Cross Country Tour From Hanoi To Saigon – An Ultimate Guide

Cross Country Motorcycle Routes By  Ho Chi Minh Trail or Road?

Many people think that the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Ho Chi Minh Road are identical. This may lead to a problem for tourists as they book the wrong tours. Although Ho Chi Minh Trail and Ho Chi Minh Road both stretch from the North to the South, they are not the same. Due to their formation and function, they include different routes across different places. A better way for you not to be confused is to use another name for Ho Chi Minh Trail ” Truong Son Trail.

The trail has its name because of its historicity in the resistance against the US Army of Northern people. While The North created the road to liberate the South, the Republic of Vietnam and the US army tried to ravage its formation after 1959. Over the 16 years of confronting the enemy’s conspiracy, Northern forces succeeded in building a strategic road network with a total length of approximately 20000 kilometers, including five longitudinal and 21 horizontal axes, 3140 kilometers of secret trails, 500 kilometers of river route through Lao and Cambodia, and 1400 kilometers oil pipelines. Ho Chi Minh Trail passes through 28 provinces and cities. The secret trails through streams and forests were very well camouflaged. Located mainly in the middle of Vietnam ” Laos and Viet Nam ” Cambodia border, Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Tour  is time-consuming and challenging to conquer.

Top Best Cross Country Motorcycle Routes from Hanoi to Saigon through Ho Chi Minh Trail

To conquer the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, most Vietnamese and international travelers choose a cross motorcycle route from Hanoi to Saigon, known as the trans-Vietnam route. Large motorcycles, dirt bikes, or 4×4 pickups are preferable for adventure seekers. Going on the historical trails by motorbikes or 4×4 is full of excitement since with a long  distance from Hanoi to Saigon, the journey offers you a lot of stunning landscapes and driving  experiences on rough terrains. On the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the following routes are the top best routes that have won numerous tourists’ hearts.

Cao Bang City ” Pac Bo Cave

This is one of the most beautiful roads of the Cross Country Tour From Hanoi To Saigon  today, as well as one of the most prominent motorbike tour routes of Northeast Vietnam. You will go through the center of the Global Geopark Cao Bang. The park covers half the area of Cao Bang, including six districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Uyen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang, Phuc Hoa, and part of three districts of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh, and Thach An. The park is a testament to the complex geological development history spanning over 500 million years. This place is considered one of the earliest inhabited areas in Vietnam. Now there are eight ethnic groups with unusual customs living here.

During the trip, you will have the chance to explore three special national monuments. The first one is Pac Bo Cave ” where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked after coming back to the homeland in 1941 to lead the Vietnamese revolution. The second one is Tran Hung Dao Forest ” where the Great General Vo Nguyen Giap established the Vietnamese People’s Propaganda Unit for National Liberation (now is the People’s Army of Vietnam). The last one is The Victory Point of the Border Campaign in 1950. If you can, you should also visit Lenin Stream, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Thang Hen Lake, Phia Oac ” Phia Den National Park, etc.

The route is alongside Vietnam ” China border with rough trails. For those who love adventure, riding a dirt bike on the off-road terrain here is really satisfying. Thousands of sharp limestone mountains rising from the ground and blue streams flowing out from the mountain together create an absolutely charming scene. Do not forget to try some specialties like Cao Bang steamed rice rolls, pork sausages, and Chongqing chestnut.

Cross Country Tour  Via  Mai Chau Valley ” Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Of all the routes on Ho Chi Minh Trail from Hanoi to Saigon, Mai Chau Valley ” Pu Luong is the only one close to Hanoi. On the journey, you are going to explore two of the most beautiful attractions of the Northern Mountains ” Mai Chau Valley and Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

Right Since Mai Chau became one of the five administrative districts of Hoa Binh in 1892, it has always been a fantastic destination for tourists. Lac Village of Mai Chau is considered the capital of Thai ethnic groups. Here you will witness interesting cultural features of Thai people represented by their daily activities, clothing, and incredible cuisine such as grilled fish, roasted pig, etc.

