Destinations: Saigon - Cat Tien National Park - Dalat – Lak Lake - Buon Ma Thuot - Pleiku - Kon Tum - Hoi An via My Son Sanctuary - Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An - DMZ & Khe Sanh - Phong Nha Caves - Tan Ky - Cuc Phuong National Park - Mai Chau - Hanoi
Price: Contact Duration: 14 Days
Highlights:
This 14-day Vietnam motorbike tour running from Saigon to Hanoi on both Ho Chi Minh trail and Coastal line gives you a special experience the beautiful nature and diversity of fauna and flora at Nam Cat Tien national park to Lam Dong and Da Lat, Lak Lake, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku and Kontum with coffee plantation then downward to the coast of Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue and Central with DMZ, Khe Sanh… to learn more about the war relics as well as splendid stone cliffs in Phong Nha before reaching Hanoi…
Route Map:
Itinerary:
DAY 1: SAIGON DIRTY MOTORCYCLE TOURSTO CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK
DAY 2: CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO DA LAT
DAY 3: DA LAT WITH FULL-DAY OFFROAD MOTORBIKING TOURS
DAY 4: DA LAT MOTORBIKE TOURS TO LAK LAKE – ONWARD MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO BUON MA THUOT
DAY 5: BUON ME THUOT MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO PLEIKU AND KON TUM
DAY 6: KON TUM MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HOI AN VIA MY SON SANCTUARY
DAY 7: HOI AN EASY MOTORBIKE TOURS – FREE AT LEISURE
DAY 8:HOI AN MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HUEVIA DA NANG (150 KM – 5 HOURS OF RIDING)
DAY 9: HUE MOTORBIKE TOURS TO DMZ & KHE SANH
DAY 10: KHE SANH MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO PHONG NHA CAVES
DAY 11: PHONG NHA CAVES MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO TAN KY (260KM)
DAY 12: TAN KY MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO CUC PHONG NATIONAL PARK (190KM)
DAY 13: CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO MAI CHAU (140KM)
DAY 14:MAI CHAU MOTORBIKE TOURSTO HANOI
In this morning, we will start our ride straight to Cat Tien National Park. This trip is not so long but is a big day as traffic is very crazy when we get out of city. At noon, we ride to Cat Tien National Park. This forest area used to be the head quarter of Vietnamese army during the war. The park suffered historically during the Vietnam War when it was extensively sprayed with herbicides like the defoliant Agent Orange. To this day these areas have extensive bamboo and grassland cover and trees have not yet grown back.
SAIGON DIRTY MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK
Right here, you will have a chance to experience off-road rides through jungles with dirty roads to explore the diversity of fauna & flora of National Park
Summary
Distance: 190 km
Accommodation: Guest House in Nam Cat Tien
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO DA LAT
In this morning, after having breakfast at a guesthouse in Cat Tien National park, we will set off our funny motorcycle trip by a long ride down on road 20 to Da Lat known as an “internal spring city” located on Central Highland. En route, we’ll get by so many mountains & valleys cum the local villages so that you sometimes have chances to enjoy the off-road ridings via forests or plantations or stop by to get communications with friendly locals.
Summary
Distance: 200 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Da Lat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: DA LAT WITH FULL-DAY OFFROAD MOTORBIKING TOURS
Dalat is known as “The City of Love” and is a favorite holiday resort for Vietnameseas well as the French. With evergreen forests, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, the country’s best flower gardens, and delicious fresh produce, Dalat has always provided a welcome respite from the heat of the lowlands.
DA LAT WITH FULL-DAY OFFROAD MOTORBIKING TOURS
We can spend the day riding to visit the highlights of Dalat with Lang Biang plateau, its gardens, cathedral, waterfalls, market, Valley of Love, convent, university and key pagodas.
Overnight in Da Lat.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: DA LAT MOTORBIKE TOURS TO LAK LAKE – ONWARD MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO BUON MA THUOT
This morning, after having breakfast we’ll continue riding onward to Buon Ma Thuot. The road is narrow, winding, but not busy. We have three passes to cross – Krong No, Chuoi, and Phu Son. The drive itself is quite beautiful and lined with dense forests.
DA LAT MOTORBIKE TOURS TO LAK LAKE – ONWARD MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO BUON MA THUOT
After having lunch in Lak Lake, we’ll take an offroad motor-ride to Lak Lake on Road 27, a small paved road with poor surfacing and quite busy. Here we can have a break for refreshment and troll around the by the lake. There are said to be about 31 different ethnic groups in Dac Lac, each with their own traditional dress and customs. Some of the villages are known for elephant hunting and taming, some for weaving and other arts. Finally, we’ll ride back to Buon Ma Thuot city for an overnight.
Summary
Distance: 200 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Buon Ma Thuot
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: BUON ME THUOT MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO PLEIKU AND KON TUM
After having breakfast at hotel, we need a time to stop by a coffee shop or bar to drink a cup of the best coffee in Vietnam before setting off another ride to Pleiku because Buon Ma Thuot is so well-known as a Kingdom of coffee not only in Vietnam but also in the world.
We then will follow the Highway 14 to ride straight to Kon Tum via Pleiku. Along the road, we’ll keep on viewing endless coffee plantations on the Central Highland with peaceful villages located on the roadsides.
Lunch at Pleiku, From here, we ride along the Tun River and up over a pass to Kon Tum. Along the way are coffee plantations and the stilt houses of the Central Highland’s largest ethnic group of the Gia Rai.
In Kon Tum we can visit the Catholic church and the orphanage, based behind the Catholic Church in town and run by a group of French nuns. If time permits, you can also visit a beautiful Bahnar village near town.
