Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Tour from Hanoi to Hoi An – 7 days

Today’s destination is Mai Chau, a rural district set in an idyllic valley, hemmed in by hills and towering cliffs. Spectacular scenery, unique culture, and laid-back atmosphere attract riders worldwide to explore this promising land in Northwest Vietnam.

Setting off Hanoi at around 9:30 to avoid dense traffic in Hanoi at rush hour, we head straight to the Northwest on Highway 6, then ride a 20 km off-road route to Mai Chau. Arriving at our homestay in Mai Chau at about 6 pm, we will have dinner will locals, immerse in the exciting bamboo dance, and try a special Mai Ha wine with very strong flavors made by skillful White Thai people – a signature thing of Mai Chau valley.

Today, the next destination after Mai Chau will be Tan Ky, a mountainous district in Nghe An province with many historical impressions of the Ho Chi Minh campaign (Saigon Fall).

After breakfast, we will ride in the heart of Mai Chau valley through the peaceful villages of Mai Chau and Mai Hich until we enter Highway 15C. Though it’s called Highway, it is just a small road crossing through the forest to reach Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Explore the beauty of terraced rice fields on both sides and Ban Hieu village, located deep in the ancient forest on rugged roads. We stop at one of the eco-houses to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee in the middle of the forest.

From now on, ride long straightaways and enjoy the raw beauty of nature on both sides of the road from Ngoc Lac to Tan Ky. We reach Tan Ky at around 5 pm and don’t forget to take some photos at Kilometer Zero, the starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Today’s not-to-be-missed destination is Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, an incredibly stunning place where the largest cave on Earth, Son Doong, is located.

From Tan Ky, keep riding on the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail until we reach Pho Chau Town. Stop to refuel our bikes and be ready for the upcoming off-road routes and legendary mountain passes. Riding on Da Deo Pass and crossing through the ancient forest between Vietnam and Laos will be the most incredibly amazing part of the day.

Welcome to Phong Nha Ke Bang, which was once chosen to be the background for the blockbuster film King Kong. Enjoy your time here to discover the majestic beauty of the place.

On our way to Khe Sanh, we will ride along the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, a strategic road built by the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam. Before 2010, it was the unique trail connecting Phong Nha and Khe Sanh, and then the Vietnamese government rebuilt this trail to commemorate the victory of Saigon in 1975.

Make sure to fill up our motorcycles with gasoline before we ride more than 200km crossing the jungle and along the Viet – Laos border without meeting any gas station. If lucky, we may encounter some wild animals like deers, langurs, or even Indochinese Tiger.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Khe Sanh Museum and listen to our guide telling about the Vietnam War and Khe Sanh Battle. Don’t forget to take some photos of old planes and tanks and discover the whole museum to learn more about the Vietnam War.

If you have heard of Hamburger Hill, McNamara Line, A Luoi, or Dakrong Bridge, built in 1975 after reunification, today is your great chance to visit such places in Khe Sanh.

Along with the 17th parallel, Ben Hai River, and Vinh Moc Tunnels, these places suffered the most ravages during the Vietnam War. Coming here, some history stories of this land of a million bombs told by our tour guide will surely touch your heart.

Keep riding until entering Highway 14 close to the border with Laos; we turn into the dirt roads within Laos’ territory. Lunch and take a break here. Continue our ride to Highway 49 of winding passes and forest roads in 60km more to reach the dreamland, Hue Ancient Capital City.

Welcome to Hue ancient capital and historical and cultural heritage of Vietnam and the world. We will spend the whole morning relaxing and enjoying some must-try dishes in Hue like bun bo Hue (Hue beef noodle soup), Nem Lui (Hue lemongrass skewers), Com Hue (Clam Rice), and a whole lot more. After lunch, we can take a city tour on two wheels to visit the top must-see sights in Vietnam’s ancient capital city, which are our top picks for a fun-filled Hue itinerary, such as Hue Citadel, The Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, Tomb of Khai Dinh, Dong Ba Market.

On the last day of exploring the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 7 days, we will ride along the coastline, which was voted the most beautiful coastline of Central Vietnam by Top Gear Specials.

We head to Highway 1A and cross two big mountain passes, Phu Gia and Phuoc Tuong. Spend some time exploring Tam Giang Lagoon, the largest freshwater lagoon system in Hue, and Lang Co Bay which was recognized as one of the most beautiful bays in the world in 2009.

Once reaching Hai Van pass, one of the largest passes in Vietnam, we can stop for a while to take an incredible panoramic view of Da Nang city. Pack yourself with some adventurous riding experiences by riding on off-road routes near Hai Van pass if we have much time.

Lunch in Da Nang and head to the railway station where we send our motorcycles back to Hanoi city.

END OF TOUR