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HO CHI MINH TRAIL
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was an elaborate system of mountain and jungle trails linking North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos during the Vietnam War against the United States. This web of trails and dirt roads ran for 2,000 kilometres, roughly parallel to the Vietnam/Laos border, along the Truong Son Mountains. Once a small track used only by locals and ponies, the trail expanded to roads for vehicles to transport troops, millions of tons of foodstuff, weapons, and other essentials from North Vietnam to South Vietnam during the war.
Today, the many paths of the Ho Chi Minh trail criss-cross the newly built Ho Chi Minh Highway. On this tour we explore the northern section of the Ho Chi Minh trail, which was previously inaccessible, from Ngoc Lac to the Hai Van Pass in Danang.
During the Vietnam War the trail was maintained regularly by the Viet Cong and others who were willing to work full-time day and night to keep the trail in good condition. They suffered difficulties, dangers and even death in the name of national unification and sovereignty. Together with the Northern Vietnamese troops, workers maintaining the trail played a very important role in the defeat of the Americans.
In 2000 construction started on the Ho Chi Minh Highway to provide a parallel alternative to congestion on the only other north-south road, the busy Highway 1 in the coastal areas of Central Vietnam, and to stimulate the economy in some of Vietnam's poorest, most remote regions.
The wide, smooth undulating highway is a bikers dream as there is little traffic on the road. And it conveniently will take us through farms, orchards, tribal villages and offers us easy access to some of the country's top attractions — one of Vietnam’s most spectacular caves, the ancient royal seat of Hue, the picturesque trading port of Hoi An and South China Sea beaches.
TRIP PROFILE
The wide, smooth undulating highway is a bikers dream as there is little traffic on the road. And it conveniently will take us through farms, orchards, tribal villages and offers us easy access to some of the country's top attractions — one of Vietnam’s most spectacular caves, the ancient royal seat of Hue, the picturesque trading port of Hoi An and South China Sea beaches.
| ITINERARY (14 Days/13 nights starting and finishing in Hanoi.) | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hanoi and rest of day free. |
| Day 2 | Transfer out of Hanoi to avoid busy roads and start ride along river on old supply route. |
| Day 3 | Ride through looming limestone cliffs and lush vegetation to Lam Son. |
| Day 4 | Ride along Ho Chi Minh Highway to Vinh, stopping at the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh. |
| Day 5 | Ride to Huong Khe along the Truong Son mountain range. |
| Day 6 | Ride to Phong Nha National Park and visit the spectacular caves. |
| Day 7 | Cross the DMZ and ride to Khe Sanh. |
| Day 8 | Visit the historic battlefield at Khe Sanh and ride to A Luoi. |
| Day 9 | Ride to Hue, Vietnam’s Imperial City. |
| Day 10 | Leisurely ride through the countryside outside Hue. Afternoon free. |
| Day 11 | Ride over the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. |
| Day 12 | Ride to My Son or free day to explore Hoi An. |
| Day 13 | Transfer to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. Rest of the day free to explore Hanoi. |
| Day 14 | Transfer to the airport for onward flight. |
| FACTS & FIGURES | |
|---|---|
| Tour Cost | USD 1,995 per person; Single Supplement USD 325 |
| Bike Hire | USD 170 |
| Total Distance | 770 kilometres |
| Number of Days | 14 Days/13 Nights |
| Number of Cycling Days | 10 full days and one half day. |
| Road Surface | The roads for this bike tour are a mixture of good asphalt with some broken or potholed roads. |
| Support | Air conditioned van |
| Group Size | Minimum 2; Maximum 16 |
| Guides & Staff | SpiceRoads cycling leader (for groups of 10 or more), plus a local cycling guide, as well as drivers and assistants for all groups. Smaller groups will be led by our local guide and support team. |
| Accommodation | Due to the remoteness of this tour, most of the accommodation will be tourist class hotels. All hotels will be clean, comfortable and include private facilities, such as hot water, etc. |
| Biking Grade |
4 out of 5
|
| Scenery |
5 out of 5
|
~Ryan Veneberg
Ho Chi Minh Trail - April 2010
