Saigon To Hanoi Via Ho Chi Minh Trails – 21 Days
Saigon To Hanoi Via Ho Chi Minh Trails – 21 Days

Saigon To Hanoi Via Ho Chi Minh Trails – 21 Days

Saigon To Hanoi Via Ho Chi Minh Trails – 21 Days is one of the best in our collection of motorbike tours in Vietnam. The ride starts in southern Vietnam where you can see the colorful culture of the country by riding through beautiful villages of the hill tribes, riding on the historical trail where there are plenty of vestiges and moving stories about the Vietnam war, and then ends in the Sapa mountain of Vietnam in which long, Central of Vietnam is sunny and sandy beaches are waiting for only you.

Day 1: Saigon – Mekong Delta – My Tho -  200 km ( L, D )

Explore real Vietnam by the motorbike tour. You can choose either to spend more time in the South or the North depending on the rainy season. What you need for this trip is only the real passion for riding the motorcycle. We recommend you book this trip in advance to get the best arrangement. Our tour leader will meet you on the first arrival day in Saigon to sign up our trip contract and for you to check all the equipment before the departure date. We can visit the Cu Chi Tunnel, you can do the gun shooting here (optional). We’ll travel by the small back-roads to the countryside to Mekong Delta, here you can choose to do a homestay with the local family on Coconut Island or stay overnight at a hotel in My Tho.

Day 2: My Tho - The old Cambodia Land –Can Tho - 150 km ( B, L, D )

The Mekong Delta was likely inhabited long since prehistory; the empires of Funan and Chenla maintained a presence in the Mekong Delta for centuries. Archaeological discoveries at Oc Eo and other Funanese sites show that the area was an important part of the Funan Kingdom, bustling with trading ports and canals as early as the first century AD and extensive human settlement in the region may have gone back as far as the 4th century BC. Angkor Borei is a site in the Mekong Delta that existed between 400 BC – and 500 AD. This site had extensive maritime trade networks throughout Southeast Asia and with India and is believed to have possibly been the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Funan. The region was known as Khmer Krom (lower Khmer, or lower Cambodia) to the Khmer Empire, which likely maintained settlements there centuries before its rise in the 11th and 12th centuries. The kingdom of Champa, though mainly based along the coast of modern Central Vietnam, is known to have expanded west into the Mekong Delta, seizing control of Prey Nokor (the precursor to modern-day Saigon City) by the end of the 13th century. Author Nghia M. Vo suggests that a Cham presence may indeed have existed in the area before the Khmer occupation. Beginning in the 1620s, Khmer king Chey Chettha II (1618-1628) allowed the Vietnamese to settle in the area, and to set up a custom house at Prey Nokor, which they colloquially referred to as Sai Gon. The increasing waves of Vietnamese settlers which followed overwhelmed the Khmer kingdom – weakened as it was due to war with Thailand – and slowly Vietnamized the area. During the late 17th century, Mac Cuu, a Chinese anti-Qing general, began to expand Vietnamese and Chinese settlements deeper into Khmer lands, and in 1691, Prey Nokor was occupied by the Vietnamese.,  To explore this old and hidden historic land, we will do some boat trips in My Tho – Ben Tre; visit the Khmer villages and their old temples – over 1,000 years in Tra Vinh – Soc Trang; ride on the small roads through the green rice paddies and meet the friendly locals. You can choose to stay overnight at the hotel or do a homestay with the locals.

Day 3: Can Tho - Cambodia Border - 200 km ( B, L, D )

We need to wake up at 6 am to do the boat trip to explore the famous Floating Market – Cai Rang: Farmers from the region bring their goods, fruits, and vegetables mainly, to the markets and sell them to local dealers. These dealers sell the products to shops in the neighboring towns and wholesale dealers from the big towns. In the picture, you can see a local farmer with fruits for sale. All big boats have a pole. Each wholesaler hangs the goods he buys/sells on this pole. This way, people on small boats know where they have to go from a certain distance. In this case, this is a floating vegetable supermarket. On the floating markets, you do not only find people buying and selling goods, you also find floating restaurants, floating bars, floating gas stations, and many other floating shops. Canals are here the easiest and fastest way of transportation.,Our tour continues to travel by the small roads and about 50 km off-road through the Mekong river to the Cambodia border where we’ll stay overnight at the 2 stars hotel.

Day 4: The Ho Chi Minh Trail Inland – 180 km ( B, L, D )

We’ll start to travel on some parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail from this location; the Ho Chi Minh Trail was a network of roads built from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia, to provide logistical support to the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War. It was a combination of truck routes and paths for foot and bicycle traffic. The trail was a 16,000 km (9,940 miles) web of tracks, roads, and waterways., We’ll travel on about 100 km off-roads through the forests and come to stay at a small town on the 500 m high mountain.

Day 5: Central Highlands – 150 km ( B, L, D )

In 1904 Dak Lak Province was established by the French and Buon Ma Thuot (BMT) was selected as the provincial administrative center, rather than the trading center of Buon Don on the Srepok River. BMT was originally settled by the Ede, but due to the incoming Viet settlement after the Vietnam War and the active acculturation policy, less than 15% (around 40,000) are still Montagnards. An important battle took place there at the end of the second Vietnam War. Our travel route is along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia, along this road we can visit the National Park with waterfalls where we can stay overnight.

