19 Days Hanoi Biking To LuangPrabang Via Ho Chi Minh Trails

Have breakfast at your hotel, check out and pick up at 7:30 Am and drive to Luong Son and cycle through Bai Chao villages to Cao Phong – Hoa Binh province. Cycling to Thong Khe Pass. Have lunch on the way then ride on a single track through Thai minority villages along Hoa Binh lake. Ride past terraced fields and beautiful valleys. Overnight in a stilt-house of a Thai-tribe village. O/N in Poom Coong Village.

Summary

Cycling distance: 75 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

Early morning starts cycling from Mai Chau villages and beat the heat of the day. The route takes us away from the river and appears to contour through the same range of mountains that stretch from Mai Chau to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The road gets more beautiful the closer you ride to Pu Luong with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain. Reach to Ho Chi Minh and then transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Summary

Cycling distance: 90 km

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Gold Time Hotel

Early morning starts to beat the heat of the day. The route takes us away from the river and appears to contour through the same range of mountains that stretch from Cam Thuy to Thai Hoa on Ho Chi Minh trails. The road gets more beautiful the closer you ride to Ngoc Lac with looming karst limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. The route is tarmac all the way but quite hard riding due to the undulating terrain. We ride for the first time on the newly built two-lane Ho Chi Minh Highway. It hardly warrants two lanes as there is no traffic! The road makes for smooth fast riding, and for those who prefer there is always the old highway dirt and gravel – that weaves around the new highway allowing for plenty of exploring possibilities along the way. Ride to Muc Son, on the banks of River Song Chu. On the outskirts of this small town are the famous Kan Linh historical relics – a pagoda where the first king of the Ly dynasty, Le Thai To, ruled, in 1428. Continue riding on the trail to Yen Cat. The distance covered today is quite long and there will be the chance to transfer some sections by the backup vehicle to rest weary legs. There are fewer villages today as the route cuts through forests and jungle. Lunch en route. Overnight Thai Hoa guesthouse. 90+ km.

Summary

Accommodation: Km0 Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling distance: 100 Km

Continue riding the incredible Ho Chi Minh Trail. Have lunch in Pho Chau town, on the way stop to visit some villages or markets. Transfer to Huong Khe town for check-in Hotel. Overnight in Huong Khe.

Summary

Accommodation: Duc Tai Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling distance: 90 Km

Huong Khe the mountains rise and the road winds up, down, and along the hillsides. The scenery is spectacular, the road tranquil. Ride up to 80km then transfer the last few km to Phong Nha National Park. The park contains one of the most spectacular caves in Vietnam, It is a true speleological wonder. Visit the cave by boat then wander through the cavern, past the foundations of ancient Cham ruins. Pause to admire the incredible formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Formed approximately 250 million years ago Phong Nha was used as a hospital and ammunition depot during the war, the entrance still showing evidence of fighter aircraft attacks. There are community projects underway with Flora and Fauna International and it may be possible to visit village initiatives and learn more about the forests of the National Park. Overnight at the National Park. 70 km.

Summary

Accommodation: Saigon – Phong Nha hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling distance: 80 Km

Explore Phong Nha Cave in the early morning by boat. Continue riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail across the DMZ (better known as the 17th Parallel,) to Cam Lo. The road is now quite flat and makes for good cruising! Stop en route to visit Truong Son Cemetary, a memorial to the tens of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers who were killed in the Truong Son Mountains along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Fourteen miles further on is the town of Cam Lo – the Trail here intersects a strategic feeder road (H9) from Dong Ha and at this junction part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail heads across the country into Laos. Transfer to Khe Sanh visiting war relics en route. Overnight Hotel in Khe Sanh.

