HO CHI MINH MOTORBIKE TOUR
An exotic mix of hill tribe villages, stunning landscape scenery, loads of history and plenty of endearing people can be met on this Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Motorbike Tour Trail. A popular tour for the adventure traveller looking for something that will provide life long memories
SUPPORT
GROUP
GUIDED
BIKE INCLUDED
MEALS
STUNNING
A wonderful opportunity to discover the culture and hospitality on offer in Vietnam. This all inclusive* motorcycle tour of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Trail is out of this world. GMT are pleased to offer this exclusive route to it’s clients, with smaller group sizes and attentive tour guides it makes for a life-changing adventure
Join us on a truly stunning once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the Ho Chi Minh Trail on motorcycles using the Honda CRF250 or Kawasaki KLX250 (KLR350 for rider with pillion). Experience the stunning beauty and culture of Vietnam as we make our way through small villages, learning about the how the people coped during the war and staying overnight in hotels and home stays
This is an incredible offer of an inclusive* 14 day motorcycle holiday to Vietnam to ride the Ho Chi Minh Trail (Similar to that seen on Top Gear) The sights, sounds, smells and culture is inspiring, beautiful and thought provoking. If you ever wanted to join a motorcycle tour that tops the rest, then this is one of them, this really is fantastic value for money and an awesome experience.
ACCOMMODATION
Our accommodation is always of reasonable standard. The hotels and home-stays are clean and friendly with showers, toilets, fresh cooked food etc and would have a UK equivalent of a 2 or 3* hotel
DINNER
During the home-stays we sample the delicious local sourced and cooked food, cooked by the owners (to western standards), this usually consists of chicken and pork, rice, omelette, noodles, spring rolls and greens followed by fruit for dessert. During the evening we may be treated to some traditional dance displays from the locals in the village.
When in Hanoi or other larger city we are likely to eat out and our guide will take you either to a street restaurant or an indoor restaurant that serves excellent freshly cooked food and plenty of Beer and rice wine!
BREAKFAST
Each morning for breakfast we are treated to yogurt, fruit, pancakes, eggs and bread. It’s all very delicious topped with a drizzle of fresh honey!
LUNCHTIME
At lunchtime, around 12.00 – 13.00, we stop for about an hour and indulge in some noodle soup, rice, spring rolls, meat and other fine food, all freshly prepared for us. (this is the only cost, as well as alcohol that you need to cover). the food is clean and freshly prepared and as an IBS sufferer, I can honestly say I never need to take medication when eating in Vietnam!
After lunch, we head off again and may even take in some dirt tracks and narrow pathways, often crossing shallow streams and rivers or negotiating rope suspension bridges, it’s all brilliant fun.
CAMERAS
By the end of each day, your camera memory cards will be bulging with photos captured and memories that will last forever. Bring a small camera so you can carry it in a small backpack or hydration pack, even better. A small helmet camera is also a good option
COSTS
Vietnam is relatively cheap outside of the main cities, such as Hanoi. Lunch is approximately £3 – £5 each day and beer is around £1 – 2 a can. Fuel, breakfast and dinner is included (except for rest days where you will pay for your own dinner), as is airport transfers and bike hire
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We insist you take out suitable medical and travel insurance, we use HolidaySafe for this
VACCINATIONS
There is a low risk of Malaria in North Vietnam, but a higher risk in the south. Mosquito’s aren’t usually a problem in the locations we go to but they are present. A good insect repellent does help. See your GP for recommended vaccinations and we do recommend you do plenty of research before taking anti-malaria drugs as some can make you very poorly.
VISAS
You do not need a Visa for this tour as Vietnamese Government have extended their entitlement to Uk visitors as long as your stay does not exceed 15 days, which it doesn’t (12 days)
MONEY
The Vietnamese currency is Dong. However, Dollars are widely accepted. It is good practice to change around £200 – £300 into Dollars in the UK and then into Dong when we arrive at the airport. You will get more for your money using Dong than Dollars. Credit Card machines are rarely used in Vietnam, it is all cash and good old fashioned bartering
*Evening meals are included other than on your rest days or last day. *International or connecting flights are not included and cost approx £500 – £600 (£120 for internal flight). Flights will need to be booked 8 – 12 weeks before departure, details of which, will be provided to you. Support vehicle is provided where there is more than 6 riders on the tour. Otherwise a dry bag will be required (40 – 60ltr) which is strapped to the bike, alternatively, you can arrange locally for a driver to take your luggage to the hotel each day for approximately $50 – 100 for the group.
