12 DAYS FROM DA NANG TO HA NOI VIA HO CHI MINH TRAIL
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1: DA NANG TO HUE – 150 KM
Then we take you along My Khe beach, where not only voted as one of the most beautiful coastlines in Viet Nam but is also very famous as a military base of both the French and American armies. We will travel through Hai Van Pass where you will be literally surrounded by clouds with stunning ocean views, we can admire the beautiful panorama, and enjoy a number of the most glorious landscapes in Vietnam.
After lunchtime, we will ride more to Dream waterfall where you can relax and swim. Then we ride along the beautiful road to visit the Tam Giang lagoon and local fishing village. We will arrive in Hue around 4 pm.
DAY 2: HUE TO KHE SANH – 180 KM
To start our journey from Hue, we drive to the south across the Da Krong Bridge into the famed A Shau Valley, and visit the ethnic villages at Van Kieu, Ta Oi, and Ba Co.
Take a long walk on the steps to Hamburger Hill where is the biggest fighting between the North, south and American army here and the guide will tell you more about the history of this area, we will go to Khe Sanh to visit the airport and the US military zone, then we go to the hotel 5:00 pm.
DAY 3. KHE SANH TO PHONG NHA– 230 KM
After departing Khe Sanh, we head to Phong Nha. Along the way, we stop at the Agent Orange-sprayed foothills and plenty of signs of bombing on the slope. Following that we visit the Vinh Moc tunnel, the Truong Son Cemetery, the iconic Hien Luong Bridge, and Khe Sanh (a former US Marine base).
After a long day of riding, we will have dinner in the homestay and enjoy together some local rice wine called “ Happy Water” by the local people here.
DAY 4. PHONG NHA NATIONAL PARK– 90 KM
In the morning, We take along mountain ride to Phong Nha and discover the most beautiful World Heritage site in Phong Nha.
With a day free to explore Phong Nha national park, we will take a boat ride into the dark cave and enjoy the kayak go through the caves then immerse yourselves in the mud bath. After all these activities we will take lunch on the way to another cave. In the afternoon we will take another boat trip to the magnificent Paradise limestone cave, the second-longest wet limestone cave in the world, then trek through this amazing old-growth rainforest. On the way back our guide will stop you at the time sunset for relaxing and taking some pictures here then we will ride back to our hotel.
DAY 5. PHONG NHA TO PHỐ CHÂU- 180 KM
After breakfast, we will take our motorcycles down the historical trail to South Vietnam, a peaceful town surrounded by impressive mountains. Visit a group of hill tribe villages on the way and enjoy the view of the mountain.
DAY 6. PHỐ CHÂU TO NGỌC LẠC– 230 KM
By the following day, we will leave Phố Châu and head to Ngọc Lạc. We will ride through the bamboo groves that line the Ma River. After eating lunch in Cam Thuy, we continue to Ngọc Lạc, where the renowned Ho Chi Minh Trail's began.
During the was, the beginning of the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail. This was a meeting place for food supplies and weaponry for the Vietnam War soldiers fighting in the South. We spend the night at the motel in ngọc lạc.
DAY 7: NGOC LẠC TO MAI CHAU – 107 KM
On the 7th day, we conquer the Ho Chi Minh Trail by motorbike bringing us to have lunch. We then travel to Mai chau, surrounded by extensive green tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see covering numerous rolling green hills as far as the eye can see.
The region is also home to stunning traditional Vietnamese hill tribe communities and is particularly well-known for its abundance of exquisite flowers.
DAY 8: MAI CHAU TO XUAN SON NATIONAL PARK – 165 KM
On day 8, we depart MAI CHAU in the morning and head to XUAN SON NATIONAL PARK Chai. This area seems like a gem since it is tucked away in one of the Red River's deep valleys, where mountain towns and terraced crops coexist.
After lunch, we cross Lung La pass, a rocky and perilous mountain pass road with a long and magnificent history.
Today will be one of the longest rides but it is one of the most amazing motorcycle rides. Stop at some villages on the way to see the local traditional life. Finish our long day at around 5 pm.
DAY 9: XUAN SON NATIONAL PARK TO MU CAN CHAI – 178 KM
Goodbye our motorcycle journey continues to MU CAN CHAI, we will ride through pass, the most difficult and tortuous pass in the Northwest mountains, with perilous bends.
Then stop at the pass stop, we will see the boundless vastness of the Northwest sky. At 4:00 p.m., we will arrive at Sapa and have dinner at the hotel.
DAY 10: MU CAN CHAI TO SAPA 160KM
We spend a relaxed third morning in Mũ Cần Chai exploring. Taking a stroll through town visiting the local people's market where hordes of sellers dressed in traditional attire from the Dao, Hon, Xa Fang, Tay, and Thai tribes congregate.
Then we take a quick journey to Silver Waterfall and have lunch there. We spend the remaining the seeing the tribes of minority communities such as the Cat Cat and Ta Phin. These villages are still relatively unaffected, allowing us to look closely at the various Vietnamese tribes and their varied lifestyles and cultures.
On our return to our homestay, we will enjoy one of the most heartwarming group dinners with special hot pots of Sapa prepared with loving care by our hosts.
DAY 11: SAPA TO THAC BA – 230 KM
After breakfast, we walk around Ba waterfall and travel to Thac Ba. Along the way, you will see rural Vietnam's broad, verdant countryside stretched out before you through several patches of mountain fog.
Our modest convoy travels through dozens of remote towns filled with happy, waving children, crossing knee-deep rivers and thin mountain routes to climb and descend. We arrive at a hotel in Thac Ba at the end of the day.
DAY 12: THAC BA LAKE TO HA NOI –160 KM
Thac Ba Lake is one of Vietnam's biggest man-made lakes and was constructed in 1970 as part of the Chay River hydropower plant project. There are 13 ethnic minorities living in the area around the lake, including the Tay, Mong, Nung, Phu La, Cao Lan, and Dao.
Taking the boat trip around the lake to enjoy nature and keep going to Ha Noi and the end of our 12 days journey.