Day 6: Kon Tum – 250 km ( B, L, D )

Kon Tum’s relaxed ambiance, river setting, and relatively traffic-free streets make it a worthwhile stop for travelers intent on exploring the surrounding hill-tribe villages, of which there are 700 or so dotting the area – mostly Banhar, but also Sedang and Jarai. The region saw its share of combat during the wars. A major battle between the South and North Vietnamese took place in and around Kon Tum in the spring of 1972. More recently, in the 2004 protests against government policies in the highlands, hill tribes in Kon Tum province clashed with police and soldiers. On the surface, things have cooled off, but relations between the hill tribes and the authorities remain fraught. Nowadays we still need to have a special permit to allow us to visit the local villages or to travel along the border in this region. Today we’ll stay overnight at the 2 stars hotel.

Day 7: Kham Duc – 180 km, Kham Duc ( B, L, D )

is known as an area with many gold mines in Vietnam after the war finished, but during the Vietnam war, it’s belonged to the Special Force Camps of the U.S army, some Australian and AVNR were located to control the border between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia., To get there we will travel on the called Ho Chi Minh Road – no original HCM Trails here because they all are in Laos and Cambodia in this region; the ride will go through the deep jungles and the high mountains – 1500 m with some beautiful scenery and waterfalls along the way. We also visit some old battlefields at Dac To the base, Tan Canh airbase, Charlie hill, Indochina border. We’ll stay overnight at the 2 stars hotel.

Day 8: Hoi An – 140 km ( B, L )

Once a major Southeast Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries, the seaside town Hoi An is a living museum featuring a unique mixture of East and West in the form of its old-town architecture. Among the heritage, architecture stands Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, pagodas, wooden shop-houses, French-colonial houses, and old canals. Though large-scale trading had long moved elsewhere Hoian has been successful in preserving and restoring its charming roots and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 1999. Hoi An Riverside is the best place to be at night as the area is lit by quaint and old-fashioned lanterns, making it an atmospheric and beautiful spot. For those who love the sea, sun, and sand, Hoi An offers two lovely beaches five kilometers away from the town center – a sort of holiday within a holiday. Hoi An is known for its great food, fun shopping, skilled tailors, friendly people, and cozy atmosphere – all key characteristics that draw people to this picturesque town.,We travel here by the HCM Road, visit the Kotu minority villages, and waterfalls, and do sightseeing on the way before checking in at our 2 stars hotel in town.

Day 9: Hoi An ( B )

It’s our relaxing day. Maybe you can go to the beach or just relax at the swimming pool of our hotel.

Day 10: Hoian – Hue – 130 km ( B, L )

In June 1802 Nguyen Anh took control of Vietnam and proclaimed himself Emperor Gia Long. His rule was recognized by China in 1804. Gia Long consulted with the Geomancers to decide which was the best place for a new palace and citadel to be built. After the Geomancers had decided on a suitable site in Hue, building began in 1804., In the early morning hours of January 31, 1968, as part of the Tet Offensive, a Division-sized force of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong soldiers launched a coordinated attack on Hue seizing most of the city. During the initial phases of the Battle of Hue, due to Hue’s religious and cultural status, Allied forces were ordered not to bomb or shell the city, for fear of destroying the historic structures; but as casualties mounted in house-to-house fighting these restrictions were progressively lifted and the fighting caused substantial damage to the Imperial City. Out of 160 buildings, only 10 major sites remain because of the battle. The city was made a UNESCO site in 1993. The buildings that remain are being restored and preserved. The latest and so far the largest restoration project is planned to conclude in 2015.,We travel by the coastal road to the Marble Mountain, Da Nang bay, Hai Van pass, Lang Co beach then arrive at our hotel in the center of Hue. Optional: in the evening, you can book the boat trip or have dinner at the Royal Palace.

Day 11: Hue - Khe Sanh – 180 km ( B , L , D )

U.S. military presence at Khe Sanh began in 1962 when the U.S. Special Forces built a small camp near the village, located some 14 miles (23 kilometers) south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Viet Nam and 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the Laotian border on Route 9, the principal road from South Viet Nam into Laos.,The battle of Khe Sanh was the iconic confrontation of the Viet Nam war. The showdown recalled the celebrated 1954 siege of Dien Bien Phu, in which Vietnamese communist forces surrounded and eventually overran an isolated French stronghold. But unlike the French at Dien Bien Phu, the Americans maintained their fragile air link to Khe Sanh, and the combat base and its main outposts withstood communist bombardments and attacks until a relief force broke the siege in April. For the next 77 days, U.S. Marines and their South Vietnamese allies fought off an intense siege of the garrison, in one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Viet Nam war.,From Hue, our team will travel by the small road up to the highlands to visit the Hamburger Hill, the Dakrong Bridge, and Khe Sanh Base. We will stay overnight at the 2 stars hotel here.