Day 1 - Arrive in Hanoi
Day 2 - Relax / Explore Hanoi City
Day 3 - Hanoi – Mai Chau . 170km, 5hr ride.
Leaving Hanoi and breaking out of the delta plains, we pass through endless limestone karst scenery as we travel up to the Northwestern region, the extensive farming lands comprising a sea of paddy fields split by tree-lined roads. Lunch on route, arrive in Mai Chau in late afternoon, night on a stilt house of the Thais Minority peoples, dinner with the family, traditional music performance.
Day 4 - Mai Chau – Tan Ky. 270km. 6hr ride
Day 5 - Tan Ky – Phong Nha. 300km - 6 hr ride
Ride all the way to Phong Nha – Ke Bang, the biggest and also the most beautiful cave in Vietnam and Indochina and is now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has evolved since the Paleozoic (some 400 million years ago) and so is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the park’s karst landscape is extremely complex with many geographic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers. Lunch on route, dinner and overnight at hotel in Phong Nha
Day 6 - Phong Nha – Khe Sanh. 240km 6 hr ride
Day 7 - Khe Sanh - Hue. 190km.
Day 8 - Hue - Hoi An, 150km, 4 hr ride. Relax in the morning, afternoon ride to Hoian
Day 9 - Hoi An, Relax.
The former harbour town of the Champa people at the estuary of the Thu Bon river was an important Vietnamese trading centre in the 16th and 17th centuries, where Chinese from various provinces as well as Japanese, Dutch and Indians settled down. During this period of the China trade, the town was called Hai Pho (Seaside Town) in Vietnamese. During the French colonial period (1883 – 1945), it was called Faifo. Originally Hai Pho was a divided town, because across the “Japanese Bridge”, it used to be the Japanese settlement (16th – 17th century). The bridge (Chua Cau) is a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.
The town is known to the French and Spanish as Faifo, and by similar names in Portuguese and Dutch. A number of theories have been put forth as to the origin of this name. Some scholars have suggested that it comes from the word “Hai pho” meaning “sea town”, while others have said that it seems more likely to simply be a shortening of Hoi An pho, “the town of Hoi An”, to “Hoi pho” which became “Faifo”.
In 1999, the old town was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, whose buildings display a unique blend of local and foreign influences.
Today, Hoi An is still a small city, but it attracts a fair number of tourists, also being a well established place on the backpacker trail. Many visit for the numerous art and craft shops and tailors, who produce made-to-measure clothes for a fraction of the western price.
Day 10 - Hoi An - Quy Nhon. 300km 6hr ride
Day 11 - Quy Nhon – Nha Trang, 210km, 6hr ride
Day 12 - Relax in Nha Trang. Flight to Sai Gon, connecting flight to get home
Tour end
Please note: The itinerary is a guide, it may not be exactly as stated, due to weather, road closures or other elements out of our control. It is an adventure tour and as such parts of the itinerary can change without notice.
Notes on flights:
GMT Ltd will recommend an outbound flight from London to Hanoi so that we can get everyone arriving at the same time for the transfer to the hotel. If you prefer to opt for a different flight or airline to that recommended, you will need to ensure you arrive at the airport in Hanoi in time for the transfer to hotel in Hanoi, if not you will need to get a taxi to the hotel in Hanoi to meet the others (details will be provided).
Return flights
Our business partner and local tour guide will arrange internal flights on the last day of the tour to get us back to an international airport (Saigon or Hanoi – TBC) whereby we can get a return flight home to UK. The cost varies but is approx £80 – £140 payable directly to our business partner on the tour. From here you can make your own arrangements regarding return flight to the UK (details will be provided 2 – 3 months before departure)
DATES
22nd March 2020
28th November 2020
PRICES
Single rider sharing a twin room: £2795
Single rider own room: £3295
Rider & Pillion sharing double/twin room: £4395
WHATS INCLUDED?
- Bike Hire (Honda CRF250 or similar bike included in price
- Fuel
- Breakfast
- Accommodation (Hotels and Home Stays)
- Airport transfers
- Local English speaking guide
- Evening meals*
- Support vehicle (for 6 or more riders)
NOT INCLUDED
- Drinks
- Lunch
- Evening meals on rest days x 2
- International flights or internal flight (internal flight is payable locally to the tour guide on arrival and cost approx $80 -120)
- Entry fees to attractions
- Room service or mini bar
- Tips
- Repairs / damage
Repairs and damage is paid for locally. The bikes are insured third party. Damage to bikes such as wing mirror etc is paid locally (approx $10 for a wing mirror) the bikes are tough, so rarely get damaged. Any mechanical failure is covered by us
CAN I TAKE A PILLION?
