As you follow the route once used by North Vietnamese soldiers on their way to war, you will travel through remote areas where Westerners are still a rarity. You will take in the beautiful limestone mountains of the Truong Son Mountain Range. Visit historical sites dating back to the 15th, the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha National Park. For war buffs, it will be possible to visit the site of the US combat base at Khe Sanh, where one of the most famous battles of the war took place. This is a challenging adventure with basic accommodation, but providing a unique insight into remote Vietnam.

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Arrive/ meet in Hanoi, afternoon full trip briefing and bike fitting, including some time to explore the city (optional guided tour by cyclo). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Puluong (25km cycling) (B,L,D)
Head to Mai Chau before taking a ride on an old supply route of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, along a spectacular and undulating river valley towards Hoi Xuan and Pu Luong. Overnight in Pu Luong Nature  Reserve homestay

Day 3 : Puluong - Ngoc Lac (70km cycling) (B,L,D)
Leave Pu Luong behind and ride on a more undulating terrain route, with tarmac all the way, to Ngoc Lac. Overnight in Ngoc Lac

Day 4: Ngoc Lac – Kim Lien - Vinh (60km cycling) (B,L,D)
Ride on the newly built two- lane Ho Chi Minh Highway to Kim Lien the birthplace of president Ho Chi Minh, before driving out of the mountains to Vinh. Overnight in Vinh- close to the beach.   

Day 5: Vinh – Huong Khe (80km cycling) (B,L,D)
Drive back up onto the Ho Chi Minh Highway and cycle along the increasingly mountainous highways to Huong Khe. Overnight in Huong Khe.

Day 6: Huong Khe – Phong Nha (80km cycling) (B,L,D)
Ride from Huong Khe to Phong Nha, on the tranquil Ho Chi Minh Trail, with mountains rising and roads winding up, down and along the hillsides. Overnight in Phong Nha  

Day 7: Phong Nha – Camlo – Khe Sanh (80km cycling) (B,L,D)
Take a smoother cycling on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Cam Lo before transferring to Khe Sanh near the Laos border. Overnight in Khe Sanh.  

Day 8: Khe Sanh – Aluoi (65km cycling) (B,L,D)
Ride through spectacular scenery to Khe Sanh combat base, and head to Aluoi along the traffic- free but more undulating terrain of the southern part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Overnight in Aluoi  

Day 9: Aluoi – Hue (60km cycling) (B,L,D) 
Ride cut across the trail to Hue, due to the bad roads south of Aluoi. Overnight in Hue  

Day 10: Hue (no cycling) (B)
Rest day with a sightseeing trip within Hue: Forbidden Purple City/ Boat ride along the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue.

Day 11: Hue – Hoi An (100km cycling) (B,L)
Ride for climbing uphill to the Hai Van Pass (pass of the mountain clouds), before taking an epic ride coast down to Danang followed by a ride to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An  

Day 12: Hoi An - My Son – Hoi An (100km cycling) (B,L,D)
Ride out of Hoi An town to My Son, on scenic country back roads passing paddy fields, villages and through eucalyptus forest and lush jungle along the Song Tranh River. Overnight in Hoi An  

Day 13: Hoi An – Danang (Departure) (B)
Free until transfer to Danang for onward flight.