Speechless Hanoi Motorcycle Tour to Saigon – 12 Days
Destinations: Hanoi - Pu Luong - Tan Ky - Phong Nha - Khe Sanh - Hue - Hoi An - Quy Nhon - Nha Trang - Mui Ne - Saigon
Price: Contact Duration: 12 Days
Highlights:
This 12-Day Hanoi Motorcycle Tour to Saigon starting by a scenic ride via Pu Luong Nature Reserve where its nature seems to be forgotten by time then following on the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail with stopovers at Phong Nha cave, Hue Imperial Citadel, Hoi An ancient town and lots of stunning beaches of Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Mui Ne …will allow you to discover our amazing world heritages, splendid landscapes and taste great local foods
Route Map:
Itinerary:
DAY 1: HANOI MOTORBIKE TOUR TO PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE
DAY 2: PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE MOTORBIKE TOUR TO TAN KY (NGHE AN)
DAY 3: TAN KY MOTORBIKE TOUR TO PHONG NHA (QUANG BINH)
DAY 4: PHONG NHA MOTORBIKE TOUR TO KHE SANH IN QUANG TRI (ROUGHLY 250 KM – 7 HOURS OF RIDING)
DAY 5: QUANG TRI MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO DMZ & VINH MOC TUNNELS – MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HUE (200 KM – 6 HOURS OF RIDING)
DAY 6: HANOI MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO SAIGON VIA HUE, HOI AN, NHA TRANG, MUI NE: HUE MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO HOI AN
DAY 7: HOI AN CITY TOUR & MY SON TOUR BY MOTORBIKE
DAY 8: HOI AN MOTORBIKE TOUR TO QUY NHON
DAY 9: QUY NHON MOTORBIKE TOUR TO NHA TRANG
DAY 10: NHA TRANG MOTORBIKE TOUR FOR SIGHTSEEING
DAY 11: NHA TRANG MOTORBIKE TOUR TO MUI NE
DAY 12: MUI NE MOTORBIKE TOUR TO SAIGON
DAY 1: HANOI MOTORBIKE TOUR TO PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE
In this morning, after having breakfast at hotel you’ll jump on your iron horse to ride along the dyke of Red River where you can have a chance to witness our peaceful & green villages with bamboo trees, gardens of flowers, paddies & local markets. Later on, you’ll turn your way to a very scenic road to get to Quan Son lake which is known as another Halong bay located to the West of Hanoi. We’ll spend more than 1 hour here to ride offroad a bit around the lake to see the magnificent beauties of the lake, mountains, islands & people feeding poultries or catching fishes.
After a short break by the lake, we’ll merge into the Ho Chi Minh trail to ride to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. We’ll have a lunch at a local restaurant on the way. En route, you’ll stop by to visit other spectacular destinations with jungles, waterfalls, streams, bridges & villages of Thai ethnic people.
The Pu Luong limestone landscape is an area of outstanding beauty, culture interest and high biodiversity value stretching from Mai Chau in the North to West to Cuc Phuong national park in the South East. It is blessed with rich forest, limestone panoramas, magnificent rice terraces and breathtaking scenery. And established in 1999, Pu Luong Nature Reserve is primary tropical forest. This is also living place of ethnic Muong and Thai people. Pu Luong means the highest peak of the village, in Thai language.
At around 17:30, we will get to Hieu hamlet located inside the Pu Luong Nature Reserve where you’ll be hosted by the locals with smiles & great foods.
Overnight at the local’s village (traditional houses on stilts)
Summary:
Distance: 160 km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay in village
DAY 2: PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE TO TAN KY (NGHE AN)
Ride on a small, spectacular and paved trail along the Ma river until Cam Thuy town where we stop for lunch. Hit the Ho Chi Minh trail (now a newly built highway) all the way to Tan Ky town where we spend the night in a hotel. Along the road, you’ll take chances to stop by nice places for photos as well as communicating with locals to understand more their daily life.
Summary:
Distance: 260 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Tan Ky
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: TAN KY TO PHONG NHA (QUANG BINH)
Ride on Ho Chi Minh Highway until Pho Chau where we stop to visit the HCM Trail victory monument which is in fact the real starting point of our HCM Trail ride. Motorcycle all the way to Phong Nha – Ke Bang, the biggest and also the most beautiful cave in Vietnam and Indochina and is now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the park’s karst landscape is extremely complex with many geographic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers.