Reaching Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa, we will find ourselves in the middle of a complex Karst rock system with plenty of limestone mountains and stunning caves. 1700-meter Pu Luong Peak in Thanh Son commune is waiting for us to come and conquer. Besides the wealth of natural landscapes, there is also a diversity of cultural identities of the Thai community in Pu Luong.

It will be a pity if we do not visit Bang and Don villages, where the tranquil beauty of vast terraced fields captures anyone’s attention. Sailing bamboo rafts on streams while contemplating the eye-catching scenery of mountains and forests is another right choice. There are also a lot of rugged trails through the woods for you to test your driving skills, but we highly recommend you the road from Lung Van to Mu Waterfall. In short, Mai Chau Valley ” Pu Luong Nature Reserve route is definitely worth a go, so do not miss it.

Cross Country Motorcycle Routes  Via  Pho Chau ” Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park

On the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, Pho Chau ” Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is a route for real explorers. After overcoming all the obstacles of rugged secluded forest roads and hazardous passes, you will find yourself amazed by the mind-blowing beauty of colossal caves. The first impression for travelers is probably the Da Deo Pass ” a historical vestige of heroic Vietnamese resistance. Da Deo means Carved Rocks, which originates from wartime. At that time, the pass was just a trail that passed the top of a limestone mountain with a length of about 10 kilometers. During the resistance, the pass was built by youth volunteers who carved the stone to make way for other soldiers to follow. One side of the pass is high mountains, while the other is an abyss ” an exciting challenge for adventurous travelers.

Phong Nha ” Ke Bang National Park is in Bo Trach and Minh Hoa districts, Quang Binh Province. It is located in a limestone area of about 200,000 hectares in Vietnam and 200,000 more in Laos. Thanks to the continuous discovery of the amazing caves by the British Caving Association, the park is recognized as a world heritage. The ceramic research association has rated the Phong Nha cave system as the world’s top valuable cave with four features: the longest underground rivers, the tallest and widest estuary, the broadest and most beautiful sand shore, and the most impressive stalactites.

Phong Nha is undoubtedly the most famous cave of all the caves in the park. After 30 minutes of cruising on the Son River, you will reach the cave. Phong Nha is one of the longest water caves in the world, with a length of nearly 8 kilometers.

Tien Son cave is a dry cave that is 1,000 meters away from the Phong Nha cave entrance. According to the British Caving Association, this dry cave was formed tens of millions of years ago. In the cave are spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, which can create sounds like gongs and drumbeat when you knock them.

Chay River ” Dark Cave ecotourism area can make you feel lost in another world. Sailing from the Chay River to the Dark cave, you will instantly realize the sudden change of temperature. In this area, you can try a lot of activities such as kayaking, ziplining, river swimming, mud bathing, etc. If you can stay longer, you should also explore the Wind Waterfall, Vang Anh Lake, Eight Ladies Cave, Mooc Stream, and more.

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Motorcycle Cross Country Via  Phong Nha Ke Bang ” Khe Sanh

All the renowned Ho Chi Minh Trail routes have precious historical value. And Phong Nha Ke Bang ” Khe Sanh route is not an exception. Vietnamese people often call it the Truong Son Tay Road. Maybe in the past, when it came to Truong Son Tay, many people would immediately think about a road for only Vietnam’s army. But now, with 250 kilometers of road running through the jungle along the Vietnam ” Laos border, Phong Nha Ke Bang ” Khe Sanh (or Truong Son Tay) is now one of the most famous routes in the whole country. It is known as a pristine and frightening road since we will see neither human footprints nor villages on the trip. You will be surrounded by mountains, passes, ancient forests, or sometimes wild animals.

