I have just traveled from south to north by my own car (except for the Mekong Delta, like Tràm Chim National Park). My trip followed the western border route from south to north, rather than the highway or coastal road.
I visited not only all the bird hides (from Thác Mai, Đà Lạt, Kon Tum, Ninh Bình, Cúc Phương, and Fansipan) but also a very special place called the Nam Kang area inside Hoàng Liên Sơn National Park.
At Nam Kang, there is a bird guide named K'Phay (a Red Dao person) who works with another bird guide, Toby Trung. They have set up some unique trekking routes reaching up to 2,200 meters in altitude, where you can spend 4 days and 3 nights deep inside the jungle. This route is designed specifically for spotting four types of laughingthrush, including some rare species, in their stunning natural habitat. During the trek, you’ll also get to make friends with the Red Dao people, who will help transport your gear and prepare meals, making the experience even more special.
K'Phay also offers another shorter trekking trip—2 days and 1 night—to Nam Kang Ho Tao mountain, where he will call in a small laughingthrush. I am planning to do this trip from March 15th to 20th, as I love the cool weather. April is too hot for me, and the chill of early spring helps me avoid leeches and mosquitoes.
Driving and birding across Vietnam was an incredible experience. Of course, there were places I only passed through, but even those moments were unforgettable—like in Bắc Trà My, Quảng Nam, where I saw a huge black eagle chase my drone just seven meters in front of me!
Good luck!