Southern Vietnam Guided Motorcycle Tour from Hanoi via the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Ke Bang, Khe Sanh and Hue to Saigon – Second Ride (SOLD OUT)
Arrive 18th March 2026 – Guided Tour 20th March 2026 – 1st April 2026 – Depart 2nd April 2026
Overview
Adventurous Southern Vietnam Motorcycle Tour From Hanoi to Saigon, our expert guides lead you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Vietnam, ensuring that you have a safe and unforgettable journey. Come and ride through beautiful Southern Vietnam with The Platypus Foundation and Asian Lotus Travel.
Cost Options starting at USD$2124 per person.
Key Information
Included
Hotel and homestay accommodation for the duration of the guided tour, i.e. from Friday 20th March to Wednesday 1st April 2026 inclusive – see itinerary for details.
Food and drinks – 13 breakfasts (B) and 11 dinners (D) – see itinerary for details
Snacks for morning and afternoon teas on ride days
English speaking tour guide
Motorcycle: Honda XR150 motorbike (or similar) hire with insurance & fuel
Entrance fees for sightseeing activities, cruises and kayaking
Not included
Your international and/or domestic air tickets.
Your Vietnam visa. We recommend obtaining your visa though the Vietnam Immigration Department at the Ministry of Public Security.
Your international driver’s licence (required by everyone driving a motorcycle). We recommend the International Driving Permit available online from ITA. (https://www.itaoffice.org/)
Your personal travel insurance. All participants are expected to arrange their own insurance. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home. Policies should cover any and all potential risks involved in your holiday. We recommend insurance from Cover-More.
The cost of most lunches – on ride days we stop at a local wayside kitchen and for a few Dong enjoy the local cuisine
Tips / gratuities. We recommend USD$6 – 9 per day per person to our supported team (guide and driver)
Your motorbiking jackets, pants, gloves, helmets and boots (compulsory) – Asian Lotus Travel can provide our standard helmets and gloves upon request. If you do not bring your standard motorbiking jacket and pants, you can buy these from a shop near your hotel in Hanoi before the trip starts. The choice of sizes is limited. Please contact Dong Minh Cuong (aka Koony) at Asian Lotus Travel if you need to check the available sizes. (All riders must wear boots and a helmet)
Waterproof bags / raincoats (these items can be bought in Hanoi)
Personal expenses
Alcoholic drinks
Tour Highlights
Touring distance: approximately 2270 kilometres
Daily rides: between 150 – 300 kilometres
Terrain: mix of tarmac, sand, gravel, muddy, rocky, and off-road
Experience the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and enjoy the hospitality and culture of the local Thai people
Discover parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a crucial logistical network during the Vietnam War
Witness Ke Bang, the biggest and most beautiful cave in Vietnam and all of Indochina
Explore the former US Combat Base at Khe Sanh
Visit the tombs of the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty
Discover ‘The City of Ghosts’ the oldest and most beautiful cemetery of Vietnam
Explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site
and so much more
Skill level
Suitable for riders with intermediate and advanced skill levels
Accommodation
During this tour you will be accommodated in twin shared hotel rooms and local homestays.
Detailed costing
The following costing has been calculated for a party of at least 8 participants travelling together with twin-share hotel accommodation and 125cc motorcycles. The costs are quoted on a cash payment basis and are exclusive of any government and / or third-party taxes and service charges. If payment is made by credit card, traveller’s check or bank transfer, additional charges will apply.
Charitable donation to Platypus for each participant: USD$327 (equivalent to AUD$500)
Tour cost per rider: 8 – 9 riders: USD$2004 each; 10-11 riders: USD$1907 each; 12 – 14 riders: USD$1797 each
Options
Tour cost per pillion passenger: same rate as the rider (Rider and pillion share a bigger more powerful motorcycle: 250cc or 400cc)
Tour cost per car passenger: USD$1136 each
Hotel accommodation single room premium: USD$310
Bigger motorcycle premium (250cc – 400cc): USD$35 per day
Itinerary
Wednesday 18 March 2026 – Day 0 – Accommodation: Hotel
It is recommended that international participants fly into Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport. Asian Lotus Travel will arrange your hotel transfer if you provide your itinerary to Dong Minh Cuong (aka Koony).
Thursday 19 March 2026 – Day 1 – Exploring Hanoi and Bike and Kit Check – Meals D – Accommodation: Hotel
An opportunity to explore Hanoi’s shopping districts and, if required, purchase bike gear such as waterproof clothing and travel bags from a local store. Asian Lotus Travel can provide advice. All participants must attend a group briefing and bike testing session at 2.30pm followed by dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant. The location will be advised separately.
