Cycling the Ho Chi Minh Trail: Hanoi to Hoi An

Arrive into Hanoi, where your guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. After checking in, a trip briefing will cover the days ahead before the ride begins in earnest tomorrow. Overnight in Hanoi.

Leave the capital early for a drive through rural countryside to Mai Chau, arriving in time for lunch at a local Thai village house. Climb on the bike for a ride through the undulating valley of the Song Ma River toward Hoi Xuan, a route once used to carry supplies and ammunition along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, with the option to finish by bike or by vehicle depending on preference. (Cycling distance up to 50 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Mai Chau.

After breakfast, transfer around 45 minutes to the start of the day's ride. The route heads away from the river through a range of mountains stretching toward Cuc Phuong National Park and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, with the scenery gradually unfolding into limestone cliffs and lush vegetation. Several climbs make for a challenging day, with a support vehicle always close by. Arrive in the town of Ngoc Lac in the late afternoon. (Cycling distance up to 70 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Ngoc Lac.

Ride the newly built Ho Chi Minh Highway, its smooth tarmac making for fast, easy riding through fertile farmland growing coffee, rubber, tea and fruit. Arrive in Thai Hoa in the late afternoon. (Cycling distance up to 80 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Thai Hoa.

Continue along the Ho Chi Minh Highway as it winds through lush jungle and villages nestled beneath the Truong Son mountain range, with time to take in the karst formations along the way. Reach the remote town of Pho Chau in Nghe An province by evening, staying at a local guesthouse. (Cycling distance up to 70 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Pho Chau.

The Ho Chi Minh Highway continues to deliver smooth, quiet riding as the road climbs and winds through the hills toward Phong Nha National Park, home to one of Vietnam's great natural wonders: a cave system stretching 65 kilometres, formed an estimated 250 million years ago. The caves served as a hospital and ammunition depot during the war, and the entrance still bears signs of past air attacks. Nearby, conservation projects run with Flora and Fauna International may be open to visit, subject to availability. (Cycling distance up to 80 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Phong Nha.

After an early exploration of Phong Nha Cave, transfer back to the Ho Chi Minh Trail to resume the ride, crossing the DMZ at the 17th Parallel toward Cam Lo. Stop en route at Truong Son Cemetery, a memorial to the tens of thousands of North Vietnamese soldiers killed in the Truong Son Mountains. From Cam Lo, once the point where the trail crossed into Laos, transfer on to Khe Sanh, a former US marine base and the site of the 1968 battle of Khe Sanh. (Cycling distance up to 80 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Khe Sanh.

Begin with a visit to the Khe Sanh Combat Base, where relics of the war are on display alongside a former airstrip. Ride through spectacular, mostly downhill scenery from near the Laos border to the Dakrong River, crossing by bridge and following the waterway along what was once the trail's southern stretch, a traffic-free road with rolling terrain. (Cycling distance up to 65 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in A Luoi.

Poor road conditions south of A Luoi mean leaving the Ho Chi Minh Trail here, heading instead across the country to Hue on quiet back roads before joining Highway 1 a few kilometres south of the city. From there, choose to transfer the final stretch by vehicle or continue by bike into central Hue. (Cycling distance up to 70 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Hue.

Enjoy an easier day on Hue's back roads, footpaths and quiet lanes, starting with a visit to the Imperial Citadel and the ruins of the former royal court. Ride along the banks of the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, then continue through the countryside to the royal tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, looping back across the river to Hue via the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh. Return to central Hue in the early afternoon, with the rest of the day free to relax or explore independently. (Cycling distance up to 30 km, rated Easy.) Overnight in Hue.

Today's ride is the trip's biggest test: two smaller hills before an 11-kilometre climb to the top of Hai Van Pass, rewarded at the summit with some of the region's finest coastal views. A nearby tunnel now carries most of the through-traffic, leaving this stretch of road wonderfully quiet. Descend to Lang Co beach for a swim and lunch, then transfer the final stretch by vehicle to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the rest of the afternoon and evening free to explore its narrow lanes. (Cycling distance up to 100 km, rated Hard.) Overnight in Hoi An.

An easier final ride out to My Son, once the spiritual centre of the Champa Kingdom. Transfer briefly out of town to avoid the main highway, then follow scenic back roads past rice paddies, through eucalyptus forest and a string of picturesque villages. Enjoy lunch near the temples before an afternoon exploring the ruins, then transfer back to Hoi An by road. (Cycling distance up to 60 km, rated Medium.) Overnight in Hoi An.

Enjoy a final morning at leisure before transferring to Danang Airport for your onward flight, bringing your journey along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to a close.