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The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam

Truong Son Dong Road | Motorbike Guide

Last updated April 2025 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

Tom, Vietnam Coracle

Tom Divers is the founder and creator of Vietnam Coracle. He’s lived, travelled and worked in Vietnam since 2005. Born in London, he travelled from an early age, visiting over 40 countries (he first visited Vietnam in 1999). Now, whenever he has the opportunity to make a trip, he rarely looks beyond Vietnam’s borders and his trusty motorbike, Stavros. Read more about Tom on the About Page, Vietnam Times and ASE Podcast.


A romp through the heart of the Central Highlands, the Trường Sơn Đông Road is a ride to be savoured, both for scenery and for sheer riding pleasure. Many sections of this 790km-long road are brand new and in excellent condition as they pass through dense jungle, cutting dangerous passes along steep ravines, and meandering like a river of asphalt through rolling farmland. Traffic is light and the land sparsely populated – dotted with highland villages with strange and exotic sounding names, like Ayun Pa, K’Bang, and Ea Ly. The Trường Sơn Đông Road has romantic, poetic and mystical overtones: the Central Highlands has long been a place of spirits and ghosts, of myths and fairy tales, of unknown peoples and wild animals, and of war. The geographical ‘abdomen’ of the nation, control of the Central Highlands has always been strategically important: to the Vietnamese, the French, the Americans. As such, there’s a military undercurrent to this route which, at times, feels like a highway built to facilitate guerrilla warfare. If you haven’t ridden the Trường Sơn Đông Road yet, you’ve got to do it; if you have ridden the Trường Sơn Đông Road already, you’ve got to do it again, because this road keeps getting better, longer and more spectacular with each year.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The Trường Sơn Đông Road is a ride to be savoured

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TROUNG SON DONG ROAD


A 790km Romp through the Heart of the Central Highlands

On this page, I’ve compiled a detailed guide to riding the entire 790km length of the Trường Sơn Đông Road. This guide includes a route map, an at-a-glance Overview, and an About this Route section with important practical information, such as road conditions, weather, where to start/end, accommodation, and more. I have also organized the route into 4 sections and written a description of each one, including dozens of photos. To get the most out of riding the Trường Sơn Đông Road, please read the practical information in this guide carefully, particularly Section 1. You can also purchase the complete Offline Guide & Map. The full route runs from Dalat to Thạnh Mỹ and can be ridden in 3-6 days depending how far you want to ride each day. I’ve written this guide going from south to north, but you can ride the route in either direction, and you can join the Trường Sơn Đông Road pretty much anywhere along its length. (For similar guides, see Related Routes, and if you like this guide, please support my website.)

CONTENTS:

Route Map

Overview & Details

About this Route

Section 1:
Dalat→Đạ Rsal→M’Đrắk

Section 2:
M’Đrắk→Ayun Pa→K’Bang

Section 3:
K’Bang→Sơn Tây→Bắc Trà My

Section 4:
Bắc Trà My→Sông Trà→Thạnh Mỹ

Related Routes

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ROUTE MAP:

Trường Sơn Đông Road | 790km

  • Blue Line: Trường Sơn Đông Road
  • Red Line: alternative route (see Section 1)
  • Purple Line: alternative route (see Section 1)
  • Black Lines: roadworks or unbuilt roads


*Road Safety & Disclaimer: Riding a motorbike in Vietnam – or anywhere in the world – has its dangers. I would hope & expect anyone who chooses to pursue a self-drive road trip based on the information on this website does so with care, respect & due diligence. I encourage careful riding & adherence to road rules, but I am not responsible for the legality or manner in which you ride, nor any negative consequences which may result from your decision to ride a motorbike in Vietnam: you do so at your own risk. Read more >


The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Trường Sơn Đông Road: 790km through the Central Highlands

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Selected Resources What’s this?

Overview & Details:

Below is a brief at-a-glance overview of the Trường Sơn Đông Road. For more specific details about practical information, such as road conditions, duration, accommodation, traffic, food and drink, weather conditions, connecting routes and more, see About this Route.

QUICK DETAILS:

  • Route: through the heart of the Central Highlands on one, long, amazing, empty road
  • Distance: 790km (full route)
  • Duration: 3-6 days
  • Scenery: mountains, valleys, rivers, agricultural plateaus, jungles, wildlife, wide open spaces
  • Attractions: excellent riding roads, waterfalls, historic sites, war vestiges, remote villages, river swimming
  • Road Conditions: good paved roads, very light traffic, some unpaved sections & roadworks (see Section 1)
  • Best Time: year-round

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
A bend on the Trường Sơn Đông Road

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About this Route:

Below is some important practical information about riding the Trường Sơn Đông Road that should help riders get the most out of this route. Click an item from the list below to read more and then use the ‘Back’ buttons to get back to this list. (For descriptions and photos of each section of the Trường Sơn Đông Road, go back to the main table of contents and follow the links.)

Selected Resources What’s this?

Most of the Trường Sơn Đông is smooth & empty

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What is the Trường Sơn Đông Road?

The Trường Sơn Đông Road is one of the greatest riding roads in Vietnam. The road is essentially a ‘middle way’. It is an attempt by the Vietnamese government to construct a major artery through the middle of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, running parallel to the country’s two other major north-south arteries, Highway QL1A along the coast to the east, and the Ho Chi Minh Road along the mountainous ‘spine’ of Vietnam to the west. The hope is that the Trường Sơn Đông Road will open up previously poor and isolated regions, stimulating growth in agriculture, industry, tourism and trade.

The Trường Sơn Đông Road extends over 700km from Dalat at its southern end to Thạnh Mỹ at its northern end. The majority of the road is already complete and in excellent condition. But, at the time of latest research in April 2025, two short sections remain unfinished. These sections are: Krông Nô RiverYang Mao (not built yet), and Cư DrămTách Kai 1 (undergoing major roadworks). I encourage readers to write updates in the comments section at the bottom of this guide, especially about the condition and state of progress of these two as yet unfinished sections of the road.

With a bit of poetic license, the name in Vietnamese – Đường Trường Sơn Đông – translates as ‘Road East of the Long Mountains’. Trường Sơn is the name of the mountain range which runs along most of the western border of the country from north to south. To the best of my knowledge (I am not a scholar of the Vietnamese language), in Sino-Vietnamese trường means ‘long’ and sơn means ‘mountain’. Furthermore, đường means ‘road’ and đông means ‘east’. Thus, there are more prosaic ways to translate the name, such as ‘Eastern Trường Sơn Road’. But personally, I prefer the more poetic interpretation, which I think does both the road and the landscape justice as it evokes the mysterious and enchanting qualities of this region and this route.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The road runs through the heart of the Central Highlands

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Using the Map:

My route map covers the entire length of the Trường Sơn Đông Road, from Dalat all the way to Thạnh Mỹ. You can use the map as you like, or you can purchase the complete Offline Guide & Map package ($15) which includes step-by-step instructions to use the map on your phone at all times, even without an internet connection, as well as a full PDF guide to the Trường Sơn Đông Road. It’s advisable to consult the map carefully before riding each section of the route, particularly Section 1 between Dalat and M’Đrắk.

The blue line shows all the completed sections of the Trường Sơn Đông Road. The black lines show sections that are either under heavy construction or as yet unbuilt. The red line represents the alternative route between Dalat and M’Đrắk following main roads. And the purple lines represent the alternative route between Đưng K’Nớ and M’Đrắk following a combination of main roads and back-roads, some of which are unpaved or undergoing roadworks.

The black dots represent significant intersections and/or junctions on the Trường Sơn Đông Road. The black roadwork icons signal bad road conditions. The orange bed icons are accommodation options and the red pins mark villages, towns and cities, all of which have at least some food, drink, gas stations and accommodation. I have also included some sights and attractions along the route.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Most of the route is easy to navigate

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Start/End & Connecting Routes:

In this guide I’ve divided the Trường Sơn Đông Road into 4 sections (see the main table of contents) going from south to north, starting in Dalat and ending in Thạnh Mỹ. But, of course, it’s possible to ride the route north to south instead. It is also possible to join the Trường Sơn Đông Road at many different points along its length via the roads that connect to it from the east (from the coast along the Beach Bum route) and from the west (from the mountains along the Ho Chi Minh Road). For example, there are connections to the Trường Sơn Đông Road from practically every major city along the coast, such as Nha Trang, Tuy Hòa, Quy Nhơn, Quảng Ngãi, Tam Kỳ and Đà Nẵng/Hội An, as well as every major town along the Ho Chi Minh Road, such as Buôn Ma Thuột, Pleiku, Kon Tum and Khâm Đức. This gives riders the freedom to meet the Trường Sơn Đông Road wherever they like along its length.

In addition, riders can extend their Trường Sơn Đông road trip by linking to many other routes on my website. For example, the Đắk Nông Geopark Loop, the Dalat Loops, the Back Ways to Dalat in the south, or the Quảng Ngãi Loop in the centre, or the Golden Loop in the north, or connecting to the Ho Chi Minh Road from Thạnh Mỹ to continue northwards to Prao and beyond. There are many other options too: browse my Motorbike Guides Archive for more.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Riders can connect to the Trường Sơn Đông Road from the coast or the mountains

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Distance & Duration:

The total distance of the Trường Sơn Đông Road as it appears on my route map is 790km. Because road conditions are generally good and traffic is light, this distance can be comfortably covered in 3 days for most riders on most bike models, covering an average of under 200km per day. However, you could also spend up to a week on the route if you ride at a leisurely pace, stopping to explore sights, such as K50 Waterfall, and staying overnight at interesting accommodation, such as Dak Drinh Lodge. Of course, bad weather conditions could slow you down, particularly if you attempt to ride any of the unfinished stretches of road in Section 1. In my description of the route I have divided the Trường Sơn Đông Road into 4 sections, each of which is rideable in a day. (Go back to the main table of contents to navigate to each section of the route.)

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The total distance of the Trường Sơn Đông Road is 790km

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Weather & Time of Year:

Because the Trường Sơn Đông Road covers so much distance – passing through six of the nation’s largest provinces, across varying terrain and through different climatic regions of the country – it’s very difficult to determine what the ‘best’ time of year to ride it is. October to January is pretty good, especially for the southern sections of the route; but as you get further north at this time of year, it can become quite cold, grey and drizzly. March to June is also a good window, especially for the central and northern sections, but there’s always the chance of some heavy monsoon rain. In short, there’s no ‘best’ time to ride the Trường Sơn Đông Road. Whenever you go, you’ll encounter some dry, sunny spells, and some cold, wet patches. Ultimately, go at any time of year and you’ll almost certainly enjoy it. Windy.com is a decent weather app which allows you to select the rain/thunder option and run the satellite over several days.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Weather conditions can be very changeable on the Trường Sơn Đông Road

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Road Conditions, Traffic & Gas Stations:

For the majority of its length, road conditions on the Trường Sơn Đông Road are excellent. At the time of latest research (April 2025), the Trường Sơn Đông Road is fully paved and in good condition from Dalat to the Krông Nô River (70km) and from Tách Kai 1 to Thạnh Mỹ (550km).

However, there are still two small sections that cause problems for riders: one that is undergoing major roadworks, and the other that is not even built yet. The latter is the section of road between the Krông Nô River and Yang Mao. Construction on this short section (only 15km as the crow flies) hasn’t even started yet, so there’s no prospect of it opening in the near future. Unfortunately, this means that all riders must choose an alternative route in order to bypass this section of unbuilt road: there are two options for this (see Section 1). The only other stretch of the Trường Sơn Đông Road that is difficult is the 20km section between Cư Drăm and Tách Kai 1, which is currently undergoing major roadworks. This section will improve with each month as the roadworks progress. But, at the time of writing (April 2025), it is only passable in dry conditions and is an unpleasant, bumpy, dusty ride strewn with construction vehicles. In wet conditions, the dust turns to mud and is treacherous, only passable for riders with appropriate bikes and experience.

