Field Trip: DNHG Trip to Southern Vietnam with Binish Roobas

DNHG Trip to Southern Vietnam

Trip Leader – Binish Roobas

Dates – October 14 - 22, 2017 (9 days, 8 nights)

Price* (8-10 pax): AED 2800 per person twin sharing

Vietnam is located on the east of the Indochina Peninsula. It covers a total area of approximately 331,210 km2 (127,881 sq mi), making it almost the size of Germany. The country is mostly hilly and densely forested, with level land covering no more than 20%. Mountains account for 40% of the country's land area, and tropical forests cover around 42%.

The South was divided into coastal lowlands, the mountainous Central Highlands (Cao-nguyen Trung-phan) and the Mekong Delta. Our trip focuses on Coastal lowlands and mountainous Central Highlands.

The rich diversity of Vietnam’s wildlife includes at least 11,400 species of vascular plants, 1030 species of moss, 310 species of mammals, 296 reptile species, 162 amphibian species, 700 species of freshwater fish and 2000 species of marine fish. There are about 889 species of birds and 310 species of land mollusks. However, a study by the WWF has reported that nearly 10% of the wildlife in the country is threatened with extinction. Vietnam is placed 16th highest among 152 countries studied in terms of the proportion of its wildlife species found to be in danger.

Day 1 (Oct 14, Saturday): Arrival at Saigon: Arrive in Saigon. Meet our guide & driver, then transfer to hotel. Overnight in Saigon after a welcome dinner.

Day 2 (Oct 15, Sunday): Saigon – Dalat : Breakfast at hotel.

The scenic 7 hour drive along Highway 20 to Dalat will be broken up by stops at some of the tea and coffee plantations. Lunch at picturesque Dambri Falls. Arrive at Da Lat, known as the City of Eternal Spring. Evening dinner at one of the fine restaurants in Dalat city.

Day 3 (Oct 16, Monday): Dalat – Bidoup Nui Ba National Park:

Breakfast at your hotel in Dalat.

Brief description of 2 days / 1 night camping/hiking tour:

Pick-up at your hotel in Dalat.

+ Departure time: Between 8:30 to 9:00
+ Finishing time: Between 14:00 to 15:00 on the next day
Duration: 2days
Activities:Trekking, bird watching, camping
Food and beverage; water, refreshment (fruit, biscuits) or meals (1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner)
(What to bring: Camera, hat/ cap, trekking shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent .
Available rental gears (extra charge): Binocular, sleeping bag, hammock, blanket, mobile flash light and leech socks. Please make requests when you make a booking of the tour.
Included: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 diner, camping gears, ticket, tour guide, insurance (covered by ticket)

Overnight Camping

Day 4 (Oct 17, Tuesday): Bidoup Nui Ba National Park – Dalat:

End camping tour in Dalat at about 15:00. Transfer back to your hotel in Dalat.

Dinner by yourselves. Overnight in Dalat.

Day 5 (Oct 18, Wednesday): Dalat - Cat Tien National Park:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Set off for 4 hour drive north to Nam Cat Tien National Park.

Arrive around noon, enter the park and have lunch at the restaurant.

In the afternoon, take a walk along the jungle trails to observe wild animals such as deer, wild pigs, snakes, porcupines, gaur (rare) and weasels as they forage for food on the grassland.

In the evening, take jeep for night safari. Overnight at Guest houses.

Day 6 (Oct 19, Thursday): Cat Tien National Park - Saigon:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Rise early to the sounds of the forest. Leave for Bau Sau or Crocodile Lake. The jeep takes 20 minutes (10km) from the lodge to the trekking point, for a 1-hour trek of about 5 km.

Bau Sau is a beautiful lake surrounded by the jungle and home to many crocodiles. At the lake, board your boat and paddle around the lake for an hour. You’ll have the chance to see birds, crocodiles, and wild lotus before heading back to lodge for lunch. At 2 pm, commence the return journey to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at 6 pm.

Dinner by yourselves. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 7 (Oct 20, Friday) Saigon - Tram Chim National Park - Long Xuyen:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to Dong Thap to visit Tram Chim National Park.

more than 300 bird species have been recorded in the park, however many of them are very rare or no longer seen recently.

Homestay at Long Xuyen

Day 8 (Oct 21, Saturday): Long Xuyen- Vuon Co- Tra Su- Chau Doc:

Morning visit to Long Xuyen Floating Market along the bank of river.

Check out and head to Vuon Co. Vuon Co is a 1.3 hectare bird sanctuary with thousands of resident storks. There is a tall wooden viewing platform to see the storks chattering away in their nests.

Transfer to Chau Doc. On the way, visit Tra Su cajuput forest, getting to the wild birds sanctuary , cruising smoothly with small boats to discover the arrays of splendid canals deep into the forest, watching storks, cranes and other tropical birds.

Arrive in Chau Doc, check into lodge.

Day 9 (Oct 22, Sunday ): Chau Doc- Saigon- Departure :-

Breakfast at the lodge.

Morning tour to discover Chau Doc:

Visit Temple of Lady Xu, then Tay An Pagoda with its domed tower, elements of Hindu and Islamic architecture and more than 200 statues including one of a goddess with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands

Finally, visit The Cavern Pagoda, a series of tombs, sanctuaries and a small grotto.

Leave Chau Doc for Saigon. Lunch on the way.

Drop-off at the airport of Saigon or any hotel, depending on flight timing.

*Price includes all except: flights, visas, bottled beverages, personal expenses, insurance, occasional meals not covered in the itinerary and tips.

For more information and sign-up, contact Binish Roobas at johanruphus@hotmail.com. A deposit of AED 1500 will be required for sign-up.