Venturing Vietnam Motorbike Tour on Ho Chi Minh Trail via Central Highlands

In this morning, after having breakfast at Mai Chau we’ll say goodbye to friendly people here to keep rolling on the Road 15 to get to Pu Luong Nature Reserve’s core after a short break. (50Km away from Mai Chau).

Pu Luong in Thai is the highest mountain peak. Pu Luong Nature Reserve belongs to two districts of Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa and Thanh Hoa, covering an area of ​​more than 17,600 hectares with a rich flora and fauna. With the wild beauty of the rainforest, this place is one of the Northwest tourist destinations attracting many young people. As a highland area surrounded by primeval forests, the climate in Pu Luong is quite pleasant even during the hot summer days.

if time permits, Visit Hieu Waterfall of ​​Co Lung commune, Ba Thuoc district, located in the core zone of Pu Luong nature reserve. This is a favorite destination for tourists who love to explore, the 25 km long road from Canh Nang town to Hieu village is very beautiful because there are  terraced fields located on both sides of the stream.

Summary

• Distance:  100 km
• Accommodation: Homestay in Pu Luong
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Say goodbye to the villagers we then head south on a beautiful winding road which follow the banks of the Ma River. After some hours riding on undulating quiet road we join the new Ho Chi Minh Highway. This newly carved route leads us due south, through remote back country, not far from the Laos border. Lunch will be on the way with local foods. In the afternoon, we’ll keep rolling on this legendary road to Tan Ky for overnight.

Summary

• Distance:  200 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Tan Ky
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride on Ho Chi Minh Highway until Pho Chau where we stop to visit the HCM Trail victory monument which is in fact the real starting point of our HCM Trail ride.

Motorcycle all the way to Phong Nha – Ke Bang, the biggest and also the most beautiful cave in Vietnam and Indochina and is now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia.

Subject to massive tectonic changes, the park’s karst landscape is extremely complex with many geographic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers.

Summary

• Distance:  260 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Phong Nha
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After having breakfast at hotel, we’ll be boating and exploring World Heritage site of Phong Nha where local civilians and military sheltered from incessant bombing during wartime. Here, you can have a chance to witness one of the best caving systems in the world with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites.

We strike south through foothills which were once sprayed heavily by Agent Orange towards the former DMZ. There is still much evidence of bombing on the mountain sides and from time to time we will see remnants of the original Trail.

We take in the Vinh Moc tunnel, the famous Hien Luong Bridge (former demarcation line between North and South Vietnam, the Truong Son Cemetery and finally Khe Sanh (former US Marine base).

Overnight in Khe Sanh.

Summary

• Distance:  180 km 
• Accommodation: Hotel in Khe Sanh
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning we head south over the Da Krong Bridge (built by the Cubans in 1973) into the infamous A Shau valley, an area of intense wartime activity. Passing Hamburger Hill and mountains still barren due to the extended effects of Agent Orange, we arrive at A Luoi, where there are many Bru Van hill tribe people. Then, cruising through green back country down the steep Me Oi Pass, we continue on to the beautiful city of Hue which lies along the banks of the Perfume River.

Overnight in Hue.

Summary

• Distance:  180 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 See the Forbidden Citadel in the morning. Join the National Highway 1 and head up the Hai Van Pass (Cloudy Pass) before the World Heritage site of Hoi An, a major trading centre in SE Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Summary

• Distance:  150 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian Town
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hoi An, nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River.  Before the river silted up, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia, and a center for East-West exchange and trade. The rooftops of Hoian retain a magical old world Oriental feel and are a favorite subject for Vietnamese artists.  In the early 1980s Hoian’s ancient quarters and historical monuments came under the protection and restoration efforts of UNESCO and the Polish government. 

Those who wish can ride up to China Beach, where US marines first landed, otherwise enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An by foot or by motorbike taxi. With fine wining and dining (including a range of Hoi An specialties), impressive architecture, fantastic tailoring, endless shopping, and a glorious beach, there is no shortage of activities to indulge in.

