Ho Chi Minh Trail (10 Days)

The tour begins in the city center of Ho Chi Minh City. Escaping the traffic and noise we head east towards the ocean, with a stop over in the kitesurfing town of Mui Ne for lunch. Afterwards, we delve into the center of Vietnam, as the roads begin to wind through the mountain ranges and into (2) Da Lat. Da Lat is a city renowned for its endless mountain roads, making for an easy escape from city noise and tourist traffic.

Next, we head further north, up to the lake-side town of (3) Dak Lak. These are the roads less travelled, open stretches of tarmac passing through towns with populations of mere hundreds. Continuing further north, day 03 is the real start of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We pass through the riverside city of Kon Tum allowing a true Vietnamese experience, free of commercial tourism and end our day in (4) Mang Den.

Heading east, we make our way to (5) Hoi An, the only city in Vietnam that survived the war and now protected by UNESCO. Be sure to enjoy the many unique and scenic motorbike loops on our way to Hoi An, through green jungles, rushing rivers and iconic Vietnamese rice fields. The following day as we reach (6) Khe Sanh, the roads become dusty and red, a mere 10km from Xe Pon river, which divides Vietnam and Laos. Next, venturing back into the jungle greenery and up into the famous (7-8) Phong Nha province, home to Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave. We'll spend a rest day at a beautiful farmstay and get lost in the twists and turns, that climb higher into the clouds and around the national park.

Now turning east, we creep closer back towards the coast of the South China Sea. Today is a long day as we head into the mountainous city of (9) Ninh Binh - a mesmerizing area known locally as ‘Ha Long Bay on Land’ thanks to its magical riverine landscape, with sheer limestone mountains rising up from the paddies. To get a sense of this UNESCO-protected site, we take a paddleboat tour along its shimmering rivers, and climb 500-steps to the top of its fabled peaks.

Finally, it's a slow start on our last day as we ride north to (10) Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. For the adventure seeker, Hanoi is neighbour to many incredible ethnic-minotiry mountain towns with narrow, yet peaceful windy roads. Continue your ride with a loop of North Vietnam.