For its entire length, traffic on the Trường Sơn Đông Road is very light. Apart from some areas around M’Đrắk and Ayun Pa, the road is practically empty. The only exception is during harvest time for certain crops, such as sugar cane, when trucks ply back and forth from the fields to the factories.

There are gas stations at fairly regular intervals along the Trường Sơn Đông Road, particularly at any of the towns and villages marked on my map with a red pin. However, you should never let your fuel gauge get too low before looking for a gas station to fill up, because the distances between each petrol pump can be significant. In particular, the section between K’Bang and Sơn Tây (135km) only has a couple of gas stations.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The vast majority of the road is in excellent condition

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Rough road conditions are only in Section 1

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Accommodation, Food & Drink:

Although some sections of the Trường Sơn Đông Road are isolated and sparsely populated, you’re never too far from the next village or town, where there’ll be at least one accommodation option and places to eat and drink. On my map, I’ve marked all towns and villages on the Trường Sơn Đông Road where you’ll find food, drink and accommodation with a red pin. In some cases, I’ve marked specific accommodation options with an orange bed icon. Some of these places to stay are excellent and even worth more than one night, such as Zen Countryside, Lak Tented Camp, Dak Drink Lodge and Nguyễn Kim Hotel. Other accommodations are far more prosaic: just a bed for the night in the form of local guest houses (known as nhà nghỉ). When it comes to eating and drinking, all settlements on the route have a handful of cơm-phở (rice and noodles) eateries and some local cafes.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
There’s food & drink available in all villages & towns on the route

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
There aren’t that many accommodation options on the route, but a few are very good

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Things to See & Do:

The Trường Sơn Đông Road leads through the heart of the Central Highlands. The riding alone is enough fun to make the trip worthwhile: gliding along good, empty roads, soaring over vast agricultural plateaus, winding up and rolling down lofty mountain passes, weaving through mist-shrouded forests, eating up the miles and feeling Vietnam’s highlands wash over you. Indeed, the road itself is an ‘attraction’ – seeing it snaking through the landscape, at times so animated and agitated that it appears to be alive. At two separate points, the road widens into multiple lanes and becomes an airstrip, capable of landing large aircraft. These two locations are the airstrip south of M’Đrắk and the airstrip north of K’Bang. Both are surreal, and strangely haunting, sights.

But there are other sights and activities, too, some of which I’ve marked on my map. Lots of waterfalls line the route, including a trek to K50 and K40, which are among the most impressive and isolated falls in Vietnam. In order to get there, you’ll need to arrange a half-day tour, either at the Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve HQ or one of the guest houses in the area. The Central Highlands was a major staging point for the US during the ‘American War’. There are several old airbases along the route, now overgrown and inactive, such as Cheo Reo, in Ayun Pa, as well as many Soviet-style monuments and memorials to major battles and victories.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Landscape on the Trường Sơn Đông Road

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
A war memorial on the Trường Sơn Đông Road

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Section 1:

Dalat→Đạ Rsal→M’Đrắk | 260km (Option 1) or 255km (Option 2)

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The first section of the Trường Sơn Đông Road, between Dalat and M’Đrắk, is a little complicated. One short section of the road (Krông Nô River→Yang Mao) isn’t built yet, and another short section (Cư Drăm→Tách Kai 1) is undergoing heavy roadworks at the time of research (April 2025). This means that riders must make a westerly detour in order to get around the unbuilt section of road, and then decide whether or not to attempt to ride the section of road that’s undergoing roadworks. Furthermore, there are two potential routes for the westerly detour around the unbuilt section of road: one route stays on main roads (Option 1), the other route uses back-roads (Option 2), but one of the back-roads is under construction – passable in dry conditions, but treacherous when wet. Therefore, all riders must make a decision before riding Section 1 of the Trường Sơn Đông Road: Option 1 or Option 2:

  • Option 1: Dalat→Đạ Rsal→M’Đrắk on main roads (260km): red line on my map
  • Option 2: Dalat→Đưng K’Nớ→Đạ Rsal→M’Đrắk on back-roads (255km) black & purple lines on my map

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The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The Trường Sơn Đông Road north of Dalat

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Option 1: The easiest way to ride between Dalat and M’Đrắk, this route stays on good, paved, main roads through pleasant countryside and, for the most part, with very light traffic. At 260km the ride takes the best part of a full day. Alternatively, you could break the journey by stopping for a night at Liên Sơn, on the shores of Lake Lắk, where there are some good accommodation options, such as Lak Tented Camp, among others.

The route starts by heading due southwest out of Dalat on Road DT725, down a good mountain pass, through the village of Tà Nung with its acres of surrounding coffee farms, and then turning due west at the impressive Elephant Waterfall (worth a stop, if it’s open) on a good road eventually leading to a junction with QL27. Turn north on QL27 and continue on this meandering main road through pine forests, jungles, misty mountains, cultivated valleys, enormous artificial lakes and zig-zagging passes all the way to Đạ Rsal and beyond to Liên Sơn on the banks of Lake Lắk.

A small, friendly village with plenty of food, drink and accommodation, Liên Sơn is surrounded by mountains, rice fields and ethnic minority hamlets, some with traditional wooden longhouses. Lake Lắk (Hồ Lắk) is a large natural body of water filling a wide valley. It makes a scenic night stop if you’re tired or have run out of daylight.

A little while north of Lake Lắk turn due east on road DT12 and take it as far as Krông Kmar before turning north on road DT9. Leading through a flat, farmed landscape, this road eventually hits QL26. Turn due east and follow this main road across an undulating and fairly featureless landscape to M’Đrắk. Although the town of M’Đrắk is not a place to linger, it is an obvious overnight halt at an important crossroads on the Trường Sơn Đông Road. There are a couple of OK guest houses (nhà nghỉ), including Tây Nguyên, with simple but clean(-ish) rooms for around 200,000vnđ. Plenty of food and drink options line the main road passing through town.

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The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Road QL27 winding through coffee farms between Dalat & Lake Lắk

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Water buffaloes graze on the shores of Lake Lắk

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
A canvas tent room at Lak Tented Camp

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Rice fields on the edge of Lake Lắk

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Option 2: This route option between Dalat and M’Đrắk is technically more ‘correct’ because it follows the actual Trường Sơn Đông Road as much as possible. However, the route also requires negotiating two potentially difficult sections of dirt road. At 255km it is only a few clicks shorter than Option 1 but is likely to take more time because of those tricky dirt road sections. The bottom line is: if the weather is dry, you have a decent motorbike and are a reasonably confident rider, there’s no reason not to attempt this route. But, if conditions are wet and you don’t have much riding experience, it’s a better to stick to Option 1.

Head north from Dalat on road DT722. The scenery quickly becomes very alpine, with pine trees, lakes and wooden cabins dotting the hillsides. Although not labelled as such, this is in fact the beginning of the Trường Sơn Đông Road proper. The riding, road quality and scenery are fabulous as you head further north, deeper into the pine forests and higher into the mountains, accompanied by a chill highland air. After 50km, the dusty hamlet of Đưng K’Nớ appears on the edge of a precipice. From here, the Trường Sơn Đông Road continues due north for another 30km to the banks of the Krông Nô River. This is a highly scenic ride, but the road simply dead-ends at the river. The bridge has not been constructed yet and there’s no other way across. Therefore, the only option is to head back to Đưng K’Nớ and turn due west on the road to Đạ Rsal (also labelled DT722). This detour would be fine, but unfortunately the first 10km of road is still under construction. The terrain is very rugged so the road has taken years to build. At the time of latest update (April 2025) conditions were dusty and sandy with some quite narrow sections and some very wide parts. In dry weather, the road is totally passable (with caution), but in wet conditions the mud would be slippery and treacherous. Each rider will need to decide for themselves whether or not to attempt this.

The dirt road section ends at Đạ Long, after which conditions are mostly fine all the way to Đạ Rsal (although some parts are still in the final stages of being upgraded). Turn due north on QL27 at Đạ Rsal, heading towards Liên Sơn and Lake Lắk. Continue to the junction with road DT12 and turn due east all the way to Cư Drăm (note that conditions on DT12 are mixed). At Cư Drăm, a short section of the Trường Sơn Đông Road leads due south to Yang Mao and beyond along a pretty valley before dead-ending in the jungle, but it’s fun to ride it if you have time to spare. If not, then continue due east from Cư Drăm to Tách Kai 1. This short section of road is currently (April 2025) undergoing major roadworks. It’s littered with construction vehicles and becomes very muddy when wet. Note that it can be hazardous to ride, especially on a ‘normal’ motorbike. From Tách Kai 1, a brand new section of the Trường Sơn Đông Road heads due north around a flooded, spooky landscape all the way to M’Đrắk. It’s a fantastic ride, including the airstrip section just south of M’Đrắk, where the road widens into multiple lanes and runs arrow-straight for several kilometres.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Trường Sơn Đông Road near Đưng K’Nớ

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Near the dead-end in the Krông Nô River valley

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Road conditions between Đưng K’Nớ & Đạ Long

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The airstrip on the Trường Sơn Đông Road, just south of M’Đrắk

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Section 2:

M’Đrắk→Ayun Pa→K’Bang | 215km

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From M’Đrắk the Trường Sơn Đông Road ploughs northwards across the vast agricultural plateaus of the Central Highlands. From here, the road runs continuously for over 500km, all the way to the end point at Thạnh Mỹ. Road conditions are good for the entire length and traffic is very light: for long stretches you might not even see another vehicle. What’s more, navigation is fairly straightforward.

The first stretch north of M’Đrắk is an undulating route on smooth tarmac, rolling up and down gentle slopes covered in coffee bushes, sugar cane, eucalyptus and rubber trees. The riding is excellent and the scenery is pretty as the road soars around the boundaries of Ea Sô Nature Reserve. But this isn’t wild nature. This is a productive and plundered landscape. Much of the land you see from the road was primary forest just a few decades ago, before Vietnam’s agricultural boom. Now, there’s barely an old-growth tree left standing for all the thousands of coffee bushes that have been planted in their place.

Turn due east at the junction with QL29 and then head north a few minutes later, back on the Trường Sơn Đông Road, just after the village of Ea Ly. Switching from freshly laid asphalt to large concrete slabs, the road blazes up hillsides, across farmland, over rivers and lakes until it meets QL25. Mango, cashew and cassava plantations decorate this flat basin, surrounded on all sides by forested mountains. The only traffic are goats, cattle, pigs and chickens. Minority villages, consisting of wooden plank homes raised on stilts a metre above the dirt, are scattered across the landscape. Many of the women and girls wear their colourful, highly decorative traditional dress. But it looks like a rough, tough existence here. The daily work is physically demanding and starts from a very early age: young girls carry wicker baskets full of wood on their backs.

At the Cầu Lệ Bắc junction, turn due northwest on QL25 for a brief stint up a pass to the exotic-sounding town of Ayun Pa. This settlement makes for a convenient lunch stop at any of the rice eateries and cafes, and there are some guest houses too, such as Phúc Khánh and Anh Nguyên, if you need to overnight. Also of interest is Cheo Reo, an old US airbase just west of town. The runway is now used by locals to dry their crops on.

Leave Ayun Pa via its bypass along a dyke across a sea of rice paddies and then turn due north back on the Trường Sơn Đông Road (labelled DT622). This stretch of road is a smooth, easy ride across a gaping agricultural plateau dominated by sugar cane plantations, which cover the landscape like a green-beige quilt. If it’s harvest time, then trucks will be plying back and forth from the plantations to the factories. At the Đắk Pơ crossroads with QL19, continue straight across the intersection, heading north towards K’Bang. This pleasant section of road rolls through a rural landscape dotted with red-tile-roofed farmhouses. The lower slopes are cultivated with banana, sugar cane, eucalyptus and cassava, but the higher slopes are still cloaked in dark green jungle.

