HO CHI MINH TRAILS ROAD CYCLING TOUR
The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) through the neighboring kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower and material, to the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, or derogatively, Vietcong, and the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN), or North Vietnamese Army, during the Vietnam War (1955–1975).
The trail was not a single route, but rather a complex maze of truck routes, paths for foot and bicycle traffic, and river transportation systems. The name commemorates the former North Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh. Nowadays the Ho Chi Minh Road or Ho Chi Minh Highway (Vietnamese language: Đường Hồ Chí Minh) is a highway in Vietnam. It runs from the north to the south of Vietnam, west of National Road 1A. The highway was named after Hồ Chí Minh. The route roughly coincides with the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam War. It is a two-lane highway and is planned for 8-lane highway and will connect Cao Bang Province by the Sino-Vietnamese border to Ca Mau Province with the total length of 3,167 km. As of 2007, this road runs from Hoa Lac in Ha Tay Province to Ngoc Hoi in Kon Tum Province with a total length of 1,234.5 km. (from Wikipidia).
Riding on quiet roads through traditional villages, this exciting new biking holiday explores the remote and previously inaccessible northern part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. En route, we visit the spectacular scenery and caves of the Phong Nha National Park and see numerous impressive relics of the Vietnam War, such as the combat base at Khe Sanh. The tour passes through the ‘Imperial City’ of Hue and takes you to Hoi An, a perfect place to relax at the end of this great ride.
Day 1 Meeting at the airport, transfer to hotel in Hanoi. Group meeting with dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa Binh – Mai Chau (suggested biking: +/- 90 km)
After breakfast in hotel transfer southwest into Hoa Binh Province and then we cycle to Mai Chau, home of the White Thai ethnic minority. We have a home stay in a traditional style house.
Overnight in Mai Chau (B, L, D)
- Count 1,4 km / mile and 1 m / 3,5 feet aprox.
Day 3: Mai Chau – Cam Thuy (suggested biking: +/- 115 km)
Cycling along the Ma River. The road gets more beautiful the closer you come to Cam Thuy with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush bamboo forests.
Overnight in a small hotel in Cam Thuy. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Cam Thuy – Thai Hoa (suggested biking: +/- 120 km)
We take a ride on the newly built two lanes Ho Chi Minh Trail Highway. There is very few traffic here! The road makes for smooth fast riding and offers plenty of exploring possibilities along the way. Part of it will be a ride on the banks of the Song Chu River. The distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance for transfer on some sections by our back-up vehicle to rest weary legs. There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle. Arrival in Thai Hoa very late. Dinner and overnight a guesthouse in Thai Hoa. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Thai Hoa – Pho Chau (suggested biking: +/- 120km on asphalt road )
The ride is on a smooth road while we pass peaceful villages and stunning mountain ranges. Overnight in a guesthouse in Pho Chau. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Pho Chau – Phong Nha cave ((suggested biking: +/- 140km)
Today we ride towards Phong Nha National Park with beautiful carst landscape where some of the world’s biggest caves are located. Lunch stop on the way. (Please take note that Mini bus standby with 100% support ). Upon arrival in Phong Nha hotel check in. Overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Phong Nha – Dong Hoi (suggested biking: +/- 50 km)
After breakfast we take a boat trip and visit the huge but little known Phong Nha Cave, which is a World Heritage Site. It was also a mayor resistance support center located on the Ho Chi Minh trail. In the afternoon we continue riding our bikes to Dong Hoi. Relax in this small town or watch the locals on the beach. Overnight in a small hotel Dong Hoi.
Day 8: Dong Hoi – Dong Ha (suggested biking: cycling +/- 90km)
Breakfast in the hotel. Today we will cycle into the ” DMZ ” area with “Truong Son National Cemetery ” where some hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers are buried since the last war. Dinner and overnight in local hotel in Dong Ha. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Dong Ha – Hue (suggested biking: +/-90km)
Cycling to an old military base, via Quang Tri town. The ride features riverine landscape and tribal villages along the road and ends in Hue city. What’s left of the afternoon is free time. Dinner features local food. Overnight in 3* hotel in Hue . (B, L, D)
Day 10: Hue – Hoian (suggested biking: +/- 120 km)
Today’s cycling is on country side backroads from Hue to Hoian. In the evening you will enjoy very much the local food specialties of this charming town. Overnight in 3 star hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Hoian free time, no cycling
Free time for exploration of Hoian and surroundings, another lovely World Heritage site with its old merchant houses, temples and markets. Discover strolling around on your own and enjoy local food in one of the many restaurants catering for many different tastes. You might also like to take a boat ride on the river or retreat for a while on one of the nearby beaches. Overnight in the same hotel. (B)
Day 12: Hoian departure
Free time until transfer to Danang airport for your departure flight.
