Code: OS-HCM-001
Region: Vietnam
Destination: Central Vietnam
Duration: 8 days 7 nights
Cycling distance estimate: 350 km
Grade: experienced rider
Period: 2014/2015
Price starts from: $1,188
Time: year-round
The Ho Chi Minh Trail is legendary in Vietnam. Its length is nearly 20,000km from North to South with some extentions into Laos and Cambodia. Cycling on The Ho Chi Minh Trail is pedaling a true legend.
Trip starts in Dong Hoi - "the Rose city”, capital of Quang Binh - the hometown of Ho Chi Minh Trail Commander Dong Si Nguyen and our Great General Giap. Visit the Cave Kingdom on The Ho Chi Minh Highway (HW) on arrival day and learn about the international wedding that happened here in the 14th Century.
Cycling the Ho Chi Minh Trails on this route means crossing the Champa Kingdom – known to have existed from the 4th to the 14th century. Live the Legend!.
BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1: Dong Hoi city – Phong Nha
Day 2: Phong Nha
Day 3: Phong Nhs – DMZ - Hue
Day 4: Hue
Day 5: Hue – Lang Co beach
Day 6: Lang Co – Hai Van pass – Danang
Day 7: Danang – My Son – Hoi An
Day 8: Hoi An – Departure
Day 1| Dong Hoi – Phong Nha (D)
Our guide and driver greet you upon arrival at Dong Hoi city. Transfer to Phong Nha National Park - "the Cave Kingdom".
Later, take a relaxing boat cruise up the Son river to visit Phong Nha water cave, nestled in the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and listed as a UNESCO site since 2003. The cave is a part of the Cave Kingdom which was filmed by National Geographic in Jan 2011.
Welcome dinner. Night at the hotel or homestay in Phong Nha.
Destinations: Phong Nha
Meal: Dinner
Day 2| Phong Nha – Cycling the orginal Ho Chi Minh trail (B/L/D)
Breakfast. Cycling along the Son river, go through a nice peanut field and reach to Ho Chi Minh original trail, which facilitated the movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam. There is not only one or 2 Ho Chi Minh trails. Our guide will tell you more about those than C.I.A.
Make sure your hands are tight enough to conquer this tough trail before crossing to another muddy path through the peanut / corn fields along the Chay river to reach HCM HW(West wing). Lunch will take place en route at Chay Lap homestay or Nuoc Mooc Spring, where an eco-trail leads you to a prestine water swimming pool in the jungle!
Later, cycle to cross the Chay river over a wooden bridge and visit to Wine Cave – where the V.C made rice wine during the time hiding bomb from the U.S aircraft. There is a symbol of peace still remained in the cave. Spend the night amongst nature at Chay Lap homestay (www.chaylap.org) or hotel in Phong Nha. You are invited to prepare dinner with the host if you like!
Destinations: Phong Nha
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Cycling distance: 25 miles / 40 km
Day 3| Phong Nha – Ho Chi Minh Trail – DMZ - Hue (B/L/D)
Breakfast. Van transfers you out to the starting point of the Ho Chi Minh Trail which they started to construct in May 1959. Pay your respects with a visit to the National War Cemetery – home to over 10,000 soldiers who were killed along Ho Chi Minh Trail during war time. Pedal along the country roads through the rubber plantations, stop for a break under the shadows of the rubber trees.
Continue cycling on to the 17th Parallel - Ben Hai river, DMZ of Vietnam from 1954-1972. Lunch en route. More uphills and downhills on the single road go through pepper plantations take you to Vinh Moc tunnel – known as the legendary “ Underground city” during the American War in Vietnam. Local people stayed underground for nearly 2,000 days without sunlight in order to remain in their homeland. There were 17 children born during that time, all of them underground.
Transfer to Hue Imperial city for the night. Dinner at local restaurant.
Night at the hotel in Hue- this city was listed as the first UNESCO site in Vietnam, since 1993.
