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2026 Vietnam Biennial &

Optional Southern Thailand Post-Tour

Board Meeting (Vietnam): February 21, 2026 - February 22, 2026 (Board members ONLY)
Main Tour (Vietnam): February 23, 2026 - March 3, 2026
Post-Tour (Southern Thailand): March 3, 2026 - March 9, 2026

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ABOUT THE 2026 VIETNAM BIENNIAL

Pictured: Arenga westerhoutii Cuc Phuong National Park, IPS Post Tour 2012 led by Dr. Henderson and Dr. Drung.  (photo by David Tanswell).


Join us for the 2026 IPS Biennial in Vietnam, led by renowned palm experts Dr. Andrew Henderson and Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Dựng, authors of Palms of Vietnam, a seminal work that is a culmination of 13 collecting expeditions into Vietnam over the last two decades. We will visit many of the areas where they did their fieldwork and endeavor to see for ourselves the surprising palm diversity hidden in the forests of Vietnam.

This eight day trip will explore the northern and central parts of Vietnam, a fascinating part of the country with a variety of palm habitats with a great diversity of palms. We will visit several national parks including Cuc Phuong, Vu Quang, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng, and Bach Ma. We will travel in comfortable motor coaches and enjoy staying at beautiful, top-quality hotels, including Sofitel Legend Hanoi,  Emeralda Ninh Binh, Melia Ha Tinh,  Melia Quang Binh, Azerai, and Hotel Royal Hoi An.

Evening lectures will be given by Dr. Andrew Henderson, Dr. William Baker, and Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Dựng.

Attendees have the option to extend their trip and visit the spectacular palm rich forests of Southern Thailand in our post-tour (details below).


Space is limited to the first 95 registrants, so reserve your spot today!

 PRICING (MAIN TOUR)

Pricing includes all meals (except where indicated in the itinerary), tours, transportation,

IPS donation, botanist supplement, and hotel accommodations. 

$2,995.00

Pricing includes:

    • All meals (except where indicated in the itinerary)
    • Hotel accommodations. 
    • Tours with English speaking guides
    • Ground transportation
    • IPS donation
    • Botanist supplement

Not Included:

    • Air tickets both domestic and international 
    • Insurance
    • Personal expenses
    • All drinks
    • Visa fees and/or visa authorization
    • Tips
    • Other expenses not mentioned on the itinerary

ITINERARY


BOARD MEETING

DATE TIME ITINERARY ITEM LOCATION
2/21/26            
Board of Directors Arrival                                             Sofitel Legen Metropole Hanoi Hotel                  
2/22/26                      Morning                          Board Meeting (Directors only)                                           Hotel De L'Opera

Board Members: The board meeting is scheduled in the morning on Sunday 2/22/26.  Board attendees must make hotel arrangements for Saturday and Sunday nights.  During registration, there is an option for the travel agent to extend your stay at the Sofitel Legen Metropole for you (price includes an agent booking fee).  If you wish to stay at Hotel De L'Opera (less expensive), you will have to contact the hotel directly or reserve through an online booking site.



MAIN TOUR

Early Arrivals:  If attendees would like to come early, there will be an option to book additional nights at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel during registration.  Extra night option includes:  2 nights - Saturday & Sunday or 1 night - Sunday (price includes an agent booking fee).  


