Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Tour from Hanoi to Saigon via Quy Nhon – 12 days

We start the first day of the tour at the company’s office and listen to detailed instructions from our director. We will start a bit late in the morning to avoid rush hour, and head west towards the Quoc Oai district. Then, we turn to Xuan Mai town before driving on backroads to Luong Son town in Hoa Binh province. Lasting for only about 7km, this backroads stretch is quite a challenge on rainy days, though the scenery is quite worth it. We then continue on dirt paths after passing Luong Son market to Bai Chao hamlet, where we will have lunch.

After lunch, we head straight to Cao Phong town, where the endless rolling hills of orange trees are the heart and soul of the district. Then we drive on to the new Highway 6 towards the “Ha Long Bay on mountains” – Ba Khan Lake, a lake nestled deep in walls of mountains. We finally arrive at Mai Chau late afternoon and check in at our homestay. Although not as popular as its neighbor Moc Chau, Mai Chau is known for its fresh air and equally refreshing scenery, as well as the hospitality and warmth the Thai people exude.

Summary: 

Distance: 180 km 

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

We depart from our homestay after breakfast and head towards Thung Khe Pass. Also known as White Rock Pass, at over 1,000 meters above sea level, Thung Khe offers some of the most unique sceneries in Vietnam with the entire area colored in grey-ish white due to exposed limestone mountains. Onwards, we head south towards Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Here, you will get the chance to submerge yourself in nature even further with visits to the rustic Kho Muong, Don, or Hieu villages; and to the unique waterfalls of Hieu and Muon. At the center of it all is Lung Van commune, which, at an elevation of 1,200 meters and covered in wisps of clouds, is sometimes called the “rooftop of the Muong region”.

After leaving Pu Luong, we continue driving for 60 kilometers on the provincial road, heading south towards the Ho Chi Minh Highway, where we will have lunch at a local restaurant. We then drive straight towards Tan Ky town in Nghe An province. Used to be an important strategic center for the North Vietnamese army during the American War, Tan Ky district has also been recognized by UNESCO as part of Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

Summary: 

Distance: 290 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Standard

Our destination for the 3rd day is none other than the wondrous Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province. Deriving its name from Phong Nha Cave and Ke Bang forest, the park was created to protect one of the two largest karst regions in the world. Spanning an area of 2000 km2, the park contains around 300 caves and grottoes, with many unexplored, including the largest cave in the world – Son Doong Cave. The park’s namesake, Phong Nha Cave, also contains the world’s longest underground river, along with other titles such as having the most beautiful sandbank, stalactite, and stalagmite systems. Phong Nha-Ke Bang is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which are considered vulnerable or endangered.

After breakfast, we hit the road and continue driving on the Ho Chi Minh highway, close to the Truong Son Range. We stop for a lunch break at a local restaurant and continue to pass Ha Tinh province to Quang Binh province, and then Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. After a day at the park, we arrive at our hotel for the night’s rest.

Summary:

Distance: 230km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Standard Hotel

After breakfast, we leave through Highway 15c, where there are many fields and small hills along the way. We then arrive at Dong Hoi city and visit Quang Binh Quan, a gate from feudal times that has been rebuilt twice due to the effect of time and the horrors of war. We will also cross Nhat Le Bridge over the Nhat Le river and drive about 40 kilometers along the coast. We can have a short stop at Nhat Le beach, voted as one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches in 2014, for pictures. We then have lunch at a local restaurant at Cua Tung beach.

After lunch, we continue our journey to visit Vinh Moc Tunnels in Vinh Linh county. The tunnel complex was built by villagers of Vinh Moc from 1965 to 1967, to avoid American bomb raids. It includes wells, kitchens, rooms for each family, and healthcare spaces; stretching about 2,000 meters long with six entrances to the hills and seven to the sea. In the late afternoon, we arrive at Khe Sanh town, the site of the “second Dien Bien Phu battle” in Quang Tri province.

Summary:

Distance: 270 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Khe Sanh Hotel.

In the morning, we will explore Khe Sanh town. The battle in 1968 lasted 170 days, from January to July, and resulted in a win for the North Vietnamese army and broke the McNamara Line, extending the lines of communication further to the South. The old combat base has been converted into a museum, where they would have exhibits of relics from the war long past.

When finished, we head out towards Thua Thien Hue province. There are two choices of routes for this stretch. The simpler one heads back to Highway 9 to cross the Dakrong Bridge, a bridge built in cooperation with Cuba, and goes towards A Sau Valley in A Luoi district. This was one of the key entry points for the North Vietnamese army to bring goods and soldiers to the South and experienced heavy battles.

The second option is much harder and is only recommended for experienced drivers. We take Highway 9 and drive along the Viet-Lao border in Lao Bao town, namely, along Xe Pon River; then turn to the Ho Chi Minh Highway towards A Luoi district. After lunch in A Luoi town, we follow Highway 49 to Hue city.

Summary:

Distance: 180km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

We spend the morning of our 6thday exploring Hue, one of the last major vestiges of feudal Vietnam. There is the Imperial City that encompasses the Forbidden Purple City, where the emperor lived, and a replica of the Royal Theater. There are also tombs of several emperors like Minh Mang and Tu Duc, as well as the icon of Hue city, the Thien Mu Pagoda. After a morning tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant and prepare to drive to Hoi An city.

On the road to Hoi An, we will pass through some of the most beautiful places in the country. The first is Lang Co Beach, one of Vietnam’s national tourist spots with its 10-kilometer long white sand beach and crystal clear water surrounded by mysterious jungles and mountains. After Lang Co, we then approach Hai Van Pass which cuts through Bach Ma Range and has posed a challenge for drivers new and old until the completion of Hai Van Tunnel. Nevertheless, the Pass’ beauty carries on and still attracts visitors to this day. Down from Hai Van, we pass through the beaches of Da Nang city before coming to a stop at Hoi An city.

