The famous Ho Chi Minh Trail was a labyrinth of complex truck routes, foot and cycle paths and river transportation. In memory of the important role it played during the Vietnam War, a new highway has been built.  In just under two weeks, this tour goes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) via some of Vietnam’s most important historical and cultural sites.  The breathtaking landscapes vary from towering cloud-shrouded peaks, shimmering rice paddy fields, lush jungle forests and long stretches of pristine white sandy beaches. Traveling by bike, boat, bus and airplane gives visitors the best opportunity to discover Vietnam’s rich diversity, and pays homage to this fascinating support route.

 

Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Hanoi

Day 02: Hanoi – Mai Chau

Day 03: Mai Chau – Ngoc Lac – Yen Cat (Nhu Xuan)

Day 04: Nhu Xuan – Tan Ky – Do Luong – Kim Lien – Vinh

Day 05: Vinh – Pho Chau – Huong Khe

Day 06: Huong Khe – Phong Nha National Park

Day 07: Phong Nha National Park – Dong Hoi

Day 08: Dong Hoi – Khe Sanh

Day 09: Khe Sanh – A Luoi

Day 10: A Luoi – Hue

Day 11: Hue - Lang Co – Hai Van Pass – Hoi An

Day 12: Hoi An

Day 13: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (by air)

Day 14: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Trip Grade:
Level of fitness and cycling ability is required.

Weather:
Undoubtedly, weather is one of the determining factors for your traveling decisions. If you are heading to Vietnam, then, take it easy to make up your mind. Vietnam’s climate is not just steamy hot as what you are frequently exposed to on movies. All year round here, there is always a perfect place where it is pleasant to stay. Basically, the whole country falls into the tropic and subtropics but its stretching length and diverse topography allow it to span several different climate zones. The weather thus, tends to vary considerably from season to season and also from region to region.

Northern Part
The North of Vietnam is generally cooler than other South East Asian regions in the same longitude. It experiences two main distinct seasons. In winter months, the weather gets colder and colder fromNovember to March and considerably warmer in April (a leap into summer). This is also time to observe much cloud and frequent drizzle. The average winter temperature is 17.2°C (62.9°F). Particularly, the mountainous areas (Northwest) are often much colder, temperature may keep below 10°C (50°F) for long period. Ice and snow even cover Hoang Lien Son Mountains and nearby Sapa town for some times with the lowest record of -3°C (26.6°F) in Feb 2008.
In the summer (from May to October), the whole region is quite hot. Temperature may rise to 37°C (98.6 °F) in the peaks of June and July. Hanoi and coastal provinces around the Red River Delta generally enjoy equitable weather with high average humidity (80%) all year round though they may occasionally be subjected to typhoons and heavy rain in late summers (September to November). Vietnamese people even identify four seasons in the Northern provinces (from Hai Van Pass toward the north) with their distinct features: pleasant spring (typically March-April) and autumn (October-December), a chilly winter (December- February) and a hot summer (June – July).

Central Part
The Central Vietnam with two sub-regions, coastal lowlands and central highlands, can be seen as an in-between climatic area of the North and the South. The coastal strip is usually dry and hotter than the rest in the summer, as the Truong Son Mountains do not allow it to enjoy most rainfall of south-western monsoon (from April to October). Unprotected coasts in their turn, however, make it wet and colder than the rest in winter-monsoon season (from November to March). Also, storms and typhoons strike this area more frequently than the northern coasts in summer months (from July to November). The Central Highlands in particular enjoys nearly double the average rainfall of the country. Two biggest towns in this plateau, Dalat and Pleiku, are ideally cool throughout the year. Near-the-south coastal cities, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, on the contrary, experiences steamy hot weather (21°C-32°C / 70°F-90°F) all year round.

Southern Part
The South of Vietnam, merely 8 degrees north of the Equator, is typical of humid tropical climate which is excellent for growing rice. The region’s temperatures experience little variations in a year (around 27-32°C/80-90°F). There are two main seasons: the rainy and the dry. During the rainy/monsoon season (from May to November), downpours are expected to happen nearly every afternoon, resulting in occasional street flooding in and around Saigon. In the dry season, it is hot from late February to April then slightly cooler when first downpours come. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) enjoys rather equitable tropical climate with high humidity all year round. December to March is said to be the most pleasant time to hit this region’s center.