Destinations: DMZ, Hue
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Cycling distance: 31 miles / 50 km
Day 4| Cycling Hue Citadel (B/L/)
Cycle to Hue Citadel – home to the Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Thien Mu pagoda (one of the great symbols of the city), incense stick & conical hat making villages and tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Lunch at the garden house restaurant.
Back to hotel mid-afternoon. Enjoy a the 60-min complementary traditional Vietnamese massage. (please book the precise time in advance)
Dinner is up to you to explore! Overnight at hotel.
Destination: Hue Imperial city
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Cycling distance: 25 miles / 40 km
Day 5| Hue – Tam Giang lagoon – Lang Co beach (B/L/D)
Leaving Hue city, cycling off-road into the villages and through Tam Giang lagoon, the biggest lagoon in Southeast Asia, and passing where the grow and prepare mushrooms on the way. Lunch on the beach. More cycling until we meet HW1 again where we take a van transfer to Lang Co beach for dinner and stay at the hotel on the beach.
Destinations: Tam Giang lagoon, Lang Co beach
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Cycling distance: 44 miles / 70 km
Day 6| Lang Co – Hai Van pass – Danang (B/L/D)
Get the biggest day of cycling started! Warming up along the Lap An lagoon, also known as “the Venice of Vietnam” before climbing 7miles and descending 7 miles - the Hai Van mountain pass which Jeremy Clarkson of TOPGEAR praised as "a deserted ribbon of perfection — one of the best coastal roads in the world!” However, they made the trip on the motorcycles- we are going by bicycle. Ice-cream break on the summit of the pass. Now enjoy the thrilling descent with spectacular views of the modern beach city of Danang.
Pass the Red Beach and Monkey Mountain on the flat coastal road to Danang. Check into the hotel and the famous My Khe beach. Time for a beach & beer break.
Overnight in Danang.
Destinations: Lap An lagoon, Haivan pass, Red beach, Danang
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Cycling distance: 31 miles / 50 km
Day 7| Danang – My Son holyland – Hoi An (B/L/D)
Transfer out of the city to continue on the Ho Chi Minh Trail heading South. Ride the local ferry across the Thu Bon river. Cycle through the rice fields to My Son holyland. Stop for a visit to the Cham temples. My Son holyland, listed as UNESCO site, home to many mysterious brick temples dating from 4th - 14th century.
Lunch break at My Son then back to the country roads to pedal through the villages before embarking on the boat to across the Thu Bon river and reach to the ancient town of Hoi An – UNESCO site since 1999. Dinner under lanterns in the Old Quarter of Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Destination: My Son Holyland, Hoi An
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Cycling distance: 41 miles / 65 km
Day 8| Hoi An – Danang – Departure (B)
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at your resort.
Free time until time to transfer to Danang airport and on to your next destination. End the journey.
from 1,188 USD* per cyclist (from 02 traveller up)
Private group: kindly contact us for the best price.
(*): 1USD = 21.000VND
Dates, itineraries and prices are valid from 1st October 2014 until 30th September 2015.
Beyond 30th September 2015 dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only.
SERVICES INCLUDED
Accommodation based on TWN/DBL sharing room with breakfast at listed hotels or similar & homestay as listed
Transfer & back-up by private vehicles
Guide: experienced cycling tour guide
Bikes' transportation between sites, spare parts and helmets if requested
Bike hire (Mountain bike with front suspension: TREK/ GIANT)
Bike mechanic
A 60-minute Vietnamese traditional massage ticket in Hue
Local fruits, snacks and unlimited bottled drinking water, cold towel in cycling days
Ice-cream on Hai Van pass summit
First-Aid Kit
Meals as indicated in itinerary (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
All entrance fees as indicated in itinerary
NOT INCLUDED
- Air tickets
- Alcoholic drinks & drinks at meals + Optional visits + Personal expenses (Telephone, laundry...).
- Personal travel insurance
- Tips for guide, driver, boat crew & hotels' porters.
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary.
- All air tickets with airport and departure taxes
- Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusion above.
