Ho Chi Minh Trails Biking Tour
Destinations: 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. Today, the many paths of the Ho Chi Minh trail criss-cross the newly built Ho Chi Minh Highway. This 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.
Detail Itinerary
Day 1:Ha Noi-Mai Chau
Depart
from ha noi early this morning ,transfer by our support vehicle to mai
chau. Arriving at lunchtime, enjoy a cooked lunch at a local Tai village
house 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. 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.(25km cycling)
Day2:Pu Luong Nature Reserve-Ngoc Lac
An
early morning start to beat the heat of the day. 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. The road
gets more beautiful the closer you ride to 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. Overnight in local
hotel Ngoc Lac. (70km cycling)
Day 3:Ngoc Lac-Thai Hoa
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 Thai
Hoa guesthouse. (80km cycling)
Day 4:Thai Hoa-Nghe An
Continue
riding the incredible Ho Chi Minh Trail. Have lunch in Lat town. In Kim
Lien 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. Overnight in Nghe An Town.(100km
cycling)
Day 5:Nghe An-Huong Khe
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.
Transfer if tired in the afternoon to Huong Khe for overnight in a local
guesthouse.(80km cycling)
Day 6:Huong Khe-Phong Nha National Park
From
Huong Khe 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 Phong Nha National Park. The park
contains one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam, It is a true
speleological wonder. Visit the cave by boat then wander through the
cavern, past the foundations of ancient Cham ruins. Pause to admire the
incredible formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Formed
approximately 250 million years ago and during the American war ,the
north Vietnam army had used Phong Nha cave as a hospital and ammunition
depot . the entrance still showing evidence of fighter aircraft attacks.
There are community projects underway with Flora and Fauna
International and it may be possible to visit village initiatives and
learn more about the forests of the National Park. Overnight at the
National Park.(80km cycling)
Day 7:Phong Nha-Hue City
Explore
Phong Nha Cave in the early morning. Continue riding on the Ho Chi Minh
Trail across the DMZ (better known as the 17th Parallel,) to Cam Lo.
The road is now quite flat and makes for good cruising! Stop en route to
visit Truong Son Cemetery, a memorial to the tens of thousands of North
Vietnamese soldiers who were killed in the Truong Son Mountains along
the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Fourteen miles further on is the town of Cam Lo “
the Trail here intersects a strategic feeder road (H9) from Dong Ha and
at this junction part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail heads across country
into Laos. We finish our exploration of the Ho Chi Minh trail here. This
is where we end the cycling section of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Transfer
to Hue visiting war relics en route. Overnight Hotel in Hue. End of
services (60km cycling)Vietnam Bike Tours - http://www.vietnambiketours.asia
Premiere custom bike tours for private & group in Vietnam & beyond!
No comments:
Post a Comment