Note: In all, Vietnam climate is so diverse that there is almost no definition of an average temperature for the whole country. Thanks to these regional variations in weather, generally, you can drop in Vietnam at any time of year. Commonly, based on the duration of your stay, you should plan to catch the good weather and places by either dropping in Saigon in February or March then following the coast to north or hitting Hanoi in October-November then tracing southward.

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi
Arrive at No Bai airport and be met by our guide and driver before being brought to your hotel. Depending on your flight, you can take an optional guided stroll through Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter. In the evening, you enjoy some traditional Vietnamese cuisine at one of the city’s finest restaurants. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Dinner

  

Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau
  You depart Hanoi early for Mai Chau and the drive is just superb. From the top of Cun Mountain, you can admire the panorama of Mai Chau’s green valley with stilt houses dotting the landscape. An early lunch will be served at Poom Coong village before you jump on our bikes and cycle on a mixture of good single-track paths and undulating rough jeep trails to the Thai village of Cun Pheo. The views are remarkable as you pass through villages, hot springs, suspension bridges and across rice paddies.

 

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 25-30km

Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 3: Mai Chau – Ngoc Lac – Yen Cat (Nhu Xuan)
An early morning start allows you to beat the heat of the day. Your journey takes us away from the river and through the range of mountains that stretch from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong to Hoa Lu. There are great photo opportunities of the always present and looming Karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. Although you have tarmac all the way, the riding can get a bit tough due to the undulating terrain. At Ngoc Lac, you get on a bus and transfer our weary legs to Nhu Xuan.

 

Overnight in Nhu Xuan.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 60-70km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

 

Day 4: Nhu Xuan – Tan Ky – Do Luong – Kim Lien – Vinh
Today the ride will be on the newly built two-lane Ho Chi Minh Highway. There is not a lot of traffic however, and the road makes for smooth fast riding. For those who prefer it, there is always the older highway of dirt and gravel that weaves around the new one and allows for plenty of exploring possibilities. A must-see en route is the birthplace of president Ho Chi Minh at Kim Lien village. This province has a reputation for producing charismatic revolutionary leaders; for not only Ho Chi Minh was born here but also Phan Boi Chau – another fervent anti-colonialist. From Kim Lien, we’ll most likely transfer by bus or car to Vinh city.

Note due to the total distance some sections will mean transfers by car, depending on the strength of the group and cycling conditions

 
Overnight in Vinh

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 70km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

 

Day 5: Vinh – Pho Chau – Huong Khe
After breakfast, the shuttle will bring us back to the Ho Chi Minh Highway. You disembark at Pho Chau, where your cycling begins. The roads today wind their way through lush jungle and beautiful villages nestled under the shadow of the historic Truong Son Mountain range. You reach Huong Khe at the end of the day; a remote town in Nghe An province.

 

Overnight in Huong Khe guesthouse.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 68 km

Difficulty:  Moderate/Challenging

 

Day 6: Huong Khe – Phong Nha National Park
After a relaxing breakfast, you continue riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. From Huong Khe the mountains soar skyward and the road winds its way along the hillsides. The landscape is amazing, the road tranquil. You ride up to 80km and then transfer to Phong Nha National Park. The park contains one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam, which was formed approximately 250 million years ago and was used as a hospital and ammunition depot during the war. The entrance still shows marks of aircraft attacks. There are community projects underway with Flora and Fauna International and it may be possible to visit village initiatives and learn more about the forests.

 

Overnight in Phong Nha National Park guesthouse

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 84 km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

 

Day 7: Phong Nha National Park – Dong Hoi
After breakfast you’ll visit the spectacular Phong Nha cave by boat and then wander through the cavern, past ancient foundations of Cham ruins. The stalactites and stalagmites here are breathtaking. Exploring the cave generally takes a few hours and then we return to the hotel. Here you hop back on the bikes and travel toward the small town of Dong Hoi.