Summary
Distance: 240 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Kon Tum
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: KON TUM MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HOI AN VIA MY SON SANCTUARY
After breakfast in local restaurant, we continue riding north on Highway 14 today on a bit of a bumpy section of the road to Kham Duc. Today is really a day to visit different minority villages. We will ride over Lo Xo Pass, making lots of stops along the way to meet De and Trieng minorities, who live along the Dak Po Ko river. Along the river are many amazing hanging bridges, built by the local people to cross to the opposite shore. Lunch will be in Tan Canh, and we can visit a village of Se Dang.
KON TUM MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HOI AN VIA MY SON SANCTUARY
After having lunch, we’ll keep on rolling on the highway to Hoi An and on the way, we’ll stop by to visit My Son, a world heritage site that is the Cham version of Angkor Wat. Most of the temples are dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva, considered by the Cham as the founder and protector of their dynasties.
We then get to hotel in Hoi An for a check-in
Summary
Distance: 280 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: HOI AN EASY MOTORBIKE TOURS – FREE AT LEISURE
Hoi An, nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Before the river silted up, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia, and a center for East-West exchange and trade. The rooftops of Hoian retain a magical old world Oriental feel and are a favorite subject for Vietnamese artists. In the early 1980s, Hoian’s ancient quarters and historical monuments came under the protection and restoration efforts of UNESCO and the Polish government.
Those who wish can ride up to China Beach, where US marines first landed, otherwise enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An by foot or by motorbike taxi. With fine wining and dining (including a range of Hoi An specialties), impressive architecture, fantastic tailoring, endless shopping, and a glorious beach, there is no shortage of activities to indulge in.
Summary
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian Town
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: HOI AN MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HUE VIA DA NANG (150 KM – 5 HOURS OF RIDING)
In this morning, we will keep on riding along the coastal line via Da NangthenHai 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 before heading straight to Hue
Hoi An motorbike tour to Hue via Lang Co Beach
Upon arrival in Hue, you will have to time to ride around this ancient citadel to explore some highlights with Imperial Citadel and Royal Tombs or boat trip on Perfume Pagoda.
Time to check in at hotels
Summary
Distance: 180 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: HUE MOTORBIKE TOURS TO DMZ & KHE SANH
Departing from Hue we ride along highway 1 to Quang Tri town, visiting Long Hung Church and Quang Tri Old Citadel which was a battlefield in 1972 between North and South Vietnam for 81 days and nights. Then, we will ride along the coast from Cua Viet Beach to Cua Tung 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.
HUE MOTORBIKE TOURS TO DMZ & KHE SANH
In the afternoon we will have short stop at Truong Son Cemetary to pay respects to the soldiers who fought and died on the trail during the American War. 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.
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: 200 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Khe Sanh
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: KHE SANH MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO PHONG NHA CAVES
After breakfast visit the Khe Sanh combat base, then we ride the west Ho Chi Minh trail, today you have the chance to see the real trail with its mind-blowing, spectacular scenery – lots of jungle, mountains, waterfalls and villages of the Paco and Van Kieu Minorities.We will ride through the Sa Mu pass, Se Pang Heng river, Lang Ho village, U bo pass, areas made famous in the American war.Tonight we stay in Son Trach village near the entrance to the Phong Na-Ke Bang National Park.
Summary
Distance: 150 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Phong Nha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: PHONG NHA CAVES MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO TAN KY (260KM)
Today we travel through beautiful countryside on the journey from Phong Nha to Tan Ky. Passing Tea plantations, rice fields, ethnic minority villages, mountains, valleys and streams before arriving in Tan Ky late afternoon.
Summary
Distance: 260 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Tan Ky – Nghe An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 12: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: TAN KY MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO CUC PHONG NATIONAL PARK (190KM)
Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong is the oldest national park in Vietnam.Cuc Phuong boasts engaging cultural and wildlife heritage and enchanting scenery. Magnificent limestone mountains rise up majestically from the green rice-terraces and traditional stilt houses of the Muong hill-tribe.
Covered in a dense forest they form a habitat for some of Asia’s rarest species. It is no wonder that researchers, naturalists, enthusiasts and conservationists alike are drawn to this corner of the world.
Summary
Distance: 190 km
Accommodation: Hotel in Guesthouse in Cuc Phuong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO MAI CHAU (140KM)
Our destination today is Mai Chau, a chain of villages surrounded by a lush green valley with stilt houses bordering both sides of the roads. Many minorities, including the White Thai ethnic group, live in Mai Chau. Tonight we stay in a traditional Thai stilt house in one of the villages and you have the option of attending a Thai folk show.
CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK MOTORCYCLE TOURS TO MAI CHAU
Summary
Distance: 140 km
Accommodation: Home-stay in village of Mai Chau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14: VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOUR FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ON HO CHI MINH TRAIL & ALONG THE COAST: MAI CHAU MOTORBIKE TOURS TO HANOI
In this morning, after having breakfast at the local family, we’ll ride back to Hanoi. Along the road, we’ll stop by to take photos of mountains, valleys and rice paddies.
At around 16:00, we’ll get to Hanoi. End of the trip
Summary
Distance: 150 km
Accommodation: No included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
End of the Trip!
* Inclusions:
+ Motorbike(s) (Honda or Yamaha)
+ Helmet(s)
+ Driving gears
+ Gasoline on tour
+ English or French speaking guide
+ Mechanic (only for group from 6 passengers)
+ Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary (based on twin or/and triple shared)
+ Homestay permission
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ Entrance fees & Sightseeing fees
+ One-way train’s carriage for Motorbikes (Hanoi to Saigon)
+ One-way flight ticket for tour guide from Hanoi to Saigon
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..
