Ho Chi Minh Trail

Warm-upCountryside

Hanoi → Tea Island

300 km · ~7 hrs · the old Ho Chi Minh Road south

Cuc Phuong National Park
Thanh Chuong tea hills.

The adventure begins in Hanoi. We slip out of the city early to miss the morning rush, then let the highway hand over to quieter country roads. This first day eases you in while still serving up scenery — the Thanh Chuong tea hills and island tea plantations. It is a deliberately gentle start: time to get a feel for your bike, meet the group and learn how we ride together before the mountains arrive. Come evening you settle in around Tea Island, the tea-farming country of Nghe An.

Distance300 km

Riding~7 hrs · the old Ho Chi Minh Road south

Local cultureThe tea-farming country of Nghe An

OvernightGio Lao Ecolodge - Thanh Chuong

Karst geoparkCountryside

Tea Island → Phong Nha

200 km · ~4 hrs · forest roads winding through the karst

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (UNESCO)

From Tea Island the road climbs and winds toward Phong Nha, running across forest roads winding through the karst. The day is built around its landmarks — Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (UNESCO), the caves of the Son River and limestone karst — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through the great cave country of Quang Binh, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 4 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Phong Nha.

Distance200 km

Riding~4 hrs · forest roads winding through the karst

Local cultureThe great cave country of Quang Binh

OvernightPhong Nha · hotel

Karst geoparkCountryside

Phong Nha → Phong Nha

free day · forest roads winding through the karst

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (UNESCO)
the caves of the Son River
limestone karst

There is no long transfer today — the bikes get a rest and so do you. Instead the day is given over to Phong Nha and its surroundings, taking in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (UNESCO), the caves of the Son River and limestone karst. It is a chance to slow the pace among the great cave country of Quang Binh. Expect time on foot and, where the route allows, out on the water, before the riding picks up again tomorrow.

Ridingfree day · forest roads winding through the karst

Local cultureThe great cave country of Quang Binh

OvernightPhong Nha · hotel

RestCountryside

Phong Nha → A Roang

290 km · ~6 hrs · the wild western Ho Chi Minh Road

The A Roang valley
Truong Son mountain forest
the western Ho Chi Minh Road

From Phong Nha the road climbs and winds toward A Roang, running across the wild western Ho Chi Minh Road. The day is built around its landmarks — the A Roang valley, Truong Son mountain forest and the western Ho Chi Minh Road — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through Ta Oi and Co Tu communities of the highlands, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 6 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at A Roang.

Distance290 km

Riding~6 hrs · the wild western Ho Chi Minh Road

Local cultureTa Oi and Co Tu communities of the highlands

OvernightA Roang · hotel

Mountain passRest

A Roang → Kham Duc

180 km · ~4 hrs · forested mountain road

The Truong Son Range
Highland forest passes

From A Roang the road climbs and winds toward Kham Duc, running across forested mountain road. The day is built around its landmarks — the Truong Son Range and highland forest passes — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through a quiet frontier town on the trail, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 4 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Kham Duc.

Distance180 km

Riding~4 hrs · forested mountain road

Local culturea Quiet frontier town on the trail

OvernightKham Duc · hotel

CountrysideCountryside

Kham Duc → Kon Tum

180 km · ~4 hrs · red-earth highland roads

The Dak Bla River
Bahnar Rong houses

From Kham Duc the road climbs and winds toward Kon Tum, running across red-earth highland roads. The day is built around its landmarks — the Dak Bla River, the old wooden church and Bahnar rong houses — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through Bahnar and Sedang communities of the Central Highlands, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 4 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Kon Tum.

Distance180 km

Riding~4 hrs · red-earth highland roads

Local cultureBahnar and Sedang communities of the Central Highlands

OvernightKon Tum Bana Homestay

Lake & boatCountryside

Kon Tum → Gia Lai

200 km · ~4 hrs · open plateau roads

Bien Ho crater lake
highland coffee plantations

From Kon Tum the road climbs and winds toward Gia Lai, running across open plateau roads. The day is built around its landmarks — Bien Ho crater lake and highland coffee plantations — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through Jarai highland culture around Pleiku, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 4 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Gia Lai.

