Border-Crossing Motorbike Tour Between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia – 21 Days

Our journey will start by leaving Hanoi for Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa province. As soon as we get out of the bustling capital city and join Ho Chi Minh Road, you’ll immediately see the change of the landscapes. Along the way, we’ll see the typical sceneries of Cuc Phuong National Park – imposing limestone mountains and vast paddy fields.

Pu Luong is a natural reserve that offers incredible spectacles a vibrant ecosystem. It’s not too difficult to see an endangered species here. This is also where you can find incredible views such as mountain peaks in the cloud, or humble villages scattering on the rice terraces. These villages belong to the Muong ethnic group, and we will also spend the first night with a Thai family. Their hospitality and tasty food will definitely satisfy you.

• Distance: 190 kilometers

On the second day, we will come to a lovely country in the Indochinese Peninsula – Laos. After bidding farewell to Pu Luong, we’ll hit the road along Ma River and then turn left to find Na Meo border gate. After about 1.5 hours of riding, we will arrive at the Land of Elephants. Before approaching Sam Neua, we will stop at Vieng Xai district of Hua Phan province to take a closer look at the majestic limestone cave systems here.

These caves are not just well-known for its beauty but the crucial role in the resistance against the US army. Lao people are always proud of these caves just like the way Vietnamese people are proud of Cu Chi tunnels. In the late afternoon, we will come to the lovely town of Sam Neua.

• Distance: 230 kilometers

The third day of the trip has come, and it’s time to wander around the local markets in Sam Neua. The textile products are the highlight of these markets, and we bet that you would love to buy some souvenirs here as they are incredibly impressive. Also, by exploring a local market, we’ll know more about their culture. A hearty breakfast will ensure that we will have enough energy to conquer the next challenging roads. Today we will go on Route Six, which is a little bit tortuous yet full of alluring villages.

After having lunch in the romantic village of Nam Neun, we will ride about 95 kilometers more to Khammuane and visit Tham Piew Cave – a renowned historical site. 374 people died at the cave in the fierce bombard of the US air force in 1968. After that, we’ll continue to move to Phonsavan, where the mysteries are kept intact.

• Distance: 240 kilometers

It’s time to explore Phonsavan, and do you know what the most remarkable thing about this place is? We are talking about the Plain of Jars – an attraction with significant cultural and historical values of this country. There are about 1969 jars of different sizes found here. The highest one is 3 meters high, while the heaviest is 14 tons. Both the origin and the material of the jars are still a mystery to scientists around the world.

Next, we’ll come to Muang Khoun – the former capital of Xieng Khouang province. This is an excellent opportunity for us to behold the beauty of some magnificent temples such as Wat Thom Phet and Wat That Phoun. Because the main religion of Lao is Buddhism, it’s not hard to encounter a temple or pagoda here. If we have more time, we can visit the old military base – another witness of the cruel war against the invaders. To reach Viengthong, we have to overcome a part of Ho Chi Minh trail – Road 10. This rough road will surely arouse your sense of adventure. We will stay with a local family in Viengthong tonight.

• Distance: 260 kilometers

The total riding distance today is just 110 kilometres, and the road is not a big challenge, so let’s ride leisurely and enjoy the landscape along the way. We’ll finish Route Ten and move to Na Hin. Sala Viewpoint is where we’ll stop and snap some incredible pictures of the whole area. Mountains, forests, and the sky – they together create a natural masterpiece.

Right after having lunch in Na Hin, we can have a joyful trip exploring the cave of Khong Lor – one of the best tourist attractions in Laos. To fully enjoy the allure of the cave, we’ll join a cruise on the underground river which is nearly 8 kilometres long. At night, you will witness exciting cultural features of Lao people – Baci ceremony. It’s something exceptional that you will never forget on this trip.

• Distance: 110 kilometres

Leaving gorgeous Na Hin, we will make our way to the Nakai Plateau. The first section from Na Hin to Lak Sao is quite tranquil, while the next road from Lak Sao to Nakai is a bit more complicated. Sometimes, you will see small villages where laborers are working hard. As we move closer to the hydroelectric dam, you’ll see more and more strange spectacles. We will stay in a guest house in Nakai tonight.

• Distance: 160 kilometers

Today’s destination is Savannakhet province. To get there, we have to go east then turn south. Once again, we’ll take the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, but this time the road will be much easier to go. The first highlight of the day is the Hin Namno National Park. Together with Vietnam’s Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Hin Namno is one of the largest karst areas in the world. Riding along the park, we will soon enter the province of Boualapha.