Summary

• Accommodation:  Hotel in Hoian Town
• Meals:   Breakfast

Time to hit the road again!  We leave Hoi An in the morning and head to My Son, a world heritage site that is the Cham version of Angkor Wat.  Most of the temples are dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva, considered by the Cham as the founder and protector of their dynasties.   

From My Son, we will continue along the highway, busy at first, until the road shifts and becomes smaller, although paved.  Then the drive becomes challenging, but a lot of fun and progress is far slower.  

We will continue riding along the river, but the road itself, new and not very busy, climbs up along a very steep valley with the river rushing below. The river below is dotted with unique rock formations and there are waterfalls along the way. Lunch will be in Dong Phu. 

Leaving Dong Phu, eventually, we will come to the town of Kham Duc or Phuoc Son. Overnight in Kham Duc Hotel. 

Summary

• Distance:  200 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Kham Duc
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast in local restaurant we continue riding north on Highway 14 today on a bit of a bumpy section of the road to Kon Tum.   Today is really a day to visit different minority villages. We will ride over Lo Xo Pass, making lots of stops along the way to meet De and Trieng minorities, who live along the Dak Po Ko river.

Along the river are many amazing hanging bridges, built by the local people to cross to the opposite shore.  Lunch will be in Tan Canh, and we can visit a village of Se Dang, before driving on to Kon Tum.   Along the way, we also pass one of the key towns and battle sites of the Vietnam War – Dak To and outpost Charlie.

In Kon Tum we can visit the Catholic church and the orphanage, based behind the Catholic Church in town and run by a group of French nuns. If time permits, you can also visit a beautiful Bahnar village near town.   Overnight in Kon Tum at the Dac Bla Hotel.

Summary

• Distance:  190 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Kon Tum
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The new Ho Chi Minh Highway was built on the old trail, but from Kon Tum to Daklak, the historic HCM trail (Highway 14C), runs parallel to Highway 14 linking Kon Tum, Pleiku, and Buon Me Thuot. 

We will continue riding Highway 14 today, finding that traffic is busier than usual. Lunch will be in Pleiku. 

From here, we ride along the Tun River and up over a pass.  Along the way are coffee plantations and the stilt houses of the Central Highland’s largest ethnic group, the Gia Rai. Eventually, we will cross the Nha Rong pass down into Buon Me Thuot, the provincial capital of Dac Lac Province, and the site of the last battle of the Vietnam war in March 1975.

At night we can stop by the beer parlors or sample the local coffee grown in the region.  It is far and away the best coffee in Vietnam and worth bringing home. Overnight at the Thang Loi Hotel.

Summary

• Distance:  240 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Buon Ma Thuot
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we take a motor ride to Lak Lake on Rte. 27, a small paved road with poor surfacing and quite busy.  Here we can have a break for refreshment and troll around the by the lake. There are said to be about 31 different ethnic groups in Dac Lac, each with their own traditional dress and customs.  Some of the villages are known for elephant hunting and taming, some for weaving and other arts. 

After lunch in Lak Lake, we continue on to Da Lat.  The road is narrow, winding, but not busy.  We have three passes to cross – Krong No, Chuoi,  and Phu Son. The drive itself is quite beautiful and lined with dense forests.  Late in the afternoon, we will arrive in the hill town of Da Lat.  Overnight in Dalat.

Summary

• Distance:  200 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Da Lat
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dalat 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, Dalat has always provided a welcome respite from the heat of the lowlands.  We can spend the day visiting the highlights of Dalat – its gardens, cathedral, waterfalls, market, Valley of Love, convent, university and key pagodas. Overnight in Da Lat.

Summary

• Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch 

Motorcycle 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.

Summary

• Distance:  190 km
• Accommodation: Hotel in Da Lat 
• Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Summary

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