VIETNAM CYCLING FROM SAIGON DMZ HO CHI MINH TRAIL

Trip Profile:The famous Ho chi Minh Trail Cycling trip with Vietnam Adventure Cycling Tour. Start from Saigon and end in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Down to the sea, ride along the magnificent coastlines along the S shaped of Vietnam,  pedal northward to the incredible sights of UNESCO Heritages, Leaving the coast behind, inland into rural countryside.Vietnam is very long,thin country,and we traverse it from the coast almost all the way to its boder with Laos for visit the DMZ(1954-1975) and follow the incredible Ho Chi Minh Trail up North. This trips is a great combination of adventure on bike to challenge those with great passion on two wheels and discover the variety of natural scenes, local ethnic cultures, history of the war and of course the ultimate relax moments at the beaches of Vietnam where hosts over 3,000 of km coastlines. 24 days is not a short trip especially for those who are time poor but it's essential to capture different angles of lives in Vietnam through eyes of the cyclists. Not a rush program and this is definitely a trip to discover & have yourselves a bit of challenge on the road.We have 3 relax days to enjoy the beauty of Nha Trang,Hoi An,Phong Nha national park.which is the highlight must see places along the routes. Have a great fun

DAY 1: HO CHI MINH- WELCOME TO VIETNAM

Upon on arrival Vietnam Adventure Cycling guide will be at the airport to pick you up and transfer to your hotel. Free and leisure by your own. In the afternoon we will spend a bit time for bike fitting before the welcome diner . After that Vietnam adventure Cycling guide will briefing all the general information about your trip!. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 2: HO CHI MINH – MUI NE

In the morning,after breakfast the cycling tour guide will see you in the hotel .transfer around 2hours to vung tau city. Ride from Hon Ba cape, along the sandy beach coast. Lunch at local restaurant. Folow the Beach roads to hotel. Free at leisure and overnight.
Activities:
• 60km cycling.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,diner

Day 3:MUI NE- DALAT

Breakfast at the hotel ,fill in water and get on the bike cycling from the hotel along the cost to see the fishsing village before climing up hill,passing through lush forest and many small Lach villages that sit dwarfed by the amazing landscape of the mountain.reach the highway and get on the van transfer to Dalat . dinner and Overnight in Dalat.
Activities:
•    60km biking.
•    Visit coffee and tea farm
Meals:breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: DALAT- NHA TRANG

After the big breakfast in the hotel we will starting to warm up the muscle by 8 km cycling around the Xuan Huong lake in the middle of Dalat city from the hotel and we start our ride  in  a  pine tree forest with breathtaking views of the  natural  landscape  and  deep jungle  forest  on  both  sides  of  the road. The fantastic ride runs along  the road until the top of the hill (1630 meter from the sea level) before preparing for a fly down the mountain on wheels with 28 km non-stopped down-hill section to reach the end of the pass and finish this challenge we will have a picnic lunch there.
Afterthat we meet-up with our support vehicle to have a transfer to Nha Trang. Arrive Nha Trang around 4.30 PM.  Overnight in Nha Trang.
Activities:
•    100km biking.
•    Free swimming at Nha Trang Beach.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Diner

Day 5: NHA TRANG

A day with a boat trip to island.experience the coast of nha trang aboard a boat as we set out in the morning,for our first stop at the aquarium.We then head out to the Hon Mot island where we have a chance for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear water.Our lunch stop is at the fishing village of Lang Chai (From Ocean to plate in 10 minutes) before boarding our boat back to nha trang habor.overnight in Nha trang.
Activities:
•    Free snorkeling & swimming at Mot Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: NHA TRANG-TUY HOA(phu yen)

Breakfast at the hotel. We cycle 20km along beautiful coast line road. We do not cycle on Highway No. 1. After coffee break, we cycle from the top of the hill to go through the villages, passing schools. The children like to come out and say hello.We stop for packed lunch to enjoy Vietnamese sanwhich. After lunch, we cycle on another backroad through villages, passing the reunification express railroad.Then visit a brick factory in a small village before we reach Tuy Hao town, Phu Yen province. Dinner and overnight in Tuy Hoa..
Activity:

• 75km Cycling
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: TUY HOA –QUY NHON

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer about 30km, Cycle through the village where you could a small charity to local people(chăm people,ethnic minority,group)by small thing such as sampoo,toothpast,candy,book...to see the smilling and to know how cute they are. we  have luch at the local restaurant transfer the rest way to Quy Nhon. Overnight in Quy Nhon city.
Activities:
•    70km biking.
•    Do small charity to chăm people(ethnic minority groups)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch .Dinner.

