Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour – 14 days

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Pu Luong (220km)

First of all, Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour will start the journey around 8.30am to avoid rush hour when getting out of Ha Noi. We ride towards Hoa Binh, turn at Kim Boi to follow provincial road. This route is among crops of rice paddies, corn fields, lemon trees and remote surrounding mountains.

After that, have lunch then keep riding to Pu Luong nature reserve (off- beaten- track area) for the wonderful view of terraced rice fields and villages living along the valleys. Stop in Don village down to the valley and up to hills for the great views of the region.

Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour spends the first night in a local house on stilts for homestay – the best one with efficient facilities that you could find in the village. Have dinner with local foods are prepared by the local.

Day 2: Pu Luong – Tan Ky: 240 km

After breakfast with the family, The Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour gets back on the bikes and say good bye to hill-tribal villages and then motorbike about 50km on road 15C to get on Ho Chi Minh trail. We will get to Ngoc Lac town at noon time when the lunch is served at the local restaurant. After lunch, just enjoy an easy and relaxing motorbike tour on Ho Chi Minh road to Tan Ky town. Stay in town.

Day 3: Tan Ky – Phong Nha: 280 km

Most noteworthy, Tan Ky is known as the starting point of the Ho Chi Minh trail during the war time. From here the Northern communist with food and weapons travel down to the South Vietnam to join the war. After breakfast, Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour travels down to the South Vietnam with our motorbikes on the historical trail. The ride is almost on the repaired part of the trail but still offers a great view of mountain and the daily life of the local. The motorbike ride on Ho Chi Minh trail in the afternoon must be the highlight of the trip.

Day 4: PHONG NHA discovery

Certainly, Phong Nha UNESCO world heritage is the world longest river cave. Take a boat trip to discover inside it is worthy.

07:30 Have breakfast and check-out hotel

08:00 Take boat along Son river to the gate of Phong Nha cave. The wildly and weirdly beautiful of that cave will make be good impression to the travellers.

10:30 Continue by boat on Chay River to visit Dark Cave, then motorbike pickup to Paradise cave, take some pictures with natural forest, limestone mountain on the way.

11:30 Walk about 10 minus to Paradise Cave. Enjoy the voice of many kind of birds over there. Begin explore “Paradise Cave” and you will be surprised increasingly by the structure of these stalactites and the stalagmites inside.

13:00 Come back to Phong Nha National Park. Enjoy the local food before coming back Hue city.

Day 5: Phong Nha – Khe Sanh: 220 km

Similarity, the trip today ’s another highlight of this Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour! After departing from Phong Nha town, we will make a turn to join the western Ho Chi Minh trail known as the hidden trail that the US army did never know and bomb. The western Ho Chi Minh trail offers us the wonderful motorbike ride today: with the length of more than 200 km, this western Ho Chi Minh trail motorbike ride is almost under the Phong Nha Ke Bang national park where the traffic is completely empty. In the late afternoon when we get out of national park we will pay a interesting visit to Khe Sanh – the former important US Marine Base including US Air base, tunnels and new Khe Sanh museum. Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour will head down to the Khe Sanh town and finish the great day for motorbike touring Vietnam at about 5:00 pm. Overnight there

Day 6: Khe Sanh – Vinh Moc tunnels – Hue: 170 km

Next, We will leave the Ho Chi Minh trail today to ride along the historical road No 9 along the Dakrong river. The motorbike ride is straight to the eastern side of Vietnam along the 17th parallel where we can visit the Hien Luong bridge – a symbol for the border between the north Vietnam and south Vietnam, Vinh Moc tunnels and where you can have short motorbike ride on coastal roads which offers different view from the ride on Ho Chi Minh trail days before.

Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour arrives Hue at 4:30 pm. Hotel stay.