We will enjoy a Lao traditional dish – Lao Pho. There are some differences between Lao Pho and Vietnamese Pho, and you will soon find out. After lunch, we will continue to make our way to Villabury. We will still encounter the typical rural landscapes with peaceful villages and small meandering rivers. Twenty-five kilometers on a rough road and a river is everything left between Villagbury and us.

• Distance: 200 kilometers

The eighth day of the trip will be a real challenge as we will take one of the toughest sections of the Ho Chi Minh trail. After going through Xepon and Dong, we will stop by a war remnant museum to watch the remains of the war against the US army such as bombshells or tanks.

As soon as we continue the trip, you will realize the challenges of the Ho Chi Minh trail. After lunch in Nong, we can visit another war museum. From here, we will have to ride on dirt trails, so you need to drive with your full attention. It’s advisable to visit some villages to get to know Lao people’s daily life. We just need to beat some more bumpy roads to approach Ta Oi and rest there.

• Distance: 180 kilometers

Let’s say goodbye to Ta Oi and move to Attpeu via Salavan. The remote tracks through Salavan require good riding skills and double attention. We will take a break and have lunch in Sekong. Then we will continue the trip by following the Sekong River, which was once used by the Northern Vietnamese Army as a way to supply for the Southern. An option available is riding through the village of Alak. You will surely be impressed by the missile on the way – the war seems to still appear here. Weaving through the village, we can see graceful Lao women weaving thread into cloth. Then we will come back to Attapeu and spend the night there.

• Distance: 230 kilometers

The tenth day will bring us to several rivers, which will surely enrich our experiences on this trip. We will keep the ride to the South of the country to visit the Kingfisher Ecolodge – a perfect place to have lunch. Today we will contemplate the beauty of Khong Island. But before reaching the island, we cannot miss the temple of Oum Moung. The ancient Buddha statues and the building with unique architecture will undoubtedly capture your attention.

To get to Khong Island, we have to cross the Mekong River by ferry. You may have known that the Mekong River is one of the largest rivers in the world, and it has a vital role for many Southeast Asian countries. Si Phan Don is a well-known area in Southern Lao. Among 4000 islands of the area, Khong Island is the largest one. We’ll relax on the island tonight.

• Distance: 190 kilometers

We will spend the eleventh day exploring Khong Island and the surrounding islands. A boat trip is going to help you feel the splendor of Don Som and Don Ket – two prominent names in this area. In Don Khong (Khong Island), we will explore some highlighted spots such as the railway built by French people in 1897 or the waterfall of Sumphamith.

Of course, we will not turn off our chance to visit the lovely riverside town of Ban Nakasang. But that’s not the end of today’s journey. We will also move to Khone Phapheng – the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia. With its greatness, Khone Phapheng is often likened to the miniature Niagara Falls.

We all know that Laos is an incredible country, but there are still more exciting things waiting for us ahead. Today we will move to another beautiful Southeast Asian country – Cambodia. Of course, the first thing to do is go across the Laos – Cambodia border. Right after crossing the Mekong River, we will keep riding until we reach Stung Treng – a province of Cambodia. In contrast with the first riding hours, the route from Stung Treng to Tbeng Meanchey is really tough. It’s hard to ride fast through such dense jungles.

The leading destination for today is Preah Vihear. UNESCO recognizes this sacred temple complex as a global heritage. Talking about the complex, some people may mention the controversy between Cambodia and Thailand. However, let’s pay more attention to its history and eye-catching design. The very first temple dates back to the 9th century, and most relics show that this is an essential residence of the Khmer Empire in the twelfth century. The temple complex possesses charming architecture with sophisticated sculpture. In short, this is an attraction that we cannot skip on this trip.

• Distance: 230 kilometers

Prepare yourself because we will ride quite a long road – up to 270 kilometers. We’ll go through more forests, as well as visit several villages in the middle of nowhere. The way to Siem Reap also offers some forsaken temples in Koh Ker, and visiting them is absolutely not a bad idea. Notably, the Koh Ker temple is the only pyramid in the Indochina Peninsula.

