March 23rd to April 5th 2025
»ITINERARY »BOOKING INFO & COST »FAQ’s
ABOUT
Classic Vietnam is our annual two week adventure in which participants drive either an ex US military Jeep, or a modern SUV, from Hanoi to Da Nang before taking a flight to Saigon to finish the trip. We provide you with the vehicle, full mechanical support and insurance. In common with all our trips there is no convoy driving. Instead you travel at your own pace guided by an easy to follow route book. As well as visiting tourist spots, we also drive through parts of Vietnam that most visitors do not experience. Our route includes four World Heritage Sites, passes a number of significant Vietnam War locations including Khe Sanh and Hamburger Hill and visits cities including Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.
For years it was not possible for non residents to drive a four wheeled vehicle in Vietnam. That is why Clarkson and Co in their Top Gear special used scooters instead of cars. In 2012 we overcame the licensing hurdles and became the first in the world to run an event of this kind in Vietnam.
The route broadly follows the Ho Chi Minh Trail – the secret supply route used by the North Vietnamese to supply their troops in the south during the conflict. We stay in lovely hotels and in keeping with other events you will be provided with a detailed route book enabling you to travel at your own pace. As always, as well as several tourist hot spots, we will be visiting several areas not normally accessed by tourists.
If you do not fancy driving a Jeep you have the option to drive a modern car or ride a choice of motorcycles ranging from a modern Honda trails bike to an old Russian 650cc Ural.
ITINERARY
Day 1 | March 23rd – Overnight flight to Hanoi.
Day 2 | March 24th – Arriving in Hanoi a car will meet you at Noi Bai airport and take you to our first hotel, which is in the centre of town within walking distance from shops, markets etc.
Day 3 | March 25th – After breakfast we will be taking a tour of some of Hanoi’s principal sights. They will also be the opportunity to climb aboard motorcycle side cars for part of the tour. We start with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum then view the remains of a downed B52. After stopping for coffee at the War Museum we finish at the Hanoi Hilton – the old French prison where downed American fighter pilots were held captive. In the afternoon you are free so there will be time for a wander around the Old Quarter. In the evening we head off to another local restaurant for dinner.
Day 4 | March 26th – We depart the hotel by bus to visit the Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum on the outskirts of Hanoi, where the vehicles will be waiting. After touring the museum we head off, quickly finding ourselves in rural Vietnam and a sea of paddy fields dotted with limestone mountains. This first day’s drive is relatively short and easy and we should be at the hotel in Mai Chau by mid afternoon. (67 miles)
Day 5 | March 27th – This is one of the longest days as we head south to Vinh. After travelling through part of Cuc Phuong, Vietnam’s first national park we eventually join the new Ho Chi Minh Highway, which lies on top of the original Ho Chi Minh Trail. This takes us due south, through remote back country, very close to the Laos border. We then head towards the coast to Vinh, our overnight stop. Vinh was a target of particular significance to US air raids during the war. That night, weather permitting, we will have dinner by the pool. (208 miles)
Day 6 | March 28th – Today we continue south along Highway One, before turning inland towards the Laos border. We pass the Dong Loc intersection, (a main junction for supply lines during the War), and head into remote back country noticing the scenery becoming dominated by karst limestone rock formations. Our overnight stop is at the World Heritage site of Phong Nha, home of one of the world’s largest caves, where local civilians and military sheltered from incessant bombing during the war. Before dinner we will take an amazing boat ride deep into the cave. (133 miles)
Day 7 | March 29th – Having obtained special permission, we head deep into the pristine jungle that comprises the World Heritage Ke Bang National Park. It is a lovely drive and along the way we pass a number of significant wartime locations including overgrown remnants of the original Ho Chi Minh Trail. Skirting the Laos border we arrive at Khe Sanh. Here we stop to visit the site of the former US Marine base that underwent the famous siege in the prelude to the Tet Offensive in 1968. (137 miles)
Day 8 | March 30th – Today we head east along Highway 9 and cross the former DMZ (demilitarised zone), then across the famous Hien Luong Bridge (former demarcation line between North and South Vietnam). Just before lunch we will reach the Vinh Moc Tunnels, where hundreds of villagers lived underground during the course of the war. After lunch on the coast we eventually reach the delightful city of Hue, which lies along the banks of the Perfume River. (135 miles)
Day 9 | March 31st – Day Off Hue is the former imperial capital of feudal Vietnam and is an ideal place to relax, sightsee and chill after the driving to date.