Day 8: QUY NHON- QUANG NGAI

after breakfast in the hotel we will take a bus get out of the city and we will reach the beautifull cost line road,starting to cycling from there, follow that road get throught the fishing willage where you can see the activity of the fishing man .what they do,what they eat,how they live ..... you will see all of that.and we keep cycle along the beautful cost line road untill you making the small climming up the Dieu tri pass after that we will get on the bus transfer to the hotel in Quang Ngai city.overningt in Quang Ngai.

Activity:

90 km biking

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: QUANG NGAI- HOI AN

Breakfast & check out then leave Quang Ngai city on bike to My Lai massacre, 14 km far from Quang Ngai. Here we will stop and take a short tour of the site and museum. Then back on bike and take a countryside road to My Khe Beach. Continue along the coastline to Chau O. Have lunch and transfer to Hoi An, one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Activities:
•    50km biking.
•    Short tour in my lai massacre
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Diner

Day 10: HOI AN(freeday )

Today is a free day to explore on your own around World Heritage Hoi An town. The town is small and easy to walk around or head to the beach about 15 minutes away. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 11: HOI AN-DANANG-HUE

Morning, check out & transfer from Hoi An via Cua Dai Beach and along the coastline, passing pretty fishing villages, sand dunes and green casuarinas forests to visit Marble Carving village,We will cycle from there  25km along the my khe beach Then keep riding up to Hai Van (Cloud Sea) Pass and climb 500 meters over 10 km. Reach Lang Co beach for lunch.
Afternoon, Transfer to Phuoc Tuong Hill (30 minutes). Ride off the main highway and take a coastal side to Cau Hai lagoon. Stop and take a van to Hue for hotel check-in.Overnight in Hue.
Activity:

• 100km biking
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Day 12: HUE- A LUOI-HAMBERGER HILL-KHE SANH

Leaving the coast behind us,we head inland into rural countryside.Vietnam is very long,thin country,and we traverse it today from the coast almost all the way to its boder with Laos,and then ride north.it along day ,so we drive the first busy section out of Hue.this is an area of beatiful dense jungle hill,and its easy to imagine how supplies coming via HO CHI MINH trail travelled undetectec.this area-around the A Shau valley and A Luoi-saw some firece fighting in the late 1960s.Probaly the most famous is the battle of HAMBURGER hill (1969) which saw many casualties on both sides for an outpost which was controversially abandoned by the victorious US soon after.we visit the site and pay our respects.now riding up north,roughly parrallel to the boder,we cycle through stunningly beautiful countryside.this area heavily napalmed durring the war- an estimate 69 tons of napalm were dropped durring the battle of HAMBURGER hill alone-and it’s astounding how well nature has recovered.the road we take was part of the HO CHI MINH trail this were not one contiuous road,but an extensive network of paths.we come to DAKRONG bridge ,famous for being the “start” of the trail;it was destroys many times but always re-built.despite heavily bombing this area,the supply rout never cut off.we continue to KHE SANH,where we will spend the night.
Activities:
• 50 km cycling.
• Visit Hamburger hill,Dakrong bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Diner.

DAY 13: KHE SANH - DMZ  - DONG HA

Our day starting with a visit to khe sanh cambat base,a US jungle outpost close to the Laos border and scene of a major siege and battle in 1968.there is the small museum here,and you still can see bomb craters in the ground.we have a talk by our guide and hold a small ceremony to pay our respects.we then visit the nearby site of TA CON airfield and LANG vei, scene of another battle in 1968in which besieged and defeat US Special Force survied against the odds and escaped thanks to daring Marines rescue mission.we then ride east,leaving the Lao border behind us,cycling through forest hill,coffee and banana plantation.the De-Millitarize Zone(DMZ) lay along the 17th Parrallel,which marked the divide between North and south Viet Nam.Situated along the DMZ were a string of combatbase,observation posts and airfield,remants of which still remain.we visit site including the Rock pile, Con Thien,Camp Carroll and Dau Mau base ad we ride toward the town of Dong Ha.Overning in Dong Ha.
Activities:
• 70km cycling.
• Visit khe sanh cambat, TA CON airfield and the Rock pile
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Diner.

Day 14: DONG HA- VINH MOC TUNNEL – DONG HA

Today we also focuses on the DMZ ,but our rout take us north of Dong Ha,crossing the Ben Hai river and 17th parallel.we ride to Vinh Moc tunel,an incredibel complex of tunel that were dug by local people to evade the constant US bombing of this area. The tunel include kitchens,wells and hospital, as well as living quarter for roughly 60 families.the tunel,which are at the depth of 30m,are still very good condition and save their villagers’s live.After visitting them we visit the ride south again,returning over the Hien Luong bridge (aslo know as the peace bridge)where there is a striking memorial to the victims of the war.Back on the southern side, we proceed to the Truong Son national cemetery,a vast burial –ground with over 10,000 vietnamese graves-many of them nameless –for the soldiers and civilians who died protecting the HO CHI MINH trail .After paying our respects here,we visit anothet sites including the US base at Con Thien and base Fuller,we return to Dong Ha.over ning in Dong Ha.

