$3,190USD PER RIDER
- [ 40% DISCOUNT FOR PILLION PASSENGERS ]
TOUR DATES
August 03-12 2026
September 6-15 2026
January 21 - 30 2027
June 16-25 2027
August 29 - Sep 7, 2027
December 6-15, 2027
1600+KM
Hoi An to Nha Trang
10 Days | Approximately 1,695 km
Inspired by the BBC's Top Gear Vietnam Special, Top Gear Moto 3 takes us from the lantern-lit streets of
Hoi An, across the legendary Hai Van Pass and deep into the Central Highlands before finishing beside
the sea in Nha Trang.
We ride several roads made famous by the television special, but the real adventure begins where their
cameras stopped. Over ten unforgettable days, we follow remote sections of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, cross
jungle-covered mountains, visit traditional villages, ride through Vietnam's coffee country and descend
from the cool highlands to one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the country.
This tour brings together everything we love about riding in Vietnam: sensational sealed roads, huge
scenery, fascinating history, welcoming locals, fresh food and a group of like-minded riders sharing the
journey. Some days are long, others give us time to slow down and explore, but every day reveals another
side of the real Vietnam.
The television special was good. The real ride is even better.
Day 1 - Hoi An to Da Nang to Hoi An | 120 km
Good morning, Vietnam. The Top Gear Moto 3 adventure begins!
After breakfast by the pool, we meet for our detailed rider briefing and introduce everyone to the motorcycles that
will carry us across Vietnam. Today is deliberately relaxed, giving us time to settle into the bikes, become familiar
with the local road conditions and get our first taste of what lies ahead.
We roll through the back streets of Hoi An's ancient town and follow the coast north towards Da Nang. Our first major stop is China Beach, remembered by many as a rest-and-recreation destination during the war years and now one of the most famous stretches of sand in central Vietnam.
From there, we circle the beautiful Son Tra Peninsula and climb Monkey Mountain. The road delivers sweeping
views across Da Nang Bay and the East Sea before bringing us to the towering Lady Buddha, watching over the coastline from the Linh Ung Pagoda. The forested peninsula is also home to the rare red-shanked douc langur, one of the world's most colourful primates.
We return along the coast to the Marble Mountains, where generations of local craftspeople have carved
remarkable stone sculptures. We explore the caves and pagodas before stopping for lunch in Da Nang, then make our way back to Hoi An by mid-afternoon.
There is time for a swim, a massage or a wander through Hoi An's lantern-lit lanes, galleries, cafes and famous
tailor shops. It is an easy first day, but the adventure is now properly underway.
Day 2 - Hoi An to Hue | 160 km
After a riverside breakfast in UNESCO-listed Hoi An, we saddle up and head north through the coastal countryside
towards one of the most celebrated motorcycle roads in Southeast Asia.
The mighty Hai Van Pass climbs between jungle-covered mountains and the sea, delivering flowing corners and spectacular views in every direction. Jeremy Clarkson called it his favourite road during the Top Gear Vietnam Special, and it remains a favourite with our riders too. We take our time, stop near the summit and enjoy the unmistakable feeling of riding above the clouds.
Descending the northern side, we follow quiet coastal back roads through fishing villages and stop for lunch beside a peaceful lagoon. The afternoon ride carries us into Hue, Vietnam's former imperial capital, set along the banks of the Perfume River.
Our welcoming hotel has a rooftop pool, but first there is an opportunity to visit Hue's magnificent Imperial Citadel. Behind its moat and ancient walls are palaces, temples and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved for Vietnam's emperors and their court.
As evening arrives, Hue comes alive with excellent restaurants, riverside cafes and small bars. It is a brilliant place to settle in after our first full day on the road.
Day 3 - Hue to Khe Sanh | 160 km
Leaving Hue's busy streets behind, we turn northwest and watch the traffic disappear as the mountains begin to rise
around us.
Before long, we join the legendary Ho Chi Minh Road and follow the Da Krong River through broad valleys, jungle-covered hills and traditional roadside villages. The tarmac twists gently through the landscape, offering long flowing bends and enormous views across a region shaped by both nature and history.
Our guides know these roads and communities intimately. Throughout the day, they share stories that help us understand the places we pass and the events that once unfolded here. It is difficult to imagine that these peaceful valleys formed part of one of the most significant supply routes of the war.
In the afternoon, we arrive at the former Khe Sanh Combat Base, also known as Ta Con Air Base. A small museum displays photographs and wartime artefacts, while aircraft, tanks, artillery and restored bunkers stand beside the remains of the old runway. Nearby, the great Khe Sanh Victory Monument presents the history from Vietnam's perspective.
Khe Sanh is a quiet mountain town today. We check into our hotel, gather for dinner and prepare for tomorrow's big ride into some of the most remote country on the tour.