Day 10 | April 1st – Leaving Hue we head up the Me Oi (translation – “Oh Mum”) pass towards the site of Hamburger Hill. We meet up with the Ho Chi Minh Trail again, and head further into the mountains. On a clear day one can see directly down to the coast, over 50 miles away. Passing very close to the Laos border we start heading back to the coast past ancient temples and fiercely fought-over territory during the war. We overnight at the world Heritage site of Hoi An, a major trading centre in SE Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries. (175 miles)
Day 11 | April 2nd – A day off. Hoi An offers fine wining and dining, impressive architecture, fantastic tailoring, endless shopping and a great beach, so you will not be short of things to do.
Day 12 | April 3rd – This is our last day of driving and what better way to spend it than cruising up a fabulous coastal pass made famous by the BBC Top Gear Vietnam Special. After a lunch and a swim we catch an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). 60 miles.
Day 13 | April 4th – Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling commercial heart of Vietnam, and site of the former South Vietnam Presidential Palace. In the morning we will take a tour of the sites by cycle rickshaw leaving the afternoon free. In the evening we will head out to a lovely restaurant for our end of event meal.
Day 14 | April 5th – Transfer to the airport for the flight home.
BOOKING INFORMATION & COST
£4695
The cost is per person based on two people sharing a vehicle and accommodation.
Included
Hire of a jeep
Internal flight from Da Nang to Saigon
A Great Road Journeys tulip style route book backed up by a marked road map
Entry fees to all museums/parks/places of interest etc.
Dinner each night except 3 days off in Hue, Hoi An and Saigon
Lunches for all driving days
Airport collection in Hanoi
Not included
Return Flights from UK to Vietnam
Fuel
Visa
What happens next?
Send an email to us at info@greatroadjourneys.com with your contact details. After that we will be in touch. A deposit of £1000 per person will be required upon booking. The balance is payable one month before departure. In the meantime you’ll receive regular updates from us guiding you through everything you need to know re your visa application, inoculations, driving licence etc
FAQ’S
Where do we go? Click on this link and you will see a map of the route. The tour spends most of the time on quiet rural roads with little traffic. On several days there is no driving giving you plenty of time to relax or explore.
How difficult is the navigation? As with all our tours we provide you with a detailed, easy to follow route book and back it up with a map.
What is the standard of accommodation? We always stay in quality hotels. In some of the locations we visit there simply aren’t four or five star hotels but in these locations we will use the best available. As you would expect all the accommodation is en-suite.
What vehicles do we use? In the main we use ex US military M151 Jeeps. We have a small selection of other vehicles which are available if you prefer not to drive a jeep. In addition, if you prefer to ride a motorbike we have Honda 250 CRF’s or Russian 650cc Urals.
How long is the trip? The total final trip mileage is just short of 1000 miles.
Are meals included? Dinner is included every night of the trip except for the three days off in Hue, Hoi An and Saigon. Lunches are included on all the driving days.
Will there be much off road? All the driving takes place on tar roads. There is no extreme 4×4 driving.
What about personal security? Vietnam is a safe country for travellers and you will find everyone friendly and welcoming.
How do you get there? From the UK the flight options are either direct with Vietnam airlines or with a stopover in Asia or a stop over in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Contact us for options from other locations.
What is the food like? Excellent. Vietnamese food is distinct and unforgettable. It tends to be more flavoursome than other Asian countries with a definite mix of salt, sweet sweet and sour. Dishes tend not to be spicy as chilli is usually served on the side.
What is the weather like? In March/April the weather is ideal. Warm enough for shirt sleeves and shorts but not roasting.
Why come with us? It is not possible to organise your own self drive trip in Vietnam. When the BBC visited with Top Gear they were not able to obtain driving licences which is why Clarkson and Co rode scooters, instead of driving cars. It took us several years before we were able to overcome the licencing hurdles and we believe we are still the only UK based company offering self drive in Vietnam. During the tour we sweep the route meaning if you do have a problem we will find you and help you. Even if you just have something as simple as a puncture, how nice it is to sit in the shade while the tyre gets changed for you. We provide you with a local sim card meaning you can contact us at anytime during the day if you need help. Driving a 50 year old vehicle, that took part in a conflict a generation ago, is a unique experience. The M151 Jeeps are now status symbols in Vietnam and highly sought after. Even though we accompany the tour, you are free to do your own thing and travel at your own pace but, if anything goes wrong or you need help, we are there to provide it. On every tour we will deliver the best holiday we can – that’s why over 85% of participants travel with us more than once.