Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Tour from Hanoi to Hoi An – 9 days

To start the first day of our journey, we meet at the office for an instructional speech from the director before leaving late at around 9:30 AM to avoid rush hour traffic. We take off towards northwestern Hanoi, along the Red River, and pass the district-level town of Son Tay. We then continue through the idyllic countryside before arriving at Phu Yen district in Son La province.

Lying to the east of Son La province, the rural district of Phu Yen is blessed with splendid mountains, lush jungles, and rolling hills so picturesque as though they were realized paintings. The highlands and mountains are perfect in Quang Huy commune if you want to hunt for clouds photos. Likewise, you can drive to Gia Phu commune and visit the jungle of General Vo Nguyen Giap; or have a soak and fishing fun at the serene lake of the Black River.

Summary: 

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 165km

After breakfast, we depart southwards to Moc Chau, driving along and crossing parts of the majestic Black River by the Van Yen ferry. At our arrival in Moc Chau Plateau, we will have lunch at Moc Chau Farm Town. Afterward, we can briefly tour some of Moc Chau’s tourist spots, such as the Heart-shaped tea hill, Dai Yem Falls, or Son Moc Huong Cave. You can also head to Hua Tat Pass for a bit of challenging driving and desolate yet breathtaking beauty, as the Pass has been abandoned for quite some time.

We then continue to head for the Mai Chau district in Hoa Binh province. While not as popular as the neighboring Moc Chau, Mai Chau still has great, fantastic sceneries in the caves of Mo Luong and Chieu, as well as Lac and Pom Coong villages. We stay overnight in a stilt house of Thai people.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Stilt House

Distances: 145km

After breakfast, we leave Mai Chau and drive to the paved trail along Ma River. We will then briefly stop at Cam Thuy district in Thanh Hoa province for lunch. Then we continue to the Ho Chi Minh Highway – formerly known as the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. Before getting into Tan Ky town, however, we can briefly stop at Lat town and visit the Monument of the 0 Km, a symbol representing the start of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The monument’s area is 600m2, containing a stone monument and an exhibition house showcasing relics from wartime.

Thirty kilometers away from Lat town is Tan Hop commune. One of Nghe An’s most beautiful waterfalls lies – Hong Son Waterfall. Flowing from an underground stream, the waterfall is 120 meters tall and cascades over four boulders, creating a look akin to a woman’s hair. We then drive to Tan Ky town for the night’s rest.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 290 km

We depart after breakfast and drive along the Ho Chi Minh Highway to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Its name derives from Phong Nha Cave and Ke Bang forest; the park was created to provide sanctuary for one of the two largest karst regions in the world. With around 300 caves, caverns, and the world’s largest cave – Son Doong – Phong Nha-Ke Bang spans an entire area of over 2,000 km2. Phong Nha Cave – half of the park’s namesake –also contains the world’s longest underground river and one of the most beautiful stalactites and stalagmite systems.

Recently discovered, Son Doong’s main cave passage is 5 kilometers in length, 200 meters in height, and 150 meters in width, twice that of the second-largest passage in Deer Cave, Malaysia. The National Park is also home to a wide variety of species, many of which are vulnerable or endangered.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 280 km

After a day at Phong Nha-Ke Bang, we drive to the coastal city of Dong Hoi in Quang Binh province. Established on the banks of Nhat Le River, the city used to be the frontline for Nguyen lords during the Trinh-Nguyen War and was demolished by the American Air force during the American War. The city was rebuilt, however, and became the capital of Quang Binh province.

Nowadays, there are several historical tourist spots you can visit. First is the old Catholic church of Tam Toa, built during the late 19th century with only its bell tower remaining as a war relic. There is also the Quang Binh Quan gate, parts of the Nguyen lords’ defense during Trinh-Nguyen times, which has been damaged and restored twice. When you’re tired of exploring, you could always go for a dip at Nhat Le Beach. Located right at the river’s estuary, Nhat Le Beach is famous for its rustic, entirely untouched natural beauty. It’s not a surprise considering Nhat Le is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 60 km

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the city of Dong Hoi and drive westward. We will take the old Ho Chi Minh trail close to the Vietnam-Laos border instead of the highway. As the North Vietnamese army had taken careful measures to hide the trail from American eyes, we would mostly be driving through the jungles with rarely anyone passing by for the entire 200 kilometers stretch.

Khe Sanh town in Quang Tri province was the site of the “second Dien Bien Phu battle” in 1968. The battle lasted 170 days, from January to July, and resulted in the McNamara Line – a vital line of defense for the Americans – being broken. This further extends the lines of communication down South for the North Vietnamese army. The old combat base where the battle took place has now been converted into a museum to showcase relics from that fateful battle.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 200 km

We begin our long day by driving to Quang Tri town to visit Long Hung Church and Quang Tri Citadel. Built-in 1824, the Citadel used to be a military bastion during the 4th year of Emperor Minh Mang’s reign. We then continue to ride along the peaceful coastline, passing Cua Viet and Cua Tung Beaches. We then drive onwards and visit Vinh Moc Tunnels in Vinh Linh. The 2,000-meter-long tunnel complex was built to accommodate the entire village away from American bombings, along with six hills and seven sea entrances. We also stop here for a lunch break. After that, you can go for a short shopping trip to the market in Dong Ha city. At our arrival in Hue, if time permits, we can visit the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City, and go for a nighttime stroll along the bank of the Perfume River.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 180 km

In the morning, you can continue to explore the old imperial city if you haven’t done before, such as Thien Mu Pagoda and the royal tombs of past emperors like Minh Mang and Tu Duc. After lunch, we depart to drive along the coastal line to Hai Van Pass. The Pass cuts through Bach Ma Range and has been a challenge for drivers until the completion of the Hai Van Tunnel. Nonetheless, the view of Lang Co Beach and the open sea atop the Pass is one without a rival to this day.

Along the way, we can have a brief stop at Da Nang city to visit the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son–Five Elements Mountains) – a cluster of five marble and limestone hills south of the city. They are named after the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, hence their name. We then drive to Hoi An town in Quang Nam province and rest for the night.

Summary: 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distances: 145 km

Our last day is reserved exclusively for exploring this famous old town. Recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, Old Town Hoi An is an extremely well-preserved example of an old trading port. Hoi An’s architecture and the street plan are a fusion of local and foreign influences, namely Chinese, Japanese, and French influences. The city is also known for its many temples and shrines, such as the Quan Cong shrine and the Japanese Covered Bridge, now serving as the city’s icon. Other places of interest include the Fujian (Phuc Kien) Assembly Hall, the old house of Tan Ky, Phung Hung house, and a boat ride on the Thu Bon River.

We can also drive 40 kilometers southwest to explore My Son Sanctuary, a complex of many ruined and abandoned Hindu temples and shrines. My Son has also been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, we drive back to Da Nang city and wrap up our 9-day Hanoi to Hoi An Motorbike Tour on Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Summary: 

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

END OF TOUR