Day 4 - Khe Sanh via A Luoi to Kham Duc | 300 km
This is a big riding day - and one of the true highlights of Top Gear Moto 3.
We leave Khe Sanh and head south along remote sections of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, running close to the Laos
border and passing through A Luoi on our journey towards Kham Duc. The road snakes through misty mountain
ranges, dense jungle and deep river valleys, with one brilliant corner following another.
These isolated highlands reveal a Vietnam rarely seen by outside visitors. Small ethnic-minority villages appear
between the trees, waterfalls tumble down the mountainsides and the jungle seems to close around the road. In places, it feels as though we have ridden straight into Jurassic Park.
There is plenty of saddle time today, but the scenery makes every kilometre worthwhile. We stop regularly to stretch the legs, enjoy the views and meet local families whose lives remain closely connected to the surrounding forests and mountains.
By late afternoon, we roll into Kham Duc, a small mountainside town with a long connection to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Our hotel is comfortable, the local food is excellent and the first cold drink after 300 kilometres of twisting mountain road is particularly well earned.
Day 5 - Kham Duc to Kon Tum | 180 km
Today we ride the Ho Chi Minh Trail in all its twisting, undulating glory.
The road climbs and falls through jungle-covered mountains, crossing wild rivers and passing villages tucked into remote valleys. This was once a vital wartime supply corridor; today, its smooth curves, changing elevation and almost-empty stretches of tarmac make it one of Vietnam's great motorcycle rides.
Much of the memorable riding footage from the Top Gear Vietnam Special was filmed through this region. It is easy to understand why. Around every bend, the landscape seems to grow bigger, greener and more dramatic.
There is no need to rush. We stop for photographs, fresh coffee and conversations with the locals while our guides bring the history and culture of the Central Highlands to life. Riders often arrive here thinking they have already seen Vietnam's best roads. By lunchtime, that opinion usually changes.
Our destination is Kon Tum, a relaxed highland city surrounded by traditional villages and fertile countryside. We settle into our hotel and share dinner with the crew, still talking about the extraordinary road we have just ridden.
Day 6 - Kon Tum to Buon Ma Thuot | 230 km
We say goodbye to our hosts, saddle up and turn south through the heart of Vietnam's Central Highlands.
The character of the landscape changes as the high mountain jungle gives way to open farmland, rubber
plantations and seemingly endless rows of coffee trees. The roads are faster and more flowing today, giving us a
relaxed opportunity to enjoy the bikes and watch rural Vietnam unfold around us.
We pass small farming towns, roadside markets and traditional villages, stopping often for local coffee and fresh fruit. This region produces much of the coffee for which Vietnam has become famous, and there is no better place to sample it than within sight of the farms where it was grown.
By afternoon, we arrive in Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of Dak Lak Province and the largest city in the Central
Highlands. Despite its importance to the region, it retains a relaxed character and a strong connection to the
surrounding farming communities.
Our hotel has a pool, making it the perfect place to cool down before heading out to enjoy another evening of
excellent highland food.
Day 7 - Buon Ma Thuot to Lak Lake | 125 km
The shorter distance gives us an easy start and plenty of time to explore.
We ride through Dak Lak's rich coffee country, a landscape that once experienced heavy conflict and bombing but is
now filled with productive farms and peaceful villages. The winding roads offer enjoyable riding and a close-up view of everyday life across the highlands.
One of today's highlights is the impressive Dray Sap Waterfall. We stop for lunch and, when conditions allow, cool off with a swim while the meal is being prepared. It is a refreshing break before the afternoon ride through small villages, rice fields and open grazing country shared with cattle, goats and water buffalo.
Our destination is Lak Lake, where we stay near the water among rice fields and traditional wooden longhouses. Several ethnic-minority communities call this region home, and the distinctive longhouse villages provide a fascinating glimpse into highland culture.
Sunset across the lake can be picture perfect. With cold drinks, fresh local food and the possibility of a traditional music and dance performance, this remains one of our favorite overnight stops.
Day 8 - Lak Lake to Da Lat | 155 km
An early walk through the peaceful longhouse village is a wonderful way to begin the morning. Then it is back in the saddle for the climb towards Da Lat.
The route follows winding back roads through coffee plantations, vegetable farms and small rural communities. We stop to taste locally grown coffee and visit a traditional silk-making factory, where the production process has been carried out for generations.
Out on the road, farmers tend their crops, livestock wander between villages and schoolchildren greet us with
enthusiastic waves and calls of "hello". These small encounters are a huge part of riding in Vietnam. We seem to spend half the tour returning smiles and waving back.
