MOTORBIKE TOUR 10 DAYS FROM HO CHI MINH CITY TO HOI AN

The countryside in Long Hai beach town

Today is the longest day but it is a most stunning coastline way to Mui Ne, after breakfast we will take a short ride to the nicest beach view and stop for you to take a walk to the rock and take some great photos and ride to The Minh Dam Army Base, a historic site of the Vietnam War that served as a strategic base for the Viet Minh and Viet Cong forces during the wars against French and American forces. Located in the Minh Dam Mountains, it’s a place of both natural beauty and historical significance, as the rocky terrain and dense forests provide excellent cover and strategic advantage for guerrilla fighters.

We will take an hour's walk through the mountain to see remnants of the base, including bunkers, caves, and hidden shelters where soldiers lived, planned, and stored supplies. We will see some memorials and plaques honoring those who served and sacrificed here.

After visiting the base, we will take the stunning coastline to Ke Ga islet, it is a small, picturesque island known for its natural beauty, historic lighthouse, and tranquil atmosphere. Built by the French in 1899, the Ke Ga Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Southeast Asia and one of Vietnam's tallest, standing at about 65 meters. Constructed with granite, it showcases classic French architecture and offers panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and coastline. The Ke Ga islet is accessible by boat from the mainland, with local fishermen often offering ferry services, especially at low tide. The short boat trip adds to the adventure, giving a closer view of the area's marine life and seascape. Continuing our trip, we will pass the coastline to Phan Thiet City for lunch and visit the Van Thuy Tu Whale’s worship which is a historic and cultural site. It was built in 1762, this ancient temple is dedicated to Cá Ông (the Whale God), which local fishermen revere as a protector deity believed to watch over them at sea. The temple houses an impressive collection of whale skeletons, including one approximately 22 meters in length, considered the largest in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Van Thuy Tu is also known for its traditional festivals, such as the Whale Worshipping Festival and the Fish Praying Festival, which draw many visitors and locals each year. These festivals celebrate maritime culture and pay homage to the Whale God, reflecting the deep spiritual connection of the coastal communities to the sea.

Keep going to our hotel in Mui Ne we will stop at Cham temples, This is one of the most ancient temple groups of the Champa kingdom in Binh Thuan, dating from the early 8th to 9th centuries, only small and medium in size, this tower crystallizes the quintessence of architectural techniques and decorative arts of the ancient Cham people. Arrive at our hotel at 5 pm.

Accommodation:  Hotel

White sanddune in Muine

Leave Mui Ne town early after breakfast to visit the fairy stream where we can walk in a unique natural with red, and white dunes, a winding stream, and surrounding limestone formations. This shallow, clear stream flows through a narrow canyon bordered by dramatic rock formations, giving it an otherworldly appearance that resembles a fairy tale setting. After the fairy stream, we will stop at the fishing village for a short rest and listen to the story of the fisherman through our guides.

Keep going on our motorbike along the beautiful coastline and visit the white sand – dune, the must-see in the Mui Ne region. It is unlike the typical desert landscape, the dune is surrounded by a lush lake and greenery, creating a surreal mix of sand and oasis. The sand stretches in waves and ridges across the dunes, with some towering over 20 meters high, constantly reshaped by the coastal winds. The area is especially popular for outdoor activities like sandboarding, quad biking, and riding on off-road vehicles the dune is most breathtaking at sunrise and sunset when the sand reflects soft, warm hues, creating an otherworldly scene perfect for photography.

After that, we will continue our motorbike journey through the spectacular mountain landscapes and stop at the dragon fruit farm, which is the most famous dragon fruit region growth in Vietnam, the region’s hot, dry climate and sandy soil provide ideal conditions for growing dragon fruit, particularly the red-skinned variety with white or red flesh. Fields are filled with rows of trellises where the dragon fruit grows, it creates a surreal landscape, especially during the night when the farms are often illuminated for nighttime pollination. Dragon fruit farms in Muine are mesmerizing to explore, during the growing season, the plants bloom with large, white flowers, known as “moon flowers,” which open at night. Then, we are going to visit the K'ho hill tribe village that lives on the mountain and our experienced tour guide will try his best to explain to you the culture of this group among 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam. 

