Ho Chi Minh Trails (13 Days)

Embark on a 14-day Vietnam Cycling Adventure across 11 destinations. Explore Hanoi, Mai Chau, and the Mekong Delta while cycling through scenic landscapes, historical sites, and authentic local life. Highlights include Halong Bay cruises, cultural landmarks, and vibrant markets.

Trip Duration
13 Days

Key Destination
10 Destinations

Trip Type
Special interest

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival, your local guide and chauffeur will escort you to your hotel. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional activities in the afternoon or evening at your request.

Day 2: Discovering Hanoi

Visit Ba Dinh Square and have the view of Ho Chi Minh Mausooeum. Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in the city.

A walking tour follows through the bustling Old Quarter, famed for its 36 streets, each traditionally home to different artisan guilds. Afternoon, we leave Hanoi for Halong City.

Day 3: Hanoi to Dong Hoi

Wake up to the serene beauty of Halong Bay. Enjoy your morning coffee as you take in the peaceful surroundings—an experience you won’t forget. After breakfast, we’ll explore a stunning stalactite cave. Around midday, we sail back to the harbor and return to Hanoi, where you’ll board the night train to Dong Hoi.

Day 4: Phong Nha

Upon arrival in Dong Hoi we recharge our energy with a good breakfast. Now, start our trip to Phong Nha National Park. We visit the beautiful the Paradise Cave. We spend the night at a lodge around Phong Nha.

Day 5: Phong Nha to Dong Ha

The Ho Chi Minh Trail is as famous as the Vietnam War. It started from the north of the 17th Parallel and hid itself in the thick jungle west of the Truong Son range.

Today we follow the former trail through unspoiled vegetation, and later go down to the lowland to cross the 17th Parallel at the historical Hien Luong Bridge. We stop over in Dong Ha.

Day 6: Dong Ha to Hue

For the next few days we discover the cultural highlights in Central Vietnam with a number of UNESCO sites. Short drive to Hue. We visit the Citadel of Hue with the majestic architecture of the Imperial City. Then towards the suburb we visit Thien Mu Pagoda and the tombs of King Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: Hue to Hoi An

Drive south towards Hoi An on a scenic route. Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its well-preseverd architecture and traditions. In the morning we take a leisure walking tour in the Old Town and visit several landmarks including the Japanese Bridge, Fujian Temple, the tradional house of Phung Hung.

Day 8: Hoi An to Kham Duc.

Drive out of Hoi An to visit the archaeology site of My Son, another UNESCO site relating the glorious past of the Champa Kingdom. Continue our way up the mountain towards Kham Duc. We return to the Ho Chi Minh Trail but at the southern part.

Day 9: Kham Duc to Kon Tum

Continue our expedition through the Central Highlands towards Kon Tum. En route we pass the site of the fierce Battle for Dak To. Kon Tum on the side of Dakbla River is home to various minorities. We visit the Bahnar village with traditional wooden houses on stilts and we learn some music and dance from our hosts.

Day 10: Kon Tum to Buon Ma Thuot

Drive south toward Ban Me Thuot. En route we visit Yok Don National Park where we hike through a broad-leave forest and take a boat ride on the mighty Serepok River. In Buon Ma Thuot we treat ourselves to a good cup of coffee and learn about coffee cultivation – after all, Vietnam is among the largest coffee exporters worldwide.

Day 11: Buon Ma Thuot to Saigon

Today we fly to Saigon. On arrival we visit Cu Chi Tunnels and find out how the Viet Cong managed life in the underground. The ingenious tunnel and bunker system existed for a long time undiscovered by the Americans. In Saigon, we visit the War Museum and see a small, secret bunker hidden in a crowded market lane.

Day 12: Mekong Delta

The trip to Ben Tre in the fertile Mekong Delta is a special experience, because the province around the Mekong is famous for its fruit and vegetable gardens, rice fields and fish farms. A boat trip on the waterways and canals opens up to us the scenic beauty and we take every opportunity to taste the fruit grown here.

Day 13: Departurea

You are at leisure till transfer time. If you have late flight we will arrange extra activities or accommodation upon your request. We wish you a good journey home.

Include

Private vehicle for all transfers as per program.
English speaking guide for activities as per program.
Entrance fees at all attractions
Hotels with daily breakfast.
4 star cruise with all meals included.
2 bottles of water and towel per person per day.
Domestic travel insurance as per official regulations.

Exclude

Hotel Selection

Below are the hotels we inspect these hotels on regular basis to make sure they are well maintained and provide good value. In case any of these hotels are not available, we guarantee to provide an equivalent accommodation of the same class.

Hanoi: Larosa Hotel
Phong Nha: Chay Lap Farmstay
Dong Ha: Muong Thanh Grand
Hue: Moonlight
Hoi An: Muca Hoi An
Quang Nam: Be Chau Giang Hotel
Kon Tum: Konklor Hotel
Ban Me Thuot: Dakruco Hotel
Saigon: Le Duy Grand