Activities:

• 90km cycling.
• Visit Vinh Moc Tunel,Hien Luong bridge,Truong Son Cemetery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Diner.

Day 15: DONG HA – PHONG NHA NATIONAL PARK

Leaving the early morning , starting with a transfer out of town to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The road is now quite flat and makes for good cruising! Follow Ho Chi Minh Trail to Phong Nha National Park. The park contains one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam, It is a true speleological wonder. Overnight in Phong Nha

Activities:
• 60km cycling.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Diner

Day 16: PHONG NHA NATIONAL PARK

The easy day will start with boat trip to visit Paradise Cave and Mooc Spring. In the afternoon we will back to the hotel and relaxing by your own. We would love to recommend you all to swimming to losing your muscle after hard working in last few day.

Activities:

• No biking.
• Visit Paradise Cave and Mooc Spring
•  Meal :Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 17:PHONG NHA NATIONAL PARK- HUONG KHE

After breakfast at the hotel. We will leave Phong Nha behind for Huong Khe. From Phong Nha  the mountains rise and the road winds up, down and along the hillsides. The scenery is spectacular, the road tranquil. Ride up to 80km then transfer the last few km to Huong khe. Overnight  In local homestay In Huong khe.
Activities:
•    80km biking.
•    Meal :Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner

Day 18: HUONG KHE – VINH

After a relaxing breakfast continue riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The trail is still a dream to ride on. Again there is virtually no traffic. Reach Vinh for overnight. Overnight in Vinh.

Activities:
•    80km biking.
•    Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

Day 19: VINH – THAI HOA

In the morning after breakfast we will transfer by van To Kim Lien Village,visit the famous museum and birthplace of Ho Chi Minh in 1890. This province has a reputation for producing charismatic revolutionary leaders; not only Ho Chi Minh but also Phan Boi Chau – another fervent anti colonialist -was born here. After that the cycling will start from Here to Thai Hoa along the incredible Ho Chi Minh Trail. Overnight in Thai Hoa village.

Activities:

• 80km biking.
• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

Day 20:THAI HOA-NGOC LAC

Ride for the first time on the newly built two lane Ho Chi Minh Highway. It hardly warrants two lanes as there is no traffic! The road makes for smooth fast riding, and for those who prefer there is always the old highway dirt and gravel - that weaves around the new highway allowing for plenty of exploring possibilities along the way. Ride to Muc Son, on the banks of River Song Chu. On the outskirts of this small town are the famous Kan Linh historical relics - a pagoda where the first king of the Ly dynasty, Le Thai To, ruled, in 1428. Continue riding on the trail to Yen Cat. The distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance to transfer some sections by the back-up vehicle to rest weary legs.There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle. Picnic lunch en route. Overnight in Ngoc Lac.

Activities:

• 80km biking.
• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

DAY 21: NGOC LAC – PULUONG NATURE RESERVE

An early morning start to leave beautiful of Ngoc Lac with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way, but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain . The route takes us away from the river and appears to contour through the same range of mountains that stretch from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong to Hoa Lu. Overnight at the edge of Pu Luong Nature Reserve in a traditional Thai village homestay, part of an ecotourist community project set up by Fauna and Flora International in 2003. Overnight village house on stilts.

Activities:

• 70km biking.
• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

DAY 22: PULUONG NATURE RESERVE – MAI CHAU

Enjoy peaceful morning with the basic breakfast before setting off along a spectacularly beautiful river valley towards Hoi Xuan along an undulating tarmac road. (Old highway 15A) The road follows the flow of River Song Ma. This is an old supply route of the HCM Trail that fed the main trail with ammunitions during the American War with Vietnam. Overningh in the beautiful hotel in Mai Chau.

Activities:

• 70km biking.
• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

DAY 23 : MAI CHAU – HOA BINH- HANOI

Start cycling from our hotel, on buffalo beaten path enjoy rural area and village  life, beautiful valley surrounded by spectacular karst rock formations and picturesque rice paddies. Bikes along a mix of  asphalt road through villages and across rice paddies to Lac village continue riding on tarmac road and  paved road , passing the lush green rice paddy and stunning nature to local restaurant for lunch . Get on the bus and transfer to Hanoi for overnight.

Activities:

• 50km biking.
• Meal :Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner.

DAY 24: HANOI – DEPARTURE

Free and leisure by your own until the time we have to transfer to airport for your flight back home. End Of the journey