Taking the stunning mountain loops to Di Linh town, we will visit the tea farm - the biggest area of tea farm growing in Vietnam. Di Linh’s tea plantations spread across rolling hills, forming vibrant green landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see, especially stunning in the early morning when mist hangs over the fields. Farmers in Di Linh traditionally harvest tea leaves by hand, and the process often becomes a picturesque scene, with workers in conical hats picking leaves in neat rows, this area offers a look into traditional Vietnamese tea cultivation. After visiting the tea farm, we will check in at our hotel. We will arrive at our homestay at 5 pm.

Accommodation: Homestay/ Hotel

The way up to the central highland

After breakfast and a cup of coffee, we are going to visit the most beautiful waterfall - Pongour waterfall, it is known for its majestic multi-tiered cascade, the waterfall drops over seven levels of rocky terraces, stretching around 100 meters wide with a height of approximately 40 meters. Surrounded by lush greenery and untouched forest, it offers a breathtaking view and is especially beautiful in the rainy season (from September to November) when the water flow is strongest. We will have lunch after the waterfall and we will visit the K'ho ethnic village, known as the chicken village, here our guide will tell you why it had a famous name of the chicken village and also tell you about the legend story about the marriage and culture of the K'ho people. 

Before going to our homestay in Dalat we still have a few places more to check out the beauty of Dalat at the Robbin hill, Zen monastery, and the Tuyen Lam Lake.

Accommodation:  Homestay

Enjoy the ride on the beautiful mountain road 

Ready at your hotel at 8:30 am for the motorbike trip on the first day, we will head to the breathtaking countryside road of Dalat to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and stop at the follower village where we can see the farmers working on their colorful flower-like daisy, rose, lily and gerbera, in the morning is the busiest time that the farmers have to choose the best the flowers to arrange it in the boxes and ready for export to the local markets and Ho Chi Minh city. Back to the motorbike after visiting the beautiful flower farm, we will take the most stunning mountain pass of Dalat to Me Linh town where we will visit the coffee plantation, before trying the cup of coffee, our tour guide will explain to you how is the coffee tree's growth in Vietnam and how is the different taste of different coffee like Robusta, Moka, Arabica and a special coffee is produced from the special animal - Weasel.

After visiting this coffee farm and enjoying the coffee, continue our journey to a local family where you can try the taste of the strongest traditional homemade rice wine ( happy water ), and you will also understand how is the process of making rice wine through our tour guide. The next destination we will visit to the silk worm factory, the must-see place on our first day, here you will see and understand how the workers make silk products from the cocoons. After that, we will visit the Elephant Waterfall, which is the most beautiful waterfall in this area. Close to the fall is the Buddhist Temple, a huge Happy Buddha statue, and the highest Lady Buddha statue ( 71 meters high) in the south where you will enjoy your time and get a deeper understanding of Buddhism through our guides. Stop for lunch in the middle of the mountain road.

Relax and continue our motorbike trip through the stunning mountain roads and stop to visit the flooding village, people who live in these floating houses are moved from the Mekong Delta river to here for fishing and have created a small village on the river. Keep going an hour more on the winding motorbike through the villages and rice fields before getting to our hotel in Lak Lake. Finish our first day of motorbike trip at 5 pm.

Accommodation: Lak Lake Hotel.

Swimming in the natural lake

Wake up early 6 am for the dug-out canoe trip, this trip offers a serene and authentic experience of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Lak Lake, one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the region, is surrounded by lush forests, rolling hills, and traditional M’nong ethnic villages, creating a peaceful, scenic backdrop.

On this journey, you’ll board a wooden dugout canoe, handcrafted by locals, and gently paddle across the tranquil, glassy waters of the lake. As you drift along, you’ll see local fishermen, herds of water buffalo, and diverse bird species, offering a glimpse into the daily life and natural beauty of the area. The ride also often brings views of the remote M’nong villages along the lakeshore, where traditional stilt houses dot the landscape, preserving ancient customs.

Before Leaving the wildlife of Lak Lake to Buon Ma Thuot City (BMT city), we will walk around the village to see many houses made from bamboo and wood, elevated to protect against floods and provide ventilation in the warm climate. The M’nong people have lived here for generations, maintaining their unique customs, stilt houses, and traditional crafts. You can see the M’nong way of life, from farming and fishing to weaving and other traditional crafts. If we come to the festival, we will see M'nong people play folk music, dances, and celebrations, often performed with the beating of gongs.