Summary
Distance: 230 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Phong Nha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: PHONG NHA – KHE SANH IN QUANG TRI (ROUGHLY 250 KM – 7 HOURS OF RIDING)
Continuing west on highway 9, we will climb into the Truong Son foothills, pass the Rock Pile and stop at some villages and beautiful natural springs and waterfalls near the highway.Boating and exploring World Heritage site of Phong Nha where local civilians and military sheltered from incessant bombing during wartime. Then after having lunch, we will keep riding on Ho Chi Minh Trail and have short stop at Truong Son cemetary to pay respects to the soldiers who fought and died on the trail during the American War.
Approx 5pm we arrive in Khe Sanh which was established as a forward base by General Westmoreland near Laos to secure highway 9.
Check in to hotel, free time at night
Summary
Distance: 250 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Khe Sanh
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: QUANG TRI – DMZ & VINH MOC TUNNELS – MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HUE (200 KM – 6 HOURS OF RIDING)
In this morning, we ride along highway 1 tô Quảng Trị town, visiting Long Hưng Church and Quảng Trị Old Citadel which was a battlefield in 1972 between North and South Vietnam for 81 days and nights. We ride along the coast from Cua Viet Beach tờ Của Từng Beach a long stretch of beautiful and peaceful coastline.
Next we visit the Vinh Moc tunnels and explore the Demilitarised Zone, stopping for lunch at the Doc Mieu Firebase. And then wee will keep on riding on Ho Chi Minh Trail via Dong Ha town, where we will stop by to take a look at Dong Ha market known as one of the most hassle and bustle markets in Central. Later on, we will ride directly to Hue and en route, our guide will stop by to show you more war relics before reaching Hue.
Upon arrival in Hue, if time permits, we will take a ride to visit Imperial Citadel and one of Royal Tombs then enjoy sunset on the bank of Perfume River. Check in to hotel, free time at night
Summary
Distance: 200 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: HUE MOTORCYCLE TOUR TO HOI AN
Today, we’ll have an easy motorbike trip to weave around the city to visit some more royal tombs as well as other important travel sites & relics in Hue
In this afternoon, we will keep on riding along the coastal line via Hai Van Pass, where we could look down from the top to view the splendid beauties of Lang Co beach and ocean then time to refresh yourself by a cup of coffee. You will take time to visit Marble Mountains before heading straight to Hoi An via Da Nang coastline for a check-in. Free time on your own. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Summary
Distance: 150 km
Accommodation: hotel in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7: HOI AN CITY TOUR & MY SON TOUR BY MOTORBIKE
Today, after having breakfast at hotel you’ll keep jumping on your bikes to ride to explore Vietnam’s most evocative Cham site, My Son, lies 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a bowl of lush wooden hills towered over by the aptly named “Cat’s Tooth Mountain”. It has been recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List and richly deserves its place on the tourist map. It is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century.
Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. It is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a Must-See for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations. We return to the hotel around noon.
Today, after having lunch you’ll be taken to walk inside the old quarters of Hoi An to explore timeless beauties of monuments, relics like the ancient houses, pagodas, temples, markets…to understand more about the history of this fascinating ancient town as well as the lifestyle of the locals.
In the afternoon, you’ll be free on your own to laze on the beach. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Summary
Distance: 150 km
Accommodation: hotel in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 8: HOI AN MOTORBIKE TOUR TO QUY NHON
Later on, we’ll keep riding along the coastline through coconuts homeland of central Vietnam & through rice fields and rural villages and mountainous area to get to city of Quy Nhon. Continue cycling to the hotel in the town of Quang Ngai. Have breakfast at the hotel and check out. We then will ride our bikes south of Hoi An to Cua Dai beach and cross Thu Bon river. Ride on back roads through yellow sand dunes to Tam Ky. Have lunch before we keep riding on country roads to My Lai village to visit the memorial of the massacre to remember 504 locals who died.
Summary
Distance: 250 km
Accommodation: hotel in Quy Nhon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9: QUY NHON MOTORBIKE TOUR TO NHA TRANG
Transfer 30 minutes to the suburb of Qui Nhon city then we’ll start riding along the coast and you could also race along a railway through hills to La Hai, have lunch on the way.
After having lunch, we’ll take a rest a bit before riding straight to Nha Trang. Upon getting to Nha Trang, you’ll be helped to get checked in
Summary
Distance: 230 km
Accommodation: hotel in Nha Trang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10: NHA TRANG MOTORBIKE TOUR FOR SIGHTSEEING
08h30: Pick up at hotel & ride to the Institute of Oceanography built at the beginning of 20th Century by French, where is exhibiting many oceanic creatures considered to be the most diversified & sufficient in Vietnam.