The likable little town of K’Bang (which sounds like an onomatopoeia used in comic books when a superhero punches a villain: K-Bang!) is a friendly place with a couple of good guesthouses and local food joints, as well as a nearby waterfall. K’Bang is good night stop on the Trường Sơn Đông Road. Hoàng Long and Ngọc Linh are both decent hotels for a night. Several places to eat are scattered along the main street – try the bánh xèo at Bếp Cô Sự – and a few coffee shops serve good espresso, such as An Cafe.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Winding along the boundary of Ea Sô Nature Reserve

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Farmland & villages on the Trường Sơn Đông Road

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Sugar cane & corn farms along the Trường Sơn Đông Road

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The Trường Sơn Đông Road just south of K’Bang

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Delicious bánh xèo for dinner in K’Bang

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Section 3:

K’Bang→Sơn Tây→Bắc Trà My | 215km

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North of K’Bang is where the wilderness begins. Remember to fill up with petrol in town before you leave, because there are precious few gas stations on the next stretch of road. Just 10 minutes north of K’Bang, the Trường Sơn Đông Road turns into concrete slabs, like a giant pack of dominoes laid on their sides on a rolling path through the jungle. The scruffy patchwork of highland farmland fades away, as towering tropical trees close in on the road. Not long after leaving town, the road widens into a straight, multi-lane, deserted airstrip, the second such section of road on this route. It’s a surreal and strangely haunting sight. Apparently, parts of the U.S road network were designed in a similar fashion, with long, wide, straight sections purposely built to double as landing strips in remote areas to facilitate military and civilian aircraft in the event of war.

After the airstrip, all people and traffic disappear as the road plugs you deeper and deeper into a rich seam of highland forest. The riding is excellent. The road is in good condition with multiple switch-backs, long meandering stretches and fast straights. It’s as if a Moto GP race track has been laid in the middle of the Vietnamese jungle. Deep within this jungle, east of the road, is K50 Waterfall, one of the most impressive cascades in Vietnam. Within the protected confines of the Kon Chư Răng Nature Reserve, the falls can only be accessed on foot via a long guided hike through the jungle, starting from the nature reserve HQ, located down a lane off the Trường Sơn Đông Road. Arrangements for the hike can be made at HQ or via a handful of guesthouses in the area.

Over 80km north of K’Bang, the Trường Sơn Đông Road meets a remote intersection with QL24 (also labelled AH132) at the Xã Hiếu crossroads. If you’re tired or running out of daylight, you can head west on QL24 up to Măng Đen, a mountain resort village in the pine forests with some good accommodation, dining and drinking options. Otherwise, head straight over the crossroads, continuing due north on yet another superb section of the Trường Sơn Đông Road towards Sơn Tây. This is one of the wildest and most scenic stretches of the entire route, especially the first 10-20km after the Xã Hiếu crossroads, featuring a recently completed, death-defying pass crawling along a mountainside draped in dense jungle, high above a raging river. In bad weather, when visibility is sometimes less than a few feet, this can be a terrifying ride, with landslides, mudslides and rockfalls sending whole trees tumbling down the cliff. But, in good weather, it’s an extremely beautiful section of mountain road through alpine scenery laced with pretty rivers and waterfalls. Either way, it’s important to ride carefully and make sure you bring a jacket, because it can get chilly on this pass. Next to one of the roadside cascades is a bold, proud sign reading ‘Đường Trường Sơn Đông‘ – a monument to this feat of engineering (and a good photo opportunity).

The road continues to helter-skelter up and down mountainsides and along riverbanks with high peaks looming in the distance, one of which is Ngọc Linh (2,598m), the highest mountain in all of central and southern Vietnam. The air is cooler here and the valleys are steep and tight, planted with cinnamon and eucalyptus. Road conditions are good all the way to Sơn Tây village. Clinging to the banks of a great river tamed by a hydroelectric dam, Sơn Tây is a small, quiet place in a magical position that is a logical night stop on the Trường Sơn Đông Road. However, accommodation options in the village are very limited. Châu Phong Guesthouse (also called Diễm Châu) is basic and cheap and passable for a night. But it’s a much better idea to ride up to Dak Drinh Lodge, just west of Sơn Tây on the banks of a scenic lake. The accommodation and setting are atmospheric and there are plenty of activities, including kayaking on the lake.

Head due north out of Sơn Tây, past a large hydroelectricity project before climbing steadily into the hills. This is the beginning of another wonderful stretch of road over mountains bursting with tropical foliage, affording excellent views over valleys and villages tucked into the folds of misty mountains. Many sections of the road are new and wide, twisting through the jungles and carving a route into the rockface, hugging the precipice with the river valley hundreds of feet below. This is a remote stretch of the Trường Sơn Đông with hardly any traffic whatsoever for 50km until it meets QL40B (also labelled DT616) at the Trà Giác intersection.

Join QL40B going north and follow it as it veers due east around a spectacular hydroelectricity lake to Sông Tranh Bridge. From here, turn due north across the bridge to continue on Section 4 of the Trường Sơn Đông Road. However, for a good overnight stop, continue east on QL40B for a few kilometres to Bắc Trà My, a likeable town on a river. There are a couple of good hotels here – Nguyên Kim has clean rooms and a decent swimming pool, and Anh Tuấn is a solid mini-hotel – as well as plenty of local food and cafes (dinner at Quán Ven Sông is recommended).

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The airstrip just north of K’Bang

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
An isolated stretch of the Trường Sơn Đông Road near the Trà Giác intersecction

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
The Trường Sơn Đông Road sign near Xã Hiếu crossroads

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Hugging the mountainside between Sơn Tây & Trà Giác

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Dusk over Sông Tranh Lake, near Bắc Trà My

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Section 4:

Bắc Trà My→Sông Trà→Thạnh Mỹ | 100km

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The last section of the Trường Sơn Đông Road begins at the Sông Tranh Bridge. Heading north across the bridge, the road curls around the shores of a large and spectacular reservoir before climbing up a twisting pass and then descending the other side into a long, fertile valley all the way to the Sông Trà intersection with QL14E. Road conditions are excellent, traffic is non-existent, scenery is good and the riding is easy and fun for the entire 40km stretch of road.

Turn due west on QL14E for a few minutes before veering off back onto the Trường Sơn Đông Road heading due northwest all the way to the end point at Thạnh Mỹ. This 50km-long final section is perhaps the best stretch of the entire Trường Sơn Đông Road. Recently laid, the road is smooth and impressive as it slaloms up and down mountains, meanders through valleys and crawls around lakes. The landscape is glorious and the route is completely empty. In fact, there are signs in Vietnamese along the road warning of wild elephants appearing out of the jungle. It’s a great ride, but remember to fill-up with fuel, because there are no petrol stations along the way.

Thạnh Mỹ is a rather forgettable town, albeit in a scenic location, sprawling either side of the main road. There are a handful of decent mini-hotels suitable for a night. Trường Tiên and Hải Dương both offer clean rooms. Rice and noodle eateries (quán cơm phở) line the street as well as a few cafes. From Thạnh Mỹ there are several options to extend your road trip. To get to Danang or Hội An, take QL14B (also labelled CT02) due east for 65km. Alternatively, continue northwest of Thạnh Mỹ on the Ho Chi Minh Road towards Prao and beyond. Or join the Ho Chi Minh Road heading south of Thạnh Mỹ towards Khâm Đức and beyond. Thạnh Mỹ is also a stop on the Golden Loop, a scenic circuit connecting Hội An, Danang and Huế via the coast and the mountains. For more route suggestions, see Related Routes below.

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Straight section north of Sông Trà

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Khe Diên Lake near Thạnh Mỹ

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
A bridge across Khe Diên Lake

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Landscape north of Sông Trà

The Truong Son Dong Road, Motorbike Guide, Vietnam
Looking over Khe Diên Lake

*Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free and independent. I’ve written this guide because I want to: I like this route and I want my readers to know about it. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page

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Leave a Comment

Questions, updates and trip reports are all welcome. However, please keep comments polite and on-topic. See commenting etiquette for details.

  1. Jonny Rouse says:
    September 1, 2024 at 3:32 AM

    Just got back from doing a short section of TSD from Đắk Pơ crossroads to Yang Mao. The TSD road south of the airfield at M’Drak is now complete and open. It passes right next to the river a lot of the way and reminded me a lot of parts of the Thakek route in Laos, especially the flooded forest river area around Thalang. It then joins up with DT12 near to Tách Kai 1. Rough and red muddy conditions travelling to the west to Yang Mao and then TSD still ends half way up the mountain in Chu Yang Sin area. No progress in this section since 2018. By my reckoning it’s just this part between DT722 and here to build now and the whole TSD will be finished.

    1. Tom says:
      September 1, 2024 at 4:30 AM

      Hi Jonny,

      Thanks for this useful update. It’s good to know the road now continues south of the airstrip near M’Drak. I am planning on doing a complete update of this guide in the next couple of months.

      Best,

      Tom

  2. Chase says:
    March 12, 2024 at 6:37 AM

    Tom, thanks for the guide. I just traveled the road from north to south, starting in Hue and down along the HCM (recommended) and then along the TSD. The road was great most of the way, the stretch just north of M’Drak was the roughest, lots of potholes and rough patches. South of M’Drak I rode past the “airstrip” until they turned me around at a checkpoint. Still lots of construction going on down there. I took the road east of there to Dalat, which has a beautiful pass.

    1. Tom says:
      March 13, 2024 at 11:03 AM

      Hi Chase,

      Great to hear you enjoyed this route and thanks for sharing your experience of it. I’m looking to get back up there later this year and write a full update.

      Best,

      Tom

  3. Joe says:
    March 11, 2024 at 4:11 PM

    Hi Tom!

    I’m currently in Quy Nhon, planning to head north to Da Nang, Hue and then further.

    Was wondering if you’d recommend taking the coastal road, Truong Son Don or the Ho Chi Minh Road for this section? Which has the most impressive views / most enjoyable riding? Perhaps a combination of two or three would be the best option.

    Cheers!
    Joe

    1. Tom says:
      March 12, 2024 at 1:29 AM

      Hi Joe,

      Of those three routes for that section, the best for scenery and traffic is the Truong Son Dong Road. According to reports and comments, that entire section (between the Dak Po crossroads all the way to Thanh My) is now in good condition.

      I hope you enjoy it.

      Best,

      Tom

      1. Joe says:
        March 12, 2024 at 5:31 AM

        Brilliant, thank you. Your website has guided most of the 3500km I’ve ridden so far and taken me to some brilliant places. Probably also part of the reason it’s taken 2 months to cross just 1/3 of the country. Will certainly be making a donation as thanks when I eventually reach the north, whenever that may be!

  4. Danny says:
    February 11, 2024 at 3:22 AM

    Hey Tom,
    Chúc mừng năm mới!
    I have just driven the TSD from Sông Trà to K’Bang and it was absolute magic.
    I’d like to recommend a homestay – Dak Drinh Lodge – along the route, just west of Sơn Tây town. It’s possibly the most beautiful, natural and peaceful homestay I have ever visited in Vietnam, and it’s run by an incredibly kind guy called Dzung who lives in this paradise with his super friendly dogs and a cat. All you can hear at night is insects. The ride to the homestay from Sơn Tây is a little sketchy in parts (especially the last 500m or so where part of the road has fallen away and it turns to rocky track shortly after) but it’s still passable carefully and everyone should be aware of this section if arriving at night.
    Dak Drinh Lodge can be found online (search on Google maps) and Dzung is contactable via Zalo. Really cannot recommend this place enough to anyone travelling the TSD and who want to experience the real essence of authentic Vietnam.
    Thanks Tom for all you do to help people see the magic!
    Best wishes
    Danny

    1. Tom says:
      February 16, 2024 at 2:18 AM

      Hi Danny,

      I’m glad you enjoyed the ride. The lodge sounds fantastic – thank you for the recommendation.

