VB008: VIETNAM BIKING HO CHI MINH TRAILS (13 Days/ 12 Nights)

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you meet our guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. If time permits we can have riding test in the afternoon. Dinner at your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Buoc Village (B) (Biking:   30km – Moderate grade )

Leave Hanoi at 8am. We drive southwest to Mai Chau, the gateway to the impressive mountainous area of northern Vietnam. The drive is very nice with stunning view of mountains, valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies. We would have a stop en route for refreshment. Upon arrival in Mai Chau we have a lunch stop in Pom Coong, a village of Thai ethnic minority. We will have lunch in a local house. After lunch we embark on a biking on village road to Buoc, a village of Thai minority group. We will have dinner and overnight in a traditional stilt-house of a Thai family. 

Day 3: Buoc Village – Hang Village (Pu Luong Nature Reserve) (B)

Biking:   40km – unpaved bumpy road – Moderate grade
After breakfast we embark on a beautiful ride following shaded village roads to Van Mai Village where we have lunch in a local house. After lunch we ride southward to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. We will first bike on beautiful tar road through Mai Chau valley before jumping into bumpy village road the last 15km. We will reach Hang Village around 5 pm where we will have dinner and overnight in a traditional stilt-house of a Thai family.

Day 4: Hang Village – Hin Village (B)

Biking:   30km – unpaved bumpy road – Challenging grade
Today is a tough day with long climb on mix of dirt paths and village roads. This road is an original part of the historic Ho Chi Minh Trails, which run through the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. In the morning we climb mainly. In the afternoon we enjoy easier ride slightly downhill to Hin, a village of Thai minority. Great mountain view and scenic villages. Lunch in local house en route. Dinner and overnight in Hin village.

Day 5: Hin Village – Canh Nang Town – Cam Thuy – Tan Ky (B)

Biking:  60km – 40% unpaved bumpy road, 60% paved road – Moderate grade
After breakfast we say good bye to the villagers and ride toward Ma River passing expansive maize fields. Near the river we would see many water wheels which used by the local to water their farms. We cross the river on bridge and have lunch in Canh Nang town. After lunch we continue biking toward the Fairy Fish Stream in Cam Luong where you see thousands of fish in a shallow stream. You can feed and touch them. After that you continue riding southward on Ho Chi Minh Highway. In the afternoon we will use support van for over 100km transfer to Tan Ky Town, where we will stay overnight in a small hotel and have dinner in local restaurant 

Day 6: Tan Ky – Huong Khe (B)

Biking distance: 70-80km – 60% highway, 40% smaller paved road
Breakfast in Tan Ky and ride on HCM Highway to Pho Chau, a small town 87km south of Tan Ky. We will tackle around 40km in the morning. The ride is on smooth road and passing peaceful villages and stunning mountain range. We take bus ride the last 40km to Pho Chau for lunch. After lunch we jump into a branch of HCM Trails, a smaller road leading to Dong Loc T-junction. This was a hot spot, which was bombed heavily during the Vietnam War. Continue riding for 1hr we meet the HCM Highway again. Bus transfer to Huong Khe. Dinner and overnight on Huong Khe.

Day 7: Huong Khe – Phong Nha – Dong Hoi (B)  

Biking distance: 60km – highway

After breakfast bus drive 20km and then we begin our ride today toward Phong Nha National Park. Lunch stop in Liem Phu. After lunch we take bus ride to Phong Nha Cave, which is a World Heritage Site. Upon arrival in Phong Nha we take a boat cruise on river to explore the cave. After the cave exploration we take bus ride to Dong Hoi to check in hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Day 8: Dong Hoi – Dong Ha – DMZ (B)

Biking distance: 60km – quiet highway
Breakfast in the hotel. We have a short bus ride before beginning the biking today. The ride is totally on HCM Highway. We will have a stop at the Truong Son Cemetery where some hundred of thousand soldiers who served in army during Vietnam War are resting in peace. Bus transfer to Dong Ha for hotel check in. Lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon we have a DMZ tour by bus. Dinner and overnight in Dong Ha.

Day 9: Dong Ha – Khe Sanh – Aluoi (B)

Biking distance: 60-70km – quiet highway
Breakfast in hotel and take bus ride to Khe Sanh. Visit to old military base before beginning the biking along Da Krong River. The ride is so beautiful with river and tribal villages along the road. We will have a lunch stop on the way. In the afternoon, we continue riding to Aluoi. The last 20km can be done by bus. Dinner and overnight in Aluoi.

Day 10: Aluoi – Thanh My (B)

Biking distance: 70km – Challenging grade
Breakfast in town. We will have a bus transfer to the summit of a long, high pass. Begin the beautiful ride downhill 40km to Prao. Lunch in Prao. In the afternoon, continue riding to Thanh My. Dinner and overnight in Thanh My.

Day 11: Thanh My – Hoi An (B)

Biking distance: 80km – Easy grade
Breakfast and begin to ride along Vu Gia River to Hoian, the World Heritage Site 80km from Thanh My. Lunch stop in Dai Loc. Continue riding to Hoian. The ride today is pleasant since we ride mainly downhill and on flat terrain. We reach Hoian around 5pm. Check in hotel and have dinner in the Old Quarter of Hoian. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 12: Hoi an (B)

Free day for relaxing or shopping in the Old Quarter. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 13: Hoi an – Danang – Departure flight (B)

Breakfast and free at leisure until we transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination. Airport transfer