Distance200 km

Riding~4 hrs · open plateau roads

Local cultureJarai highland culture around Pleiku

OvernightPlei Homestay

WaterfallCountryside

Gia Lai → Dak Lak

280 km · ~6 hrs · red-basalt plateau roads

Serepok River
Dray Nur Waterfall
Coffee plantations

From Gia Lai the road climbs and winds toward Dak Lak, running across red-basalt plateau roads. The day is built around its landmarks — the Serepok River, Dray Nur Waterfall and coffee plantations — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through the coffee capital and Ede communities of Buon Ma Thuot, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 6 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Dak Lak.

Distance280 km

Riding~6 hrs · red-basalt plateau roads

Local cultureThe coffee capital and Ede communities of Buon Ma Thuot

OvernightDak Lak · hotel

Ethnic villagesCountryside

Dak Lak → Buon Don

100 km · ~2 hrs · quiet riverside forest roads

Yok Don National Park
the elephant villages of Buon Don

From Dak Lak the road climbs and winds toward Buon Don, running across quiet riverside forest roads. The day is built around its landmarks — the Serepok River, Yok Don National Park and the elephant villages of Buon Don — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through the Ede and M’nong of Buon Don, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 2 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Buon Don.

Distance100 km

Riding~2 hrs · quiet riverside forest roads

Local cultureThe Ede and M’nong of Buon Don

OvernightBuon Don · hotel

FrontierCountryside

Buon Don → Dak Mil

110 km · ~2 hrs · rolling plateau roads

Highland coffee and Pepper farms
the border highlands of Dak Nong

From Buon Don the road climbs and winds toward Dak Mil, running across rolling plateau roads. The day is built around its landmarks — highland coffee and pepper farms and the border highlands of Dak Nong — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through the plantation frontier near the Cambodian border, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 2 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Dak Mil.

Distance110 km

Riding~2 hrs · rolling plateau roads

Local cultureThe plantation frontier near the Cambodian border

OvernightDak Mil · hotel

RestCountryside

Dak Mil → Cat Tien

180 km · ~4 hrs · jungle-fringed lowland roads

Cat Tien National Park
Lowland rainforest
the Dong Nai River

From Dak Mil the road climbs and winds toward Cat Tien, running across jungle-fringed lowland roads. The day is built around its landmarks — Cat Tien National Park, lowland rainforest and the Dong Nai River — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through the edge of the southern rainforest, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 4 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Cat Tien.

Distance180 km

Riding~4 hrs · jungle-fringed lowland roads

Local cultureThe edge of the southern rainforest

OvernightCat Tien · hotel

CountrysideCountryside

Cat Tien → Ho Chi Minh City

150 km · ~3 hrs · delta approach roads into Saigon

The Saigon riverfront
Cu Chi Tunnels

From Cat Tien the road climbs and winds toward Ho Chi Minh City, running across delta approach roads into Saigon. The day is built around its landmarks — the Saigon riverfront, the energy of the city and the Cu Chi Tunnels nearby — with regular stops to rest, take photos and soak it in. Along the way you pass through the great metropolis of the south, a reminder that this corner of Vietnam is as much about its people as its passes. Plan on about 3 hrs of riding at an unhurried pace, arriving in good time to settle into your overnight at Ho Chi Minh City.

Distance150 km

Riding~3 hrs · delta approach roads into Saigon

Local cultureThe great metropolis of the south

OvernightHo Chi Minh City · hotel

See it in motion

12 days, one continuous line

Hanoi → Tea Island

Tea Island → Phong Nha

Phong Nha → Phong Nha

Phong Nha → A Roang

A Roang → Kham Duc

Kham Duc → Kon Tum

Kon Tum → Gia Lai

Gia Lai → Dak Lak

Dak Lak → Buon Don

Buon Don → Dak Mil

Dak Mil → Cat Tien

Cat Tien → Ho Chi Minh City

Motorcycles for this tour

Honda CB500X

BMW R1250 GS

What’s included

Ride Ho Chi Minh Trail