Biking ho chi minh trails from hanoi to kontum 10days/10night itinerary

BIKING 10days/9nights HA NOI to CENTRAL HIGHLAND(kontum) along HOCHIMINH TRAILS

Highlight: The Ho Chi Minh trail was a path that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) through the neighboring kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower and materiel, to the Vietcong, or National Liberation Front, and the North Vietnamese Army, or People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), during the Vietnam War (1959-1975).

The trail was not a single route, but rather a complex maze of truck routes, paths for foot and bicycle traffic, and river transportation systems. The name, taken from North Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh, is of American origin. Although the trail was mostly in Laos, www.vietnambiketours.com the communists called it the Truong Son Road, after a mountain range in central Vietnam. According to the U.S. National Security Agency's official history of the war, the Trail system was "one of the great achievements of military engineering of the 20th century.

Parts of what became the Ho Chi Minh trail had existed for centuries as primitive footpaths that facilitated trade in the region. The area through which the system meandered was among the most rugged in Southeast Asia: a sparsely-populated region of rugged mountains (1,500-8,000 feet), triple-canopy jungle and dense primeval rainforests www.vietnambiketours.com. During the First Indochina War the Viet Minh maintained north/south communication utilizing this system of trails and paths.

In 1959, Hanoi established the 559th Transportation Group under the command of Colonel (later General) Vo Bam to improve and maintain a transportation system to supply the Vietcong uprising against South Vietnamese government. Originally, the North Vietnamese effort concentrated on infiltration across and immediately below the Demilitarized Zone that separated the two Vietnams.

As early as May 1958 PAVN and Pathet Lao forces had seized the transportation hub at Tchepone, on Laotian Route 9. This had been accomplished due to the results of elections in May that had brought a right-wing government to power in Laos, www.vietnambiketours.com its increasing dependence on U.S. military and economic aid, and an increasingly antagonistic attitude toward North Vietnam.The 559th Group then "flipped" its line of communications to the western side of the Truong Son Mountains. By the following year the 559th had a complement of 6,000 personnel in two regiments, the 70th and 71st.

This figure does not include combat troops in security roles or North Vietnamese and Laotian civilian laborers. In the early days of the conflict the trail was used strictly for the infiltration of manpower. This was due to the fact that Hanoi could supply its southern allies much more efficiently by sea. After the initiation of U.S. naval interdiction efforts in coastal waters Operation Market Time, the trail had to do double duty. www.vietnambiketours.com Materiel sent down from the north was stored in caches in the border regions that were soon retitled Base Areas, which, in turn, became sanctuaries for NLF and PAVN forces seeking respite and resupply after conducting operations within South Vietnam.

Brief Itinerary:

Day1: Ha Noi - Ninh Binh (L)

Cycling to Hoa Lu, drive to Hoa Lu to visit the Dinh and Le temples. Later in the day, we cycling to Tam Coc, a strikingly beautiful region of limestone-cliffs and rice paddies that is similar to the seascapes of HaLong Bay.

We transfer to small boats to explore the caves. Tam Coc, which means "three caves" Tam Coc. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day2: Bus to Vinh. Cycling to Dong Loc junction on HCM trails (40 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Cycling day along the former trails and stop to visit the famous Dong Loc Juntion where young girls sacrified for the country.

Day3: Cycling back to fierce bombarded area: Huong Khe, Khe Ve, Khe Gat, Xuan Son ferry (80 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Morning ride along the trails, visit the ethnic villages and experience the mountain life. Arrive Phong Nha world heritage and overnigh in Phong Nha.

Day4: Boat cruise. Afternoon cycles to Dong Hoi town (50 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Take a boat to visit the caves and back to bike ride to other central towm Dong Hoi, where you can swimming on the beautiful beach Nhat Le. Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Day5: Cycling to Thach Ban, Ben Tat and onto Truong Son national cemetery (90 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Another day on bike saddle, crossing the fierce area in the Vienam war, visit the popular place of vietnamese is the Truong Son National Cemetery that thousands of vietnamese died for the country independence. www.vietnambiketours.com

The connected high way built by French to Lao from Vietnam also a visited destination. Arrive Dong Ha and overnight.

Day6: Bus to Rockpile, Khe Sanh combat base, LangVei. Pm cycling to A Luoi (100 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Today we go on the DMZ(demilitaried zone); right here we can be on the 17th Paralle that spited Vietnam into 2 countries from 1954 to 1975.

Riding to the remote village belong to Hue for overnight in A Luoi.

Day7: Cycling to A Sau (Hamburger hill) and up hill to A Roang, A Tep (90 km+ cycling) (B,L)

This day is also on the former war zone and along trails with beautiful moutain view. Overnight in Prao.

Day8: Cycling to Phuoc Son (90 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Cycle up hill to the central highland of Vietnam. The high land with tea and coffee plantations. Overnight in Phuoc Son town.

Day9: Cycling to Dak Glei, Dakto battle - field and KonTum (110 km+ cycling) (B,L)

Kon Tum has several vestiges of the French colonial period, as well as several tribal villages directly in the suburbs of the Vietnamese-reconstructed town. www.vietnambiketours.com

Among the town's landmarks, there is a Catholic Wooden Church on discrete stilts and a large French-built Seminary which hosts a small museum on local hill tribes. French missionary presence in Kon Tum traces back to 1851. Overnight in Kontum.

Day10: Sightseeing around tribal villages. Transfer to Pleiku for flight to HCMC or Hanoi.(B)

Take a tour around the village to visit the tribal life in the central highland. Free time to explore and buy some souvenir for home. Continue your tour or flight home via vietnam international airport.

Inclusive of:

Air conditioned bus/van

Truck to carry bikes

English speaking biking tour guide

Entrance fees/motobike supports

Boat trip & ferries

Airport transfer in/out

Pick up & drop off at your hotel

Meals as mentioned (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Bike/Helmet/Tool kit/First aid kit/Mechanic/Doctor(10 travelers)

Water, snacks, cold towers, soft drinks and fresh fruits for cycling day

Accommodation