      Best,

      Tom

  5. Andrea Fattoretti says:
    February 8, 2024 at 8:01 AM

    February 8th,2024
    Just arrived in Thanh My..
    Coming from M’drak .on the Truong Son Dong Road.
    The whole road is super fine. Smooth surface from the beginning (maybe some rough patches between An Khe and K’bang but nothing to worry about)
    Sectiion 5 and Section 6 have no problems at all, i would say that, starting from Ho Chi Minh, this is the best surface we rode.
    No works, no traffic, amazing scenary, amazing people.
    About petrol station….not so many….but you can always find villages with some gasoline bottles on sale at an honest price..
    A Message for Tom that has made and is updating this wonderful website……”i think iit is time to remove from the map the black icon signaling the road works. It could generate apprehension when there is no need at all”
    Thank you Tom
    Andrea Fattoretti

    1. Tom says:
      February 9, 2024 at 12:28 PM

      Hi Andrea,

      Thank you for your useful updates. It’s great to hear that the road is in good condition all the way to Thanh My. I intend to ride the whole road again later this year and write a full update to this guide. But until then, I will rely on helpful comments like yours to keep other riders updated and informed 🙂

      Best,

      Tom

  6. Cole says:
    January 30, 2024 at 2:53 AM

    Just rode DT722 west from Dung K’No and wanted to report back:

    It’s unpaved the whole way to Da Long hot spring (not just the black section on the map.)

    Actively under construction; it will probably be a full on paved road before long.

    Wide enough for cars, definitely not singletrack.

    Mostly loose dirt until the western end where it gets more rocky.

    Much more elevation gain than I expected — it’s not all downhill as it appears on google maps.

    Overall, it was pretty easy for me on a bicycle — Trek FX city/hybrid bike with 35mm tires — and it was a super rewarding ride with lots of great views. I faced hairier roads just getting around in the outskirts of Dalat. Another guy at my guesthouse that night had done it by motorbike the same day, and he didn’t seem like an off road pro. Of course this would be different in the rainy season, but if it’s dry I’d say go for it.

    I stayed at Zen Cafe Countryside, which was great, and one of the owners (Axel) confirmed road conditions in the morning before I left. If you’re on the fence about taking this route, it might be a good idea to plan on staying there and get advice from him.

    And thanks Tom for all of your amazing writing!

    1. Tom says:
      January 30, 2024 at 11:33 AM

      Hi Cole,

      Thank you for this important update on road DT722. It’s great to hear that it’s passable in dry conditions. I’m sure it won’t be too much longer before it is paved – perhaps a year or two.

      I’ve been meaning to get to Zen Cafe Countryside for a while now, but haven’t found the time.

      Best,

      Tom

  7. Cian Drohan says:
    December 21, 2023 at 3:14 PM

    There probably isn’t anyone as stupid as me to be a complete novice and attempt this but I’ll just say make sure you know how to fix bikes yourself instead of being 4 hours in the rain looking for a mechanic 😂

  8. Darren says:
    October 21, 2023 at 7:52 PM

    Appreciate this. I rented a Honda CFR250 in DaNang and was going to ride the HCMR South to Dalat and race back to Da Nang along coast and overnight in Quy Nhon, but it sounds like the TSD might be more fun. Any resource to locate some detour dirt roads along the way? Also do you need to make reservations for lodging in these towns along he way for January or do you think I am safe just seeing how far I want to ride each day? All the best

    1. Tom says:
      October 22, 2023 at 9:40 AM

      Hi Darren,

      You’ll find dirt roads in the highlands if you’re looking for them, although there’s no guarantee they’ll led anywhere in particular – just fun detours.

      Assuming you’re not travelling during the Christmas/New Year or Tet holidays, then there shouldn’t be too much problem just turning up at accommodation on this route.

      Best,

      Tom

      1. Darren says:
        October 22, 2023 at 11:55 AM

        Great. Appreciate all you have done

  9. Marie-France says:
    August 31, 2023 at 12:35 PM

    Hello!

    Thanks for this great itinerary!

    I drove from Thanh My to Xa Hieu crossroad 3 days ago and the road was beautiful (section 6 and a part of section 5).

    There was a really small part with road construction (close to Son Tay) about 300 meters with mud, but other then that, there was no problem. I haven’t even notice if I took the detour or not, as I was just following the road!

    In the middle of the section 6, there is now a gas station, I was relieved, cause I don’t think I would have made it to Son Tay with my full thank…

    Enjoy the road
    Thanks
    Marie-France

    1. Tom says:
      September 1, 2023 at 3:31 AM

      Hi Marie-France,

      Thank you very much for these useful updates! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the ride and that the road conditions are good.

      Best,

      Tom

    2. Rick says:
      December 18, 2023 at 6:46 AM

      Marie-France, how was the road north of Sơn Tay/ south of Trà My? I have a big bike and on a couple of trips I had to turn around because very muddy conditions in the high mountains.

      1. Cian Drohan says:
        December 21, 2023 at 3:12 PM

        I just done that stretch today 21/12/23 in the rain didn’t have much of a problem at all have to cancel trip though I rented a semi auto after never driving a motorbike before bit off more than I could chew.

  10. finn schlüter says:
    April 29, 2023 at 2:18 PM

    Hey guys,
    I did the Truong son road quite recently and I just want to tell you that the community dormitory house at the Kon chu rang natural reserve is abandoned or at least it was the case when we’ve been there (it was quite in the season, beginning of march). We kind of relied to much on it what caused us some trouble cause it got late, dark and cold soon after we arrived there. Also no connection up there. Just make sure you arrive there early enough to reach a second option in case it’s closed. We made it in the end to Mang den which is not worth a visit but saved us at least from sleeping in the jungle.

    Take care friends and thanks to Tom for doing all this 🙂

    1. Tom says:
      May 2, 2023 at 3:01 AM

      Hi Finn,

      Thank you for this update. I’m sorry to hear it wasn’t open when you arrived and had to find other accommodation. But I’m glad you didn’t have to sleep out in the jungle 🙂

      Best,

      Tom

  11. Sean Meager says:
    March 15, 2023 at 8:03 PM

    Hi Tom,

    A few updates for you. We have ridden some of the route by bicycle (11/03/23 – 13/03/23).

    Da Lat heading north:
    We followed the Pine Tree road north. It’s very beautiful but didn’t try to see if we could pass through at the end, though there are KM markers for a village beyond where the supposed end would be.

    The DT722, heading west towards Lak Lake I would say is abolutely not passable. It is rocky, muddy, and has zero paved sections for 20 km. It also starts with a steep downhill section which I think would make it difficult to get back up if you changed your mind.

    M’Drak
    The Yen Nhi guesthouse, perhaps has had a change in maangement. It was not particularly welcoming and was possibly one of the most basic guesthouses I’ve seen. The manager also insisted on keeping our passports because of the district’s rules. However, we went back onto the main road and stayed Van Long Thi Tran Nha Nghi (https://goo.gl/maps/5RTbm6sWKy3bNLRW9). It was a bit more expensive, but the 100k more seemed worthwhile and they did not insist on keeping our passports.
    There’s an excellent banh bao shop to be had on the main street. They are homemade.

    M’Drak to An Khe:
    This was all very good. Save for the first 30 km, there were ample places to stop and buy food and drink.
    We deviated slightly, taking the DT674 instead of the DT662 (the DT674 is east of thhe 662). This was a nice road along a river.
    A note for the cyclists: Ca Liec A at around 138km on that route is a good place to stop for Nuoc Mia. It’s the last spot before it gets hilly and windy. Also, the lady gave us ours for free.

    M’Drak to Mang Den:
    This was fantastic cycling.
    An Coffee in K’Bang is a good place to stop for coffee: https://goo.gl/maps/XtWb9v4mmjVqj21Y8
    From K’Bang there is not much. There are a few places for petrol. 30km from K’Bang is there is a small village with a spot for drinks and nuoc mia. From this village there is nothing for the next 50km, when the DT669 intersects with the AH132. There is a small minority village a couple of KMs before the AH132 where this a tap hoa with friendly folk.
    Mang Den was a good place to break up the journey. Though it was actually hard to find a place to get a bed and is more expensive than most places (most places were starting around 600k but you could probably find less if you really wanted)

    Mang Den to Son Tay
    We headed back up the same way to go to Son Tay. The roads there were all excellent and the scenery incredible. Again, once you turn off the AH132 there are few places to buy anything. There is a bridge around 54km on the route above and after that a small shop which had nuoc mia. There were some friendly local children here too.
    Guest house wise, perhaps there’s been a change in managment again. The guest house in the main Son Tay village seemed very unkeen to house us (Nha Nghi Sinh Ha). But 2.5 km down the hill, there was a more accommodating guest house (Son Ca) (https://goo.gl/maps/CKW3TfWmLSrgyYbT9). The family were friendly and the rooms quiet and comfortable.

    After this, we deviated. Went back over the hill and towards the coast.

    Thanks

    Sean

    1. Tom says:
      March 22, 2023 at 8:00 AM

      Hi Sean,

      Thanks for sharing your trip report on this route.

      The KM markers you saw were most likely to Yang Mao which is where the road will eventually lead, but not until they build a bridge across the river. Yes, perhaps the environmental concerns are slowing the construction process – however, it hasn’t stopped them building roads in many other parts of the country that are environmentally sensitive 🙂

      That’s interesting you think the road from Dung K’No isn’t passable. You were on bicycles so perhaps your experience was a little different from Benjamin’s in the comment below, who was on an automatic motorbike. Certainly, if it’s been raining, I wouldn’t suggest riding that route, but in dry conditions it should be OK. I suppose it’s subjective according to each rider (and their bikes).

      Thanks for the updates on guest houses – yes, I’m sure some of the places I stayed at are now either out of business or there are better options available.

      I’m glad you enjoyed the cycling and the scenery.

      Best,

      Tom

  12. Stuart Sloan says:
    March 6, 2023 at 2:02 PM

    has or Tom ridden this recently, the road from dalat after the pine tree road to the TSD how much of this is unpaved? planning on cycling this tomorrow. thanks

    1. Tom says:
      March 6, 2023 at 2:57 PM

      Hi Stuart,

      If you’re referring to the road due west of Dung K’No over to join QL27, please see Benjamin’s comment below – it should be fine as long as it hasn’t rained recently.

      Best,

      Tom

  13. Tim says:
    February 23, 2023 at 4:45 AM

    I have just ridden on the TSD. I did the Pine Tree Rd bit and then after a foray to Cam Lap rejoined at M’drak up to the QL14E then heading down to Hoi An. The whole route was basically in good condition bar a few bits of damaged road and a rough potholed section a bit before the big reservoir (the bit that is the DT616 I think).

    It was all very enjoyable riding. Section 3 is busier with lots of farm traffic, animals etc but I found it all interesting. From K’bang it is very remote with little traffic and relatively obstruction free so you can concentrate more on the riding itself. I deviated west to Mang Deng for accommodation. That road (the highway to Kon Tum) is insane if you want to go fast. It looks like it has just been built and is in fantastic condition and well surveyed with lots of sweeping corners.

    The weather for the last day from Mang Deng to Hoi An was appalling. Basically low clouds and drizzle. At a few points I could barely see the road 20 feet in front of me due to the mist and had to crawl along.

