Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi to Mai Chau
Head out from Hanoi around 9 am on dyke roads to skip the traffic, then ride west through farming lands and limestone karst toward Mai Chau. The Thai ethnic minority lives in this valley, and you'll pass through Hoa Binh Province where there's a light lunch stop. After tackling the beautiful Thung Khe mountain pass, you'll descend into Mai Chau valley. Dinner comes with a local performance and rice wine, then you'll sleep in a traditional Thai house-on-stilts.
- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch in Hoa Binh Province), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ride through paddy fields and farming lands
- Cross Thung Khe mountain pass
- Local performance and cultural exchange with rice wine tasting
- Overnight in traditional Thai house-on-stilts
Landmarks Mai Chau Thung Khe Pass - Day 2
Mai Chau to Pu Luong
After breakfast, leave Mai Chau and head to Pu Luong Nature Reserve on Road 15, taking a short break around the 50km mark. The reserve has nice natural beauty with rich flora and fauna plus primeval forests to walk through. If time works out, check out Hieu Waterfall in Co Lung commune by taking the 25km scenic route with terraced fields on both sides of the stream. Later, you'll settle into a homestay in this highland area where the climate is pleasant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ride to Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Explore nature reserve with rainforest and wildlife
- Visit Hieu Waterfall (if time permits)
Landmarks Pu Luong Nature Reserve Hieu Waterfall - Day 3
Pu Luong to Tan Ky
Say goodbye to the villagers and head south on winding roads alongside the Ma River. After several hours riding on quiet, undulating roads, you'll join the new Ho Chi Minh Highway going through remote backcountry near the Laos border. Stop for lunch with local foods, then continue south on this legendary route to Tan Ky for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local foods), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ride along Ma River on scenic winding roads
- Travel on Ho Chi Minh Highway through remote backcountry
Landmarks Ma River - Day 4
Tan Ky to Phong Nha
Ride the Ho Chi Minh Highway to Pho Chau to visit the HCM Trail victory monument, which marks the true starting point for your HCM Trail ride. From there, continue motorcycling to Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Vietnam's largest cave system and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The karst landscape goes back 400 million years and has 65 km of caves and underground rivers to see. Overnight in Phong Nha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit HCM Trail victory monument at Pho Chau
- Ride to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
- View UNESCO World Natural Heritage site with karst formations
Landmarks HCM Trail victory monument Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - Day 5
Phong Nha
Start with breakfast, then board a boat to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Phong Nha cave with its beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. This area sheltered civilians and military during wartime. After, ride south through foothills toward the former DMZ, seeing bombing evidence and original Trail remnants. Visit Vinh Moc tunnel, Hien Luong Bridge (the former North-South line), Truong Son Cemetery, and the Khe Sanh former US Marine base. Overnight in Khe Sanh.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat exploration of Phong Nha cave system
- View stalagmites and stalactites in UNESCO World Heritage site
- Visit Vinh Moc tunnel
- Visit Hien Luong Bridge (former DMZ demarcation line)
- Visit Truong Son Cemetery
- Visit Khe Sanh former US Marine base
Landmarks Phong Nha Cave Vinh Moc Tunnel Hien Luong Bridge Truong Son Cemetery Khe Sanh - Day 6
Khe Sanh to Hue
Head south over the Da Krong Bridge (built by Cubans in 1973) into the A Shau valley, a site of intense wartime activity. You'll pass Hamburger Hill and mountains still barren from Agent Orange effects before arriving at A Luoi where Bru Van hill tribe people live. Cruise through green backcountry down the steep Me Oi Pass toward beautiful Hue, which sits along the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cross Da Krong Bridge
- Ride through A Shau valley
- Visit A Luoi with Bru Van hill tribe people
- Descend Me Oi Pass
Landmarks Da Krong Bridge A Shau Valley Hamburger Hill Me Oi Pass Perfume River - Day 7
Hue to Hoi An
Visit the Forbidden Citadel in the morning. Join National Highway 1 and ride up Hai Van Pass with scenic views, then continue to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was a major trading center in Southeast Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries. Overnight in Hoi An.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Forbidden Citadel
- Ride Hai Van Pass (Cloudy Pass)
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An
Landmarks Forbidden Citadel Hai Van Pass Hoi An - Day 8
Hoi An
Explore Hoi An on the banks of the Thu Bon River, once an important Southeast Asian trading port for East-West exchange. The ancient quarters were restored by UNESCO and the Polish government in the early 1980s. You can ride to China Beach where US marines first landed, or spend a free day exploring Hoi An on foot or by motorbike taxi. Try the local specialties, check out the architecture, get tailored clothes, and access the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Ride to China Beach (site of first US marine landing)
