Day 1: Hanoi - Phu Yen (approx. 165 km/102 miles, ~6 hours drive). Drive to Phu Yen by road with a stop in Son Tay. On November 20-21, 1970, a joint force of USAF and U.S. Army special operations and rescue personnel, supported by U.S. Navy Carrier Task Force 77, undertook a daring raid on the Son Tay prison camp less than 50 miles from Hanoi. The objective was to free up to 100 U.S. prisoners believed to be there. Attack troops flew 640 km / 397 miles to Son Tay from bases in Thailand in six ARRS helicopters escorted by two C-130 aircraft. U.S. Marine pilots conducted a diversionary attack, while 116 USAF and Navy aircraft from seven air bases and three aircraft carriers conducted aerial refueling, surface-to-air missile defense, fighter protection, close air support, early warning, communications support, and reconnaissance flights. No prisoners were found in the camp. After lunch, drive the winding mountain road to Phu Yen for some of the best mountain views in northwest Vietnam. Overnight in Phu Yen. Day 2: Phu Yen - Mai Chau (about 145 km, 5 hours drive). There are many small roads leading into the mountains around Mai Chau, so we will take the opportunity to drive to remote H'mong, Dao and Thai villages. We will take on the challenge of an old road built by the French army and spend the Afternoon exploring the surrounding villages. Overnight in a Thai-style stilt house in Mai Chau. Day 3: Mai Chau - Tan Ky (approx. 290 km, 9 hours drive). We drive along a small, spectacular and paved road along the Ma River to the town of Cam Thuy, where we stop for lunch. We drive along the Ho Chi Minh Trail (now a newly built highway) to Tan Ky town, where we stay overnight in a hotel. Day 4: Tan Ky - Phong Nha (280 km, 8 hours drive). We continue on the Ho Chi Minh highway to Pho Chau. There we stop to visit the HCM Trail Victory Monument, which is the actual starting point of our HCM Trail ride. Then we continue to Phong Nha - Ke Bang, the largest and also the most beautiful cave in Vietnam and Indochina, which is now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The karst formation of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has developed since the Paleozoic era (about 400 million years ago), making it the oldest large karst area in Asia. The park's karst landscape, which is subject to massive tectonic changes, is extremely complex and has numerous geographical features of great significance. The vast area, which extends to the border of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is home to spectacular formations, including 65 km of caves and underground rivers. Day 5: Phong Nha - Dong Hoi (60 km, 2 hours drive). Today's agenda includes a boat tour and exploration of the World Heritage Site of Phong Nha, where civilians and military personnel sought shelter from constant bombardment during the war. Then we will drive down to the coastal town of Dong Hoi, which was heavily shelled by US warships during the war. At a hotel with a View of the beach, we can sunbathe on the beach. Overnight stay in Dong Hoi. Day 6: Dong Hoi - Khe Sanh (200 km, 6 hours drive) We strike south through foothills once heavily sprayed by Agent Orange towards the former DMZ. Many traces of the bombing can still be seen on the hillsides, and from time to time we will discover remnants of the original trail. We will see Vinh Moc tunnel, the famous Hien Luong Bridge (former demarcation line between North and South Vietnam), Truong Son cemetery and finally Khe Sanh (former US naval base). Overnight stay in Khe Sanh. Day 7: Khe Sanh - Hue (180 km, 7 hours drive). In the morning, we drive south across Da Kong Bridge (built by the Cubans in 1973) to the notorious A-Shau Valley, an area of intense war activity. Passing Hamburger Hill and mountains still bare from the long-lasting effects of Agent Orange, we reach A Luoi, home to many Bru Van hill tribes. Then we drive through green hinterland down the steep Me Oi Pass and on to the beautiful city of Hue, located on the banks of the Perfume River. Overnight stay in Hue. Day 8: Hue - Hoi An (145 km, 5 hours drive). Visit the Forbidden Citadel in the morning. Continue on National Road 1 via Hai-Van Pass (Cloud Pass) to the World Heritage Site of Hoi An, an important trading center in Southeast Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the late afternoon you will have the opportunity for a city stroll and also dinner together if necessary. Overnight stay in Hoi An. Day 9: Hoi An city tour Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Vietnam, is known for its well-preserved old town with charming, colorful buildings. On the city tour, you can admire historical sights such as the Japanese Bridge, taste traditional Vietnamese dishes and have custom-made clothes made in the city's famous tailor stores. Overnight in Hoi An. Day 10: Farewell lunch If you wish, you can drive to My Khe beach, where the US Marines first landed. Otherwise, you have a free day to explore Hoi An on foot or by motorcycle cab. With excellent restaurants (including a range of Hoi An specialties), stunning architecture, fantastic tailoring, endless shopping, and a gorgeous beach, there is no shortage of activities to indulge in. After lunch, we bid farewell to our shared motorcycle tour. There are two options: Return to Hanoi by train or plane, or head south on our own.