Summary

Accommodation: Green Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Break, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling distance: 80 Km

Breakfast 7:30 transfer to Lao Bao border to Cross Lao Bao border from Vietnam meet Lao guide at Lao immigration after immigration formalities start riding from the border along with road No. 9th, known as Ho Chi Minh trail during Vietnam War. Stop for lunch in a small town of Sepon district, after lunch we continue riding through the Lao tribe villages, the road is flat; we finally reach our destination of a small of Muang Phin where we stay overnight.,This road was a strategic road when the French attacked Laos and during the Indochina war when North Vietnam attacked South Vietnam, a communist army from North Vietnam came through Laos to South Vietnam, called the Ho Chi Min trail, America dropped a lot of bombs to stop North Vietnamese army but not a success, in 1975 communist took over South Vietnam and Laos land mine scattered around the village and jungles

XEPON: is a pleasant rural stopover for those in transit on the route to Vietnam or Savannakhet. The original town of Xepon was destroyed during the war – along with every house of the district’s two hundred villages and was later rebuilt here 6km west of its original location, on the opposite bank of the Xe Banghiang River. The old city (written as “Tchepone” on some old maps) had been captured by communist forces in 1960 and became an important outpost on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. As such, it was the target of a joint South Vietnamese and American invasion in 1971, aimed at disrupting the flow of troops and supplies headed for communist forces in South Vietnam.,Muang Phin: An imposing Vietnamese-built monument to Lao-Vietnamese cooperation during the Indochina wars stands in Muang Phin, 155km east of Savannakhet and 34km west of Sepon. Done in the stark ‘Heroes of Socialism’ style, the monument depicts North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Pathet Lao (PL) soldiers waving an AK-47 and Lao flag aloft.

Summary

Distance: 80 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Guesthouse

We have breakfast at a local restaurant arranged by our guide, we continue on road No. 9th head west in the direction of Thailand through the hill tribe villages and paddy fields, we stop for lunch at the local restaurant or by the road under the tree, we finally reach our destination in XENO, the crossroad to Thailand, Vietnam, south Lao, and north Laos,  SENO was named by French, when French attacked Laos, this junction of the small town was the headquarter of the French military, to fight with Lao army from Cambodia through the south of Laos, in French S: Sud (south) E: Est (east) N: Nord (north) O: Ouest (west) = SENO

Summary

Distance: 125 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Guesthouse

After breakfast we turn right to head north on road No. 13th south, this road is the main road from China in northern to Cambodia in southern Laos, southern Laos is lower than northern Laos so road No. 13th south is almost flat. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant and keep riding to our destination of the old town of Thakhek, after checking in hotel you are free to explore a small town by the Mekong River, with remaining colonial buildings in the center of town, When Vietnamese and Lao leaders, led by Prince Suphānuvong decided to defend the city of Thakhek against French forces. On 21 March 1946, under the command of Jean Boucher de Crèvecoeur, European and Lao troops in the Forces du Laos, supported with artillery and airpower, attacked their adversaries in what was a short-lived but intense urban battle. British-supplied Spitfires wreaked havoc on the Vietnamese–Lao troops as they tried to withdraw from the city under heavy fire and across the Mekong to safety in Thailand. The French opened fire from the banks and sent Spitfires to machine-gun from the air hundreds of boats and pirogues trying to transport troops and civilians to safety across the river in Thailand. Suphānuvong himself was injured while trying to escape.

Summary

Distance: 100 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: hotel

After breakfast we ride from our hotel to road No. 13th south, after 8 km we stop at the ancient wall, according to the history, King Sikhotabong build the great wall around town to protect the town from the enemy, only some short parts remain for new generation most are destroyed for construction. , We stop for lunch at the local restaurant and ride along with the road to head north to our destination of Paksan Province.

Summary

Distance: 187 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Soumontha hotel

After breakfast at your hotel, we start riding from the hotel on road No.13 and head north to our destination of Vientiane capital; riding today is all flat, the road sometimes follows the Mekong River that shares a border with Thailand on the other side, we reach the junction and regroup there, optional riding or transfer to hotel in the center town depending on the time we arrive.