End of trip or extension tour to Halong Bay or southern Vietnam. (B)
|Tour Cost||Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, with additional costs for solo travelers. If you are traveling in a group but prefer single accommodations, a single supplement fee applies. Triple accommodations are not available in many of the places where we stay.|
|Best Time to go||October to May.
Expect some rain showers in September and June. July and August are the hottest months of the year with the highest rainfall.
|WHAT’S NOT||International airfare; meals not noted on itinerary; Vietnam visa (currently not required if trip does not exceed 15 days); insurance other than basic medical; optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; excess baggage charges; international airport taxes; cost of medical immunizations; items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).|
|Use of bikes||Use our included bikes or if you wish, bring your own (no discount)|
|Gear checklist||please see additional document|
|Total distance||+- 1,000 km|
|Number of cycling days||9 full days|
|Average daily distance||95 km, depending on client’s fitness and group requirement|
|Max. altitude||650 meters|
|Road surface||This tour follows a mix of asphalt roads with little motorized traffic.|
|Support cycling days||One or two 16-seats air-conditioned transit vans converted to take bikes and bikers.|
|Group size||Minimum 2 persons. Maximum 10 persons.|
|Staff||Vietnamese cycling leader plus a Vietnamese cycling guide and drivers and assistants, support team.|
|Accommodation||All accommodations have a/c or fan, hot water and private facilities. Home stays usually do not have private facilities.|
|Food||All meals are included as described in the itinerary. During cycling there will be a stop every 15- 20 km for tea break with water, coffee, tea, juice, bread, tuna, fruit… Lunch will be at the best available local restaurants or be cooked by our staff.|
|Biking Grade||Average: Active+.
Some easier days and some a bit more demanding.
Prices for FIT in USD:
|Group size||2 persons||3 persons||4 persons||5 persons|
Prices for GIT in USD:
|Group size||6 persons||7 persons||8 persons||9 persons||10 persons|
|Group size||11 persons||12 persons||13 persons||14 persons||15-16 persons|
Free ground services for tour leader coming with groups of 14-16 paying pax.
Halong Bay extension
Day 1 : Hanoi –Halong Bay
08:00 – 08:30 Pick up at hotel for three and a half hours road trip with short refreshment
half way to Halong Bay.
12:00 Arrive at Bai Chay Wharf
12:15 Transfer by tender to the traditional junk boat – enjoy Welcome Drink. Receive Junk Facilities and Cruise Instruction as well as Cruise Briefing before check in to cabins and begin cruise Off the Beaten Track.
13:00 Lunch – deluxe Vietnamese Set Menu.
15:00 Arrive at the Surprise Cave area. Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave.
Walk up the 100 steps to the entrance of the cave and tour on foot for
approximately 45 minutes.
16:00 Return to the boat. Enjoy kayaking program to the nearby Luon Cave, lagoon
and surrounding waters. Or enjoy riding on the rowing boat to the Tunnel Cave to
explore the serene lagoon surrounded by vertical cliffs.
17:00 Enjoy snack party before swimming or relaxing on board.
18:30 Take part in our cooking class with crispy spring rolls.
19:30 Dinner – deluxe Vietnamese Set Menu Dinner.
20:30 Evening activities include: film entertainment in the dining room, board games and
playing cards are available,according to season join squid fishing from the boat
with our crew.
23:00 End of program for Day One (B,L,D )
Day 2: Halong Bay – Hanoi:
07:00 Coffee, tea and light breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
08:00 Enjoy relaxing, sunbathing on sundeck
09:00 Check-out of cabins.
10:00 Visit Ba Hang Floating Village
10:45 Enjoy early lunch Set Menu served in the dining room while enjoy the bay scenery
as we approach the pier.
11:45 Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside the pier building while waiting for return transportation.
12:00 Transfer back to Hanoi. You will arrive in Hanoi approximately 04:30. (B, L)
End of services.
3 star hotel 40 USD / single, double or twin room / night
-. Halong Bay program:
2 days / 1 night (shared group tours, from 7 persons up private boat)
110 USD/person double occupancy, single booking 180 USD
.-. Airport transfer:
25 USD / one way for up to 3 persons
.-. Free ground services for tour leader coming with groups of 14-16 paying pax.