- Explore Hoi An by foot or motorbike taxi
- Visit fine dining restaurants with Hoi An specialties
- Shopping and tailoring services
- Beach access
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town Thu Bon River China Beach - Day 9
Hoi An to Kham Duc
Leave Hoi An and head to My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Cham temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Continue on increasingly remote roads alongside the river where the road becomes more challenging but rewarding, climbing a steep valley with the river rushing below and unique rock formations and waterfalls. Stop for lunch in Dong Phu, then continue to Kham Duc or Phuoc Son for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Dong Phu), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit My Son UNESCO World Heritage site
- Ride scenic route along river valley with rock formations and waterfalls
- Lunch in Dong Phu
Landmarks My Son - Day 10
Kham Duc to Kon Tum
Continue north on Highway 14 through a bumpy section toward Kon Tum, with the day focused on visiting minority villages. Ride over Lo Xo Pass with multiple stops to meet De and Trieng minorities living along the Dak Po Ko river and see hanging bridges built by locals. Stop for lunch in Tan Canh and visit a Se Dang village. Pass Dak To and outpost Charlie, key Vietnam War battle sites. In Kon Tum, visit the Catholic church and orphanage run by French nuns, and maybe a Bahnar village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Tan Canh), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ride over Lo Xo Pass
- Meet De and Trieng minority groups
- Visit hanging bridges built by local people
- Visit Se Dang village
- Pass through Dak To and outpost Charlie
- Visit Catholic church in Kon Tum
- Visit orphanage run by French nuns
- Visit Bahnar village (if time permits)
Landmarks Lo Xo Pass Dak Po Ko River Dak To Outpost Charlie Kon Tum Catholic Church - Day 11
Kon Tum to Buon Ma Thuot
Continue on Highway 14 with busier traffic than previous days. The historic HCM Trail (Highway 14C) runs parallel, linking Kon Tum, Pleiku, and Buon Me Thuot. Stop for lunch in Pleiku, then ride along the Tun River and over a pass through coffee plantations and stilt houses of the Gia Rai people, the Central Highlands' largest ethnic group. Cross the Nha Rong pass into Buon Me Thuot, the Dac Lac Province capital and site of the war's last major battle in March 1975. Try local coffee in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Pleiku), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ride through coffee plantations
- Pass through Gia Rai stilt house villages
- Cross Nha Rong pass
- Visit Buon Me Thuot, last Vietnam War battle site
Optional Activities
- Visit beer parlors in Buon Me Thuot
- Sample local coffee region
Landmarks Pleiku Tun River Nha Rong Pass Buon Me Thuot - Day 12
Buon Ma Thuot to Da Lat
Take a motorbike ride to Lak Lake on Route 27, a small paved road with rough surfacing. Break for refreshment and explore the area, which has approximately 31 different ethnic groups with distinctive traditional dress and customs. Some villages specialize in elephant hunting and taming, others in weaving and traditional arts. After lunch at Lak Lake, continue toward Da Lat on a narrow, winding, quiet road crossing three passes: Krong No, Chuoi, and Phu Son. Arrive in Da Lat in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Lak Lake), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Lak Lake
- Explore ethnic minority villages around Lak Lake
- Cross Krong No, Chuoi, and Phu Son passes
- Ride through dense forest scenery
Landmarks Lak Lake Krong No Pass - Day 13
Da Lat
Explore Da Lat, known as 'The City of Love' and a favorite holiday resort for Vietnamese and French visitors. With evergreen forests, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, the country's best flower gardens, and delicious fresh produce, the town offers a nice break from lowland heat. Spend the day visiting highlights including the gardens, cathedral, waterfalls, market, Valley of Love, convent, university, and key pagodas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Da Lat gardens
- Visit Da Lat cathedral
- Visit waterfalls
- Visit market
- Visit Valley of Love
- Visit convent
- Visit university
- Visit pagodas
Landmarks Da Lat Cathedral Valley of Love - Day 14
Da Lat to Cat Tien National Park
Motorcycle down Road 20 toward Cat Tien National Park, a forest area that served as headquarters for the Vietnamese army during the war and suffered extensive herbicide spraying including Agent Orange. Today, the affected areas show extensive bamboo and grassland with trees still recovering. Explore the park's natural features and wildlife. Overnight in Da Lat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ride to Cat Tien National Park
- Explore forest areas and natural features
Landmarks Cat Tien National Park - Day 15
Cat Tien National Park to Ho Chi Minh City
This shorter day involves challenging riding as traffic becomes increasingly congested entering Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Ride straight to the train station where your motorbike tour ends. Your guide can recommend places to stay and dining options if you need suggestions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Ride to Ho Chi Minh City train station
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh City Train Station
