Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Tour from Hanoi to Saigon via Kon Tum - 12 days

Our motorbike tour via Ho Chi Minh Trail begins at 9 am from Hanoi. Ride on Highway 6 past seemingly endless rice fields, tree-lined roads overlooking limestone karst view. After a light lunch in Hoa Binh Province, we head to Thung Khe, one of the highlights of Day 1 with a stunning mountainscape. We know that we arrive at Mai Chau when we catch the sight of scenic valleys. Home to the Thai ethnic group with the unique stilt houses, this place is truly the land of delightful sceneries.

Ride on the small, paved and marvelous road along the Ma River until we reach Cam Thuy town and stop for lunch. Hit the Ho Chi Minh trail and go straight to Tan Ky town where we stay the night at a small hotel.

Summary:

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 290 km

Continue on Ho Chi Minh national highway until we arrive at Pho Chau to take a break and experience some off-road trails. Ride all the way to the remarkable Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, home to some of the most ancient karst mountains in Asia which were formed some 400 million years ago. This World Heritage Site is really a heaven on earth for cave aficionado with hundreds of cave systems and spectacular underground rivers. 

Other than the caves, which are definitely a highlight of a trip to this area, above-ground sightseeing destinations and activities like forest trekking, rural mountain biking or war history places are also a rewarding experience.  

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 230 km

The third day of this tour is time for travelers to relax. Taking a boat ride, exploring the most beautiful corners of caves of different shapes and sizes in Phong Nha – Ke Bang is such a meaningful leisure experience to treasure. We then head to Dong Hoi, home to stunning beaches with crystal clear water and soft white sand. Then simply watching the afterglow of sunset lingering on the horizon as the sun is down is the best moment of the day. 

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 20 km

After breakfast, we head to the west on highway No.9 to continue our Vietnam motorbike tour. Arrive at Truong Son lower region, pass by the Rockpile, and stop in small towns and some important historical sites to learn about the fierce fight that Vietnamese people had to go through. After having lunch, we continue on the Ho Chi Minh trail and have a quick stop at Truong Son Cemetery, where millions of Vietnamese soldiers had fallen for the peace of the country, to pay tribute to heroic soldiers. 

At 5 pm, we make it to Khe Sanh city. During the wartime, the Khe Sanh combat base was located to the north of the city. We visit the now Khe Sanh combat base museum, where we can see the relics of the war. 

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 200 km

Our fifth day in Quang Tri province, the most heavily bombed part of Vietnam during wartime, will be full of historical sites and a favorite for history tourists. From Khe Sanh, we head to Quang Tri district-level town, visiting Long Hung Church and Quang Tri Old Citadel, which is located on the bank of Thach Han river and was the site where fierce battles of the war against the US took place. This was the tomb of tens of thousands of heroic Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their youth and lives for the peace of the country, who were willing to die so their country can live. 

In the afternoon, the ride takes travelers past Cua Viet Beach and Cua Tung Beach with excellent and quiet coastlines. We then visit Vinh Moc tunnel, explore the Demilitarized Zone which runs along the Ben Hai river and have lunch at noon. From the Ho Chi Minh trail, we head to Dong Ha, a town completely flattened during the war against the US and now a place where visitors can visit the mine action visitor center and Quang Tri museum and experience a string of riverside seafood restaurants. We then drive straight from Quang Tri to Hue, visiting the remarkable Imperial Citadel, royal tomb (if we have some time left) or just simply enjoying the dusk from the bank of Perfume River – a symbol of Hue City.

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 180 km

In the morning we take travelers to weave around the city, visit some ancient tombs and relics of the charming city of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. In the late afternoon, we drive from Hue to Da Nang via Hai Van Pass which offers the most stunning view on earth. From the pass with the smooth, curving road, we look over the breathtaking sea with blue water well-blended with the clear, bright and blue sky. The view over the sea is really one of its kind and looks like a surreal painting. We arrive at the charming ancient town of Hoi An when the last luminous ray of sunlight dances on Thu Bon river. 

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 145 km

Before you continue your reading, we have a confession to make: There are no words to describe the charm of Hoi An. So our tip is going explore and feel this place with a naked mind. Mind you, we wouldn’t reveal about Hoi An itinerary. Other than Hoi An, travelers can delve into the ancient civilization with a visit to My Son Sanctuary, 40 kilometers southwest from the ancient town. Dating from the 4^th to the 13^th centuries CE, this site is an outstanding example of the architecture of the Champa kingdom where visitors can discover the culture as well as the sculpture and history of Cham people.

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 15 km

After bidding farewell to Hoi An, we hit the road, heading to Phuoc Son (also known as Kham Duc), past Lo Xo forested mountain pass, going through remote area which is home to the Ba Na ethnic people. Edge near the border with Laos and get to Kon Tum. We spend the night at a hotel in the central highlands province of Kon Tum.

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 290 km

From Kon Tum, we travel through the Central Highlands, passing through Pleiku and the Ia Drang valley before getting to Buon Ma Thuot, a land synonymous to coffee. A visit to Buon Ma Thuot will be incomplete without a cup of coffee. Here coffee is more than a drink, it is a way of life for locals. 

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 240 km

After having a hearty breakfast served with specialty coffee in the coffee capital of Vietnam, we drive to the beach city of Nha Trang, some 190 km away and stay overnight in Nha Trang after a long day on the motorbike.

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 190 km

Located in the central highlands region of Vietnam, Da Lat has many to offer: scenic pine forests, romantic misty landscape, various types of beautiful flowers, unique pink grass, tasty wine, and coffee, ancient church. With the year-round cool climate and the heavenly landscape, this once a summer hideout for French officials during the colonial time is dubbed ‘Little Paris’, ‘the city of eternal spring’ or ‘the city of love’ and will make visitors fall for it at their very first visit. For those who want to bring the mesmerizing memories of this land back home, our tip is to get to mountaintops in the early morning or late afternoon to take the postcard-perfect shots of sunrise or sunrise. 

Summary:

Meals: Breakfast Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 180 km