Related links:
- photo gallery
- customer comments
- reference
- late availability
- vietnam information

The legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail was the supply line used by North Vietnam to link North and South Vietnam during the American War. Soldiers, ammunition, weapons and supplies were carried by hand, on bicycle and truck for hundreds of kilometres through the otherwise impenetrable jungle that covered Vietnam's mountainous border with Laos. A testimony to the ingenuity, fortitude and commitment of the North Vietnamese, the Trail slipped from use at the end of the war and was taken back by the jungle. Recent road works that follow original sections of the Trail have changed this. This ride takes in the former imperial capital of Hue, the ancient trading town of Hoi An, Khe Sanh battlefield, the infamous A Shaw valley, My Khe beach, Vietnamese war museums and the DMZ. We also take time to stay overnight in a traditional Thai hill tribe village and visit the former Imperial Tombs of Hue. Take this one off chance to be among the first to traverse the Ho Chi Minh Trail! This is a moderate trip, especially designed for bikers.

Itinerary at a glance

Day 01: Hanoi - Phu Yen.
Day 02: Phu Yen - Mai Chau.
Day 03: Mai Chau - Tan Ky.
Day 04: Tan Ky - Phong Nha.
Day 05: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi.
Day 06: Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh.
Day 07: Khe Sanh - Hue.
Day 08: Hue - Hoi An.
Day 09: Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An - Quy Nhon.
Day 11: Quy Nhon - Nha Trang.

Day 1 - 8: OV04

See OV04 above.

Day 9: Hoi An

Whole morning exploring the old town of Hoi An. Afternoon at the Cua Dai beach, about 6km from the old town.

The former harbour town of the Champa people at the estuary of the Thu Bon river was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled down. During this period of the China trade, the town was called Hai Pho (Seaside Town) in Vietnamese. During the French colonial period (1883 - 1945), it was called Faifo. Originally Hai Pho was a divided town, because across the "Japanese Bridge", it used to be the Japanese settlement (16^th - 17^th century). The bridge (Chua Cau) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.

The town is known to the French and Spanish as Faifo, and by similar names in Portuguese and Dutch. A number of theories have been put forth as to the origin of this name. Some scholars have suggested that it comes from the word "Hai pho" meaning "sea town", while others have said that it seems more likely to simply be a shortening of Hoi An pho, "the town of Hoi An", to "Hoi pho" which became "Faifo".

In 1999, the old town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15^th to 19^th centuries, whose buildings display a unique blend of local and foreign influences.

Today, Hoi An is still a small city, but it attracts a fair number of tourists, also being a well established place on the backpacker trail. Many visit for the numerous art and craft shops and tailors, who produce made-to-measure clothes for a fraction of the western price. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Hoi An - Quy Nhon (280 km, 8 hours riding)

Join the National Highway 1 and head down the beautiful coastal line of Vietnam until Quy Nhon. Traffic is somewhat easier to handle than the Central Highlands of vietnam. Overnight in a beach front hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Quy Nhon - Nha Trang (200 km, 6 hours riding). Farewell lunch

Another day filled up with beautiful coast line views. After lunch, we will say goodbye and our guide flies back to Hanoi from Nha Trang. (B, L)

There are two options: Return to Hanoi on train or by air or go down South on your own.

B: Breakfast.
L: Lunch.
D: Dinner.

Contact us.

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HO CHI MINH TRAIL/ROAD MOTORCYCLE EXPEDITION IN 13 DAYS 13 days/ 12 nights

Booking code: OV42

Related links:
- photo gallery
- customer comments
- reference
- late availability
- vietnam information

The legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail was the supply line used by North Vietnam to link North and South Vietnam during the American War. Soldiers, ammunition, weapons and supplies were carried by hand, on bicycle and truck for hundreds of kilometres through the otherwise impenetrable jungle that covered Vietnam's mountainous border with Laos. A testimony to the ingenuity, fortitude and commitment of the North Vietnamese, the Trail slipped from use at the end of the war and was taken back by the jungle. Recent road works that follow original sections of the Trail have changed this. This ride takes in the former imperial capital of Hue, the ancient trading town of Hoi An, Khe Sanh battlefield, the infamous A Shaw valley, My Khe beach, Vietnamese war museums and the DMZ. We also take time to stay overnight in a traditional Thai hill tribe village and visit the former Imperial Tombs of Hue. Take this one off chance to be among the first to traverse the Ho Chi Minh Trail! This is a moderate level trip, designed for bikers or experienced riders.

Itinerary at a glance

Day 01: Hanoi - Phu Yen.
Day 02: Phu Yen - Mai Chau.
Day 03: Mai Chau - Tan Ky.
Day 04: Tan Ky - Phong Nha.
Day 05: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi.
Day 06: Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh.
Day 07: Khe Sanh - Hue.
Day 08: Hue - Hoi An.
Day 09: Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An - Kon Tum.
Day 11: Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot.
Day 12: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang.
Day 13: Nha Trang. Farewell lunch.

