ITINERARY:
Day 1 – Arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam – 16th May
You should plan to arrive today at Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi (code HAN). Today is just an arrival day but if time permits we may be able to explore downtown Hanoi. The tour will start officially with dinner tonight.
Overnight- In Hotel, Hanoi. (D)

Day 2 – Hanoi – Huu Lien – 17th May
The tour commences after breakfast, as we depart early leaving the hustle and bustle of downtown Hanoi to drive to Huu Lien, our base for the next 3 nights. Huu Lien is situated in a stunning limestone karst landscape which will not disappoint. The 150km journey will take approximately 4 hours and we will arrive in good time to check into our accommodation and spend the afternoon having our first introduction to the many species on offer. 
Overnight – Home Stay accommodation in Huu Lien. (B, L, D)

 Days 3 – 4 – Huu Lien – 18th, 19th May
 We will have two full days to search the wetlands and forest streams in this wonderful area. Target species here include some great Calopterygids such as Atrocalopteryx atrocyana and Atrocalopteryx auco (the rarer of the two), Vestalaria miao and Rhinocypha huai. The area is also our best chance for for Pseudagrion spencei and Paracercion ambiguum. We will also search for the rare platycnemid, Matticnemis doi here. In addition to these species we expect to see several gomphid species that may include such beauties as Sinictogomphus clavatus, Labrogomphus torvus, Macrogomphus albardae, Megalogomphus sommeri, Nihonogomphus schorri and Trigomphus Kompieri. Other possibilities here include Devadatta ducatrix, Paracercion calamorum, Paracercion melanotum, Dysphaea basitincta, Lestes nodalis, Lestes decipiens, Orolelestes selysi and Coeliccia pulchella. This will be enough to keep the most experienced observers busy as we get to grips with a whole range of new species.
Overnights – Home Stay accommodation in Huu Lien. (B, L, D). 

 Day 5 – Huu Lien – Mau Son – 20th May
Today we will transfer to Mau Son mountain, close to the Chinese border, our base for the next two nights. Mau Son is only 90km away but the mountain road means our journey will still be about 4 hours. We will arrive in good time to allow a half day searching for our first montane species. Mau Son’s elevation provides cooler temperatures especially at night. The climate was the reason French colonists built grand retreats there but most were destroyed or fell into disrepair in later years. Our Guesthouse accommodation is one of the few surviving examples of the French colonial architecture.
Night in guesthouse in Mau Son. (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Mau Son – 21st May
Today we have a full day searching the area around Mau Son. Target species will include such delights as Rhipodolestes owadai, Anisopleura quingyuenensis, Mattigomphus tamdaoensis, Chlorogomphus auratus, Idionyx carinata and Calicnemia eximia. If we haven’t found them already, we should also find species such as Cryptophaea vietnamensis and Agriomorpha fusca. Because these sites are rarely visited by odontologists we may also find previously unrecorded species. Possibilities are exciting!
Night in guesthouse in Mau Son. (B, L, D)

Day 7 – Mau Son – Pia Oac – 22nd May
Today will largely be a transfer day as we head 225km west towards Pia Oac and Kolia Organic Farm, our accommodation for the next 3 nights. The journey time will be about 6 hours so we will endeavour to take breaks at suitable stops for refreshments and to keep the dragonfly list ticking over. Kolia Farm has good quality rooms and is geared up for tourists. Paul stayed here in 2024 and highly recommends it.
Night Kolia Farm. (B, L, D)

Days 8 – 9 Pia Oac – 23rd, 24th May
We will now have two full days at various sites around Pia Oac. The nearby fish ponds may provide interesting species like Aciagrion migratum, Paracercion V-nigrum, Calicnemia erythromelas and Asiagomphus acco. If we haven’t seen Palpopleura sexmaculata yet, it will almost certainly be here. Just a short drive away are beautiful forest streams heaving with exciting species such as the enormous Caloptyrygid, Archineura hetaerinoides, Sarasaeschna niisatoi, Chlorogomphus piaoacensis (one of six potential species here), Caliphaea thailandica, Anisopleura quingyanensis, Bayadera serrata, Bayadera hatvan and possibly Bayadera continentalis, Petaliaeschna tomokunii, Nihonogomphus thomassoni, Davidius fruhstorferi, Leptogomphus elegans, Sieboldius nigricolor, Lestes dorothea and much more. We may even find the extremely rare Priscagrion pinheyi.
Nights Kolia Farm. (B, L, D)