Before 2010, this was a real trail that may take us at least 2-3 days to finish a trip. Now the Vietnamese government has built a broad asphalt road so we can only conquer the route in one day. Anyway, you must ensure that you prepare yourself well before setting off. Petrol, water, dry food, necessary tools, etc. ” a lack of something may lead to a bunch of troubles. Experiencing single off-road tracks here is not really a good idea. Especially after the government announced the restriction of human influence on the forests, wild animals move all around, posing a threat to careless wanderers. Mighty Indochinese tigers are not what you want to encounter, aren’t they? Despite all the risks, this Cross Country Motorcycle route is still an unforgettable experience for anyone because of the spectacular natural beauty and its eternal historical value.

Cross Country Motorcycle Rides Via Buon Ma Thuot ” Da Lat

If the routes above are majestic yet a bit dangerous, then Buon Ma Thuot ” Da Lat route is somewhat more peaceful and romantic. From the perspective of archeological research, Buon Ma Thuot is at least 4000 years old. This city belongs to Dak Lak province. The land is blessed with a mild climate and a good transport system connected to nearby localities.

There are plenty of attractions for you to visit on the way to Da lat. The first suggestion is the World Coffee Museum, which is designed according to the longhouse architecture of the Central Highlands people. The exhibition space interacts with visitors through the experiences of all five senses. The artifacts are collected from all around the world and then arranged right on the aisle for visitors to approach quickly. There are a lot of exciting activities referring to coffee here.

Another famous destination in Buon Ma Thuot is Don Village. There is a song named “The little elephant in Don Villageâ€, which is a popular song for kids in Vietnam. In the village, you can visit the ancient stilt house. The house is the home of a famous elephant hunter, as known as the Elephant King. It is made entirely of fine woods of Don’s old forest, and even the smallest detail is made meticulously by hand. In the house, you will see many hunting tools of the Elephant King and his successors. Besides, you should not miss your chance to visit  Lak Lake ” the second-largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. Surrounded by ancient forests, the lake is also a place to preserve the unique culture of the indigenous M’Nong people. Other amazing sites to see are Ako Dhong Village, the Dak Lak Museum, Bao Dai Palace, Sac Tu Khai Doan Pagoda, etc.

As you reach Da Lat, you will understand why the city is a favorite destination for both Vietnamese and foreigners. Da Lat and Lang Biang Plateau is a symbolic beauty of South Vietnam ” majestic and poetic. In Da Lat, there are so many things for you to explore that you may have to spend several days to have a worthy trip. Here you can find remarkable landscapes – Xuan Huong, Than Tho, Suoi Vang, Tuyen Lam lakes, Cam Ly, Hang Cop, Prenn, Voi, Dambri, Pongour, Datanla waterfalls, Con Ga, Domaine de Marie, Cam Ly churches, Truc Lam, Van Hanh, Linh An, Thien Vuong Co Sat, Linh Phong, Linh Quang, Linh Son, Linh Phuoc, Linh Quy Phap An, Quan Am pagodas, and so on. There is no doubt that Buon Ma Thuot ” Da Lat is one of the best routes from Saigon to Hanoi.

Cross Country Motorcycle Trip Routes  Cat Tien National Park ” Saigon

About the last 40 kilometers before heading to Saigon, we may have to go by dirt bike tours on many trails to avoid the terrible traffic. In Cat Tien National Park, we have a lot of options for driving off-road. We can spend two days and one night on this route so that we can spend more time in Cat Tien National Park. Trekking is an activity that many visitors choose because it makes them feel closer to the flora and fauna here. However, you should hire a tour guide because the park is huge. Wild animals, gigantic ancient trees, and ethnic minorities with strange customs will surely make you feel extremely excited. When you come back to the hustle and bustle Saigon Motorbike Tours, you will surely miss the great journey you have just been through.

Almost all travelers who have experienced the routes from Hanoi to Saigon on the Ho Chi Minh Trail admit that they have had a memorable Motorbike trip of their lives. Especially Vietnam  motorbike tours enthusiasts want to come back to Vietnam whenever they can to enjoy that incredible journey again. If you have the opportunity, explore the pure soul of Vietnam on these roads.