DATE TIME ITINERARY ITEM LOCATION
2/23/26                                            Arrival Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel                               
Lunch - On Own
Dinner - On Own
2/24/26 Breakfast
Tour: Cuc Phuong National Park
Lunch
Hotel Check In Emeralda Resort Tam Coc
Welcome Dinner Emeralda Resort Tam Coc
2/25/26 7:00                Breakfast Emeralda Resort Tam Coc
Tour: Vu Quang National Park                                 
Grab & Go Lunch
Hotel Check In Melia Vinpearl Ha Tinh
Dinner Melia Vinpearl Ha Tinh
2/26/26 Breakfast Melia Vinpearl Ha Tinh
Depart to Quang Binh
Lunch Local Restaurant
Tour: Paradise Cave
Check In Melia Vinpearl Quang Binh
Dinner Melia Vinpearl Quang Binh
2/27/26 Breakfast Melia Vinpearl Quang Binh
Tour: Phong Nha National Park
Lunch Local Restaurant
Dinner Melia Vinpearl Quang Binh
2/28/26 Breakfast Melia Vinpearl Quang Binh
Check Out
Depart for Hue
Lunch Local Restaurant - Hue
Check in AZERAI La Residence Hue
Leisure Day
Dinner - On Own
3/1/26 Breakfast AZERAI La Residence Hue
Departure for Hoi An
Tour: Bach Ma National Park
Lunch Picnic Lunch
Check in Royal Hotel in Hoi An
Dinner - On Own
3/2/26 Breakfast Royal Hotel in Hoi An
Old Town Walking Tour Hoi An
Lunch - On Own
Leisure Time
Farewell Dinner The Field of Hoi An Restaurant & Bar
3/3/26 Breakfast Royal Hotel in Hoi An
Free Day
Depart to Airport

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JOIN US FOR A POST-TOUR TO SOUTHERN THAILAND

March 3-6, 2026

The journey doesn’t end in Vietnam! From March 3-9, 2026, we will travel to Southern Thailand with celebrated botanist Anders Barfod and guided by Thailand's most knowledgeable local guide and palm expert Poonsak Vatcharakorn. We will explore the beautiful Khao Sok National Park, visit the spectacular Cheow Lan Lake area, and access palms in places only the experts in the field know about. We will end the trip in Phuket, the “Jewel of the Andaman Sea” and view the magnificent Kerriodoxa elegans in habitat. The trip will be the perfect mix of botanical adventure and comfort as we will be staying in some of Thailand’s most instagram worthy hotels, including Panvaree, Sofitel Krabi, and The Slate. We’ll wrap it all up with a special farewell dinner.


PRICING (POST-TOUR EXTENSION)

$1995.00

Space is limited to the first 44 registrants.

Pricing includes:

    • All meals (except where indicated in the itinerary)
    • Hotel accommodations. 
    • Tours with English speaking guides
    • Ground transportation
    • IPS donation
    • Botanist supplement

Not Included:

    • Air tickets both domestic and international  (Option to purchase air ticket from Danang to Surat Thani through travel agent available during registration)
    • Insurance
    • Personal expenses
    • All drinks
    • Visa fees and/or visa authorization
    • Tips
    • Other expenses not mentioned on the itinerary

POST TOUR ITINERARY (PRELIMINARY)

DATETIMEITINERARY ITEMLOCATION
3/3/26 

 14:15    

Arrival Surat Thani airport              
Check-InThe Greenery Panvaree, Khao Sok National Park
Free Time
DinnerThe Greenery Panvaree
3/4/26Breakfast
The Greenery Panvaree
Khao Sok National Park - Pinanga, Arenga, Caryota, Wallicia, Nenga, Iguanura, Licuala, Salaca, Areca, Calamus
LunchThe Greenery Panvaree
DinnerThe Greenery Panvaree
3/5/26Breakfast
The Greenery Panvaree
   Cheow Lan Lake to Krabi - Maxburretia furtadoana Exploration 
 
Check-InSofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort
3/6/26Breakfast
  Option 1: Relax at 5 star resort & spa.  Option 2:  Thung Khai Arboretum and Forest Reserve (Peninsular Botanical Garden), about a two hour drive. Strong palm collection and canopy walk with spectacular views of rattans including Plectocomia, Calamus and Plectocomiopsis).  Southern Botanical Garden also near Trang perhaps the locality where Sumawong spotted the material for Licuala peltata var. sumawongii originally.   
Thung Khai Arboretum and Forest Reserve 
LunchLocal Restaurant
Dinner - On Own
3/7/26Breakfast
Depart Hotel
Travel: Krabi to Phuket with possible stops along the way.  Livistona jenkensiana, Arenga pinnata, A westerhoutii, huge Salacca rumphii, Oncosperma, Cycas species on limestone outcrops
LunchLocal Restaurant
Check-InThe Slate
Dinner - On Own
3/8/26Breakfast
Khao Phra Thaeo National Park to visit the small reserve where  Kerriodoxa grows at Thalang on Phuket. 
Lunch
A late afternoon (sunset) visit to picturesque stand of Borassus. Promthep Cape in Phuket -  near Nai Harn Beach
Farewell DinnerBlack Ginger Restaurant
3/9/26Breakfast
Departures

