This is the 'Top Gear Vietnam Special' route: Hanoi to Saigon on the Ho Chi Minh Highway. Pass over mountains and through jungles, before riding the serene coastal road, enjoying the views and spending your nights in quiet beach resorts.
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Itinerary
Motorcycles
Inclusions
Addons
Pricing
Day 1: Ha Noi – Pu Luong
180 km
6 hours
Hoa Binh Dam; Hoa Binh back roads; Pu Luong Nature Reserve
We take the longer, more scenic route to get out of Hanoi and get used to the bikes. Following the Red and then Black Rivers before heading into the hills. We enter the lush Pu Luong Valley and stay in the more remote area away from the crowds.
Day 2: Pu Luong – Tan Ky
210 km
7 hours
Ho Chi Minh Trail
This is one of our longest days but it is not a difficult one. We head out of the nature reserve and then dead South along the QL15. we can take a couple of detours on smaller roads, time permitting but this is very much a day of getting to our destination. We end up in the tiny town of Tan Ky which is the start of the Ho Chi Minh trail. Our hotel is the biggest in town, very easy to find, and we eat in local restaurants on the roadside.
Day 3: Tan Ky – Phong Nha
260 km
6 hours
Ho Chi Minh Trail
We are now on the HCM Highway proper and things start to get more spectacular. It is a very long run down to Phong Nha so we have to be up and at ‘em early. So, an early breakfast and it is on the road toute suite. We follow the highway along the border with Laos and then around lunchtime we head a little West, more into the hills. There are lots of switchbacks as the road winds its way through the hills and this makes for great driving.
Day 4: Phong Nha (rest day)
optional
optional
various caves, lakes and back roads; chilling in Phong Nha
After a few long days in the saddle, it is time for a welcome break. There are plenty of alternatives here in Phong Nha and you can choose from visiting the caves, zip-lining, taking a boat on the river, or just lounging around in the sun. Remember, to get some washing done.
Day 5: Phong Nha – Khe Sanh
230 km
6 hours
Ho Chi Minh Trail; war remnants in Khe Sanh Combat Base
We continue along the HCM Highway through the hills and it is more of the same. However, it doesn’t seem to get tiresome. The road winds through virgin forest and gets quite remote at times. We have enough fuel and a good mechanic so we are not concerned by this at all. You will see small hamlets occasionally and a few friendly children. Other than this, we are quite alone. At last. Khe Sanh is littered with military history and with luck we will have a little time to visit one or two places.
Day 6: Khe Sanh – Hue
175 km
5 hours
Ho Chi Minh Trail; Walking Street in Hue
It isn’t too difficult to get to Hue from Khe Sanh so we can have a lie-in or, better still, sneak in a quick visit to another military site of interest. We have a choice of routes to get to Hue: more HCM Highway or over to National Highway 1. Everyone chooses the road through the hills :) so we have more of the winding, rising and falling alongside the beautiful scenery. Sounds good. Hue is very civilized and we stay in a lovely boutique hotel here. Easy days.
Day 7: Hue – Hoi An
150 km
5 hours
Lang Co Beach; Hai Van Pass; Hoi Ancient Town
There are three possible options for the route today, but, again, we know that everyone will choose to take the Hai Van pass because of its history and its wonderful views over the East Sea. It is not far, so we have plenty of time to stop off for selfies and snacks and to generally enjoy the ride. To top that off, we then find ourselves in Hoi An, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam; for good reason.
Day 8: Hoi An – Quy Nhon
320 km
7 hours
beach road along the coast; hotel in a quiet bay
This is a huge day of over 250km so we need to get on the road early. We hightail it down the highway along the coast with little time for stopping. We can certainly break this up and you should consider adding in a day here. We do end up in Quy Nhon, which is a great small town n the coast. Our hotel is on the beach in a secluded cove so the long drive will seem worth it. Tomorrow is the reward.
Day 9: Quy Nhon (Rest Day)
optional
-
relaxing on the beach; Ky Co Bay
A well-deserved rest day spent in no better place. We can hang out on the beach and do beach things or take a stroll around the local village. This day is a departure from the rigours of touring and the perfect way to replenish ourselves.
Day 10: Quy Nhon – Tuy Hoa
80 km
3 hours
coastal road; beach resort
This is a short hop to Tuy Hoa, which is another small coastal town. These areas are quite sleepy so it is a pleasure cruise between them and it gives us a little more time to take in the scenery and have fun. The coastal road is a welcome change to the mountains and adds a little variety.
Day 11: Tuy Hoa – Nha Trang
130 km
4 hours
coastal road; beach resort
We follow the coastal road again and head for Nha Trang, which is very built up and bustling. There are many lovely beaches on the route and we can stop off for a seafood lunch and a swim, if it gets hot. Our accommodation in Nha Trang is more upscale and so is the nightlife.
Day 12: Nha Trang – Phan Thiet
220 km
6 hours
coastal road; beach resort
A fairly long drive today along the coastal road so we need to make an early start. We will see more of the same beaches and resorts. We make a point of stopping at Cam Ranh Bay to get some stunning photos and then it is off down South to get to Phan Thiet.
Day 13: Phan Thiet – Vung Tau
130 km
4 hours
coastal road; beach resort
Phan Thiet is a beach resort that is well known for kite surfing and we’ll see plenty of action here as we head further south along the coast. The ride is not so far and not so difficult so we have plenty of time to take a few detours or stop off for refreshments. We will get to Vung Tau nice and early and this will ensure we can have an early beer.