Day 12: Khe Sanh – Phong Nha – 130 km ( B , L , D )

Phong Nha is noted for its cave and grotto systems as it is composed of 300 caves and grottoes. A 2009 survey brought the total discovered length of the cave system to about 126 km., with many areas still not well explored. The Son Doong Cave, which was discovered in a 2009 survey by British and Vietnamese explorers, is considered the largest cave in the world. Even before this discovery, Phong Nha held several world cave records, including the longest underground river as well as the largest combined caverns and passageways., The park derives its name from Phong Nha Cave, containing many fascinating rock formations, and Ke Bang forest. The plateau on which the park is situated is probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karts landform in Southeast Asia. This national park was listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2003 for its geological values as defined in its criteria viii. In April 2009, the world’s largest cave was discovered by a team of British cave explorers of the British Caving Association led by a local farmer.,From Khe Sanh, we will travel to visit the Rock-pile, D.M.Z museum, Hien Luong Bridge, Vinh Moc tunnel, and then to Phong Nha where we’ll stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Phong Nha ( B )

Relaxing day. You can do the boat trip to explore the cave and do the short ride to explore the Ke Bang National Park.

Day 14: The HCM Road  – 200 km ( B, L, D )

Along this road we will visit the untold Khe Gat airfield: During the Viet Nam war, the North Vietnamese fighters took off from Khe Gat airfield near Phong Nha National Park for a North Vietnamese air attack on the United States battleships in the South East Asia Sea in an air raid known as Battle of Dong Hoi., This airstrip was where Ho Chi Minh landed for his North Vietnamese southernmost visit ever to Quang Binh during Vietnam War, he landed here at 8:30 am June 16, 1957. It was also where the North Vietnamese prime minister Pham Van Dong and Cuban president Fidel Castro landed for a visit to the newly occupied zone by North Viet Nam of Quang Tri in 1972. General Van Tien Dung also landed here before entering South Vietnam for direct command of communist forces in the last period of the Viet Nam war renowned as the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975., We will stay overnight in a small village.

Day 15: The HCM Road – 150 km ( B, L, D )

This is our easy day on the easy road through the local villages to move up to the north Viet Nam. We’ll stay overnight in a small village without any Western tourists.

Day 16: Mai Chau – 150 km ( B ,  L , D )

Mai Chau is nestled between two towering cliffs and surrounded by emerald green paddies, it is an enchanting sight as you approach down the windy cliff-side road and the villages and surrounding countryside present an idyllic rural scene that could easily charm you into staying longer than intended.,The villagers in Mai Chau are mostly White Thai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos, and China. Most no longer wear traditional dress, but the Thai women are masterful weavers producing plenty of traditional-style textiles., Before we could get here, our team must travel on some of the off-roads through the Pu Luong National Park with some very high mountains and very steep roads. We’ll do a homestay with a local family. Optional: you can book a traditional dance show in the evening.

Day 17: Nghia Lo – 250 km ( B ,  L , D )

Nghia Lo is the 2nd largest rice-field valley in the North (the largest is Dien Bien Phu). The area of Nghia Lo is beautiful, with its large rice fields surrounded by high mountains, if you cross the rice fields, you arrive at a torrent with hot water springs (old ladies bath in there, so be discreet please !). Mu Cang Chai is a nice and long pass on the mountain 1,000 m high – it’s one of the Greatest Roads in Viet Nam. There are approximately 30 ethnic groups, the Dao, Thai, and Hmong people are the biggest groups in this province. The harvest is from September until the end of October. These yellow rice fields are recognized as a national scenic site as well as the unique cultural identities of the Hmong ethnic group.,We travel here by the small road along the Da River and stay overnight at the 2 stars hotel in the center of the local town.

Day 18: Sapa – 180 km (  B, L )

Sapa is located in Northwest Viet Nam, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates this area, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas. This range includes Viet Nam’s highest mountain, Fansipan, at a height of 3,143 m above sea level. The town of Sapa is at an altitude of about 1,500 m above sea level. The climate is moderate and rainy in summer (May-August), and foggy and cold with occasional snowfalls in winter. The scenery of the Sapa region in large part reflects the relationship between the minority people and nature. This is seen especially in the rice-fields carpeting the rolling lower slopes of the Hoang Lien Mountain. The impressive physical landscape which underlies this has resulted from the work of the elements over thousands of years, wearing away the underlying rock.,We travel by the O Quy Ho Road to the Skygate at a height of 2,000 m above sea level; it’s also one of the Greatest Roads in Viet Nam. Check-in our hotel to stay overnight.

Day 19: Sa Pa ( B, L )

On the day to explore the area of Sapa, you can choose to do the long trekking through the local villages and then do a homestay with the locals or just the half-day trekking and stay overnight at the hotel in town.

Day 20: Yen Bai – 170 km ( B, L, D )

We continue to travel to some Red Dao ethnic minority villages by some off-roads and to Lao Cai – it’s the border with China. From here we travel down to the Red River and stay overnight in the small town.

Day 21: Hanoi – 150 km (B, L )

We’ll travel by the small roads along the Red River to Hanoi. For your safety, our tour leader will help you to travel easier to the center of the city by the quiet roads, arrive at your hotel, and finish your trip

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