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For those looking to prepare for our upcoming trip, the IPS offers additional resources highlighting Vietnam’s rich palm diversity, including firsthand stories from the field. Renowned palm expert Dr. Andrew Henderson, who will be joining us on the Biennial, brings his deep knowledge and experience with Vietnam’s native palms to these materials. See a few of his resources below.

WEBINAR: PALMS OF VIETNAM with Andrew Henderson 

Andrew Henderson, Botanist/Palm Specialist at New York Botanical Garden since 1987. During his tenure at the Garden, Mr. Henderson has been primarily involved in systematic research on the palm family. He has revised approximately 30 genera comprising 800 species. His revisionary work has been based on extensive field work in various countries in both the American and Asian tropics. 


BLOG POST: PALMS OF VIETNAM by Andrew Henderson 

Andrew Henderson has received several grants from the IPS. Three of them - 2013, 2016, and 2018 - were all for the same project: a treatment of the palms of Vietnam.

Read more about his adventures with his Vietnamese colleague, Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Dựng, and how they brought all this work together and published it in a field guide format.


BOOK: PALMS OF VIETNAM by Dr. Andrew Henderson and Dr Nguyễn Quốc Dựng

About the Book:

Up until quite recently, Vietnam was not considered to be particularly diverse for palms. However, intensive field work in the last decade has seen the number of species recorded from the country to more than double, from the 60 species recognized by the French colonial botanists to the 129 species recognized in this book. Furthermore, more than 60% of these species are endemic to Vietnam and are not found anywhere else. Many species, particularly the rattans, are economically important plants, and emphasis is given to the uses of all species. The Palms of Vietnam is the first field guide to the palms of the country. It aims to provide accurate information to anyone interested in the palms of the country, be they horticulturalists, hobbyists, students, or conservationists. It provides descriptions and illustrations for all species, keys for the identification of genera and species, distribution maps for all species.


PURCHASE BOOK



WEATHER

February is a fantastic time to go to Vietnam! The weather is dry and sunny from north to south, making it ideal for exploring palms. There will also be time on your own to relax on the beach or head into the highlands. Average temp is 25°C (77°F).

WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO


CANCELLATION POLICY

We understand that plans can change. However, due to the nature of international group travel and the commitments made in advance, the following cancellation charges will apply once the rooming list has been received:

    • Cancellations made before 01 September, 2025 will not incur any cancellation charges 
    • Cancellations made after 01 September, 2025 but before 01 January 2026 will incur a fee of 60% of trip costs. 
    • Cancellations made after 01 January, 2026 will incur a fee of 100% of trip costs.  

Cancellations must be submitted in writing. Refunds, if applicable, will be processed according to the above schedule, however any credit card fees incurred for the transaction will be withheld (typically 3-3.5%).  We recommend purchasing travel insurance  to protect against unforeseen circumstances.


TRIP INSURANCE

The International Palm Society strongly recommends that all travelers purchase comprehensive travel insurance before embarking on their journey. Such insurance offers crucial protection against unforeseen circumstances that might disrupt or influence your travel arrangements. While we make every effort to ensure a seamless trip, certain situations beyond our control could potentially result in unanticipated setbacks such as delays, cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost possessions.

Travel insurance should always include:

  • Medical expenses and coverage to get you home if you're injured or fall ill abroad.
  • Personal injury and coverage for accidents or damage caused by you.
  • Coverage for lost or damaged items.
  • Cover for lost or delayed baggage.

Travel insurance should apply to the total value of pre-tour, Biennial, and post-tour if you plan on going on any of these trips, including airfare and registration fees.

U.S News has listed these top 8 insurance companies for 2025. Please note this information is listed for your convenience and is not a full list of available insurance companies. The IPS does not evaluate or receive compensation for any of this information:

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