Friday 20 March 2026 – Day 2 – Hanoi to Pu Luong or Mai Chau – Distance: 150 klms –Meals D – Accommodation: Homestay
Early in the morning we leave the busy life of Hanoi behind and travel on Highway 06 to the Northwest of Vietnam. The ride will take us through the Pu Luong Nature Reserve and you will quickly see why the ethnic Thai people made this enchanting valley their home long ago: endless mountains, fertile valleys and pristine jungle are just a few good reasons to visit. Pu Luong is dotted with quaint hamlets and villages throughout the park, each with its own unique history. Most of the communities in the reserve are Thai people, an ethnic group with two local branches, White Thai and Black Thai. The Thai people are highly skilled at wet rice cultivation and their homes are built in a raised stilt style. Staying at one of these homestays is a fantastic way to experience local customs and see what life is like for this Vietnamese minority. At our journey’s end, we’ll check into a traditional Stilt House and explore the scenic village. After dinner, our Thai hosts will entertain us with traditional music, singing and dancing.
Saturday 21 March 2026 – Day 3 – Pu Luong to Con Cuong- Distance: 220 klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Leaving Pu Luong in the morning after breakfast, we ride through the countryside on narrow paved roads and dirt tracks crossing shallow rivers, traversing bridges, and passing through villages and scenic bamboo forests Along the way we will discover parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, (Vietnamese: Đường mòn Hồ Chí Minh) a crucial logistical network during the Vietnam War, running from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia. It consisted of a complex system of roads and trails used by North Vietnam to transport troops and supplies to support the National Liberation Front in the South. Contrary to the perception of it being a primitive path, the trail included paved roads, command outposts, and even fuel pipelines. Today, the trail is recognized not only for its historical significance but also as a destination for travelers seeking to explore Vietnam’s natural beauty.
Lunch will be a simple affair in a local restaurant. Our afternoon ride is on smooth roads all the way to Con Cuong town where we spend the night in a hotel.
Sunday 22 March 2026 – Day 4 – Con Cuong to Phong Nha- Distance: 240 klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Our morning ride is easy on the smooth Ho Chi Minh Road all the way to Phong Nha and Ke Bang, the biggest and most beautiful cave in Vietnam and all of Indochina, Ke Bang is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. We will get lunch on route and arrive at our hotel in the early afternoon. After checking in to our hotel we’ll take a boat trip to discover the Son River and its giant Phong Nha Cave. Dinner will be served in our hotel in Phong Nha
Monday 23 March 2026 – Day 5 – Phong Nha – Khe Sanh – Distance: 250 klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Phong Nha is an adventurer’s paradise. Millions of years of flooding have chiseled out the world’s largest caves, meandering rivers entwine ancient karsts, and jungle-clad mountains lend an otherworldly atmosphere. We spend the whole day riding through the National Park taking the famous Western Ho Chi Minh Trail towards the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which was sprayed heavily with Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. It is a spectacularly scenic, hilly and twisty road.
Stop for a simple lunch in local restaurant. Before arriving at our hotel, we’ll visit the former US Combat Base at Khe Sanh. Dinner and overnight at a small 2-star hotel in Khe Sanh.
Tuesday 24 March 2026 – Day 6 – Khe Sanh to Hue – Touring distance: 190klms – Meals – B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
After breakfast we begin a whole day ride downhill toward the coastal region. It’s a day with many stops to visit the historical sites left from the Vietnam War era including the former border between North and South Vietnam and Vinh Moc underground tunnels. Our journey continues along the coast and through the rice farming region until the beautiful city of Hue on the banks of the Perfume River. Hue, the former imperial capital, boasts a long-lasting treasure trove of world-renowned ancient wonders, distinctive cultural traits, and delightful traditional cuisine, where visitors can immerse themselves in Vietnam’s illustrious history as if they are traveling back in time. Our dinner features the specialties of Hue. Overnight at a 3-star hotel.
Wednesday 25 March 2026 – Day 7 – Hue to Hoi An – Touring distance: 160 klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
In the morning, we visit the old Citadel and the tombs of the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty followed by a boat trip on the Perfume River, named for the aromatic plants that line its banks, and which impart a distinctive fragrance to the water as it flows through the region. Returning to our hotel for check out, we continue the ride to Hoi An though rice fields, fishing villages and discover ‘The City of Ghosts’ the oldest and most beautiful cemetery of Vietnam, Dinner specialties of Hoi An. Overnight at a beautiful boutique 4-star hotel.
