If you want to explore Vietnam by car or motorcycle, don't miss out on these road trips suggested by Lonely Planet, the Australian travel magazine.
Con Son Island
With a population of 7,000 people and only one main road, Con Son, the only inhabited and largest island in the 16-island Con Dao archipelago, is excellent for motorbike exploration. The 25-kilometer journey begins at Dam Trau, a large stretch of beach near Co Ong Airport filled with seafood shacks. Before arriving at Dam Port, which is served by mainland boats, travelers can weave their way past forested slopes, French colonial-era jails, and gorgeous beaches that only appear during low tide.
Dalat – Nha Trang
The drive from Da Lat, a prominent highlands resort town, to Nha Trang, a coastal town, is around 134 kilometers long and not for the faint of heart. First-timers can choose these two routes on the journey connecting Da Lat and Nha Trang, according to seasoned visitors:
The first route takes National Highway 27C covering a distance of 140 kilometers, dubbed the "road of sea and flowers". Nui Ba National Park and the magnificent Omega Pass, which stands 1,700 meters above sea level, are located along this road.
The second route is 200 kilometers long and follows Highway 27 and Highway 1. From Da Lat, take Highway 1 to Thap Cham Phan Rang, the capital of Ninh Thuan, then Highway 27 to Highway 1A before arriving at Nha Trang.
Ho Chi Minh Highway
Ho Chi Minh Road, which was once used to transport war materials throughout Vietnam, extends 1,880 kilometers and connects motorbike riders from the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City to the capital of Hanoi. Riding a motorcycle from Saigon to Hanoi is undoubtedly the most popular road trip in Vietnam, and it is surely one of the greatest ways to experience the nation.
According to Lonely Planet, adventurers will want to stop in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to the world's largest cave, and Cuc Phuong, the oldest national park in Vietnam, before they join the traffic flows on Hanoi old roads.
Hai Van Pass
The Hai Van Pass runs for 20 kilometers between Thua Thien-Hue Province and Da Nang City, passing through the Bach Ma mountain range. The name “Hai Van”, which literally translates as "cloud sea," alludes to the mists that frequently rise from the water, restricting vision.
Cao Bang – Ban Gioc
The 80-kilometer journey from Cao Bang to Ban Gioc Waterfall, which crosses the China-Vietnam border, takes visitors past rice fields, beautiful farmlands, stilt communities, and crystal clear lakes. Travelers will cross the 3.5-kilometer-long Ma Phuc Pass, which can only be managed by experienced drivers. The pass allows visitors to view the many terraced rice fields below.
Ban Gioc, Southeast Asia's largest waterfall and the world's fourth largest near a national border after Iguazu, Victoria, and Niagara, is a must-see.
“Take in the falls from the viewing platforms or hop on a bamboo raft for a closer look at the impressive 30 -meter-high cascades. While worthy of being tackled as a solo trip, this route is a popular add-on to the Ha Giang Loop,” Lonely Planet states.
Ha Giang Loop
The voyage to conquer Ha Giang Loop, which is around 350 kilometers long and located in the northern hilly region, takes three to five days depending on weather conditions. Because of its twisting, narrow roads and treacherous mountain passes, the circle is really difficult for inexperienced visitors to complete by themselves.
The drive's most spectacular stretch is the Ma Pi Leng Pass. It is the most treacherous in the northern Mountains, covering 20 kilometers (12.7 miles). It has also been labeled the Hmong ethnic minority's Pyramid, and the King of Vietnam's Passes.
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