Hanoi → Da Nang | Mountains to the Sea - 6 days+

This is our favorite sections of the Ho Chi Minh Road - and exactly the kind of tour we want to build. 

Distance: 180 km

Leaving Hanoi, we take the quickest way out - escaping what might be the craziest traffic in Vietnam.
No need to rush. A start around 8:30-9:00 AM works perfectly, once people have dropped their kids off at school and settled in at work.

About an hour in, we stop for our first coffee - right on time for coffee o’clock. Another hour down the road, we reach one of our favorite local lunch spots, set by the Black River. 

From Thung Khe Pass toward Mai Chau, the ride begins to open up. This is where the mountains start, the roads get more interesting, and the journey really begins.

The highlight of the day is where we stay. It’s not fancy, but it’s perfectly placed in Pu Luong - tucked into the mountainside, surrounded by rice terraces and wide, open views. There’s even a panoramic pool to wind down after the ride. 

Distance: 100 km

Leaving Hanoi, we take QL1A - a long, straight stretch that gets us to Ninh Binh in about two and a half hours.
After a good local lunch, we park the bikes and hike up to Lying Dragon Mountain for a panoramic view over Tam Coc.

From there, we slow things down with a boat ride through the limestone karsts - Ninh Binh’s “Ha Long Bay on land” - passing through caves and stopping at small temples along the way, before checking into our hotel.

What we love most about Ninh Binh isn’t just the scenery, but the atmosphere. It’s calm, easy, and you feel it the moment you arrive.
In the evening, we wander into town - good food, a few drinks with friends, maybe meet some locals at a bar, and if the night goes right, a karaoke song or two. 

Distance: 280–290 km

This is where the Ho Chi Minh Road begins.

Don’t worry - around 300 km on this section isn’t too much. The roads are good, the riding is fun, and it’s a day that usually gets everyone excited. We often arrive at the hotel early.

We cruise along quiet, flowing roads, with the landscape slowly shifting from the Northern mountains to a more Central Vietnam feel.
Along the way, we stop at the Truong Bon Historical Site for a quick break and a few photos with a MiG-21 on display.

Vinh is a laid-back local city - also the hometown of Ho Chi Minh - and makes for a great overnight stop, with good hotels and plenty of local food options. 

Distance: 210 km

The road just keeps getting better - smoother, quieter, and way more fun to ride.
It’s one of those days where you don’t rush. Just settle into the rhythm, stop when it feels right, and enjoy the scenery as it rolls by.

We ride straight through the old Khe Gat airstrip - it has now become part of the main road - one of those random moments that makes the ride feel a bit different.

We get to Phong Nha early, leaving the afternoon wide open. A visit to Paradise Cave, then back to a riverside homestay - cold beers, a swim, and time to properly unwind.

We wrap up the day with a solid dinner at one of the best spots in town. 

Distance: 240 km

This is one of the best rides in Vietnam, in our opinion. If you’ve never ridden this section, you haven’t truly experienced the Ho Chi Minh Road.
The road is in great condition, with excellent grip and endless corners. We always take a lot of photos every time we pass through here.

Khe Sanh is a historic area where many events of the American War took place.
It is known for Highway 9, Lang Vei Camp, and Ta Con Airport.

We visit the Ta Con Airport museum before checking into the hotel.
Khe Sanh is a quiet local town. Sometimes we have dinner at the hotel, sometimes we go out to try Lao food. 

Distance: 210 km

This is a very interesting day. We ride towards the coast for a couple of reasons:

1. Both the Western and Eastern sections of the Ho Chi Minh Road are busy with large trucks heading to the Lao border.

2. Most traffic stays on the main highway (QL1A).

As a result, the coastal backroads are quiet and scenic. We stop along the way at the DMZ and the Vinh Moc Tunnels.
If you are a fan of seafood, today’s lunch will not disappoint.
We stay at a lovely hotel in the city center, enjoy a royal-style dinner for ourselves, then head out to DMZ Bar - Hue’s first bar, with over 30 years of history.

Distance: 150 km

We ride over the Hai Van Pass - famously featured in the Top Gear Vietnam Special.

We stop for a good local seafood lunch along the way. After that, we ride up the Monkey Mountain pass to reach Ban Co Peak, where you can enjoy panoramic views over Da Nang city.

We return the motorbikes in Da Nang, where the tour ends.