10h00: Visit Bao Dai King’s Villa – the place for rest & recreation for Bao Dai King when he was alive. That villa was built on a top of hill surrounded by beautiful sceneries.
11h00: Visit Yersin museum, where you will understand more about the life & career & researches of Doctor Yersin. He is the most well-known doctor in the world, who ever lived & died in Nha Trang.
12h00: Have lunch & short break.
14h30: Keep on visiting Long Son Pagoda, Ponagar Towers & shopping at Dam market.
17h00: back to hotel.
Rest of time, you’ll be free on your own.
Summary
Distance: 100 km
Accommodation: hotel in Nha Trang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 11: NHA TRANG MOTORBIKE TOUR TO MUI NE
After swim in the morning sunlight on the beach, we’ll say goodbye to Nha Trang to depart for Mui Ne on the amazing coastal road, passing over Ca Na Beach (One of the famous beaches in Vietnam). Right here, we’ll stop for a while to take a bath & photos before riding straight to Mui Ne.
Upon reaching to Mui Ne, you’ll get rooms for a check-in.
The rest of time, you’ll be free by yourself to relax at hotel or on the beach.
Summary:
Distance: 220 km
Accommodation: hotel in Mui Ne
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12: MUI NE MOTORBIKE TOUR TO SAIGON
Morning, after breakfast & check out, we will leave beautiful Mui Ne Cape to ride straight to Saigon.
Upon getting to your hotel in Saigon, we’ll help you check in then say goodbye to all of you.
Summary:
Distance: 230 km
Accommodation: hotel in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
End of the trip
* Inclusions:
+ Motorbike(s) (Honda or Yamaha)
+ Helmet(s)
+ Driving gears
+ Gasoline on tour
+ English speaking guides
+ Mechanic (only for group from 6 passengers)
+ Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary (based on Twin or Double room)
+ Homestay permission
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ Entrance fees & Sightseeing fees
+ One-way airticket from Saigon to Hanoi for our tour guides
+ Train carriage for bikes from Saigon to Hanoi.
+ Coffee or bottled water or 1 soft drink for every stopover en route.
The best time to visit Vietnam is spring (February to April) and autumn (August to October). The temperatures are more moderate and rainfall is lighter. In spring, March and April have the lowest rainfall across all destinations and temperatures are pleasant, though still cool in the far north.
You must have a valid Vietnamese driver’s license to drive in Vietnam . including for motorcycle 50cc or more . International Driver’s Permits issued in Australia are not recognized in Vietnam.
Long term UK residents of Vietnam can qualify for a Vietnamese driving licence when they are in possession of a diplomatic ID, temporary residence card or residence card validity for 3 months or more and also a valid UK driving licence or UK issued International Driver's Permit
It is strongly recommended that Canadians consider carefully whether they should drive motor vehicles or motorcycles in Vietnam as unfamiliarity with local driving conditions may result in serious injury, or a heavy compensation payment(s) or imprisonment as a result of any accident
it’s always dangerous if you ignore our advices but quite safe if you respect to our local rules. Actually there simply are no rules. Stick to the basics… ride on the right side of the road, keep your eyes on the road and be alert. People often say “when you’re in ROME, just do like Romans do”. Riding a motorbike in Vietnam is different from driving in Europe or North America, so even if you stick to the rules, 99% chance the locals next to you won't. So be alert and stay safe! Wear a helmet. ... Honk at least 1000 times a minute, you cannot go riding around Vietnam without honking
You can just obtain our Vietnamese driving license once you’re long-term officials working & living in Vietnam under the business visa within 6 months or more. But if you are just regular travelers having short-term tourist visa, this seems to be impossible.
We’re not used to renting out bikes only but organizing private guided tours, however, in some typical circumstances, we can rent out manual dirt bikes at the cost of US$ 18/bike/day, US$ 28/bike/day and US$ 50/bike/day for the bikes of 125cc, 150cc & 250cc respectively.
Of course, you can do this but must show up your appropriate legal documents (Vietnamese driving licenses or IDP, validated Visa in Vietnam & copy of your passport).
Yes, you can totally buy & possess a motorbike legally as many other Vietnamese people as long as you act in the laws correctly. Foreigners living in Vietnam can have their national driving license translated to Vietnamese and will be granted a Vietnamese license without passing any exam. ... The cost to obtain the A1 license should not be more than USD 50 with an agent. In case you want to ride a “real” bike, a genuine A2 is required..