    Overall a fantastic experience. I rode the HCM Rd in 2019 from Phong Nha to Hue and in my opinion at this stage I think the TSD is more fun. I am heading north up to Hanoi on the HCM Rd now so will see if that is still my impression by the end of the trip.

    The TSD felt very remote and I only saw two other foreigners on the whole trip. So it is still great for giving you a sense of adventure. If you have the experience I would recommend renting a manual bike such as an XR150 which I did this time. I normally use semi automatics but they are much more tiring and tedious on routes like this with a lot of steep hills to climb and long daily distances.

    1. Tom says:
      February 28, 2023 at 2:55 AM

      Hi Tim,

      Thanks for the trip report and updates on the Truong Son Dong Road. It’s great to hear that most of the route is in acceptable condition now and that you enjoyed the ride.

      Best,

      Tom

  14. Max says:
    January 3, 2023 at 4:21 PM

    Hi Tom!
    We are in Dalat right now and tomorrow we will follow Benjamin’s Tracks to Buon Ma Thout.
    I have one question: from Buon Ma Thout to Kon Tum in one day, should we rather take the AH17 or the Truong Son Dong Road + QL27?
    Love the site!

    1. Tom says:
      January 4, 2023 at 3:48 AM

      Hi Max,

      From Buon Ma Thuot to Kon Tum the more scenic and less busy route is the Truong Son Dong Road, but it’s much longer in distance and time, so if you want to get to Kon Tum in one day, you should take the Ho Chi Minh Road (AH17) – parts of it are quite interesting and scenic, but parts are quite busy with trucks. I wrote an overview of it here.

      Best,

      Tom

  15. Benjamin says:
    January 2, 2023 at 3:42 AM

    I’m very happy to report that there has been much progress with road construction on DT722 from Đưng K’Nớ to Đạ Long, making it possible to shorten the journey north from Dalat to Dak Lak via the scenic Pine Tree Road! I rode it yesterday, January 1, 2023, on a Honda SH Mode 125cc loaded with gear and encountered no major obstacles. Except for maybe the first km from Đung K’Nớ which is a bit rocky and steep downhill, it’s an even single lane dirt track. I passed several locals, including even one small car, while traveling west. My average speed was about 20kph and it took me one hour from end to end. For riders heading towards Dak Lak this can save about an hour since it’s no longer necessary to go south to QL27. It’s also some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve seen in Vietnam. In rainy conditions it would still be unadvisable as with any dirt road, but in general it’s absolutely doable for most riders/bikes now!

    1. Tom says:
      January 3, 2023 at 10:33 AM

      Hi Ben,

      Thanks for this update – that’s really great news and fantastic information for anyone who’s riding this route.

      Best,

      Tom

    2. Sean Meager says:
      March 15, 2023 at 10:21 PM

      Perhaps the road has changed in the last few months or my tolerance for a passable road is lower, but I wouldn’t say the DT722 west of Dun K’No was particularly passable. The steep rocky section is more like 3-4km and while there are some sections of compact dirt you could drive on, much of it is quite lose. It is entirely unpaved for 20km.

      Perhaps if you are experienced with such roads it will be OK, but I’d be cautious if you aren’t so confident on the bike.

      But there is indeed some fantastic scenery, particularly as the sun starts to set.

      1. Tom says:
        March 16, 2023 at 6:24 AM

        Hi Sean,

        Thank you for your trip report on this section of road.

        I’ll pass it on to Ben, but I know that he generally sticks to paved roads (like me) and that he rode this section on an automatic bike that’s not suitable for properly rough roads. So perhaps conditions have changed a bit. And certainly it’s still wise to avoid in wet conditions.

        Best,

        Tom

  16. Arturo Simone says:
    December 4, 2022 at 6:44 PM

    Dear Tom,
    very many thanks for the Guide! it is going to be of soo much help! i just have a few questions if you do not mind.
    i am planning to go from Hoi An to Cam Ranh via this Trail… how should i approach it? is it possible to do it in 2,3 days? like:
    – day 1: Hoi an to Mang Den
    – day 2: Mang Den to Ayun pa
    – day 3: Ayun pa to Cam Ranh

    Do you think it will be possible? we are going to be travelling on Honda XR150 and willing to drive up to 5,6 hours a day!

    if not possible, what alternatives would you recommend? i am asking as we willl be on a timeline, and cannot really afford to stay an extra day!
    Thank you so much!

    1. Tom says:
      December 5, 2022 at 12:14 PM

      Hi Arturo,

      Yes, it’s possible, but it’s a lot of riding each day so you need to make sure you start at a decent time in the morning.

      The main issue you might have is whether or not any sections of road are experiencing works: in particular, between Bac Tra My and Son Tay. See the previous comments for more on that.

      However, with Honda XRs you should be OK even on sections of bad road. Also, if any section turns out to be impassable, you can always just take the nearest intersection and head due west to link up with the Ho Chi Minh Road (AH17) instead.

      To get to Cam Ranh from Ayunpa, you’re best taking QL26 down to Nha Trang, and not going via Dalat.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  17. Chris says:
    June 18, 2022 at 7:11 PM

    I managed to pass through the “impassable” stretch of road north of Son Tay that Rick talked about. As I approached that stretch of road, I kept stopping to ask locals if there were any obstructions on the road ahead, to which they said no.

    I wish I took a picture but it’s pretty much as Rick described it: a steep, muddy, and treacherous-looking construction site. I had no idea if I was going to manage to make it until I saw a local kid do it by following a little trail made by other motorbikes. It was uphill (and rainy) for me since I was headed South towards Saigon. I managed to do it but I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody that has little experience in riding. Great roads though!

    1. Tom says:
      June 19, 2022 at 12:31 AM

      Hi Chris,

      Thanks for the update. That’s a shame it’s still in bad condition. I’m glad you made it OK and that the rest of the ride was good.

      Thanks again,

      Tom

  18. Rick Murphy says:
    May 4, 2022 at 4:17 AM

    I found the stretch of road north of Sơn Tây about at the Quảng Ngãi/Quảng Nam border impassable on a large bike during Tết holiday 2022, and I just went back this Reunification Day holiday to check the situation out. If anything the situation is worse now, perhaps due to the heavy rains we just had. Rode south from Thạnh Mỹ to the Trà My area without incident, but on that older, high altitude stretch leading down to Sơn Tây the road appeared to have been washed out near the provincial border, and a steep, muddy treacherous-looking detour had been bulldozed. Working as a team I saw some minority folk negotiate the detour, but I’m pretty sure that my big highway cruiser all weighted down with myself and provisions wouldn’t have made it. So I high-tailed it back to Bắc Trà My.

    1. Tom says:
      May 4, 2022 at 5:59 AM

      Hi Rick,

      Thanks for the update.

      That’s a shame. I hope it gets cleared and fixed soon so we can all enjoy riding that section again. There are often issues with landslides after bad weather on new mountainous roads that have only recently been laid.

      Thanks again,

      Tom

  19. Magnus says:
    March 19, 2022 at 3:54 AM

    Thanks, Tom,

    Yes, I’m with Viettel, so that’s good to hear. It looks like a long ride alright, but a real beauty!

    Cheers, Magnus

  20. Magnus says:
    March 18, 2022 at 4:42 PM

    Hi Tom,

    Thanks a million for this incredible guide! I’m setting off tomorrow to do this route from Buon Ma Thuot up to Thanh My by bicycle. Just wondering how reliable a phone signal you had, especially on the very northern section? I’ll be as prepared as possible, but it would good to have an idea of how contactable I’ll be.

    Cheers, Magnus

    1. Tom says:
      March 19, 2022 at 12:23 AM

      Hi Magnus,

      I think I had phone signal most of the way. It’ll probably depend on which network you are with – Viettel generally gets best coverage in the mountains.

      Good luck – that’s a long ride on a bicycle.

      Tom

  21. Paul says:
    February 12, 2022 at 2:57 AM

    G’day mate,
    We just completed the run with deviations from Phan rang,Lak lake, dak mil up ql14c border road west of BMT up and across thry Chu prong, pleiku, Kon tum, Kham duc across to que binh intersection then south down Truong song dong road back kbang NHA Trang… awesome trek, lots of dirt in sections, wrong turns, heaps of fun, some fun on 3 way border road, flat tyre on first day of tet up in mountains dak glei then night ride in rain to Kham duc.
    Beautiful scenery lots of wildlife,monkeys,water buffalo, near Cambodian border highlight…xr150 two up great trip 1700 ks..
    Thanks for the map very helpful vinaphone coverage most of way…

    1. Tom says:
      February 12, 2022 at 3:11 AM

      Hi Paul,

      Thanks for the trip report.

      Great to hear you enjoyed the ride – sounds like a big and eventful trip!

      Best,

      Tom

  22. Rick says:
    February 6, 2022 at 12:10 PM

    Today, February 6 2022, I was attempting to ride fron Sơn Tây to Thạnh Mỹ but subsidence some 25 km north of Sơn Tây forced me to turn back. It was at very high elevation on a winding section of the road and seemed to extend at least several hundred meters. Spry local minority people on their bikes seemed able to negotiate the deep red mud, and a dirt bike could probably do the trick. But it seemed a very clear no-go for a casual rider such as myself on a Suzuki 125 big bike.

    1. Tom says:
      February 6, 2022 at 2:49 PM

      Hi Rick,

      Thanks for the road report and update.

      That’s a shame you couldn’t get through. I expect it will be cleared pretty quickly though – it happens fairly often with newly constructed roads in the mountains, especially if there’s been a lot of rain. Hopefully it will be possible to ride that section again soon, on any bike.

      Best,

      Tom

  23. Dave Gould says:
    February 3, 2022 at 1:22 AM

    Hi Tom,

    We are setting out on the final section of the route today, leaving Bac Tra My and then picking up the HCM Road to head back to Saigon. As always, the map and section guides have been a massive help, so a big thank you from us!

    A couple of suggestions for other riders. Many new places to stay have opened up and here are the ones we liked. In Ayun Pa nha nghi phuc khanh was clean, welcoming and reasonably priced. A great location too. We stopped in Mang Den for a couple of days and stayed at sum villa homestay. Beautiful place and worth the detour. Now in Bac Tra My at nha nghi cao nguyen. A basic option, but clean and reasonably priced.

    Thanks again, and happy new year!

    Dave

    1. Tom says:
      February 3, 2022 at 7:39 AM

      Hi Dave,

      Great to hear you enjoyed the ride. I was just on the southern section of the Truong Son Dong Road today too – it was fantastic.

      Thank you for the accommodation updates – really useful. I look forward to checking those places out next time I’m on the road.

      I hope you have a good ride back.

      Best,

      Tom

  24. Mark Ketzler says:
    January 30, 2022 at 11:51 AM

    Just completed the Road East of the Long Mountains journey from Da Lat to Thanh My. What a great ride, thanks for the super helpful post and inspiration. Some updates … First the entire road is in great shape and can be done on any bike. Specific issues included: the ferry is not running on your scenic purple detour between Da Lat and Lake Lak. Not sure if it’s Tet or Covid. You don’t need to back track though. The river road is fine on the Da Lat side. Route 12 from Lake Lak — a beautiful mess. I might take a pass if I were on a semi automatic or scooter. The rutted dirt sections are one thing but the construction areas are many. On a dial sport though a fun ride with some great trails. Do keep an eye on fuel past K’Bang.

    1. Tom says:
      January 30, 2022 at 2:00 PM

      Hi Mark,

      I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the ride.

      Thanks very much for the useful updates. That’s a shame about road DT12 – it’s been patchy for some years now, but perhaps if they’re doing repairs at the moment, it’ll be in good condition by 2023. I hope so.

      If you took the purple route between Dung K’No and QL27, can you give an update about the general condition of that road – in the past, the part near Dung K’No has been very rough and not really suitable for anything but off-road bikes. What’s it like now?