Goodbye to an authentic village, again our second day on the motorbike journey we will visit Draysap waterfall, the most beautiful and massive waterfall in Dak Lak region for relaxing and swimming. Before coming here, we will have the option to go to the local market to buy fresh chicken and baguettes for a picnic lunch in the national park or have lunch in the local restaurant. After swimming, we will walk about half an hour through the national park to see another beautiful waterfall. Continue our Easy Rider trip to BMT city, we will take a ride through the rice field roads and village roads and stop at the mushroom farm ( seasonal), incense making and cocoa plantation then hit the capital city of the central highland.

Accommodation:  hotel. 

The victory monument in BMT city

Before moving out of Coffee’s capital to Chuse, we will visit the Dak Lak Cultural and Historical Museum (which closes on Monday) -The museum is known for its striking architecture inspired by traditional longhouses, it offers a deep insight into the diverse cultures, history, and natural landscape of this region. Two main sections of this museum will be explained by our guide to let you understand more about ethnology and history. The ethnology section highlights the lifestyles and traditions of the local ethnic groups, particularly the Ede, Ja Rai, and M’nong, through displays of traditional costumes, musical instruments, tools, and artifacts, and the history section covers the region's history from ancient times to the modern era, including exhibits on the resistance against colonialism and the Vietnam War.

Continue our Easy Rider trip, we will take a ride through the rice field roads, and village roads and stop at the pepper plantation where you can try the hot- fresh taste of the plant, and also the rubber plantation - the biggest tree product in the central highland as well as Vietnam. Take a rest on the hammock for a cup of coffee and ride through Ho Chi Minh Road to the local restaurant for lunch in the middle of the day.

After lunch, take a short walk to the local market and ride our motorbike to Phu Cuong waterfall, the most beautiful waterfall in this area. Keep going to Chuse around 4 pm. 

 Accommodation: Hotel

Relax in the Katu's village 

Starting our fourth-day trip, we will ride again on the Ho Chi Minh trail and visit the Sea Lake “The Eyes of Pleiku”, it is a nice local destination for the locals who want to enjoy the serene landscape, cool climate, and scenic views. The next area on our journey that the tea farm, this tea farm offers not only a chance to explore the cultivation process but also the beauty of the surrounding scenery. It is also the oldest tea plantation that French people grew in the central highland during the French period, walking in the tea farm and enjoying a cup of coffee in this area. Next to the tea farm, there is also the oldest Buddhist temple with a unique lying Buddha statue where we have time to come and visit.

Going to Kontum after this authentic area for lunch. Kontum is a small and peaceful land by the Dkbla River, it is a virgin land with pristine nature and intact hill-tribe cultures such as Bahnar, J’rai, and Sedan. The town also still retains vestiges of ancient cathedral architecture such as the wooden church. We will check in at our hotel after lunch around 2 pm and take a couple of hours to visit the Kon K'tu ethnic village and walk around to see the special Rong house, beautiful river, and local life, then go back to the hotel.

Accommodation:  Hotel. 

Rolling on the beautiful Ho Chi Minh road

Before leaving the land of the Bana people we will visit the wooden church, the church was built in 1913 and serves as a testament to the history of Catholicism in the Central Highlands and the efforts of French missionaries who established Christianity in the area. The church is distinguished by its traditional wooden construction, using local materials. It exhibits a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, featuring intricate carvings and design elements that reflect both Christian and indigenous cultural influences. The church is not only a place of worship but also a cultural center for the local community. It hosts various religious events, festivals, and gatherings.

Riding an hour more we will come to Ngoc Hoi town which was the biggest battlefield during the Vietnam War, we will stop at the war monument where you can see the VC (Vietnam Communist) tanks, that were used to fight against the Americans and Southern soldiers during the war. Continue on the Ho Chi Minh road, we also visit Charlie Hill and Phoenix Airport, Charlie Hill and Phoenix Airport were the site of intense fighting during the Vietnam War, specifically during the Battle of Charlie Hill in 1967, it was a crucial point for both American and North Vietnamese forces. The hill provided a vantage point for military operations, and its control was vital for the surrounding areas. The battles fought here highlight the strategic military maneuvers of the time. Visiting Charlie Hill offers a chance for us to learn about the war's impact on the local landscape and its people. It's an opportunity for reflection on historical events and their significance.  

We will have lunch at the Indochina T-junction which is the border between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Keep going on the stunning mountain of the Truong Son range, we will visit the local stream where we will have time to enjoy swimming and immerse ourselves in the jungle. We will arrive at Phuoc Son town and check in at our hotel around 5 pm.

Accommodation:  Hotel at Kham Duc.