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HO
CHI MINH TRAIL TOURING 11 DAYS
11
days/ 10 nights
The legendary Ho
Chi Minh Trail was the supply line used by North
Vietnam to link North and South Vietnam during
the American War. Soldiers, ammunition, weapons
and supplies were carried by hand, on bicycle
and truck for hundreds of kilometres through the
otherwise impenetrable jungle that covered
Vietnam’s mountainous border with Laos. A
testimony to the ingenuity, fortitude and
commitment of the North Vietnamese, the Trail
slipped from use at the end of the war and was
taken back by the jungle. Recent road works that
follow original sections of the Trail have
changed this. This ride takes in the former
imperial capital of Hue, the ancient trading
town of Hoi An, Khe Sanh battlefield, the
infamous A Shaw valley, China beach, Vietnamese
war museums and the DMZ. We also take time to
stay overnight in a traditional Thai hill tribe
village and visit the former Imperial Tombs of
Hue. Take this one off chance to be among the
first to traverse the Ho Chi Minh Trail! This is
a moderate trip, especially designed for bikers
Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau (~160 km, ~6 h)
Heading out of
Hanoi on road number 6 to Mai Chau, and idyllic
valley populated by mainly White Thai ethnic
people. Visiting Mai Chau, you have a chance to
enjoy folk songs and traditional colourful
culture of White Thai in Mai Chau. The scenery
of the arrival to Mai Chau is characterized with
beautiful limestone mountains and colourful hill
tribes who can be seen and visited on the way.
We also have an opportunity en route to learn
about the culture of the rice-cultivating
inhabitants in the Red River valley and Da River
down stream. After lunch, we have the whole
afternoon free to climb up to the top of Thung
Nhuoi pass. From the top of the pass there is a
beautiful view of Mai Chau valley, often
engulfed by clouds but still a sight to be
enjoyed. After visiting this wonderful site, we
drop down to explore more of the area of White
Thai people.
In the evening, we can enjoy a local dinner and
overnight in a beautiful village at the edge of
a river. After dinner, you can spend the evening
sitting together around a fire and join in a
Thai traditional music show. In their
traditional attire, typical of their culture,
Thai women invite visitors to participate in the
Xoe dance. To the rhythmical and ebullient
music, the hosts and guests will dance for hours
hand-in-hand. When they get tired, they stop for
a while to drink special sticky rice liquor
called "ruou can". Visitors who participate in
the Xoe dance once, especially by the light of a
fire at night are likely to remember it forever.
Day 2: Mai Chau (~100 km, ~3 h)
Today is an easy
day, preparing for challenging days on Ho Chi
Minh Trail.
In the morning we explore the mountains to the
north of Mai Chau, passing H'mong and Dao hill
tribe communities living as they have for
centuries. In the evening we enjoy a traditional
music and dancing performance.
Alternatively, we could ride to Bai Sang to see
the old forgotten Highway 6 and take a boat to
explore part of the biggest reservoir in North
Vietnam.
Overnight in a Thai ethnicity stilt house in Mai
Chau.
Day 3: Mai Chau - Vinh (~280 km, ~8 h)
We head south on a
beautiful winding road which follows the banks
of the Ma River until the new Ho Chi Minh
Highway. This newly carved route leads us down
south, through remote back country, not far from
the Laotian border. In the afternoon we cut
eastwards towards the coast and stay overnight
in the coastal city of Vinh, which is close to
where Ho Chi Minh was born. Overnight in Vinh.
Day 4: Vinh - Phong Nha (~190 km, ~6 h)
We ride south
along Highway 1, before heading inland towards
the Laotian border. We pass the Dong Loc
intersection, (main junction for supply lines
during the War) which is widely regarded in
Vietnamese eyes as the beginning of the Ho Chi
Minh Trail. We then pass through remote back
country, close to the border, as the scenery
steadily becomes dominated by karst limestone
rock formations. Next come the two famous
intersections where until 1972 most of the
Trail’s traffic passed over into Laos.
In the afternoon we arrive at the World Heritage
Site of Phong Nha where local civilians and
military sheltered from incessant bombing during
wartime.
Overnight in Phong Nha
Day 5: Phong Nha - Dong Ha (~150 km, ~5 h)
In the morning we
drive down to the coastal town of Dong Hoi,
which was heavily shelled by US warships during
the war. We strike south through foothills which
were once sprayed heavily by Agent Orange
towards the former DMZ. There is still much
evidence of bombing on the mountain sides and
from time to time we will see remnants of the
original Trail. We take in the famous Hien Luong
Bridge (former demarcation line between North
and South Vietnam, the Truong Son cemetery and
the Vinh Moc tunnels. This tunnel wasn't setup
as army tunnel in Cu Chi. It was a shelter for
fishing and farming villagers lived and hidden
from the extirpation of American bombardment.
Overnight in Dong Ha.
Day 6: Dong Ha - A Luoi (~170 km, ~6 h)
In the morning we
head deep into the former DMZ, passing the rock
pile on Highway 9 before reaching Khe Sanh
(former US Marine base) and Lang Vay (former US
special forces base). We then head south over
the Dakrong Bridge (built by the Cubans in 1973)
into the infamous A Shau valley, an area of
intense wartime activity. Passing Hamburger Hill
and mountains still barren due to the extended
effects of Agent Orange, we arrive at A Luoi,
where there are many Bru Van Kieu hill tribe
people. A Luoi is a poor and remote area of Hue
and often has landslide in rainy season.
Overnight in A Luoi
Day 7: A Luoi - Phuoc Son (~210 km, ~8 h)
Many Ta Oi and Co
Tu people will be seen tending their fields. In
the morning we head further south into the A
Shaw valley, past former battle sites and then
we skirt the Laotian border on the side of a
large mountain covered in thick jungle. At the
remote town of Hien we continue south through
the forest to Phuoc Son (also known as Kham
Duc), made famous by a dramatic rescue during
the war. Locals call Phuoc Son "cowboys town"
Overnight in Phuoc Son.
Day 8: Phuoc Son - Kon Tum (~170km, ~6 h)
We strike into the
mountains, from there we head up the towering Lo
So Pass, passing through remote areas thinly
populated by peoples of the Ba Na ethnicity.
Edging close to the border with Laos, where a
number of Trail arteries crossed over in Laos,
we continue past Dak To and on to Kon Tum.
Overnight in Kon Tum.
Day 9: Kon Tum - Buon Ma Thuot (~240 km, ~8
h)
In the morning we
head south through the Central Highlands,
passing Pleiku and the Ia Drang valley
battlefield, before continuing onto Buon Ma
Thuot (also known as Buon Me Thuot), the city
where northern forces launched their final
assault on the then Saigon. Buon Ma Thuot
produces most and best coffee products in
Vietnam.
Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
Day 10: Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang (~190 km,
~7 h)
We take an easy
drive back down off the Tay Son highlands
towards the coast, arriving at Highway 1 some 30
km north of Nha Trang. Taking in this scenic
coastal stretch past turquoise waters and
scarlet fishing boats, we arrive in the bright
lights of Nha Trang and its relaxing holiday
options.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 11: Nha Trang (relax)
A free day by the
beach before gathering for a seafood feast to
recount our adventure and toast the Ho Chi Minh
Trail. Then take the train back to Hanoi or
continue your way to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
B: Breakfast.
L: Lunch.
D: Dinner.
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