BIRD WATCHING TOUR IN XUAN THUY NATIONAL PARK

* Vietnam Bird-Watching Tour at Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh – BRIEF ITINERARY :
Day 1. Hanoi – Xuan Thuy National Park – The first Ramsar site – Bird watching (L/D)
Day 2. Xuan Thuy National Park – Bird watching(B/L/D)
Day 3. Xuan Thuy National Park – Bird watching – Hanoi (B/L)

Transportation:

Car and boat. Xuan Thuy is about 150 km by road from Hanoi or three and half hours by car. The site is not well known and, for this reason, may be difficult to find. From the national park headquarters, the site can be visited by boat or by foot. It is important to take account of tide times when planning a trip to Xuan Thuy, as some of the best birdwatching areas can only be reached at high tide.

Vietnam Bird-Watching Tour at Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh – Accommodation:

At the moment, accommodation at Xuan Thuy is basic. The park has only one four-bed guestroom with no hot water or electricity. However, a new guesthouse with 10 standard rooms is currently under construction. In addition, there are two guesthouses in Ngo Dong town (20 km from Xuan Thuy) and a resort area in Quat Lam (40 km from Xuan Thuy), where there are many hotels and restaurants.

Vietnam Bird-Watching Tour at Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh – Permission:

An entrance fee system has not yet been established; visitors should contact the park authorities in advance to arrange permission. Both Vietnamese and foreign visitors can visit the park, providing they secure the approval of the park staff and the local border army station.

Vietnam Bird-Watching Tour at Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh – Birding routes:

As a staging and wintering site on the East Asian-Australian flyway, the best time to visit Xuan Thuy is September to April. In August and September, it is still possible to see non-breeding Painted Stork, as well as early migrants, such as Black-winged Stilt. Later, from October onwards, it relatively easy to find wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, particularly at their roost sites in the shrimp ponds. Visitors can ask for assistance from the national park staff, who know the site well, and can advise on places to look for particular species. Hiring a guide from the park is recommended.

Vietnam Bird-Watching Tour at Xuân Thủy National Park in Nam Định – Birding routes:

Visitors can travel by foot to some places of interest; others can only be reached by boat at high tide.

Walking routes:

Walking through the shrimp ponds on Con Ngan island, where the park headquarters is located, can be rewarding, especially at high tide when Black-faced Spoonbills and various gulls, ducks and waders come to roost and feed in the shrimp ponds.

Boating routes: At high tide, boats can be chartered to reach the offshore mudflats and sandy flats, where Spoon-billed Sandpiper can be found among large flocks of waders. Saunders’s Gull can also be found here during December and January, as well as other gulls and ducks. An alternative boat route involves visiting Con Xanh island, which is planted with Casuarina, which shelters migrating passerines, including pittas, and the outer edge of Con Ngan island, where waders, ducks and herons feed in the Tra river mouth.

End of the trip!

Include :

• Private tour Pick up & drop off at hotel
• Lunch
• Private transportation at places as indicated in program
• All admission cost at places mentioned in itinerary
• Fully escorted by professional English or French speaking tour guide. 

Exclude:

• Pre and post trip accommodation in Hanoi
• Personal expenses
• Other meals and drinks
• Insurance
• Tip & gratuities
• All other services not made on the written form