Day 14: Vung Tau – Sai Gon
100 km
4 hours
ferry ride back to Saigon
Our final leg of the ride and, unfortunately, we head in to the heavily congested saigonese traffic. We need to pay attention and re-acquaint ourselves with this level of traffic in order to keep safe. It isn’t so far, but we take it slowly so that we can be careful and get back in one piece. We will have plenty of time to get to our hotel and then be ready for our farewell dinner.
Honda Future 125
Gallery
Description
The Honda Future is our most powerful semi-automatic motorbike, and makes for a surprisingly capable tourer.
fuel injected: easy to start and good throttle response
storage space beneath the seat
light and easy to maneuver
Specifications
Engine
Engine Type
air cooled, 4 stroke, OHC
Displacement
125 cc
Bore X Stroke
52.4 x 57.9
Ignition
ECU
Fuel System
carburettor / PGM-Fi
Compression Ratio
9.3:1
Transmission
Starter
electric/kick
Gearbox
4 speed semi-auto
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes
Suspension Front
telescopic fork
Suspension Rear
twin suspension
Brakes Front
disc
Brakes Rear
drum
Tyres Front
70/90 R17
Tyres Rear
80/90 R17
Dimensions and Weight
Wheelbase
1258 mm
Seat Height
767 mm
Ground Clearance
135 mm
Kerb Weight
105 kg
Fuel Capacity
5.4 litres
Dimensions
1092 mm (H) x 711 mm (W) x 1962 mm (L)
Honda XR 150
Gallery
Description
The Honda XR 150 is the most popular dual sport in Vietnam for a reason: whether you’re riding a highway, a country road or a single track through the jungle, it’s built to handle anything the region has to throw at it.
comfortable seat, even carrying a pillion
huge fuel tank gives the XR fantastic range
very capable off road
Specifications
Engine
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
150 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Transmission
Starter
electric/kick
Gearbox
5 speed
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes
Suspension Front
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Suspension Rear
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Brakes Front
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Brakes Rear
mechanical drum
Tyres Front
90/90 19
Tyres Rear
110/90 17
Dimensions and Weight
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Honda CRF 250
Gallery
Description
The larger and more powerful brother of the XR 150, the Honda CRF 250 is one of the most popular dual sports on the planet. With excellent suspension and high ground clearance, it’s extremely capable off road.
designed to go off road
plenty of torque, even in 5th gear
front and rear disc brakes
Specifications
Engine
Engine Type
liquid cooled, single cylinder, 4-stroke
Displacement
249 cc
Bore X Stroke
79 x 50.9
Ignition
computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance
Fuel System
PGM-FI fuel injection
Compression Ratio
13.9:1
Transmission
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5 speed
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes
Suspension Front
49 mm leading-axle inverted, 12.2 inch travel
Suspension Rear
single shock with spring preload, 12.3 inch travel
Brakes Front
single 260 mm disc
Brakes Rear
single 240 mm disc
Tyres Front
80/100 21
Tyres Rear
100/90 19
Dimensions and Weight
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
875 mm
Ground Clearance
332 mm
Kerb Weight
145 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.7 litres
Dimensions
2195 mm (L) x 815 mm (W) x 1195 mm (H)
Honda CB 500
Gallery
Description
The CB 500X is an adventure touring bike, and represents a massive step up from rental motorcycles traditionally available in Vietnam. It’s got plenty of room for baggage and a pillion, so it’s perfect for those longer adventures.
right at home both on and off road
designed for touring: maximum comfort and capability
huge amount of power
Specifications
Engine
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 x 66.8
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
PGM-FI fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Transmission
Starter
electric/kick
Gearbox
6 speed
Wheels, Suspension and Brakes
Suspension Front
41mm SFF-BP USD forks
Suspension Rear
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre-load
Brakes Front
dual 296mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Brakes Rear
240mm disc; ABS
Tyres Front
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Tyres Rear
160/60R17M/C
Dimensions and Weight
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1410 mm (H)
Motorcycle
Your motorcycle is 3rd party insured. This is a legal requirement here in Vietnam, and protects you in the event that you injure another road user.
Additionally, we are responsible in the event your motorcycle breaks down or suffers a mechanical failure. However, if you damage your motorcycle by crashing it or through general misuse, you will be responsible for repair costs.
Naturally, you are also responsible for your own travel and medical insurance.
Fuel
All the fuel you need for the duration of the trip is provided.
Food and Drink
Your breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided and will be a mixture of European and Vietnamese food. Soft drinks and water are also provided and guides keep them stocked up at all times.
Breakfast will be in your homestay or hotel and will generally be a mix of fried eggs and bread, noodles, pancakes and sticky rice, accompanied by fruit and coffee.
Lunch will be in roadside restaurants (small eateries offering clean and delicious local food), or we’ll stop for picnics (sandwiches with cold cuts and cheese) when appropriate.
Dinner will be in your hotel or homestay and will usually be a family cooked meal with a range of meat and vegetable dishes with some local specialties (all of which will be washed down with local fire water if requested!)
Vegetarian and vegan options may be limited in the countryside, but we always do our best to cater to our riders’ dietary requirements.
Beer in the evening is not included, but it’s cheap and in plentiful supply.
Western Guide
You will have one Western tour leader who will also act as translator, mechanic and route master. Larger groups will also be accompanied by an English speaking Vietnamese mechanic.
Medical Support
Your guide and support staff are all trained in first aid, and will be carrying first aid equipment.
Visa Invitation
We will arrange your visa invitation letter free of charge.
(Please note, though, that you will need to collect this take this to immigration yourself and pay a stamping fee of about $25 to receive your visa.)
Covid Guarantee
We take it on ourselves to offer a covid guarantee. We offer a full refund/rescheduling of your tour should you be unable to fly due to having covid. All we ask is that you provide us with photo copies of a failed covid test taken less than 3 days prior to your flight departure date.