Yes, you can. However, we would recommend that you are a very competent and experienced rider who has ridden many miles with a pillion and are very comfortable riding on dirt roads with a pillion. Our tours can be demanding in places but exceptionally good fun, so please bear in mind it may be a challenge taking a pillion who isn’t used to riding on dirt roads etc. If the tour has more than 6 riders, a support vehicle is provided and the pillion can opt to sit in the vehicle with the driver for a period of time if certain sections are too challenging. Riders with pillions will be offered the more comfortable, KLR300 or BMW GS650 or similar
WHAT IS THE SEAT HEIGHT OF THE BIKES?
The seat height varies depending on which bike you choose but on average they are 80 – 84cm. At 5’9″ tall and with a 29″ inside leg, a rider is able to sit on the bike with knees bent and feet on the floor, this is because we will be riding bikes with smaller frames, designed for the Asian people who are typically shorter than westerners!
SOME OF THE TRAILS LOOK A BIT NARROW, WILL I HAVE TO RIDE THEM?
No, the support vehicle (usually a Ford Ranger 4×4 pickup truck, as seen in the photos section if supplied when there are more than 6 riders) can only drive along the roads suitable for it, such as compacted dirt tracks wide enough but obviously, it cannot drive up the narrow trails. If you prefer not to ride the narrower trails (or through the streams etc, perhaps because you have a pillion) you simply follow the support vehicle or the alternative route clearly provided by the tour guide and meet up with the group on the other side of that section (usually only a few miles). Usually the trail sections are only short sections throughout the tour. There are many options, so that everyone can ride within their comfort zone and are not encourage or forced to do anything they are not comfortable doing
DO I NEED TO HAVE A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE? I CAN RIDE A BIKE!
You will need to have a valid full motorcycle license to join the tour. You may be entitled to join the tour if you have a provisional license but speak to us first as we need to ensure you will have sufficient holiday insurance cover and the correct entitlement on your license.
DO I NEED A VISA?
No, currently ‘British Citizens’ passport holders travelling for tourism or business can enter Vietnam for up to a maximum of 15 days (inclusive of dates of entry and exit) without a visa. If you have a different type of British nationality – for example ‘British national (overseas)’ you’ll need to get a visa or an e-visa before entering Vietnam. This information changes from time to time so please check with the FCO https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam or details here > More info here
DO I NEED VACCINATIONS?
Yes, you will need to consult your pharmacist or doctor as to what they recommend is the best course of vaccines for you. Do note; Malaria tablets can make you unwell. Mosquitoes and Malaria are quite rare in the north but more prominent in the south, caution is strongly advised and we do not in any way encourage clients not to take necessary precautions. Having good travel insurance is a must. We recommend Holiday Safe who will also be able to provide specific insurance cover for using a motorcycle off road
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Most of the tour dates we organise for Vietnam bring good weather as it is outside of the rainy season. The climate is usually very manageable. Typical temperatures are 22 – 35c with the odd shower. Slightly colder in the higher mountains
WHAT IS THE CURRENCY?
Currency is Vietnamese Dong but Dollars are widely accepted. Money can be changed at the airport and in Hanoi
WILL I HAVE TO EAT INSECTS?
No, not at all. In Thailand this cuisine is more common but in Vietnam the food is rather much more simpler. A typical evening meal consists of meat, such as pork, noodles, rice, spring rolls, omelette, greens and rice wine! Noodle soup is a very popular dish and is served both at breakfast time and other meal times. Breakfast served for us, however, is usually bread, eggs, honey, omelettes, fruit, yogurt etc
DO THEY EAT CATS & DOGS?
Not that we have known about! Although the Vietnamese are known for eating what we consider pets it was not something we have seen on the menu! All our hotels and Home stays have been taught to cook the western way, this means hygiene and menu selection is taken into account
WHAT BIKES DO YOU USE?
We use Honda CRF250 Dirt Bikes, and Kawasaki KLR 350 or similar for riders with pillions. Supplements may apply to bikes larger than 250cc.
IS THE TOUR ON OR OFF ROAD?
Much of the surface is tarmac and some compacted dirt tracks, trails and shallow streams. Even without dirt road riding experience, as long as you are an experienced and competent rider you shouldn’t have any issues. There are some shallow streams but there is always an option to take the tarmac road route with the support vehicle. 90% of our clients have never ridden off road before (off tarmac) and have managed well.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT FLIGHT TO BOOK?