Day 1 - 9: OV41

See OV41 above.

Day 10: Hoi An - Kon Tum (~290 km, ~9 h)

We strike back up to the mountains, rejoining the Trail at Phuoc Son (also known as Kham Duc). From there we head up the towering Lo So Pass, passing through remote areas thinly populated by peoples of the Ba Na ethnicity. Edging close to the border with Laos, where a number of Trail arteries crossed over in Laos, we continue on to Kon Tum.

Overnight in Kon Tum.

Day 11: Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot (~240 km, ~8 h)

In the morning we head south through the Central Highlands, passing Pleiku and the Ia Drang valley battlefield, before continuing onto Buon Ma Thuot (also known as Buon Me Thuot), the city where northern forces launched their final assault on the then Saigon. Buon Ma Thuot produces most and best coffee products in Vietnam.

Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.

Day 12: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang (~190 km, ~7 h)

We take an easy drive back down off the Tay Son highlands towards the coast, arriving at Highway 1 some 30 km north of Nha Trang. Taking in this scenic coastal stretch past turquoise waters and scarlet fishing boats, we arrive in the bright lights of Nha Trang and its relaxing holiday options.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 13: Nha Trang (relax)

A free day by the beach before gathering for a seafood feast to recount our adventure and toast the Ho Chi Minh Trail. There are two options: Return to Hanoi on train or by air or go down South on your own.

B: Breakfast.
L: Lunch.
D: Dinner.

Contact us.

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HO CHI MINH TRAIL/ROAD EXTENDED MOTORCYCLE VOYAGE IN 16 DAYS 16 days/ 15 nights

Booking code: OV45

Itinerary at a glance

Day 01: Hanoi - Phu Yen.
Day 02: Phu Yen - Mai Chau.
Day 03: Mai Chau - Tan Ky.
Day 04: Tan Ky - Phong Nha.
Day 05: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi.
Day 06: Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh.
Day 07: Khe Sanh - Hue.
Day 08: Hue - Hoi An.
Day 09: Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An - Kon Tum.
Day 11: Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot.
Day 12: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang.
Day 13: Nha Trang - Da Lat.
Day 14: Da Lat.
Day 15: Da Lat - Cat Tien.
Day 16: Cat Tien - Saigon.

Day 1 - 12: OV42

See OV42 above.

Day 13: Nha Trang - Da Lat

This 150km ride shows you some footages of the famous 2008 BBC's Top Gear Vietnam Special show. Mountainous ride on the Central Highland.

- Distance: 150 km
- Accommodation: Hotel in Da Lat
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Da Lat Touring

Da Lat is known as "The City of Love" and is a favorite holiday resort for Vietnamese as well as the French. With evergreen forests, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, the country's best flower gardens, and delicious fresh produce, Da Lat has always provided a welcome respite from the heat of the lowlands. We can spend the day visiting the highlights of Da Lat - its gardens, cathedral, waterfalls, market, Valley of Love, convent, university, train station and key pagodas. Overnight in Da Lat for the second night.

- Distance: 50 km
- Accommodation: Hotel in Da Lat
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Da Lat - Cat Tien National Park

Down on road 20, we ride to Cat Tien National Park. This forest area used to be the head quarter of Vietnamese army during the war. The park suffered historically during the Vietnam War when it was extensively sprayed with herbicides like the defoliant Agent Orange. To this day these areas have extensive bamboo and grassland cover and trees have not yet grown back.

- Distance: 190 km
- Accommodation: Guest-house in Cat Tien Park
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Cat Tien - Saigon

This is not so long but is a big day as traffic is very crazy when we enter Saigon (HCM City). We ride straight to the train station where we end the ride. If you need information about places to stay and/or to eat our guide will be able to recommend some. Tour ends.

- Distance: 160 km
- Accommodation: Not included
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DESTINATION DETAILS

Phu Yen: A small town, ~170km Northwest of Hanoi, in the heart of the third largest rice field in North Vietnam. The road from Hanoi to Son Tay is crowded, skirting along the Red river. the road from Son Tay to Phu yen is quite scenic and quiet. It is one of the less travelled places in North Vietnam, the accommodation in Phu Yen is basic.

Mai Chau: A Thai village in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province. ~160km from Phu Yen. In early 1990's Lac village is the first to open homestay overnighting business. It became so popular that all surrounding villages stepped into this business, making Mai Chau the largest homestaying complex in North Vietnam. Luckily, friendly people and great food make the night here very entertaining and enjoyable. You will stay in a stilt house, or pile dwelling which is made of bamboo and timber. A house is normally elevated 10-12 feet off the ground in order to avoid water damage and provide shelter for animals.

Tan Ky: A town in the west part of Nghe An province, ~400km South of Hanoi. It is a stop on the Ho Chi Minh Trail/Road and Km0 is in this district where original Ho Chi Minh trail starts. This is home to Kinh, Thai and Tho people.

