 7: Cat Tien National Park to Dalat
Leave Cat Tien National Park after breakfast by road for Dalat arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon make the first of several visits to the Ta Nung Valley, a small but bird-filled area of remnant evergreen forest 10 km from Dalat. This is the most accessible site for the rare and endemic Grey-crowned Crocias. Black-hooded, White-cheeked and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush as well as the recently split Black-crowned Parrotbill may also be found here. Other possibilities here include the very distinct local sub-species of Blue-winged Minla, Rufous-backed and Black-headed Sibias and Black-throated Sunbird, Jerdon’s Baza, Blue Pitta and the beautiful yellow-breasted form of Indochinese Green Magpie. Overnight at Novotel Dalat.

Days 8 & 9: Dalat
Two full days to enjoy birding around Dalat. In addition to the wonderful Ta Nung Valley there are two other main birding sites around Dalat - Mount Lang Bian and Ho Tuyen Lam. Mount Lang Bian, is a 2,169 m high peak 20 minutes by road from Dalat. Wintering Mugimaki Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Grey-crowned Tit, Vietnamese Cutia, Black-crowned Fulvetta and Vietnamese Greenfinch can be found in the pine and montane evergreen forest here. The most sought-after species at Lang Bian however is the beautiful and skulking endemic Collared Laughingthrush. Ho Tuyen Lam is a man-made lake, just 3 km from the centre of town. At the far end of the lake there are tracks leading through pines to areas of remnant tropical evergreen forest. Burmese Shrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Vietnamese Cutia, Red Crossbill and Vietnamese Greenfinch can be found in the pines while the evergreen forest is home to Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Black-hooded, White-cheeked and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias and Black-crowned Parrotbill amongst others. Overnight at Novotel Dalat.

Day 10: Dalat to Hoi An via Chi Minh City
Leave Dalat after an early breakfast and transfer to Dalat Airport for the morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport transfer to downtown Ho Chi Minh City for sightseeing, shopping and lunch before returning to the airport to take the afternoon flight to Danang. On arrival at Danang transfer the 25 km to Hoi An by road. Overnight at Victoria Hoi An Resort.

Day 11: Hoi An
Hoi An was a major trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Hoi An is also known for its wonderful cuisine and local specialities such as cao lau, a delicious noodle soup. A morning cooking class is a great way to discover some of Hoi An's culinary delights. The morning starts with a visit to the local market to buy ingredients, then a short boat trip along the Hoi An River to the school, where students are treated to demonstrations of Hoi An specialties such as squid and pineapple salad, grilled eggplant and banh xeo (pancakes) before being let loose in the kitchen. In the afternoon take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colourful market. Overnight at Victoria Hoi An Resort. 

Day 13: Bach Ma National Park to Hue
Enjoy a morning of birding at Bach Ma National Park before driving the 50 km or so to the former imperial capital of Hue for lunch. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Overnight at Pilgrimage Village Hue.

Day 14: Hue to Hanoi
In the early morning visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 and Thien Mu Pagoda with its seven-tiered tower. Transfer to Hue Airport for the midday flight to Hanoi, the modern day capital of Vietnam. On arrival in Hanoi transfer from Noi Bai International Airport and enjoy an afternoon city tour visiting some of the city's sights such as the Lake of the Restored Sword, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Early evening transfer to the main railway station to board the overnight Victoria Express to Sapa on the Chinese border in the far north of the country. Overnight on the Victoria Express Train. 

Day 15: Lao Cai to Sapa
Arrive at Lao Cai station in the early morning and transfer by road through the spectacular scenery of green rice terraces and misty mountain peaks to Sapa for breakfast. Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the Victoria Sapa Hotel and after breakfast explore the Ham Rong Gardens, a popular tourist attraction overlooking the town centre. Despite the crowds there are some quieter parts of the gardens where some of the local bird specialities such as White-browed Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix, Spectacled Barwing and Vinous-throated Parrotbill may be found. Leaving Ham Rong stroll through the busy market where the colourful ethnic minority people from the surrounding countryside gather to sell their embroidery, silverware and handicrafts and buy provisions to take back to their mountain villages. In the afternoon drive to the village of O Quy Ho around 8km from Sapa for an afternoon of walking and birding along a trail through an area of mixed primary and secondary forest and scrub. Birds that can turn up here include such sought after species as Spot-breasted Parrotbill and Sickle-billed Scimitar Babbler. Overnight at Victoria Sapa Hotel.

Day 16: Sapa
After an early breakfast it is a short drive to the entrance of Hoang Lien National Park in the shadow of Vietnam's highest mountain, Mount Fan Si Pan. Stop at Thac Bac Waterfall en route to look for Little Forktail, White-capped and Plumbeous Water Redstart. At Hoang Lien National Park, the first section of the trail leading to Fan Si Pan and the valley below make for a nice walk with some good birding opportunities. Specialities that can be found here include White-tailed Nuthatch, the Vietnamese endemic Pale-throated Wren Babbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill and Green-tailed Sunbird. Overnight at Victoria Sapa Hotel.

Day 17: Sapa to Lao Cai
In the morning return to O Quy Ho or Hoang Lien National for more birding or hike to the Hmong village of Cat Cat in a valley 3 km below Sapa. Continue birding in the afternoon or shop for hilltribe handicrafts and textiles in Sapa’s bustling market. Transfer to Lao Cai in the early evening to board the overnight train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the Victoria Express Train. 

Day 18: Hanoi to Cuc Phuong National Park
Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning and drive directly to Cuc Phuong National Park, three and a half hours to the south of the capital. After checking into the HQ guest house visit the Endangered Primate Resuce Centre at the park HQ and later in the afternoon visit the nearby Van Long Nature Reserve to take a sampan to the dramatic limestone cliffs that are home to the largest population of the endangered Delacour Langur. Various waders, herons, bitterns and a breeding pair of Bonelli’s Eagle are often seen here. Return to Cuc Phuong National Park before dusk for dinner. Overnight at Cuc Phuong National Park HQ. 

Day 22: Hanoi to Halong Bay
Leave Hanoi after breakfast for the two and a half hour drive to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders of the world. Board the Emeraude, a luxurious replica of a classic colonial cruiser. A welcome drink will be served on the sundeck. With 37 luxurious air-conditioned cabins, a restaurant, two bars and a sundeck this is the ultimate Halong Bay experience. After a sumptuous buffer lunch enjoy the wonderful natural scenery while relaxing on deck or try a traditional Vietnamese foot massage as an optional extra. A sunset cocktail is served on the sundeck in the late afternoon followed by a buffet dinner. Overnight on board the Emeraude.