      Thanks again,

      Tom

  25. Cinnamon Luu says:
    November 25, 2021 at 12:32 PM

    I’m a Vietnamese, been following your blog for a while but this is the first content that really amazes me. Wow, very few Vietnamese people know their country the way how you know ours, such a spectacular trip and you are so adventurous to explore these sights alone, let alone on a motorbike! Goodluck and I wish you all the best being on the road.

    1. Tom says:
      November 26, 2021 at 2:21 PM

      Hi Cinnamon,

      Thank you for your kind comment.

      I’m sure I don’t know Vietnam as well as Vietnamese do, but I do love exploring the country, and then trying to share the experience through this website.

      Best,

      Tom

  26. Nick Wade says:
    November 24, 2021 at 9:16 AM

    Update! Ride date: 20/11/21

    The entire stretch from Tra My to Thanh My is now finished construction and despite a couple of very short sections where there’s been small landslides (which were being cleared), the whole stretch is incredible.

    Living in Hoi An, a few of us are planning to start in Prao and head all the way to Dalat in the spring.

    Can’t wait!

    1. Tom says:
      November 25, 2021 at 3:38 AM

      Hi Nick,

      Thank you for the update. That’s great news!

      I hope you all enjoy your ride together and that the weather holds up for you.

      Best,

      Tom

  27. Nico says:
    December 22, 2020 at 3:49 PM

    Hey I have two updates on Section 1 that I rode today. I just realize now I should have read you more carefully. You said the road left of Dung K’No (DT722) is a “very rough dirt road which should only be attempted in dry conditions if you have a suitable bike and off-road experience.” Well, I went with a 300-kilogram Triumph Street Scrambler on a rainy day and that was the worst riding day of all my travels in 50+ Vietnamese provinces. It got harder and harder as it went, and it never ended – way beyond the end of your black line on the map. At some point I had to cross a river with one foot of water… The rest was a tiny serpentine crevaced dirt trail with high grades on the side of a cliff… Local riders saved my ass (I think they were Cơ Ho people), they helped me get the bike back up all the times it fell, and in the end one of them rode it instead of me… with much more mastery than me. Without them I would probably still be up there camping for the night, very thirsty and tired, and waiting rescue with no phone service! Even with a Honda Wave and a small stature like these guys I couldn’t do it I think. Very humbling experience.

    Anyway, after that I found out that your purple road that joins QL27 going North actually doesn’t cross Krông Nô river. The guys are working on the early foundations of a future bridge but they told me there never was one. There was a tiny boat but lots of current, and, again, my bike is 300 kilograms without me on it.

    What an adventure! But I’ve been on the other sections of that road before and I know they are fantastic. Just waiting out the storm in a BMT hotel right now. Without your blog I still wouldn’t have heard of the whole thing so thanks again for your advice. I should just read it more carefully!

    1. Tom says:
      January 3, 2021 at 6:31 AM

      Hi Nico,

      Sorry for my slow reply and thank you for the updates.

      Yes, attempting the cut through from Dung K’No to QL27 is a common mistake that many riders have made, including me. I’m glad you found local help to get you out of there – that’s not uncommon either 🙂

      Yes, the road you’re referring to doesn’t have a bridge crossing; it’s a ferry crossing, but in general it’s fine for most motorbikes in Vietnam, although I can imagine how difficult it must have been with your 300kg one 🙂

      I hope the rest of your ride was a bit smoother.

      Best,

      Tom

  28. Hazel says:
    June 23, 2020 at 8:57 AM

    Update! June 2020

    The 7km of roadworks marked in black on your map between Son Tay and the DT616 are now complete. It felt like we were almost the first people on the new road! Enjoy.

    Thanks as always for the excellent blog 🙂

    Hazel

    1. Tom says:
      June 23, 2020 at 9:55 AM

      Hi Hazel,

      That’s excellent news – thank you for the useful update

      Tom

  29. Kieran Barry says:
    June 19, 2020 at 5:06 AM

    It’s a fantastic road and will be great when complete though it will be a shame to lose the relative peace of the ‘pine tree road’ which is the best option for cycling on quiet roads out of Da Lat as its currently a dead end….ah well, hopefully it won’t get as busy as some of the other roads into Da Lat

    1. Tom says:
      June 19, 2020 at 7:47 AM

      Hi Kieran,

      Yes, it is. But I hope the Truong Son Dong Road will remain quiet for quite a while longer – at least a couple of years.

      Tom

  30. Phat H. Nguyen says:
    June 9, 2020 at 5:25 AM

    Hello Tom,

    Great article. A little update in early May 2020 that there were temporary bridges built across Krong No river between Lam Dong and Dak Lak. However, the road’s still in bad condition with dirt and basalt.

    1. Tom says:
      June 9, 2020 at 5:48 AM

      Hi Phat,

      Thanks for the update – that’s really interesting. So perhaps it won’t be too long until riders can connect Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces via the Truong Son Dong Road. Exciting.

      Tom

    2. Darren says:
      October 21, 2023 at 9:16 PM

      Can you get from Hang Nam down to temporary bridge, and over, to Lam Dong? thank you

      1. Tom says:
        October 22, 2023 at 9:44 AM

        Hi Darren,

        You can’t cross between Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces on this route yet as the bridge across the river has not been constructed yet.

        Best,

        Tom

  31. Khi Map says:
    May 7, 2020 at 3:57 PM

    Hi Tom! First of all congrats for your page, Actually im in Nha Trang planning to go to Quy nhon. I did already this route by the coast so Im thinking to do it this time trought Mbrak and Song Hinh district reaching Quy nhon by QL19C Road, have you done this road before? Im afraid is a bad one so in this case I should do the Dong truong son road even is much longer. Thanks!!

    1. Tom says:
      May 9, 2020 at 1:56 AM

      Hi,

      I have only ridden bits of QL19C, not all of it. But the sections I rode were in decent condition. If you take this route, please let me know what it’s like.

      But as an alternative, taking the Truong Son Dong Road from M’Drak to the intersection with QL19 is also a good ride.

      Tom

  32. Nils says:
    March 11, 2020 at 5:37 AM

    Hi Tom,
    Thank you for your travel tips, I read them carefully.
    is the bridge north of Dung K’No already finished? does the bridge already exist or is it still under construction?
    I want to start the tour from Phan Rang and drive to Danang. Maybe you can give me some good advice.
    I wanted to use the road north of the bridge, but no idea what the condition of the bridge and the road north of the bridge is.

    Nils

    1. Tom says:
      March 15, 2020 at 2:58 AM

      Hi Nils,

      Most of the answers to your questions are in the guide on this page – please read the relevant sections to find the information you’re looking for.

      If you want to join the Truong Son Dong Road north of the Dung K’No bridge (which doesn’t exist yet) then you can ride to M’Drak and follow it from there all the way to Thanh My, then take Road QL14B down into Danang. See Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 of the guide on this page.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  33. Jonny says:
    February 28, 2020 at 2:36 PM

    Just arrived into da lat after driving this road from da nang and can confirm that the whole road is drivable and it is absolutely stunning! The detour route marked in red between son Tay and xa heiu is updated on google maps so after son Tay google maps works pretty great. I would note, I travelled this route alone and there are large sections of the road between Thành my and bac tra my/son Tay and xa heiu where there is NO PHONE SIGNAL, so make sure your bike is in good working order and people know you are doing this if you are going solo. I had a breakdown just after dak po and I was very lucky this didn’t happen on one of the more remote sections. This route is well on par with the route from khe san to phong nha on the HCM and is well worth doing but be prepared! Thanks for the advice on the route ??

    1. Tom says:
      February 29, 2020 at 3:12 AM

      Hi Jonny,

      Great to hear you enjoyed the ride and that you can confirm the northern section of the road is now open. Thanks for the updates.

      Tom

  34. Marc Hastenteufel says:
    February 17, 2020 at 10:54 AM

    Just arrived down in Hoi An. What a mess down here after the last days on that road. Completed today and can confirm – you can ride the last sections all the way to the end! After the tunnel, it is almost all the way paved – black and smooth! Before the tunnel only a few kilometers bad road.

    1. Tom says:
      February 17, 2020 at 1:49 PM

      Hi Marc,

      Thanks for the update – that’s really excellent news.

      Tom

      1. Gary says:
        February 18, 2020 at 5:28 AM

        what accommodation is available between Son Tay and Thanh My other than the noted Trung Nhan Hotel or do i need to do a detour into Bac Tra My?
        Reason I’m askimg is, Trung Nhan Hotel is not taking foreigner bookings at the moment (i rang and asked).Starting at HoiAn the 210Km to Son Tay is to much for this old body. TIA

        1. Tom says:
          February 19, 2020 at 5:29 AM

          Hi Gary,

          Yes, you can try Bac Tra My – there are a couple of local guesthouses (nhà nghỉ) there. But as for the section between the Que Binh intersection and Thanh My, I’m not sure what’s available for accommodation.

          I hope this helps,

          Tom

  35. Bob Vermeulen says:
    February 12, 2020 at 6:55 AM

    Hi Tom
    Great news. The most northern stretch between Thanh My and Que Binh intersection / road 14E is open. From the start in Thanh My till the now finished last bridge (about 30 km) the whole road in perfect condition. Only in last stretch between bridge and a tunnel a few patches waiting for it’s final tarmac layer. Especially the first 25 km asthonishing beautiful.

    1. Tom says:
      February 12, 2020 at 3:57 PM

      Hi Bob,

      That’s great news! Thanks for sharing this information. I’m really looking forward to getting up there and riding that last section.

      Thanks again,

      Tom

  36. Dale Peter Nottingham says:
    January 20, 2020 at 4:46 AM

    Hi Tom,

    Great write-up and thanks for all the inspiration your blog provides. I am about to depart on a cycling trip from Saigon to Vinh and had planned to follow the Ho Chi Minh Road as per your blog post. However, now I read about the TSD, I think I will adapt the route to ride from Saigon to Dalat; then take the TSD to Thanh My; then onto the HCM Road West up to Pho Chau and across to Vinh. If I do this, will I be missing out on any really special bits of the HCM Road below Thanh My? Any suggestions on a perfect hybrid route—combing the best of the TSD and the HCM Road, South to North—would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot.

    Dale

    1. Tom says:
      January 21, 2020 at 2:03 AM

      Hi Dale,

      Yes, that’s a good idea, and probably the best combination of the Ho Chi Minh Road and the Truong Son Dong Road. However, remember to read the guide and map in this guide carefully: for example, it is not yet possible to get all the way on the final section to Thanh My.

      If you ride the Truong Son Dong Road please leave a comment here with any updates on the road conditions/progress on the sections that are still undergoing some construction.

      Thanks and have a good ride,

      Tom

  37. Yann le coroller says:
    July 29, 2019 at 9:32 AM

    Thank you so much !
    From the Lak tented camp, I just took the Alternative Route to M’Drak and then follow your indication north until QL 19 and then I went to Kon Tum where I was headed.
    This has been 3 wonderful days of motorbike, thanks to you. I would have never took those roads if you haven’t mentioned them.
    I’ll try to follow your links to help you next but have you considered a Patreon or Tipi account ? I would love to help that way.
    Again thank you !
    yann.

    1. Tom says:
      July 29, 2019 at 9:39 AM

      Hi Yann,

      Thanks. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the ride.

      Yes, I have thought about Patreon etc, but I’m not using it yet. For now the only way to make a contribution is through PayPal. It’s very easy to do: please find information about how to do that here – if you can, I would very much appreciate it.

      Thanks,

      Tom

  38. Simon says:
    June 26, 2019 at 8:31 AM

    Hi Tom

    Are there any good spots to camp on the section between M’Drak and Ayun Pa or even the next section for that matter. Thinking of driving between Ninh Hoa and Pleiku and using at least the M’Drak- Ayun Pa section, if we could camp then we could make the journey a bit easier.

