Great Vietnam Motorbike Tour Hanoi – Nha Trang – 9 Days

At 8:00 AM, your adventure begins as our friendly tour guide picks you up and takes you to our shop on the outskirts of Hanoi. After a quick briefing, we’ll hop on the bikes and set off on a scenic motorbike journey to Mai Chau. Just a short ride from the city, the hustle and bustle fade away, replaced by tranquil countryside landscapes. We’ll ease into the day with some light off-road riding through lush rice fields and picturesque rural villages.

Around midday, we stop in An Lac, Hoa Binh Province, for a delicious local lunch. From here, the scenery only gets more breathtaking. The road winds through dramatic limestone karst formations—often called “Halong Bay on land”—with endless emerald rice paddies and quiet, tree-lined backroads.

By late afternoon, we arrive in Mai Chau, where you’ll be welcomed by the warm hospitality of the White Thai ethnic community and settle into their traditional stilt house. In the evening, after a hearty home-cooked feast, we’ll enjoy a lively cultural performance with traditional Thai dances and a sip of their famous local rice wine.

This unforgettable first day is the perfect introduction to your 9-day motorbike adventure along the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Overnight in Mai Chau – Homestay.

After a peaceful breakfast in the charming village of Mai Chau, we set out on a short but incredibly scenic ride along a narrow paved trail that winds through the valley. This stretch offers a fantastic off-road experience as we cruise past emerald-green rice paddies, tranquil bamboo forests, and traditional Thai ethnic villages—an authentic glimpse into rural life.

We then follow the Ma River toward Cam Thuy town, where we stop to enjoy a local lunch. In the afternoon, the real adventure begins as we officially join the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. This section, beautifully restored since the war, offers a smooth and comfortable ride. But what makes it unforgettable is the stunning natural scenery—rolling hills, wide-open fields, and peaceful countryside stretching endlessly on both sides of the road.

By late afternoon, we arrive in Tan Ky, a quiet little town nestled along the Ho Chi Minh Road. With just a few thousand residents, it’s the perfect place to slow down and experience authentic local life far from the tourist crowds.

Overnight in Tan Ky – Hotel stay.

After a hearty local breakfast, we continue our journey along the legendary trail toward Pho Chau, where we’ll make a stop at the Ho Chi Minh Trail Victory Monument — the symbolic starting point of this historic route. Standing here, you can almost feel the weight of history before we ride onward to one of Vietnam’s most extraordinary destinations: Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park, home to the largest and most spectacular cave system in Vietnam and Indochina, and proudly recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

Formed more than 400 million years ago during the Paleozoic era, Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng is the oldest major karst landscape in all of Asia. Sculpted by powerful tectonic forces, it features an awe-inspiring network of 65 kilometers of caves and underground rivers stretching all the way to the Laos border.

As we near the national park, the scenery grows even more magnificent—towering limestone peaks, emerald mountains, and pristine wilderness create an unforgettable backdrop for this part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail motorbike adventure.

Dinner and overnight in Phong Nha – Hotel stay.

From Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park, the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail divides into two branches: an eastern route and a western route. For the ultimate scenic experience, Chi’sWheels Motorcycle Tour proudly takes you along the western branch — a route that many riders call the most beautiful stretch in all of Vietnam.

This stunning 200 km ride winds deep through the heart of the national park, surrounded by towering mountains, lush forests, and peaceful roads with almost no traffic. It’s just you, your bike, endless curves, and pure nature.

Midway, we’ll make a meaningful stop at the historic Khe Sanh Combat Base, once a key U.S. Marine stronghold during the Vietnam War. Here, you’ll find remnants of tunnels, an airbase, and a fascinating on-site museum — offering powerful insight into one of the most intense chapters of Vietnam’s history.

This unforgettable day is often described by riders as the crown jewel of the Ho Chi Minh Trail motorbike journey — a perfect blend of natural beauty, history, and adventure.

Dinner and overnight in Khe Sanh – Hotel stay.

Today’s motorbike ride is steeped in history, taking you through some of the most significant landmarks in Vietnam’s former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). After breakfast, we’ll ride along the historic 17th parallel — once the dividing line between North and South Vietnam. Along the way, we’ll visit powerful war relics including the Hien Luong Bridge and the Vinh Moc Tunnels, two of the most iconic symbols of the Vietnam War.

Our experienced Chi’sWheels guides will bring these places to life with captivating stories and insights, helping you truly understand their historical significance. This meaningful day is one of the most unforgettable highlights of the Ho Chi Minh Trail motorbike adventure.