Summary

Distance: 145 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Vansana hotel or similar

We ride from your hotel in Vientiane capital head north to Thalat pass the NamNgum dam, the ride today is all fairly flat from the town is more traffic but no problem for riding, after 30 km from town is less traffic, we ride through the villages and rice fields, we bring lunch pack from the hotel and we stop for lunch at the small shop at the village along the way when we fill hungry. There are a few short climbs before we reach our destination at Tha Lat. The Lat is one district of Vientiane province, no tourists stay overnight in this town except tourists traveling by bicycle, this town is known as Nam Ngum dam, the first dam in Laos operated hydropower for most of the country and also exported to Thailand.

Summary

Altitude: Vientiane = 180 m. Thalat = 190 m. ,Ride: 93 km

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Lon Ngum view resort

We have a long ride today and the heat may be the factor so we will want to leave early. We start riding from our hotel to Phonhong district where the road meets road No. 13 north at the junction, we turn to the north direction, after the first 23 km on the flat road we cross the range of Phoupanang mountain continue along the route 13 and stop for refreshment every 20 or 25 km. The rest of the ride is along undulating roads to Vangvieng, we stop for lunch by the road under the shade of the tree or at the small shop by the road, the ride today is up and down no big climb, we will reach our destination in Vangvieng in the afternoon after check-in hotel is free to explore the town or take a swim in the river. Vangvieng has a lively traveler’s scene with all the usual accompanying facilities: e-mail, pubs, pizza, and many young foreigners. , Vangvieng locates 155 km north of Vientiane on road 13 north. The town lies along the bank of the Namsong River; the landscape is made up of strangely shaped limestone mountains, carved by erosion.

Summary

Altitude: Thalat 190 m. Vangvieng = 280 m,Ride: 100 km

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: Elephant crossing hotel or similar

We can leave Vangvieng after lunch and spend your morning in extra relaxation time in Vanvieng. After lunch, we start riding up north to Kasi along route 13 and although there are some short climbs and most rides are easy, the scenery is just beautiful and you should enjoy stretching your legs. We will stop for refreshments a few times along the way, we expect to reach Kasi in the late afternoon, Kasi is a small district of Vientiane province, and no tourists in this town.

Summary

Altitude: Vangvieng = 280 m. Kasi = 405 m. ,Ride: 55 km (from Vangvient to Kasi) (75 km from Vangvieng to Hot spring)

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Somchit guesthouse or Hot spring resort

After breakfast we start riding from our guesthouse up north, after 8 km we start climbing, today is the hardest day of our trip and there are big climbs, after 17 km uphill to a small town of Phoukhoun where the junction turns to Phonsavanh (the plain of jars) we turn left on road 13th north there are more climbs before our destination of Kiawkacham. Kiawkacham is a small village located on top of the mountain range.

Summary

Altitude: Kasi = 405 m. Kewkacham = 1340 m,Ride: 94 km (Kasi – Kiawkacham) (74 km from hot spring to Kiawkacham)

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: guesthouse (primitive with shared bathroom)

Our guide will prepare breakfast. This area is the coldest place in the wintertime, especially in the morning; our riding today is easier than yesterday, as this village locates on top of the hill after 22 km riding downhill from the guesthouse to the bottom we climb 13 km to the top then another 13 km downhill to a small town of Xiang Nguen before the easy ride to LuangPrabang.

Summary

Altitude: Kewkacham = 1340 m. LuangPrabang = 270 m,Ride: 77 km

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: SalaPrabang hotel or similar

Today, explore the sublime treasures of Luang Prabang. Rising at dawn to view the traditional alms procession of monks passing slowly through town, and afterward, meeting with monks inside their temple to discuss their way of life, share ideas and questions about their impressions of your lifestyle, beliefs, and culture and theirs. , Also, exploration of the town, strolling by foot and tuk-tuk, through the downtown and riverfront, pausing to explore major temples dating to the 15th century such as Wat Xieng Thong a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture, Royal Palace structures, and French-colonial period buildings, visiting the colorful local market, Phosi, and visiting other sites in town by preference, such as weaving village. Luangprabang is the oldest city in Laos, and before the 16th century, it was the capital city of the land of million elephants (Laos). The town is beautifully preserved and in 1995 it was added to UNESCO`s World Heritage list.

Summary

Distance: 30 km (1 way)

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: SalaPrabang hotel or similar