    Thanks

    Simon

    1. Tom says:
      June 26, 2019 at 2:21 PM

      Hi Simon,

      Yes, you could potentially camp on that section of road. There are some sections that are very cultivated so they’re not so great for camping, but other sections have plenty of tree cover and low population density.

      Tom

  39. Simon says:
    February 24, 2019 at 1:18 AM

    Hi Tom

    Just to let you know we traveled from Buon Ma Thuot to Nha Trang a few weeks ago taking DT9 off QL26 and then DT12 to meet it. The area is still spectacular and well worth the time if you have it although DT12 is still very very rough going and the 100KM section took 4 hours. Then if you intend to descend the mountains you won’t reach Nha Trang before nightfall meaning QL27 is pretty scary if it is raining and the bugs are attracted to the bright headlight after feeding in the fields. I’d advise anyone wanting to have a look around DT12 to set off either way very early 6-7AM. Also people should be aware of a large amount of police patrols in Dak Lak province, we passed 4 in a short space of time 2 days in a row.

    1. Tom says:
      February 24, 2019 at 11:29 PM

      Hi Simon,

      Thank you for the road updates, I appreciate it.

      It’s a shame that the road conditions there are still deteriorating, but nice to hear the scenery is still worth it.

      Tom

  40. Fred says:
    January 8, 2019 at 5:32 PM

    Hi Tom,

    Having been inspired by your blog (which i found after doing the Ha Giang Loop) i’ve booked flights out to Vietnam at the end of the month and was planning on riding up the truong son dong road from M’Drak to son tay (then on to hoi an). I’ve failed however to take into account that its Tet during this time and wondered what you thought it would be like if i were to attempt this route over the weekend before Tet in terms of roads and getting accommodation in M’drak, K’Bang and possibly Son Tay?

    Many Thanks,

    1. Tom says:
      January 9, 2019 at 1:34 AM

      Hi Fred,

      It should be fine as long as it’s before Tet day (which I think is 5 Feb this year). In fact, I rode this route at that time of year once and it was fine. However, the weather could be an issue – anywhere north of Nha Trang during that time can get fairly bleak weather. Just keep an eye on the forecast – Windy is a a good app for that.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Fred says:
        January 13, 2019 at 8:30 PM

        Hi Tom,

        thats good to know, i will have to play it by ear and see how the weather goes. Windy looks like just the app too.

        Cheers,

        Fred

  41. Ezio Magarotto says:
    December 2, 2018 at 7:52 PM

    As always, and to echo others, your site is an AMAZING resource for travellers, Tom!.

    My son and I were originally planning to take the train from Saigon to Phan Theit and ride the coast up to Hue. However, having read some of your other articles, we’re now thinking we’ll head to Dalat from Phan Theit or Phan Rang then back to the coast and upwards towards Hue. I have a few questions for you around this plan.

    1. What do you recommend as the best route from Phan Theit to Dalat? Or, is it better and just as scenic (and quicker) to head to Dalat from Phan Rang
    2. Which route do you recommend from Dalat back to the coast?
    3. I know the next question may be a bit harder to answer, but how long do you envision the trip to take? We’ll be on two Yamaha NVX 155s and have roughly 7-9 days to make our way from Phan Thiet to Hue. Google Maps says about 24 hours but it appears they’re not using the coast route the entire way and I have no idea what speed Google Maps uses. Guessing, our average speed will be 40 mph / 60 kph.

    On a related note, I recommend you offer an avenue for folks to provide a site donation given the tremendous amount of free information you provide. Something like Qgiv, Fundly, etc. I would gladly donate some cash so you could buy a sack of coffee beans, a tank of petrol, or a case of beer!

    Ciao,
    Ezio

    1. Tom says:
      December 3, 2018 at 8:12 AM

      Thanks, Ezio.

      I do have a Support Page here, where you can donate if you like, and I’d really appreciate it if you can. But I will have a look at your other donate suggestions as they sound very interesting.

      With that route, bear in mind that if you’re travelling between November and February the weather between Nha Trang and Hue can be quite wet. Whereas, most areas south of Nha Trang should be nice and dry.

      With 7-9 days it’s definitely a good idea to take the train from Saigon up to Phan Thiet. From Phan Thiet to Dalat and down again to the coast there are lots of options. But because you have fairly limited time, I’d suggest taking QL28B up to Dalat and then either QL20 and QL27 down to Phan Rang and linking up with the spectacular Nui Chua Coast Road (DT702) to Nha Trang, or simply taking QL27C direct from Dalat to Nha Trang. They are both good routes, but the former is more scenic because it takes the fantastic coast road, but it’s also longer.

      Also, be aware of the police near Mui Ne – read the first few paragraphs of this guide to find out where they are and how to avoid them.

      You can’t really trust Google Maps for routes or duration in Vietnam – it’s OK, but not really very accurate. In general, your average speed will be between 40-60 kilometres per hour, but that doesn’t take into account stops for photos, gas, coffee, food, bad weather, mishaps such as flat tyres etc.

      On another note, I’d love to know how you find the Yamaha NVX 155s, because I’m considering buying one myself.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Ezio Magarotto says:
        December 3, 2018 at 9:00 PM

        Thanks for the details, Tom. That is unfortunate news about the rain in Hue and Hoi An. I must have been looking at the wrong sites for details. Riding for hours and exploring towns in the rain do not sound like fun. Thinking now, we may have to figure out another route for our trip. Perhaps, just head south along the coast after Dalat. Does that seem like a better path?

        I’ll let you know our experiences with the Yamaha. Thanks for the tip on the police, too!

        Regards,
        Ezio

        1. Tom says:
          December 4, 2018 at 3:16 AM

          Hi Ezio,

          Firstly, thank you for your donation – that’s very kind of you.

          It’s by no means guaranteed that the weather will deteriorate north of Nha Trang, but it is a general pattern around Nov-Feb. You can use Windy to get a pretty good idea of the forecast – just open the satellite map and click the ‘rain and thunder’ option then run through a few days zoomed in on the area you’re thinking about travelling in. I’ve found it pretty accurate.

          If you do decide not to push north of Dalat/Nha Trang, you can do a classic Saigon-Dalat-Coast Road loop instead. This would look something like the Tet Lunar New Year Loop. But perhaps you could work in one of the Back Roads to Dalat instead. If you take a look at those links you should be able to get an idea of what I mean.

          The Coast Road back from Nha Trang to Saigon is good fun – just zoom in on the relevant sections of the map in this guide and click the motorbike icons then follow the links to my guides to those specific areas.

          I hope this helps,

          Tom

          1. Ezio Magarotto says:
            December 5, 2018 at 1:56 PM

            Thanks, Tom. I’ll have a look at those links.

            Regards,
            Ezio

  42. Derek says:
    November 30, 2018 at 12:01 PM

    Hey Tom,
    First and foremost, thank you so much. You’re the man!
    I’m in Kon Tum heading south on the “big one”. I need your opinion. Given the season on the central coast is not quite optimal at the moment, I was thinking about linking up with this route instead of heading to Qui Nhon. If you were me would you continue to the coast or link up with the “east of the long mountians” route. Thanks I’m advance!

    1. Tom says:
      November 30, 2018 at 2:15 PM

      Hi Derek,

      I just got back from a few days riding in Central Vietnam and it didn’t stop raining once. Things should be better south of Nha Trang – a great source is Windy – just choose the ‘rain/thunder’ option on the satellite: I’ve found it very useful indeed.

      So check that first, but perhaps a good idea would be to join the Road East of the Long Mountains until QL25 or QL26 and then head down to the coast from there.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  43. Jamie Coughlan says:
    May 27, 2018 at 10:11 AM

    UPDATE!
    Hey Tom and readers. As far as i know after talking to locals there is a new road a few km after XA HIEU Crossroads to SON TAY that may be safer than the current route. I feel I need to mention an issue with the road about 8km north after XA HIEU Crossroads. It takes a turn off the new road into the jungle with a concrete road about 3m wide over mountain peaks with cliffs each side.
    Anyway on May 18th we took that route and it’s was pretty dangerous. One section of the road was gone completely and we had to make a path through rubble to cross it. The path we made was just wide enough for a bike with a sheer drop each side. This was the worst of about 7 landslides. This is about a 7km stretch that is not maintained anymore then you get back on the new road.
    It is very fun if you enjoy the danger but I would advise any novice drivers to steer clear. I can send photos of the road condition if you want Tom.
    Other that that 7km stretch the roads and great and the best I’ve ever been on.

    1. Tom says:
      May 27, 2018 at 11:55 AM

      Hi Jamie,

      Thank you for the update. That sounds a bit hairy. It would be great if you could send any images of it to my email: vietnamcoracle@gmail.com

      The last time I was there, there were two paths to take: one which avoided the rough section and the other which didn’t. But they obviously have a lot of trouble maintaining that section of road will all the landslides. And I think the other route to Son Tay that you’re referring to is the lower road which is also very nice.

      Thanks,

      Tom

  44. Matt says:
    May 11, 2018 at 2:31 PM

    Man what an amazing road! I’m at the end of section 2 and I can’t believe this scenery! Thank you for putting this together, there’s no way I would’ve found out otherwise.

    1. Tom says:
      May 11, 2018 at 3:50 PM

      Hi Matt,

      Great to hear that! Well, as long as the weather is OK it gets even better from Section 3 🙂 Although, some of the road conditions might have changed since I was last there – please leave an update here if they have.

      Tom

      1. Matt says:
        May 16, 2018 at 3:08 AM

        It was utterly amazing Tom! The area before and after Son Tay was incredible, I had to stay for the night because it was just fascinating, I had perfect weather too. The roads are in great condition save a few patches here and there, nothing too bad (except the stretch between Ayun Pa and M’Drak but that was expected and part of the fun). I haven’t checked about the road north of Son Tay but it would be great to be able to link TSD with the Ho Chi Minh Road.

        1. Tom says:
          May 16, 2018 at 3:27 AM

          🙂 Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the road updates – it’s good to know that the roads are still in decent condition. Yes, let me know about the road north from Son Tay, but I’m pretty you still can’t get all the way through yet.

          Tom

  45. Lu Yen says:
    March 4, 2018 at 3:00 PM

    Hi Tom,

    We are at Quy Nhon right now and wanted to move into the mountains tomorrow following the classic route, but can not find the description in where to sleep and what to expect. The next stop on your map is Kon Tum which is too far to reach in a day. Any ideas on how not to sleep next to a factory or highway but still do the proposed loop? What is a good stop given we will follow tu ocean road until GA duc Pho?
    Or should we skip this and rather do the Golden loop between Hoi An and Hue? We are unsure whether we can make it to Hue on the 9th in time and what sections we should split the mountain detour when we want to start at Ga duc Pho? Thanks for your help!

    Best,

    Lu Yen and Moira

    1. Tom says:
      March 4, 2018 at 3:09 PM

      Hi Lu Yen,

      In that case, I would just head straight into the mountains from Quy Nhon on QL19 tomorrow, and then follow either the Truong Son Dong Road (on this page) or the Ho Chi Minh Road north.

      Tom

  46. Lu Yen says:
    March 4, 2018 at 2:55 PM

    Hi Tom,

    We are at Quy Nhon right now and wanted to move into the mountains tomorrow following the classic route, but can not find the description in where to sleep and what to expect. The next stop on your map is Kon

    1. Tom says:
      March 4, 2018 at 3:06 PM

      Hi Lu Yen,

      From Quy Nhon, you can either continue along the coast to Tam Quan (as the route in the Classic does), or you can go into the mountains direct from Quy Nhon on road QL19. Then you can either connect with the Truong Son Dong Road at the Dak Po crossroads (as described in section 4 of the guide on this page), or you can continue on QL19 up to Pleiku at meet the Ho Chi Minh Road going north to Kon Tun (as described in section 2 of my Ho Chi Minh Road guide).