Phong Nha: Phong Nha - Ke Bang is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bo Trach and Minh Hoa districts, Quang Binh province. This location is in central Vietnam, ~500 km south of Hanoi. The park was created to protect one of the world's two largest karst regions with 300 caves and grottoes and also protects the ecosystem of limestone forest in north central coast of Vietnam. Phong Nha holds several world cave records, as it has the longest underground river, as well as the largest caverns and passageways. Son Doong is a relatively recently discovered cave in the national park. Found by a local man and explored and publicly announced by the British cave scientists of the British Cave Research Association, it is claimed to be the largest cave in the world. A boat ride on the Son river is a good way to relax and take in the beautiful view of this park.

Dong Hoi: The capital city of Quang Binh province in central Vietnam. The city is on the old National Highway 1A. ~500km south of Hanoi. Dong Hoi has a 12km coastline with white sand beaches like Nhat Le, Da Nhay and Ly Ho. This was one of the most fierce battlefields during the Vietnam/American War.

Khe Sanh: District capital of Huong Hoa district in Quang Tri province. Khe Sanh Combat Base is a war site, it was a United States Marine Corps outpost in South Vietnam. The airstrip was built in September 1962 and later Vietnamese Army rebuilt the old airstrip at Khe Sanh for courier flights into the south. As of 2009, Khe Sanh Combat Base is a museum where relics of the war are exhibited. Most of the former base is now overgrown by wilderness or coffee and banana plants and there is little trace of the war.

Hue: Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty. During the Vietnam/American War, Hue became central position between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. In the Tet Offensive of 1968, possibly the hardesr fight, during the Battle of Hue the city suffered considerable damage. After the war, many of the historic features of Hue were neglected. Over the past 20 years, many historical areas of the city have been being restored. To may people Hue is a bit boring but it is still a good stop.

Hoi An: Also known as Faifo, a city on the coast of central Vietnam, in Quang Nam province. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. The city served as the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century. It was still an important port until the 17th century. The Pagoda Bridge is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side. The new hotel are was moved to Cua Dai, not far away from the old city where you stay near the beach.

Quy Nhon: Also written as Qui Nhon, is a coastal capital city in Binh Dinh province of central Vietnam. In the past, the city focused on agriculture and fishing but in recent years, however, there has been a significant shift towards service industries and tourism. Things need time to get better but it is a good stop on the trip from North to South, at least not touristy.

Kon Tum: The capital town of Kon Tum province in Central Highlands, near the borders with Laos and Cambodia, famous about coffee products. Kon Tum has several vestiges of the French colonial period, as well as several tribal villages directly in the suburbs of the Vietnamese-reconstructed town. Among the town's landmarks, there is a Roman Catholic wooden church on discrete stilts and a large French-built seminary which hosts a small museum on local hill tribes. French missionary presence in Kon Tum traces back to 1851. This town is in a politically sensitive area and some permits are required to visit remote villages.

Buon Ma Thuot: Also written as Ban Me Thuot, the capital city of Dak Lak province, South Vietnam. The city is the largest in Vietnam's Central Highlands region and is famous as the regional "capital of coffee", home to many Vietnamese famous coffee brands.

Nha Trang: A coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, in the South Vietnam. Nha Trang is well known for its beaches and scuba diving and has developed into a popular destination for domestic and international tourists, attracting large numbers of visitors on the Southeast Asia circuit. Nha Trang Bay is considered as among the world's most beautiful bays. The city is home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute. The Hon Mun marine protected area is one of four first marine protected areas in the world admitted by the IUCN.

Da Lat: The capital of Lam Dong province in South Vietnam. The city is located 1,500m above sea level (same elevation like Sapa and Mau Son in North Vietnam), on the Langbiang Plateau. In Vietnam, Da Lat is a more popular tourist destination for domestic tourists than international tourists. Its specific sights are pine wood with twisting roads and tree marigold blossom in the winter. The temperate weather is like spring all the year round and more like in Europe. It is also known as an area for scientific research in the fields of biotechnology and nuclear physics. Vietnamese people like agriculture products from Dalat, like cabbage and cauliflower. Its flower industry produces two typical flowers: hydrangea and golden everlasting.

Cat Tien: An important national park located in South Vietnam, ~150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It covers an area of about 720 km˛ and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam. The park was founded initially in 1978. This park suffered historically during the Vietnam/American War when it was extensively sprayed with herbicides like the defoliant Agent Orange. We stay in a guesthouse inside the park and this is the best way to get close to the nature.

Ho Chi Minh City: Also known by former name, Saigon. The most populous city in Vietnam with real population of over ten million people. After 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old Saigon name is still used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially when referring to the most central part of the city to which most tourists flock. You need at least a few days to tour the city. Our ride ends at the train station after we load the bikes on the train.

Contact us.

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