Historic Ho Chi Minh Trail
Off-Road Expedition
Duration:
4 Days/3 Nights
Routing:
Nakorn Phanom - Tha Kaek - Lang Cang Village - Xepon
- Tha Kaek - Nakorn Phanom
Visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail. Bump along in
4WD vehicles and witness how the local Lao population
has lived for centuries. Make a difference to a local
community while viewing a crucial battleground in the
Vietnam War. |
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| Day
1 : Nakorn Phanom, Thailand Tha Kaek,
Laos Lang Cang Village Mu Gia Pass Lang Cang Village
(Ho Chi Minh Trail) |
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Early morning, your guide will pick you up from the
hotel in Nakorn Phanom or from the airport, transfer
you to the pier crossing the Mekong to Tha Kaek, Laos.
Today begins several days of roughing
it'. The goal today will be to reach the top of the
Mu Gia Pass, where the NVA and VC managed to send
an average of 8 tonnes of war materiel every day into
Laos, despite heavy bombing from American planes.
Climb the pass by 4WD. Note the weather changes as
we move up. Then return to lower climes where we will
overnight at a local village.
Here you will be meeting Lao people
up close and personal for a couple of days. Expect
to be the subject of much attention, as few westerners
of any kind make it to this part of Laos. Lunch will
be en route, and dinner of both western & Lao
food will be at one of the headmen's houses. Tonight
we will likely enjoy a bonfire and a few bottles of
spirit!
Meals:
Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Village Headman's House (Homestay)
Featured Attractions:
Mekong River, Mu Gia Pass
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| Day
2 : Lang Cang Village
Burapha area / Se Bang Fai River HCMT Village Assistance
Project Village |
After camp breakfasts and a wash in the small nearby
river (or not, as you like), our staff will load
up the 4WD vehicles and we'll continue driving south
along the old Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Along the way stop at a village where we will visit
the school and make a donation of sporting equipment,
books, pencils and other needed goods to the village
school teachers and children.
We encourage you to make a donation toward the village
community project (which we are currently determining
with the villagers). This part of Laos is so far from
the center that not much official assistance makes
it into the village. We will also make a point of
interviewing several village elders to determine what
the village's primary needs are as of today. Continue
to another village en route for overnight. Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Village Headman's House
Featured Attractions:
Ho Chi Minh Trail, Se Bang Fai River, Village Assistance
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| Day
3 : Village Gold
Mine Xepon Lam Son 719 Ops Area Xepon |
After camp breakfasts, continue south to visit
an Australian Gold mine. Less than half of Laos
has ever even been surveyed for it's resources.
This Aussie mine has now been operating here for
several years. You will note how easy the road is
here: that is courtesy of the mine, who need the
road to haul away precious minerals.
Lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Xepon
Town, which was the scene of many decisive battles
during the Vietnam War. See some of the empty American
tank hulks from the Lam Son 719 operation.
Dinner and overnight in simple setting of Xepon. Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Guesthouse
Featured Attractions:
Gold Mine, Xepon, Lam Son 719
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| Day
4 : Xepon town Lao
Bao Vietnam Border (Old DMZ) Xepon Tha Kaek Nakorn
Phanom |
Early morning drive up to the Vietnam border town
of Lao Bao. The other side of the border is the
old DMZ along which there are many famous battlefields.
Return to Xepon to pick up our gear, and return
to Thailand via Thakaek, Laos. Lunch en route at
a local restaurant. After border formalities, say
good bye to our Laos team, and cross the border
to Thailand's Nakorn Phanom, where our Thai team
will pick you up. Transfer to the airport or hotel
in Nakorn Phanom.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
none
Featured Attractions:
Lao Bao, DMZ, Xepon
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| Rates
and Other Information |
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