Day 10 – Pia Oac – Xuan Son National Park – 25th May
Today we drag ourselves away Pia Oac to travel to Xuan Son National Park. It will be another transfer day with an early start, but Xuan Son is not to be missed. We will be staying at the delightful and perfectly located Bảo Việt Homestay, which is just a short walk from the park entrance and has its own stream in the garden. On this garden stream alone, in 2024 Paul recorded Chlorogomphus sachiyoae, Leptogomphus perforatus and Phaenandrogomphus tonkinicus. We hope to arrive in time for a late afternoon session at the stream as many gomphid species become more active in the late afternoon.
Overnight – Bảo Việt Homestay. (B, L, D)

Days 11 – 12 Xuan Son National Park – 26th, 27th May
We have two full days exploring Xuan Son National Park. Damselflies are well represented here with exciting species such as Coeliccia sasamotoi, Coeliccia poungyi, Coeliccia cyanomelas,Coeliccia curua and possibly Coeliccia chromothorax, Orolestes selysi, Protosticta satoi, Protosticta grandis, Rhinagrion hainanensis, Matrona basilaris, Archineura hetaerinoides, Cryptophaea vietnamensis , Philoganga vetusta, Ceriagrion auranticum and Ceriagrion cf. chaoi.  We will also look for Lamelligomphus camelus and Gomphidia kruegeri which are are pretty much guaranteed and rarer gomphids including Nihonogomphus schorri, Merogomphus pavicie and Lamelligomphus vietnamensis are quite possible too. Some interesting libellulids are also found at Xuan Son such as Lyriothemis kameliyae, Lyriothemis bivittata and with luck the impressive Camacinia harterti. We have a good chance of seeing Tetracanthagyna waterhousei  here too. Calopterygids such as Matrona taoi, Atrocalopteryx coomani, Noguchiphaea yoshikoaea and Rhinocypha arguta are also possible here but their numbers peak a little later in the season.  Everyone who has ever been to Xuan Son loves this place.
Overnights – Bảo Việt Homestay. (B, L, D)

Day 13 – Xuan Son – Cuc Phuong National Park – 28th May
After breakfast we leave early to transfer to Cuc Phuong National Park, where we will be spending the next 2 nights at the Park HQ accommodation. Cuc Phuong was one of the first National Park to be established and the habitat consists of mid elevation forest flanked by limestone karst mountains. The timing of our visit is also at the peak of the butterfly season and it is easy to be distracted by the myriad of butterflies taking minerals from the road. As everyone knows we try to look at everything on our tours. We will arrive in time to spend the afternoon searching for a few places close to the HQ.
Night at the Park HQ. (B, L, D)

Day 14 – Cuc Phuong National Park – 29th May
We have a full day at Cuc Phuong, starting at the highest point of the road then making stops as we descend exploring pools, swamps and most rewardingly forest streams. Target species in Cuc Phuong include a nice selection of Coeliccia species including pulchella, pyriformis, uenoi and scutellum. Agriomorpha fusca, Cryptophaea vietnamensis, Protosticta satoi, Protosticta grandis and Orolestes selysi should be here. Chlorogomphus nakamurai and Chlorogomphus canhvang are easily found as males patrol the streams. With luck an egg laying female will show up too. Other gomphids here include Fukienogomphus prometheus, Asiagomphus auricolor, Gomphidia abbotti, Gomphidictinus tongi, Ictinogomphus pertinax, Leptogomphus perforatus, Megalogomphus sommeri, Merogomphus pavicie and Sinictinogomphus clavatus. Camacinia harterti is also possible here and we will see a wide range of libellulids in the more open areas.
Night at the Park HQ. (B, L, D)

Day 15 – Cuc Phuong – Hanoi – 30th May
Today we will return to Hanoi in time for our last evening dinner and reflection on the species and places we have seen. it may be possible for some of you to arrange a late evening flight today, if not then please look at arranging your international departure from Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi (code HAN) tomorrow 31st May. The tour ends tonight with dinner and overnight accommodation.
Overnight- In Hotel, Hanoi. (B, L, D)

Day 16 – Hanoi – Departure – 31st May
Today you can arrange your international departure from Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi (code HAN) at any time of day. (B)