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 are what attract riders around the world to explore this promising land in Northwest Vietnam. 

Setting off Hanoi at around 9:30 to avoid thick traffic in Hanoi at rush hour, we head straight to the Northwest on Highway 6 then ride a 20 km off-road route to reach Mai Chau. Arriving 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 in 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 rice terraced fields on both sides and Ban Hieu village which is located deep in the primeval 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, known as 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 for a while to refuel our bikes and be ready for the upcoming off-road routes and legendary mountain passes. Riding on Da Deo Pass crossing through the primeval forest between Vietnam and Laos will be the most incredibly amazing part of the day. 

Welcome to Phong Nha Ke Bang where 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, then the Vietnamese government rebuilt this trail to commemorate the victory of Saigon 1975. 

Make sure to fill up our motorcycles with gasoline before we ride in 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 with old planes and tanks and discover the whole museum to learn more about the Vietnam War.  

If you ever heard of Hamburger Hill, McNamara Line, A Luoi or Dakrong Bridge which was built in 1975 after reunification, today it's your great chance to visit such places in Khe Sanh. 

These places, along with the 17th parallel, Ben Hai River, and Vinh Moc Tunnels 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, 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 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.