After lunch, we’ll shift gears for a beautiful coastal ride toward Hue, passing through peaceful fishing villages and scenic seaside roads. The breeze, the views, and the winding coastline make this ride a refreshing contrast to the morning’s historical journey. We’ll arrive in Hue around 4:30 PM, ready to soak in the charm and rich cultural heritage of this former imperial capital.

Dinner and overnight in Hue – Hotel stay.

About the Vinh Moc Tunnels:
Hidden beneath the earth in Quảng Trị Province, the Vinh Moc Tunnel complex was an extraordinary wartime shelter. Built between 1966 and 1972, it protected around 60 families from relentless bombing campaigns. The tunnels extend down to 30 meters and include kitchens, wells, family living quarters, and even medical facilities. Seventeen children were born underground — a powerful symbol of resilience, hope, and survival during one of the most challenging chapters in Vietnam’s history.

After breakfast, we’ll spend the morning immersing ourselves in the timeless beauty of Hue Imperial City and other remarkable landmarks that showcase the city’s royal heritage. Strolling through its ancient citadel, majestic gates, and ornate temples, you’ll step back in time to the era of Vietnam’s last imperial dynasty.

After lunch, the motorbike adventure continues as we follow National Highway 1A, climbing up the legendary Hai Van Pass — a breathtaking coastal mountain road renowned for its dramatic curves and sweeping ocean views. With lush green mountains on one side and the sparkling East Sea on the other, this ride is pure magic.

From there, we descend toward the enchanting Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site once known as a bustling international trading port in the 16th and 17th centuries. Though it’s a relatively short journey, this stretch is considered one of the most scenic coastal routes in Vietnam — a true highlight of the Ho Chi Minh Trail motorbike tour.

Overnight in Hoi An – Hotel stay.

Hoi An Ancient Town, historically known to Western traders as Faifo, is a charming coastal gem in central Vietnam, nestled along the South China Sea in Quảng Nam Province. With a population of around 120,000 residents, this picturesque town has earned worldwide recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Renowned as one of the best-preserved trading ports in Southeast Asia, Hoi An flourished between the 15th and 19th centuries. Its distinctive blend of architectural styles and carefully planned street layout reflects a remarkable fusion of local Vietnamese traditions with Chinese, Japanese, and European influences.

Long before it became a bustling international port, Hoi An was already an important maritime center. In the 1st century, it was home to the largest harbor in Southeast Asia, known as Lâm Ấp Phố (Champa City). From the 7th to the 10th centuries, the Cham people dominated the spice trade, bringing great wealth to the region. Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the harbor at the mouth of the Thu Bồn River became a vibrant trading hub that attracted merchants from China, Japan, India, and the Netherlands.

During this golden age, the town was called Hai Pho — “Town by the Sea.” Each community contributed to the town’s unique cultural identity. The Japanese merchants built one of its most iconic landmarks: the Chua Cau (Japanese Covered Bridge) — the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached. Centuries later, this elegant structure still stands proudly, symbolizing Hoi An’s rich multicultural heritage and timeless charm.

We kick off the day’s adventure at 8:00 AM, riding south along National Highway 1A. While a few stretches may be busy with traffic, the journey more than makes up for it with sweeping coastal views and a true sense of the open road. As we ride further, the scenery unfolds beautifully — rolling green hills on one side and the sparkling blue sea on the other.

By around 4:00 PM, we’ll reach Quy Nhơn, a laid-back coastal town celebrated for its quiet charm and pristine beaches. If the weather is kind, this is the perfect moment to unwind — dip your toes in the sand, take a refreshing swim, or simply relax by the water and soak in the tranquil atmosphere.

Dinner and overnight in Quy Nhon – Hotel stay.

We bring this unforgettable Ho Chi Minh Trail motorbike adventure to a perfect close with a final scenic ride toward Nha Trang. Today’s journey follows the beautiful National Highway 1D, a peaceful coastal route known for its smooth roads, light traffic, and breathtaking ocean views. As we cruise along the shoreline, stretches of golden sand and turquoise water unfold beside us — the ideal backdrop for the last ride of the tour.

We’ll reach Nha Trang in the early afternoon and ride through the lively coastal city before wrapping up the journey at the Nha Trang Train Station. After dropping off the bikes, a short taxi ride will take you to your hotel.

This marks the end of an extraordinary adventure — a ride filled with history, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable memories shared with the Chi’sWheels Motorcycle Tour team.