 

Overnight in Dong Hoi

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 48km

Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 8: Dong Hoi – Khe Sanh
Branching temporarily from the HCM highway, you drive approx. 100km along a flat stretch of Highway 1 to visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels; a 2.8km labyrinth where the Vietnamese hid from American troops during the Vietnam War. The villagers of Vinh Moc built the tunnels in 1966 when they were being heavily bombarded. 30km from Dong Ha you pick up cycling again across the DMZ, (better known as the 17th Parallel). The road is quite flat and makes for good cruising. En route you will pass relics left over from the war and end up in the Vietnam/Laos border town of Khe Sanh, where some of the bloodiest battles took place.

 

Overnight in Khe Sanh

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Cycling: approx. 85 km

Rating: Moderate

 

Day 9: Khe Sanh – A Luoi
After completing our exploration of Khe Sanh, you start to pedal along Highway 9 to Dakrong Bridge and then turn off onto the Southern section of the HCM Trail. We begin our ascent back into the mountains along an extraordinary remote road to the tiny town of A Luoi. The route passes through dense forests and some wild landscapes. A Luoi is home to a multitude of ethnic minorities and the infamous Hamburger Hill.

  

Overnight at A Luoi guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 85km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

 

Day 10: A Luoi – Hue
After breakfast, you leave the HCM Trail for good and pedal 60km for Hue. The ride is relatively easy as the terrain is flat. The landscape is dotted with quaint villages, jungles and rivers. You finish your ride at the Bach Ho Bridge and hop on a bus to transfer the last 12km to Hue.

 

Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Cycling: approx. 60km

Difficulty: Moderate

  

Day 11: Hue - Lang Co – Hai Van Pass – Hoi An
Today you turn south again to go to Hoi An (The route passes over the insane Hai Van pass (‘Pass of the Ocean Clouds’), one of the most famous stretches of road in all of Vietnam. Cycle via Lang Co beach and conquer a couple of 2km passes before hitting beautiful coastal roads. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday. A walking tour is the best way to see the wooden-fronted houses that once belonged to the town’s prosperous merchants, the Japanese-covered Bridge and the wonderful market. Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs at bargain prices including silk, handicrafts, antiques and paintings. Five kilometers from the centre of town is Cua Dai Beach, popular with both locals and visitors alike for its warm sea and seafood stalls.

 

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Cycling: approx. 70km

Difficulty: Moderate

 

Day 12: Hoi An at leisure
Enjoy a full day free at leisure or you can take an optional ride to Hoi An’s countryside.

 

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast

 

Day 13: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (by air)
Spend a relaxing morning at your leisure before driving 30km to Da Nang for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City check in to the hotel and freshen up before taking a city tour to discover this dynamic city. We will show you the former Presidential Palace as well as the Notre Dame Cathedral. In the evening enjoy a scrumptious farewell meal at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s top restaurants.

  

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 14: Depart Ho Chi Minh City
At your leisure until transfer to the airport for onward flights. 
You have complated your cycling though Vietnam by the trail of Ho Chi Minh with experiences.

End of your wonderful trip!

This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The 'Price From' quoted above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

REMARKS:
We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your Cambodia cycling, Vietnam cycling, Laos cycling, Myanmar cycling or Thailand cycling. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:

>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 40 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 80 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 150 USD/room/night

Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details

If, after reviewing the details of this tour, you would like to receive a "Special Offer" tour price, just click on the "INQUIRY" button below. If you wish to “Tailor Make" your trip, simply click on the "CUSTOMIZE TRIP" and enter your contact details.

COST INCLUDED:

• Experienced English speaking guide
• Private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation in double/twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water for sightseeing
• All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.
• Mountain bike and helmet. 

COST EXCLUDED:

• International/domestic airfares & tax
• Visa fees.
• Travel Insurance. (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home)
• Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)
• Tips for guide, driver, porters and project cost
• Beverage and alcoholic drinks
• Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.

The hotels listed below are just our suggestions offering the best value for this trip according to the hotel category chosen, but Travel Loops also offers more options to cater for different grades, personal taste, and budget. Please let us know if you have any specific choice of hotels, or personal preferences/requirements.

Note: Our choices for each level of accommodation have been highlighted in orange. As mentioned above our selection criteria are based on: prior client reviews, hotel management and staff training, facilities maintenance, location, business relationship and advantages given exclusively to our clients on price and service.