As we climb higher, the temperature cools and pine forest begins to replace tropical farmland. Da Lat sits around 1,500 metres above sea level and is often called the "Swiss Alps of Vietnam". Its French-influenced architecture, mountain climate, flower farms and lakes give the city a character unlike anywhere else in the country.
The evening night market is well worth exploring. Da Lat is another terrific overnight stop - lively enough to be
interesting, but cool and relaxed after a day in the saddle.
Day 9 - Da Lat to Vinh Hy | 165 km
We ride through the centre of Da Lat, skirt the lake and begin climbing across misty mountain passes surrounded by pine forest, waterfalls, flower farms and vast vegetable greenhouses.
At around 1,600 metres, the air is cool and the mountain views stretch for kilometres. Then the road begins an extraordinary descent from the Central Highlands towards the tropical coast. With every bend, the temperature rises and the landscape changes until the blue waters of the East Sea finally appear below us.
Reaching the coast does not mean the good riding is over. We turn onto a twisting ocean road that sweeps around rocky headlands and through dry, dramatic mountains towards beautiful Vinh Hy Bay.
Our resort overlooks the water and has a pool waiting. Vinh Hy is a small fishing village popular with Vietnamese travellers, surrounded by mountains and known for its seafood and waterfront restaurants.
After nine days on the road, an evening beside the sea feels pretty special. We enjoy the village, watch the fishing boats and raise a glass to the final night of the journey.
Day 10 - Vinh Hy to Nha Trang | 80 km
There is time for a sleep-in and breakfast by the pool before we begin the final ride.
The road north from Vinh Hy is one of Vietnam's great coastal routes. It flows like a ribbon between rugged mountains and the sea, opening onto enormous views of rocky headlands, tropical islands and fishing villages far below. It is postcard-perfect riding and a fitting finale to the tour.
We continue past Cam Ranh Bay and join the final stretch of the Great Ocean Road towards Nha Trang. The city slowly appears ahead, marking the end of almost 1,700 kilometres across an extraordinary slice of Vietnam.
Back at Vietnam Motorbike Tours headquarters, we park the motorcycles and say farewell to the crew who have supported us throughout the journey. The engines fall silent, but the stories have only just begun.
Our final overnight stay is in Nha Trang, with its long beachfront, lively restaurants and seaside bars. The group that began in Hoi An as a collection of riders now finishes as a group of mates, sharing a few drinks and already talking about the next adventure.
This may be the finish line for Top Gear Moto 3, but the roads, friendships and memories will travel home with us.
WHY BOOK
WITH
VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOURS?
Established in 2007, Vietnam Motorbike Tours is an Australian and Vietnamese-owned company that combines expert local knowledge with high western standards. This winning combination has resulted in incredible motorbike adventure tours.
Send us a message via our enquiry page.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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Begin in UNESCO-listed Hoi An with a coastal introduction through Da Nang
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Ride the famous Hai Van Pass and explore imperial Hue
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Visit the historic Khe Sanh Combat Base and museum
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Follow remote sections of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail
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Cross the mountains near the Laos border through A Luoi and Kham Duc
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Experience traditional villages and ethnic-minority cultures
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Ride through Vietnam's coffee-growing Central Highlands
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Visit Dray Sap Waterfall and stay beside beautiful Lak Lake
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Climb into the cool pine-covered mountains of Da Lat
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Descend from the highlands to Vinh Hy Bay
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Finish along the spectacular Great Ocean Road into Nha Trang
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Enjoy Vietnam's remarkable food, hospitality, history and culture
TOUR INCLUSIONS
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Personalized in-house booking manager, making planning a breeze .
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Quality overnight stays, hotel & Homestay - all with wifi. single room upgrade available
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complimentary one night pre & post-tour accommodation
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airport pick up as per itinerary
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Domestic flights within Vietnam “as per tour itinerary”
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Detailed rider briefing covering all aspects of the tour
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Expert guide Lead guide & Vietnam Motorbike Tours support crew
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Lifan motorcycle & fuel . fully serviced & maintained . prefect for touring Vietnam.
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Support chase Minivan, seats passengers & bagagge transfers.
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All Breakfast & lunches - one welcome dinner
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Vietnam Motorbike Tours T-shirt - Cap - Vietnam touring map
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Endless bottled water, fruits & snacks
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Field medical kit - 24hr back-to-base support
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Motorcycle damage cover - 3rd limited party cover
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Return motorcycle freight to headquarters
NOT INCLUDED
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Motorcycle riding gear
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International flights - visa
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Personal travel insurance
All riders must have travel insurance
(must include motorcycling cover) -
Dinner meals - beverages
Vietnam Motorbike Tours' tours are designed for riders seeking the ultimate adventure and exploring some of the best back roads in Vietnam.
Places are limited so book early!