Day 7: Hue – Hoi An (150km)

Likewise, the end destination for this day is the ancient town of Hoi An, another World Heritage site, most famous for its contribution to trade with South-East Asia, back in the 16th and 17th centuries. Riding National Highway 1 until we meet one of the greatest attractions though, is the Hai Van Pass, the mountain pass, whose scenic beauty will amaze you and its twisting roads will challenge our riding skills!

No wonder it has been featured by Top Gear, in 2008, as one of the best cross roads in the world. The pass was controlled by the U.S army during the American war and what remains of the base, are still visible and open to explore. After a short coffee break, Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour descends down the mountain and following the coastal road, which will bring us to Hoi An, where we stay overnight.

Day 8: Hoi An relaxing

After breakfast in the hotel, Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour will have short walking tour around the ancient town Hoi An to see some famous attraction in Hoi An such as: the Japanese bridge, Chinese temples, local markets and the traditional houses.

In the afternoon you can have your free time at the beach or keep motorbike touring Hoi An to some peaceful and green villages of the local people who plant the vegetable all year around.

Day 9: Hoi An – Quy Nhon (290km)

Today will be one of the longest riding with the Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour team. We will ride from Hoi An to Quy Nhon. We just follow the way directly to the South of Vietnam along the coastal line. It will be the day with full of challenges but also variety of excitements for you.

Our crew reaches Quy Nhon at about 4pm. You can feel the salty wind from the sea because this town is located adjunctively with the sea. Enjoy our dinner and one night here in this sea town will be an amazing experience.

Day 10: Quy Nhon – Nha Trang (240km)

The sceneries 2 sides of the road with the romantic and tranquil beaches, where there are almost no human. It could be one of the best Vietnam motorbike tours on Top Gear Vietnam routes.

We come to Nha Trang in early afternoon. You can take a tour around the city and then head back to the hotel to enjoy your night in this city.

Day 11: Nha Trang (Relax – Boat trip)

This is our day of relaxation on this Vietnam motorcycle tour and a full-day boat trip. In the morning, we sail away and visit 4 different islands. Lunchtime finds us on the boat. Spend beer time or swimming time on the beach in late afternoon or at night.

Top Gear Vietnam motorcycle tour spends the night in Nha Trang.

Day 12: Nha Trang – Da Lat (150km)

After yesterday’s relaxation day, we are ready to ride today’s 150-kilometer mountainous trail that will unveil some of the most famous footages that you might have seen in the BBC Top Gear Vietnam Special show in 2008. We head to Central Highland and reach the City of Love, Dat Lat.

It is a very favorite destination for both locals and the French, due to its extraordinary beauty, majestic waterfalls, evergreen forests, mesmerizing lakes, the best flower gardens found in the country, and fresh and tasty agricultural products. It has always been a pleasant oasis for those that wanted an escape from the lowlands’ high temperatures.

With more than many places to see, we can spend the day visiting Da Lat’s highlight, which could include the gardens, the Valley of Love, the key pagodas, the waterfalls, or admire the architecture and beauty of the cathedral, the convent, and the university. Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour spends the night at Da Lat.

Day 13: Da Lat – Cat Tien National Park (200km)

Riding on Road 20, Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour heads for the National Park of Cat Tien that was used as a Vietnamese militia headquarters, during the Vietnam War. It is a park that has endured much suffering, as it was massively sprayed with herbicides during the war. Up to this day, you cannot find proper vegetation and tree growth in the land, and it is predominantly covered with grass and bamboo trees.

We spend the night in a hotel, in Cat Tien National Park.

Day 14: Cat Tien – Saigon (160km)

Despite the relatively short route, today’s trip will be rather tiring as the traffic as we enter Saigon can be mind-blowing. Top Gear Vietnam motorbike tour ends as soon as we reach the train station. If you require any additional information on accommodation and places to eat, our guide will be more than glad to make some recommendations. Tour ends

The bikers can spend some days more to see the city or take boat trip on Mekong Delta then fly back home at Tan Son Nhat international airport.