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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
COST:
Biennial: $2,995 per person
Add Post-Tour: $1,995 per person
About the Biennial (Vietnam):
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!
DETAILS
About the Optional Post-Tour (Southern Thailand):
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.
DETAILS
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.
