MOTORBIKE TOUR 8 DAYS FROM DALAT TO HOI AN VIA HO CHI MINH ROAD

The village of M'nong people in Lake-town

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 area's daily life and natural beauty. 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.

Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot hotel. 

The victory monument in BMT city - the old capital city during French colonized

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. 

Riding in a part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail

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.

Overnight:  Hotel. 

Riding through the suspension bridge in the village of K'tu ethnic people

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.

Overnight: Hotel.

The mountain path on the Ho Chi Minh Road

Departing after breakfast, we will continue riding through the beautiful green tree-lined on Ho Chi Minh Road. The first destination we will visit is the diesel pipeline system from Truong Son range into the Central Highlands to serve military vehicles in the liberation of the South. Continuing our journey, we will drive about 30 km through green forests and winding rivers to visit the village of Ta Oi ethnic minority people. Coming here, we not only discover their unique cultural beauty, but we also know their great sacrifices in protecting the country.
On this road, we will also visit other ethnic village groups such as Paco and Van Kieu. Although some villages are living here the population is very sparse, each village has just over a dozen rooftops nestled next to the cliffside.
Returning to the history of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, during the years of resistance against the US, the people living here actively responded to the movements of emulating production and fighting invaders to hold villages. People both work in production and contribute their efforts to paving roads and packing goods on the Truong Son route. To smooth the transportation corridor, on May 9, 1968, the North Vietnamese army organized an attack to destroy American troops and the Republic of Vietnam army in Kham Duc and the Ngok Ta Vak base. On May 12, 1968, the North Vietnamese army took control of Kham Duc and previously liberated the Ngok Tavak base. After this victory, the National Highway 14 route from Dakrong Bridge - Quang Tri to the Central Highlands was opened and turned into a strategic transportation system.
On the way, we also visit some natural waterfalls, relax and bathe. At the end of a long day on the historic Ho Chi Minh street, we will stop at the hotel in A Luoi town at 5 pm.

Overnight at A Luoi Hotel.

Taking the 9 Nam Lao Road- A part of Ho Chi Minh Road

Today, we will take the 9 Nam Lao Road, a part of Ho Chi Minh Road connecting Quang Tri to Laos. It was also a famous battlefield road of the Vietnam War, and also offers a more adventurous and scenic, with a long distance of 250 km to Hue, the road taking us through mountainous landscapes and remote areas. This route is known for its natural beauty, winding roads, and limited traffic, making it popular among motorbike travelers and adventure seekers. We will visit Ta Con Airport, a must-see battlefield region, Ta Con also known as Khe Sanh Combat Base, which is a former military airstrip located in Khe Sanh. It was a key military base for U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, especially noted for the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968, one of the most intense battles of the war. The base served as a strategic point for the U.S. Marine Corps, with Ta Con Airport used to transport troops and supplies and provide aerial support during the Vietnam War. The Battle of Khe Sanh was a major siege where U.S. forces defended the base against a much larger North Vietnamese force for 77 days. Here, we will see the old bunkers, trenches, some several war relics on display, including a C-130 aircraft, M-41 tanks, artillery pieces used during the war, and displays that document the lives of soldiers stationed at the base. On the way to Hue city, we also visit the Rock Pile Hill, the hill is also affected by the war. Arriving in Hue at 5 pm.

Overnight: Hue Hotel.