      There is no specific guide to the section of coast road from Quy Nhon to Tam Quan, but there’s a bit more information in my Coast Road guide here.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  47. Erik says:
    January 16, 2018 at 5:39 AM

    Hi Tom,
    Loving the blog, unbelievably useful.
    I have a quick question.
    Am coming west from Tuy Hoa and want to join the Eastern Mountain Road on section 3 at Ban Hoang. Whats the QL19C Road like heading south from Tan An, and the QL29 at Khu Pho heading West to Ban Hoang? Reason being I didnt want to follow your red line to join the route at Cau Le Bac…
    Help appreciated
    E

    1. Tom says:
      January 16, 2018 at 11:11 AM

      Hi Erik,

      Glad to hear you’re finding my site useful.

      I’m not sure about 19C, but QL29 was OK the last time I rode it. However, that region may have suffered landslides last November during the typhoon, but I would expect most of the damage to have been repaired by now.

      If you have any updates on road conditions over the next few days, please do let me know.

      Thanks,

      Tom

      1. Erik says:
        January 23, 2018 at 1:46 AM

        Hi Tom,

        The TSD is magic! Coming back to you re the roads.
        The QL 19 south from Tan An to Khu Pho was great. Good surface, locals only, small villages and smiling faces.
        West from Khu Pho on the QL29 also a good alternative to complete an alternative link from Tuy Hoa to section 3 of your TSD route.
        Just to add, the ‘desert’ section from Dalat to Cam Ranh was superb. Empty and being resurfaced as I rode it….

        Keep up the good work
        E

        1. Tom says:
          January 23, 2018 at 2:09 AM

          Hi Erik,

          Great to hear you enjoyed the Truong Son Dong Road. And thanks for the tips about QL19 & 29 – sounds great.

          Tom

  48. Nicolas says:
    December 20, 2017 at 12:20 PM

    Hello Tom,

    Thanks for this guide. I wanna try it in January. But do you think the weather will be bad? Are these areas at the same elevation as Pleiku and Kontum?

    Thanks!!

    1. Tom says:
      December 20, 2017 at 2:35 PM

      Hi Nicolas,

      Yes, these areas are similar elevation to Pleiku/Kon Tum, but not quite as high.

      I was there in January/February this year and the weather was grim, grey, wet and cold for one week and then sunny, bright and warm for the next week. So if you have more than a few days you should at least get some good weather.

      I hope you enjoy it,

      Tom

      1. Nicolas says:
        December 23, 2017 at 7:03 AM

        Thanks Tom!

  49. Bree says:
    November 3, 2017 at 3:23 AM

    Hi! This map is amazing and has made me consider changing my route a bit. I am in Hoi An and heading to Kon Tum next. The next stop I really care about before Nha Trang and Da Lat is Quy Nhon. That being said, would you recommend this route or the Ho Chi Minh trail? I had planned on taking parts of your “The Big One” map but mostly staying on the trail between Hoi An and Da Lat. Does this route offer more scenic views after leaving Kon Tum? Or is it best to keep up with the trail? Thank you for your info!!!!

    1. Tom says:
      November 3, 2017 at 6:03 AM

      Hi Bree,

      I would take this route instead – it’s more scenic than the section of the Ho Chi Minh Road south of Kon Tum.

      Be careful on the roads, because there’s a storm passing through the region from Friday night into the weekend.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Bree says:
        November 9, 2017 at 5:33 AM

        Thank you! To get to Kon Tum I see this map advises to take QL24B passing through Son Tay etc. However several other travel guides mention QL24 just south as being an extremely amazing and scenic ride. I was going to take QL24 but tend to me trusting your guides more as I can see you are very knowledgeable in routes through the country. Is there a reason you chose the northern road versus QL24? Are they just as scenic?

        Thank you and we are all forever indebted!

        1. Tom says:
          November 9, 2017 at 12:05 PM

          Hi Bree,

          Actually, this guide doesn’t go to Kon Tum – it follows the Truong Son Dong Road from Dalat all the way to Quang Ngai.

          QL24B doesn’t go to Kon Tum: it joins up with QL24 at the Song Re River. But both roads are scenic, so it depends where you are now: if you’re in Quang Ngai city then take QL24B until it joins QL24. Or if you’re south of Quang Ngai now, just take QL24 all the way.

          Note that the second half of QL24 to Kon Tum was a bit bumpy the last time I rode it.

          I hope this helps,

          Tom

  50. Rick Murphy says:
    September 19, 2017 at 11:43 AM

    Thank you for this invaluable guide to a wonderful new road here in Vietnam. I am now in M’drak and heading for Lak Lake tomorrow. All the way from Cau Le Bac down on TSD I saw signs or milestones posting distance to Yang Mao. Is it possible that TSD now runs as far south as Yang Mao?

    1. Tom says:
      September 20, 2017 at 1:15 PM

      Hi Rick,

      Sorry for the slow reply. To the best of my knowledge the Truong Son Dong does now yet run as far as Yang Mao, despite the mile stones. About 10km south of M’Drak the new road peters out into a dirt track, and then starts again must south of Yang Mao before coming to an end in the mountains again, as described in this guide. There are still working on the road, but it will still be some time before it is finished and finally links up for the road to Dalat.

      Tom

      1. Rick Murphy says:
        February 6, 2018 at 8:39 AM

        Thank you, Tom. Somehow I missed your reply to my post about the status of TSD approaching Yang Mao. Do you happen to know if the leg from Sơn Tây to Thạnh Mỹ has been completed yet? I’d imagine that would be very scenic, perhaps similar to the amazing stretch connecting Sơn Tây to K’bang.

        1. Tom says:
          February 6, 2018 at 9:08 AM

          Hi Rick,

          I don’t think that stretch is finished yet. But it’s worth asking locals when you get to Son Tay because that section will surely be very scenic, as you say.

          Tom

          1. Rick Murphy says:
            February 7, 2018 at 10:01 AM

            Thanks a lot, Tom. When I was in Sơn Tây last September the locals said TSD did not yet reach to Thạnh Mỹ. Google Maps now shows a stretch of TSD beginning just south of Thạnh Mỹ on the HCM Hwy but only going about 20km before dead-ending. I might go to TM and thereabouts next week to check things out. If I do, I’ll write a post about it.

            1. Tom says:
              February 7, 2018 at 10:06 AM

              Thanks, Rick. I appreciate that. Good luck.

              Tom

              1. Rick Murphy says:
                February 23, 2018 at 7:02 AM

                Tom, I was just in both Thạnh Mỹ and Sơn Tây recently (i.e. around 20/2/2018). A local in Thạnh Mỹ said that the TSD stretch which will connect Thạnh Mỹ and Sơn Tây is not yet complete. A local in Sơn Tây said the same thing. She also said that eventually TSD will go through Bắc Trà My as it links Thạnh Mỹ and Sơn Tây. I’m definitely looking forward to that ride!

                1. Tom says:
                  February 23, 2018 at 9:02 AM

                  Hi Rick,

                  Thanks a lot for the update on that section of road. Yes, it certainly will be a great ride when it’s complete – can’t wait to try it.

                  Tom

  51. Tim says:
    May 11, 2017 at 2:39 PM

    Nice post! We are currently in Buon Ma Thuot and considering this route. How does it compare to taking the QL14C up the Cambodian border? I can’t seem to find any info on QL14C, so this route is sounding more appealing.

    1. Tom says:
      May 11, 2017 at 5:11 PM

      Hi Tim,

      Yes, I would definitely recommend taking this route – it’s great. And QL14C is not as scenic or as well made, and some riders have had problems with the police in that area, because it’s a border region.

      I hope you enjoy it,

      Tom

  52. Paul Mauge says:
    March 31, 2017 at 3:57 AM

    This was an amazing route! Thank you so much for the guide (as well as the HCM to Da Lat guide)! Very convenient and great descriptions ^^
    Best roadtrip I have done!

    1. Tom says:
      March 31, 2017 at 7:02 AM

      Hi Paul,

      Thanks, it’s really great to hear that you enjoyed this route and the Dalat one.

      Tom

  53. Hai Nguyen says:
    March 28, 2017 at 1:11 AM

    Hi Tom.
    It’s a wonderful report.
    I will take this road on the way to the North in September. Sounds like a very interesting route.
    Do you still have the beloved Stavros?. I will use the Nouvo 4 for the Sep. trip.
    Thanks for the great infos.
    Hai.

    1. Tom says:
      March 28, 2017 at 4:17 AM

      Hi Hai,

      That’s great, I hope you enjoy your road trip.

      Yes, I still have Stavros and he’s still doing well 🙂

      Tom

  54. Matt says:
    March 26, 2017 at 4:45 PM

    Hi Tom;

    More proof why your website is the ultimate travel guide for independent travelers. As cyclists, this could open up a great route in the near future. Based on your info, I explored the Pine Tree road north of Dalat and was wondering what will happen with that road in the future. Of course, the concern with all this new road building in Vietnam is that the environment will suffer greatly. I guess is makes deforesting the countryside a little easier when you have better road access.

    P.S. My girlfriend and I just completed a bicycle ride between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh and found your site extremely helpful. Thanks for seeking out all these off-beat locations and reporting on them.

    1. Tom says:
      March 28, 2017 at 12:43 AM

      Hi Matt,

      Thanks, I hope you get a chance to ride this route in the near future. It will eventually link up with the Pine Tree Road but it will be a long time before that section is completed (I happen to be there right now).

      Great to hear that you and your girlfriend have enjoyed riding around Vietnam and that some of my guides have helped you along your way.

      Tom

  55. Bart D says:
    March 13, 2017 at 1:48 PM

    I did section 2 (option 1) today. Until Cu Dram the road was bad but the scenery was at times very nice. At Cu Dram I turned south and followed the Truong Son Dong Road for almost 15 km. This road is not just beautiful but absolutely breathtaking. I did the same thing a few days ago from the Dalat side (The Pine Tree Road is very nice but the TSD section after that is pure heaven, I think). When these two stretches are connected you get an incredibly beautiful road.
    After Cu Dram TL 12 becomes a nightmare (although the scenery is incredible) for about 30 km until you get to that village with the bridge. At the end, an old, exotic looking lady collects 5000 dong, well worth the thrill of crossing that bridge. At first, I thought it was the same bridge as the one in the picture in your article. However, looking back at my GoPro recording I notice it isn’t. But I didn’t cross another bridge! At least, not one that looks like the one above. So now I’m very curious where you took that photo.
    Anyway, this was a fabulous ride and I can’t wait for the next section tomorrow. Thanks a lot!

    1. Tom says:
      March 13, 2017 at 2:01 PM

      Hi Bart,

      Great to hear you enjoyed the ride.

      Yes, I know what you mean about the road conditions on TL12. But I’m glad you checked out the short section of the Truong Son Dong Road south of Cu Dram – I agree, it will be a fabulous ride once it’s completed through to the Pine Tree Road and Dalat.

      (The bridge in the image is near Yang Mao.)

      I hope you enjoy the next section.

      Tom

  56. John Pearce says:
    February 26, 2017 at 4:10 AM

    WOW! You’ve done it again!!! I’m still recovering from a shattered knee and not yet ready for a multi-day ride, but you have me sorely tempted to ignore the pain and the limited movement and get back on the DRZ.

    This is definitely going to the top of my “once I’m healed” list.

    Thank you!

    1. Tom says:
      February 26, 2017 at 6:11 AM

      Hi John,

      Thanks. Sorry to hear about your knee. But once it’s healed definitely give this road trip a try – it’s great for riding, and I’m sure you’d love it.

      Tom