We will provide all the details regarding flights 8 – 12 weeks prior to departure. The cost of the flight is approximately £500 – £700 GBP
WHAT RIDING GEAR SHOULD I BRING?
We always recommend wearing what you feel comfortable and safe in. Some wear cargo trousers and hiking boots with a jacket. Obviously a helmet and light summer gloves are a must. Whilst there is an amount of off tarmac riding (dirt tracks) speeds in Vietnam are typically around 30 – 40 mph. We strongly recommend you bring a backpack style hydration pack with you and a helmet camera! When riding the trails the speed is kept to a minimum, it is not a race or a rally
LICENSE
After 28 March 2019, British visitors wishing to drive cars or ride motorbikes in Vietnam will need to present both their UK domestic driver’s licence and a UK issued International Driver’s Permit.
Tour Reviews
An amazing experience and one that I would recommend to anyone who wants the security and safety of a professional company that truly know what they are doing. A credit to the industry, well done.
Other than a long flight the tour went brilliantly and as planned. The local tour guides were excellent, friendly, informative and very helpful every step of the way. The routes we encountered were challenging at times but there was the option to take the easier route! Overall, a very well run tour, well organised and the scenery and culture is an out of this world experience. I am currently looking at GMT’s other fly ride tours based on the wonderful service I have been fortunate to be part of on the Vietnam tour
Many thanks and good luck for the future
Adley
Well where to start this tour was suggested by my brother in law and I’m so glad of that
We did Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh
Chris who runs the tour sorts it all out for you even the flights were arranged by him
Met everyone at airport and glad to say we had a great group. On arriving Ngoc the tour guide then took over and he was amazing we were waited on. He taught us lots of history during the tour too
Our leader at the front of the tour was a young man called Quê and he too was fantastic looking after us alongside Ngoc they just couldn’t do enough for us
This was our first tour and it was the best thing we’ve ever done and will certainly be doing more
Couldn’t recommend guided tours highly enough what a fantastic team
Keep at it Chris, Ngoc and Quê love Sheila and Mark
I ve just came back from the Ho Chi Minh trail, wow what a bloody good well organised trip it was. From initially meeting up at the airport to coming home Chris made sure we were all at ease and made sure the trip was about us. I ve never felt as relaxed on a tour. Ngoc, Guided Tours business partner in Vietnam is second to none with his knowledge, information and eagerness to make every day a special one. Chris has got this tour perfected. To anyone considering going to Vietnam I’d say to go with any other company would be a let down after going with guided tours. North trail is being booked up as soon as it’s available for next year.
Vietnam is truly a wonderful friendly safe place to visit and place I already cant wait to go back to. All I would say to anyone considering it is get it booked up as spaces are limited with this company.
Thanks also to everyone else on the tour for making it trip to remember for all the right reasons.
This was the first fly ride tour I have ever been on and I chose well, Chris Seagal and his Vietnam business partner Ngoc have put a lot of effort into this trip, every day being full on from start to finish, with stop-offs’ at monuments, caves, military sites and tunnel’s Ngoc’s extensive knowledge was incredible, Que our tour leader was faultless riding a pace we were happy with all day and always smiling. I’ve made some new friends, had great company and memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you Guided Motorbike Tour’s for a great trip, see you again soon.
Russ
Recently returned from the Ho Chi Minh Trail tour.
Met Chris at Heathrow Airport then introduced to Ngoc his Vietnamese business partner when arriving in Hanoi.
Immediately became a millionaire when exchanging money for dongs and then we were off on a fantastic two weeks of seeing and sampling the incredible culture of Vietnam.
Que, Ngocs Right-hand man and mechanic faultlessly lead the group with sensible stints including well planned coffee and lunch breaks.
Ngoc followed up in the back up vehicle with luggage,spares and provisions so was always on hand.
We had various stops at sites of interest and museums etc,giving just the right balance of sightseeing to riding.Ngoc was a gold mine of information during every stop.
Excellent standard of food throughout with a vast array of dishes available on breakfast menus.
It really was a trip to remember for a lifetime made all the more special by Ngoc who could not do enough to help and advise, he really was a fountain of information and enthusiasm.
A big thanks to Chris for setting up the tour, organising flights etc.
To anyone thinking of doing the tour,stop thinking ,just do it.
Extremely well organised and such a great way to learn about the country. All the hotels were of a great standard, the food was beautiful and both Ngoc and Quei were fantastic hosts. Ian and Vanessa.
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