• Distance: 270 kilometers

Most tourists who came to Cambodia agreed that the Angkor complex is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. And here we are in Siem Reap – only a few miles away from this majestic temple complex. Since motorbikes are not allowed to be used on the site, we will use a van. Angkor temples are obviously the most exceptional heritage that Khmer people have left. We will visit Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Thom in turn. The ancient look, the impressive architecture, and the thought-provoking sculptures make visitors become more and more curious. Be ready to take hundreds of pictures because almost beautiful backgrounds are ubiquitous.

Another day has come, and this means we will explore some other fascinating places. Ok, let’s mount on our bikes and move to Kampong Cham. The ride will start with a highway to Kompong Kdei. Soon you can admire the striking Angkorian Bridge. An exciting thing about Cambodia is that we can see quite a lot of ancient structures here. The brightest highlight of today is the temple of Prasat Preah Khan. This ancient temple looks even more attractive as large tree roots twist it.

• Distance: 250 kilometres

Dirt roads and rivers will be the obstacles on the way to Stung Treng. We’ll first follow the Mekong River to the province of Kratie. Besides the lovely villages along the way, we can also come by Prek Kampi and join a short boat trip to play with some cute Irrawaddy dolphins. The moment when they spew water will surely bring happiness to your heart. After riding 230 kilometres, we will have a relaxing night in a hotel in Stung Treng.

• Distance: 230 kilometres

There are only five days left, so this is the perfect time to get back to Vietnam and explore the middle of the country. Let’s wake up a little bit early to enjoy the morning in Cambodia. We should ride carefully on the route from Stung Treng to Ban Lung. The road to the Vietnam border is a tarmac road, so it’s quite easy to go.

The way to Pleiku is not exhausting to conquer. Moreover, we have a great chance to behold the immense rubber and coffee fields. Pleiku has many picturesque attractions such as T’nung Lake, Ham Rong Mountain, Buu Minh Pagoda, and Chu Dang Ya Volcano. We may not have enough time to visit all of those places, but let’s save them for the next trip somedays.

Today we start with a leisure ride to Chu Se district. After riding 40 kilometres, we’re supposed to see Phu Cuong Waterfall. From afar, this silvery falls looks like an angel’s hair. In case you don’t know, this area used to be a volcano, and the Phu Cuong falls actually flowing on lava rock. Of course, the volcano is not active, so don’t worry about anything. A great option is exploring Phu Cuong Waterfall and its environs by riding an elephant.

After having a fun time with Phu Cuong falls, we will continue to go to Quy Nhon. On the way, we have to go through Ea So Nature Reserve. This place is where you can witness the rich flora and fauna in Vietnam. As we weave through some villages of Bahnar or Jrai, you may feel surprised at the friendliness of the ethnic minorities here. Keep moving to the east until we catch the first sign of Quy Nhon – a fantastic coastal city.

• Distance: 250 kilometres

Today’s ride can be exhausting as we have to go 330 kilometres in total. Basically, we will follow the coastline to make the way from Quy Nhon to Hoi An. However, we won’t use only road no.1 but join some other backroads to make our trip more exciting and memorable. We can stop anywhere to take some photos. There are plenty of scenic landscapes and seascapes for us to admire, so the ride won’t be boring at all. Right when we arrive at Hoi An, you’ll realize that all the efforts we’ve just made are worth it.

• Distance: 330 kilometres

Hoi An’s beauty is worth a whole day exploring. Hoi An is a famous old town in Quang Nam. All the unique old structures are maintained so well that some people think that they are lost in another century. You cannot find any high buildings in the town. The small houses with yellow walls and brown rooftop bring tranquillity that you can hardly see anywhere else in the country.

Well, constructions are not the only things that are kept intact here. Visitors often feel amazed at the local people’s way of life, their culture and traditions, the food. If we are lucky enough, we can join some festivals here. At night or in the celebrations, Hoi An becomes even more attractive. Some ideal spots to take photos are Cau Pagoda (the pagoda on the bridge), Tan Ky ancient house, or Quan Thang ancient house. UNESCO also recognizes Hoi An as a world heritage.

There are two options available for us today. We can either spend more time in Hoi An to experience some other activities or set off early to Da Nang. This city is considered one of the best places to live in Vietnam. There are so many excellent attractions here that we cannot explore the city in just one day. In recent years, the most iconic symbol of Da Nang is the Dragon Bridge. Sometimes you will see water or fire spouted from the dragon’s mouth. Prominent attractions that we should visit in Da Nang are the Marble Mountains, the Golden Bridge, Linh Ung Pagoda, and My Khe beach. In short, Da Nang is a perfect destination to wrap up our 21-day journey.