14 DAY MOTOR BIKE TOUR: HO CHI MINH ROAD

The Ho Chi Minh Road is fully paved from Saigon in the south to Hanoi in the north. Riding through a landscape of endless limestone mountains covered in a thick fleece of tropical rainforest and clear blue rivers stretching to the horizon, Central Vietnam’s section of the road delivers the ultimate rider and supporter experience

The Ho Chi Minh road is based on the “Ho Chi Minh Trail” which is a maze of secret trails that are found in Laos. The Vietcong used the Ho Chi Minh Trail to transport goods south during the Vietnam War.

 Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Road on the other hand, is a well-paved road  that meanders along the Laos Border, purpose-built for travellers on motorcycles with the pretence of history thrown on top. In terms of real history, it does pass through Khe Sanh, where the “Battle of Khe Sanh” took place, known to be the bloodiest battle in the Vietnam War. 

There is next to no traffic on the road, and it’s not unusual to ride this section all day without passing another soul. Central Vietnam is the narrow region between the Lao Border and the Vietnam Coast, just 70 to 80 kilometres away. This allows us to run the supporters tour along the coast while the riders are up on the Ho Chi Minh Road section. The rides are a combination of day loops in Hoi An, Da Nang and Phong Nha, the famous Hai Van Pass to Hue and of course The Ho Chi Minh Road. For the HCMR and Phong Nha legs we will be accompanied by a Vietnamese guide and have as a support vehicle an army style open jeep.

Outline Itinerary

1. Arrival in Da Nang ex international flights- Hoi An
2. Hoi An
3. Hoa An
4. Hoi An
5. Da Nang
6. Hue
7. Khe Sanh
8. Dong Hoi
9. Phong Nha
10. Phong Nha
11. Phong Nha
12. Dong Hoi
13. Hanoi
14. Depart Home

*our Central Vietnam  Discovery Tour can be delivered alongside this tour for supporters of the ride

Day 1 Arrival

Our coach driver will drop the bike riders off in Da Nang City to uplift the bikes and then after a brief city tour, we lunch at An Bang Beach for lunch. The Beach is just 25ks from Da Nang City and 6ks from our destination, Hoi An. We will have a chance to relax at the beach, browse around a local riverside café area and recover from the flights as we enjoy our first taste of Vietnamese hospitality.

Hoi An

Check into our hotel and relax poolside or wander down to the UNESCO Heritage Ancient City of Hoi An. The markets, local bars and cafes are all within an easy 1k walk from our hotel. This is free time so we can meet for an evening meal or you can experience the local street food options – great choice.

Day 2 to Day 4

Hoi An

Bike prep and shake down day with a familiarisation tour around the local villages and immediate Hoi An area. Ideal opportunity  to explore the rice fields, beaches and bridges or spend the day in Hoi An. It’s a full day exploring the narrow streets, market area and street food available in the ancient city. Early evening we will meet at a bar overlooking the local markets and then dine on the island as we watch the lantern boats light up the river.

Day 5 Hoi An –  Prao –   Da Nang

We are off on a loop road to Da Nang via Prao, a total distance of 190Ks through some of the best scenery in Central Vietnam. This route takes us up to a section of the Ho Chi Minh Road for a short distance before we return via jungle villages and rivers to Da Nang. Late afternoon we debrief at a local beach side bar and look forward to the Imperial City – Hue

Day 6 Da Nang – Hue

Up and over the Hai Van Pass. This is the most famous section of road and rail in Vietnam, made famous by Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame. We have a famous  trip to Hue via the pass, Lan Co beach, rice fields and villages. A ride of about four hours into Hue.

 Day 7

Hue – Khe Sanh

Today we begin our Ho Chi Minh Road experience. Departing Hue early morning, we have a 150k ride to Khe Sanh, just 40ks from the Laos border. Khe Sahn is the  site of the legendary battles between the Southern and Northern regimes in 1968 and of course the inspiration of Cold Chisels debut single. Todays ride is our entry point on to the most famous section of the Ho Chi Minh Road, the Western Section. For the next three days we will have our guide and open jeep  accompanying us.

 Day 8

Khe Sanh – Dong Hoi

We are out of Khe Sanh early, we have a 240ks to cover along the Western Ho Chi Minh Road to meet up with the team in Dong Hoi. Winding our way through valleys, over rivers along Ho’s lonely and remote concrete road, with photo stops we have a long day.

 Day 9 Dong Hoi

Back on the Ho Chi Minh Road for a shorter day ride to Phong Nha of five hours. On arrival, we will meet at Paradise Cave and this is included in your tour costs. One of the worlds largest Caves, it’s a must see. From the Caves we drop down into our accommodation where you can enjoy the pool as you watch the buffalo working the  rice fields.

 Day 10

 Dong Hoi – Phong Nha

Free time here for all to do as they please. Ride or walk the village roads, into Phong Nha township and wander the river, or for the more sturdy – back on the bike and do some loop rides out in the country or possibly relax poolside for the day.

Day 11

Dasy 12

Phong Nha

We need to get back into Dong Hoi to fly out tomorrow morning and to return the bikes via the coast, rickety bridges  and fishing villages into Dong Hoi. A chance here to relax on the beach or streets of an authentic Vietnam small coastal town, my old home town. Don’t believe what they tell you. This could be a big night.

 Day 13  Dong Hoi – Hanoi

Depart Dong Hoi for Hanoi. We will be staying in the Old Quarter of Hanoi where there is action plus right outside the hotel door. Street food, shopping aplenty, Hoan Kiem Lake,  there will be plenty to keep us occupied in our final evening in Vietnam. An evening at the upstairs bar over looking the roundabout will be the best entertainment you will ever get.

 Day 14  Departure