Thursday 26 March 2026 – Day 8 – Relaxing in Hoi An – Than Uyên – Meals B – Accommodation: Hotel
Spend the morning visitingHoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture, making it a must-visit destination in Vietnam. the morning.
After lunch, plan your own afternoon and evening. There are so many things to see and do in Hoi An, and some of the best restaurant in all of Vietnam.
Friday 27 March 2026 – Day 9 – Hoi An through the Mang Den Pass to Kon Tum – Touring distance 300 klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Leaving the lowland, we head up today to the western highland region. The spectacular mountain roads lead us up and down over many high passes to Mang Den in Kon Tum province, the country of the highland peoples. On route we will discover the western Ho Chi Minh roads with many stories and memories. Enjoy riding on the dirt tracks through coffee farmland and local villages.
Mang Den is a small town in the Kon Plong district, located about 60 kilometres from Kon Tum City. It is often referred to as ‘Little Da Lat’ due to its cool fresh air, dense forests, pristine laskes and waterfalls, making it a perfect destination for those seeking tranquility amidst nature
Lunch on route. Dinner and overnight in hotel in – Kon Tum.
Saturday 28 March 2026 – Day 10 – Kon Tum – Pleiku – Buon Ma Thuot – Touring Distance 250 klms – Meals: B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Another whole-day ride filled with beautiful highland mountain passes and valley views. Discover the daily life of the highland people along the border with Cambodia. Experience riding on all kinds of small, paved roads, twisty trails and dirt tracks though the coffee, rubber trees and cashew nut farming lands, river ferry crossing. Lunch in a local restaurant near the Elephant Lake, the largest natural water in the Central Highlands and the second largest freshwater natural lake in Vietnam after the Babe Lake in Northwest, Vietnam. This is one of the most famous ecotourism and cultural destinations of Dak Lak Province. Arrive in Buon Ma Thuot in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Sunday 29 March 2026 – Day 11 – Buon Ma Thuot – Da Lat- Touring Distance 180klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Leaving the land of coffee, we ride up today on the Lang Biang Mountain Range, pine trees forest, green pepper and cashew farms. Lan Biang has the two highest peaks of the Da Lat plateau: Lang Biang at2,167 meters and Bidoup Ban at2,287 meters. For that reason, they are also called the roof of Da Lat. Our journey is a mixture of twisty dirt tracks and small concrete routes all the way to Da Lat, the biggest and most important city in Southern Highland Vietnam. Dinner is in the beautiful, amazing night market of Dalat before relaxing overnight in our hotel.
Monday 30 March 2026 – Day 12 Relaxing in Da Lat – Meals B – Accommodation: Hotel
A day to wander and enjoy the highlights in Da Lat – there are so many things to see and do. Why not book a Waterfall Tour or go Cloud Hunting during The Glow of Dawn. Asian Lotus Tours can help you choose and arrange these additional activities. Or you could simply relax and enjoy endless or coffee and views of the city around the lake.
Tuesday 31 March 2026 – Day 13 Da Lat – Nam Cat Tien National Park – Touring Distance 170 klms – Meals B, D – Accommodation: Homestay
Enjoy a relaxing ride with a mix of roads through towns and countryside back roads. We’ll enjoy some pleasant stops and lunch along the way and meet the locals. Dinner and overnight at a family house.
Cat Tien National Park is part of the wet tropical forest complex and one of the specious natural forests remaining in Vietnam. That is why this area is significant not only in Vietnam but in the world as well. The diversity of the Park has been recognized by WWF when this international organization selected the Park as one of 200 global ecological zones including the land and its water area with its well-known biological diversity. In 2001, Cat Tien National Park has been listed by UNESCO as the 411th biosphere Reserve Zone in the world.
Wednesday 1 April 2026 – Day 14 Nam Cat Tien Park – Sai Gon – Touring Distance 160 klms – Meals B, L, D – Accommodation: Hotel
Today is our last day on our bikes. We’ll stay as much as possible off-road on the small dirt tracks through farmlands to avoid the busy traffic on the main road. There will be a river ferry crossing, cashew nut farms, rice fields and all the coutryside life of the Southern people to enjoy. In the afternoon we will ride to the finish point before arriving in Saigon where we say goodbye to the bikes and transfer by bus 20km to the hotel in Sai Gon.
This where our tour finishes at our final hotel in Saigon.
Thursday 2 April 2026 – Day 15 Hồ Chí Minh City Departure – Meals B
This is the final day of your tour. After breakfast and check-out, your airport transfer will be scheduled.