Summary: 

Distance: 150 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After a late breakfast, we leave to visit My Son in Duy Xuyen district of Quang Nam province. Frequently called My Son Sanctuary, the complex is comprised of many abandoned or ruined Hindu temples. Built by the kings of Champa, the temples are dedicated to worshipping the god Shiva, or Bhadreshvara in the local name. Due to having endured US bombings during the war, most of the complex architecture was destroyed. Restoration plans have been made for the site, My Son has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.

After lunch at My Son, we drive back to Hoi An and explore the famous ancient town. Old Town Hoi An, the city’s historic district, is lauded for being a well-preserved example of the old trading port from the 15^th to 19^th centuries. Being a port, the town’s architecture is a fusion of several different cultures like Chinese, Japanese, and French. Hoi An is also known for its myriad of temples and shrines, such as the Quan Cong shrine and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. For its otherworldly beauty, Hoi An has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1999.

Summary:

Distance: 140km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful port city of Hoi An and begin our journey to Binh Dinh province. Today, we would drive along the coastal line of Central Vietnam. As the road is quite long, depending on the health and ability of the team, we can make appropriate adjustments to fit accordingly. Most of the drive today is made on main roads, however, we will occasionally veer off-track to the backroads for the immense beauty of pristine beaches.

For lunch, we will have one at a beachside local restaurant. Afterward, we drive to Son My village and My Lai hamlet and visit the Son My Memorial. The village was a site of a brutal massacre of 504 unarmed civilians by US soldiers in 1968. When the war crime was uncovered a year later, it sparked outrage and opposition against US involvement, eventually leading to their withdrawal from Vietnam. After paying respect at the monument, we continue onwards to Quy Nhon city in Binh Dinh province, check in at the hotel, and rest.

Summary:

Distance: 250 km

Accommodation: Hotel in Quy Nhon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After resting in Quy Nhon city, we depart and drive towards Khanh Hoa province. This journey is divided into two stretches. The first one follows Highway 1D and runs along the coast on backroads to Phu Yen province. After that, we turn to National Highway 1A and prepare to conquer Cu Mong Pass. As one of the most dangerous passes in Vietnam, Cu Mong is 7 kilometers long, its peak 245 meters above sea level, and a slope degree of 9%, along with many abrupt twists and turns. Cu Mong Pass also marked the southern border of Vietnam during the Le dynasty.

From Cu Mong Pass, we continue driving along the coastline and view the sceneries of Tu Nham, Tram, Xep beaches, and Xuan Dai bay before reaching Tuy Hoa city and having lunch. After lunch, we resume driving on National Highway 1A for about 122 kilometers. Along the way, we will have options to drive on backroads close to the coast or through the jungles, depending on your ability and time. We will be present at Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa province by late afternoon.

Summary:

Distance: 230 km

Accommodation: Hotel in Nha Trang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nha Trang city covers an area of 251 km2 while Nha Trang Bay is twice its size, at about 507 km2. Long white sand beaches, various islands big and small, and a diverse ecosystem make Nha Trang one of the most popular tourist spots in Vietnam. And day 10 of our tour is reserved for exploring Nha Trang city and its many attractions.

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel to visit the Oceanography Institute. Built during the French colonization period, it is one of the earliest research facilities in Vietnam, housing over 20,000 samples of more than 4,000 marine species. Afterward, we visit Cau Da (or Bao Dai) Villa. Built atop Canh Long mountain, its relaxing atmosphere and beautiful views were favored by the Bao Dai emperor and his queen Nam Phuong during his stay in Nha Trang. If the Oceanography Institute hasn’t sated your thirst for knowledge, you can also visit the Yersin Museum, where the house exhibits commemorate the life and works of Alexandre Yersin. After lunch, we continue to visit Long Son Pagoda and Po Nagar, a temple tower established sometime before 781. We can also shop at Dam Market before returning to our hotel.

Summary:

Distance: 100 km

Accommodation: Hotels in Nha Trang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After bathing on Nha Trang’s beach, we say goodbye to the city and depart. Along Highway 1A, we will pass by Ca Na Beach in Ninh Thuan province. We can stop here for a bit if you want to bathe or some photos as Ca Na is known to be one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches. We then continue on Highway 1A and turn to Highway 27C, where we could pass through Hon Ba and Kalon Mao River Nature Reserves. We can also take Highway 27B to provincial road 716B and experience the impressive desert at Flying Sand Dunes (Doi Cat Bay).

In the late afternoon, we arrive in Mui Ne town of Binh Thuan province. The fishing town, a ward of Phan Thiet city, is located on a cape pointing towards the sea. Mui Ne has two beaches named Ganh and Suoi Nuoc, and strong sea breezes make them popular for kiting and windsurfing. Mui Ne is also the only place in Vietnam that offers hot air balloon rides.

Summary:

Distance: 220 km

Accommodation: Hotel in Mui Ne

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For the last day of our tour, we will journey to Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City), the largest and most populous city in Vietnam. After breakfast, we will have an early check-out to avoid getting to the city during rush hour. When you finish checking in at the hotel in Saigon, we will say goodbye and leave you to explore the city.

A hub of politics, commerce, education, culture, and entertainment, Saigon has many to offer, especially structures built during French colonization. Some of the most famous places are the city icon Ben Thanh Market, the Independence Palace, the Municipal Theater, and the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica. If you want something a bit closer to nature, you can drive along or go on a boat ride on the Saigon River. There are also two major walking streets Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien if you feel like ditching your motorbike for a bit. The city has several notable museums such as the Museum of Vietnamese History, the War Remnants Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts for to visit.

Summary:

Distance: 230 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch