CROSS BORDER VIETNAM - LAOS (Motorcycle Tour) 2011

DEPART 05th Nov, END 22nd Nov, 2011. (18 days 18 nights)


1. 05th Nov, 2011: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Quan Lan Bay
Transfer out of Hanoi by vehicle and prepare for the departure outside of Hanoi. Take the countryside road driving to Bai Chay where we park the motorbike and get on boat for lunch when the boat begin to cruise in Ha Long Bay. In the afternoon we continue to discover the magic landscape of Lan Ha Bay on ward to Quan Lan island.
Overnight in Quan Lan island.

2. 06th Nov, 2011: Ha Long Bay – Quan Lan Bay
Full day kayaking from Bay Tu Long Bay through Lan Ha Bay and stop in Ha Long Bay for an overnight on boat.

3. 07th Nov, 2011: Ha Long – Ninh Binh
Landing back to the main land after having breakfast to continue our motorbiking trip. The journey taking you to drive on road No 10 from Hai Phong to Nam Dinh and ended in Ninh Binh city.

4. 08th Nov, 2011: Ninh Binh – Pu Luong
In the morning, explore Tam Coc on boat, visiting Dinh and Le Temples in Hoa Lu and then we drive through Chicken Canal, Cuc Phuong National Park heading to the Ho Chi Minh Highway. The last part riding to Pu Luong is the test of motorbiking skill for all rider.

5. 09th Nov, 2011: Pu Luong – Sam Nua
Follow Ma River then turn left for real mountain windy road to Na Meo border crossing. It takes about an hour and half for existing Vietnam and entering to Laos.
Here we are in Laos with beautiful scenery of limestone karts, rain forest. We will make a stop to visit Vieng Xai, the headquarter of Pha Thet Laos during the 2nd Indochina War.
There are about 480 caves were used by the Pathet Lao during the Second Indochina War to shelter from American bombardment.
Drive to Sam Nua for an over night.

6. 10th Nov, 2011: Sam Nua – Plain of Jars
beautiful windy road, ride your motorbike with some stops in local hill-tribe villages along route no 6. Lunch in a restaurant in Nam Neun village before heading on another 95 km to Muong Kham, stop to visit Tham Piew cave - where about 400 people were killed during the second Indochina War by a rocket from American Jet on 24 Nov 1968.
Then continue another hour to Phonsavan the new capital of Xieng Khoang province.

7. 11th Nov, 2011: Plain of Jars – Tha Thom
Motorbiking to the Plain of Jars with some stops to visit site 1, 2 and site 3 before we enter to the offroading Laos. No mention, no comment about the road condition, be happy to eat dirt. This is the rules until we end at Bo Y border crossing point back to Vietnam.

8. 12th Nov, 2011: Tha Thom – Lak Xao
Back to roll your motorbike again after an early breakfast in a local restaurant. Don’t question why not taking the large Highway 13 but trailing forest, no village, no family, no human living around just bikers who love the adventures of a lifetime.

9. 13th Nov, 2011: Lak Xao – Nong Chan
Lak Xao is just 23km direction to Cau Treo border crossing of Vietnam and Laos, the beginning of Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. The trails are base on Truong Son mountain range, we will ride the one closed to Vietnam border leading Nong Chan for an over night. Nong Chan is a small village just 10km from Mu Gia Pass at the Vietnam border. This is the “death gate” of the Ho Chi Minh trail, the most importance target for the American Bombardments to stop the supply road of Viet Cong (VC) to the South.

10. 14th Nov, 2011: Nong Chan – Sepon
We will experienced the most important part of the Ho Chi Minh trail also called “Labyrinthine battle array laid on the eight-sign figure's pattern through the jungle”, the Legendary Trail. Ride the motorcycle through the jungle, cross rivers, ride on a bamboo bridge...ready to rock and roll in the heaviest bombed area in the World. You will see many bomb craters and American bomber crashed like the F4 Phantom, Jets, T28...

11. 15th Nov, 2011: Sepon – Sekong
Follow the road No 9 toward Lao Bao (Vietnam border crossing) till Ban Dong (Dong village), here from 8 Feb to 25 Mar 1971 the South Vietnam, Laos Kingdom and the American operated a campaign called “Lam Son Operation 719” to break off the Ho Chi Minh trail. Stop the supply road of People Army of Vietnam (PAVN) to the South Vietnam. The battle in Ban Dong lasted from 8 Feb to 20 Mar, 1971 before the defeat of Lam Son Operation 5 days later.
The road from Dong village is the most challenging for motorcycle riding and you will have many chances for stops along the Ho Chi Minh trail for photograph.

12. 16th Nov, 2011: Sekong – Don Khong
Easy drive downhill from the plateau on a nice paved road to Tad Fan, enjoy swimming and have lunch in the waterfall. In the afternoon, we ride to Lak for a ferry cross Mekong River to Champasak town then ride to visit Wat Phu the ruined Khmer temple complex in Cahmpasak it was recognized as the World Heritage Culture Site. Ride till the end road south to take a boat to Khong island.

13. 17th Nov, 2011: Don Khong
Full day cruise on a long tail boat to explore the Si Phan Don (4.000 islands) in Mekong with the spectacular Tad Phan (Phan Waterfall), Khon Pha Pheng, Li Phi, waterfalls. Si Phan Don shares the nature border with Cambodia. The boat trip also give you a chance to visit floating villages, the pakha fresh water dolphin (Irrawaddy dolphin).

14. 18th Nov, 2011: Don Khong – Attapeu
In the morning, ferry cross Mekong river to continue our motorbike ride up north on road No 13 to Thang Beng village, where we turn right back again on dirt road. The destination from here to Attapeu is only around 120km but it seems to be long for ever with some lovely motorbiking river crossings.

15. 19th Nov, 2011: Attapeu – Dak Glei
From Attapeu is the re-enter to Vietnam of the Ho Chi Minh trail, this is a windy pave road but there will be many historical sites of the Ho Chi Minh trail to see.
It will take about 2 hours to exist Laos and enter to Vietnam.
Here we are back in Vietnam with large Ho Chi Minh highway, we drive north on mountain road to Dak Glei for the night.

16. 20th Nov, 2011: Dak Glei – Hoi An
Continue Motorbiking the Ho Chi Minh road up north pass by Kham Duc and then turn right on a small road with mainly riding downhill before we turn off for a rocky road run through forest to My Son World Heritage Sites.
After an hour visiting the Holly Land My Son Cham Towers we ride to Hoi An, checking hotel then free walk to visit Hoi An.

17. 21st Nov, 2011: Hoi An – Hue
Drive along the coast with a stop at China beach where the first US Marin landed in Vietnam in 1965. Visit Cham Museum in Da Nang and then ride over Hai Van passes to Hue, end motorcycle riding.

18. 22nd Nov, 2011: Hue
Full day visit Hue with including the Royal Palace, Thien Mu pagoda, Minh Mang and Tu Duc Tombs and a boat trip in Huong river (Perfume river).
Night farewell party.

PRICE: from 2.879 USD/rider

INCLUDED:
All food during the tour
All accommodation (see details from the list)
Motorcycle Minsk 125cc, (upgrade to Honda XL125 or Honda XR250 Baja)
Tour guide leader
Biker wears (helmet, jacket, pans, rain gears, saddle bag)
Mechanic
Tools and spare parts for the bike
Crossing border permits
Sightseeing tickets (as detail program)
Transfer motorbike Hue – Hanoi

EXCLUDED:
Drinks - ferry - boat trip on road
gasoline
Personal insurance (for motorcycle accident)
Personal expenses
Tips
Honda XL 125 add: 180 USD/bike, Honda Degree 250/SL230 add: 420 USD/bike, Honda XR250 Baja add: 450 USD/bike

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Trip Length: 2 weeks
Blog Entries: 0
Photos: 0
Words: 0

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