Ho Chi Minh Trail 4wd
Expedition
Code: LAO107 |
“The North Vietnamese army
delivered 9 tons of war materiel per day, for over 9 years, to their guerrilla brethren
in the South, by using a network of paths and trails running through some of
the most unforgiving and difficult geography in Laos or the world. Despite
Richard Nixon’s command to ‘bomb them back to the stone-age’ the traffic was
unstoppable and The Trail thusly became the stuff of legends in the public
mind. Until recently, impassible borders, obtuse government policies and – most
importantly – Mother Nature, all conspired to forbid access to this rugged
beautiful area. Consult our destination experts for more details and needs”.
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Nakorn Phanom Thailand or Tha Kaek Laos – Rt 12 to Mahaxai – Lang Cang Village – Xai Bua Thong Way Station – Xepon
– Tha Kaek Laos or Nakorn Phanom Thailand |
| GETTING THERE: |
Guided service can begin in Nakorn Phanom Thailand (served by daily flights from Bangkok), or Thak Kaek Laos (a 5 minute ferry boat from Nakorn Phanom Thailand or a 4 hour drive from Vientiane Laos). Ask our destination specialists for suggestions on how best to integrate this tour into your overall itinerary. |
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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) |
Transfer from Nakorn Phanom, Thailand to Tha Kaek, Laos. Travel on good road (only recently completed, now accessible all year) by 4WD to the Mu Gia Pass, where the NVA and VC managed to send an average of 8 tons of war materiel every day into Laos. Drive right up to the Lao-Vietnam border. Overnight in Lang Cang Village at the home of one of the headmen with western & Lao meal prepared by your guide.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Headmans house homestay
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Day 2: FOUR-WHEELING DOWN THE TRAIL: LANG CANG VILLAGE BURAPHA AREA / SAE BANG FAI RIVER HCMT VILLAGE ASSISTANCE VILLAGE |
After simple camp breakfast pack up and move! Travel by 4WD through rivers, over rough road and many spots with little or no road at all. This is the old Ho Chi Minh Trail, and it is tough to drive now. 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. Continue to another village en route for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Headmans house homestay
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| Day 3: VILLAGE GOLD MINE XEPON LAM SON 719 OPS AREA XEPON |
Continue south along the rough trail passing villages and virgin forest. In the late afternoon pass the giant Australian gold mine and reach the town of Xepon. Xepon was a major transit station on The Ho Chi Mihn Trail. After years attempting to stop traffic, the South Vietnamese and Americans launched an ill-fated last ditch attempt to cut The Trail. The Lam Son 719 operation in 1971 was roundly defeated by the North Vietnamese. Tonight we will sleep in a guest house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accom: Guest House
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| Day 4: XEPON TOWN LAO BAO VIETNAM BORDER (OLD DMZ) XEPON THA KAEK NAKORN PHANOM |
Visit the Lao-Vietnam border at Lao Bao, and the small town of Ban Dong. Here you can see a few relics left from the Lam Son 719 mission; American tanks and artillery pieces abandoned by the retreating South Vietnamese are sprinkled through the surrounds of the village. Then return to Xepon and onward to Tha Kaek. Cross back to Nakorn Phanom for your travels onward.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accom: None
END OF SERVICE
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| Rates
and Other Information |
Ho Chi Minh Trail 4wd Expedition (CODE: LAO107)
Tariff: in US$ per person based on twin/double sharing room and subject to North by North East ‘General Conditions and Booking Procedures’
Note: North by North East makes every effort to provide the highest quality service for the best possible price. However, in these times of volatile exchange rates and rising fuel costs prices can be subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
CONVERT to
currency of your choice.
Number of Pax |
2 Pax |
4 Pax |
USD per Pax |
778 |
684 |
Price valid until 30 April 2009
*This trip can only run in the dry season (October April) as in wet season the roads become too difficult and the river crossings too high.
Includes:
- All accommodation as listed in above program
- All meals listed at the end of each day
- All ground transport & transfers
- All 4 WD vehicles on HCM Trail
- All admission fees
- English speaking guide
Not Included:
- meals NOT listed in the itinerary program
- items of a personal nature
- International & Domestic air-fares
- Lao VISA fee (30-42$) depending on nationality
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