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Ho Chi Minh Trail
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Travelers searching for hotels and gas stations on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road will find that this remote 240 km stretch between Khe Sanh and Phong Nha still has limited services, making fuel and rest planning essential. The route cuts through rugged mountains near the Lao border, with long distances between villages and few reliable places to stop. If you’re starting from Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park, make sure to fill your tank there before heading west, as stations become scarce very quickly.
Midway along the road, Long Sơn village stands out as the most dependable stopover. Set in a limestone valley on the Long Đại River, the village now offers a functioning gas station and an okay level, budget small hotel, making it the safest and most practical place to break up the journey.
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| Location | Facility | Details | Price / Notes | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Sơn | Hotel Trường Thành | Simple double & twin rooms, clean, hot water, AC/fan, Wi-Fi, T.V. & parking | ~300,000 VND/night (USD12) Breakfast not included. | Call: 0844 870 151 or 0915 256 892 (Vietnamese required). No online booking. Rooms usually available late afternoon. |
| Long Sơn | Gas Station | Reliable fuel stop, essential on the 240km stretch between Khe Sanh and Phong Nha. Supplies basic petrol & motorbike necessities. | Standard fuel prices; may close temporarily for lunch or run out of petrol. | East side of the road at southern entrance of village. Only other option: Hướng Phùng (farther along the trail). |
| Long Sơn | Local Shops & Eateries | Small rice/noodle eateries, snacks, drinks, rain jackets, batteries. Ideal for quick refresh or resupply. | Varies by shop; open daytime only. | Main street, village center. Limited options, arrive early if needed. |
Hotel and Gas station in Western Ho Chi Minh Trail (đường Hồ Chí Minh nhánh Tây)
The hotel and gas station in Long Sơn village have become essential facilities for anyone riding motorbike the Western Ho Chi Minh Trail (đường Hồ Chí Minh nhánh Tây).
Trường Thành Hotel is the family-run accommodation, looks newly built, clean and enough equipped for such a remote stretch of the Western Ho Chi Minh Trail. Rooms (Fan or AC) are spacious, spotless and come with hot water, WiFi and bottled water, beds are firm. Rates run around 250k–300k (USD10-12). English is limited, so Google Translate helps.
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Guests often offered with home-cooked meals with the family. There’s little else around, making this the only real lodging option in the area. Two karaoke rooms (200k/hour) add a quirky local touch.
The only nearby gas station keeps regular daytime hours, opening early and closing before dark, making it important to time your arrival carefully. The hotel is very basic but dependable, offering private rooms, hot water, secure motorbike parking in the front yard, and a comfortable place to reset after long hours on the road.
Google Map: Nhà Nghỉ Trường Thành (Hotel) & the gas station along the Western Ho Chi Minh Road
Navigate the following Google Map to go straight to Long Sơn village, where a simple motel (Nhà Nghỉ Trường Thành) and petrol station sit conveniently along the Western Ho Chi Minh Road between Phong Nha and Khe Sanh.
Essential stops along the western Ho Chi Minh Trail
Riding along the Western Ho Chi Minh Road offers a string of low-key but memorable halts that turn a long ride into a genuine journey. South of Phong Nha, the quiet settlement of Trường Sơn makes a worthwhile pause (If you ride it solo, google map usually won’t navigate this trail), especially for its slender suspension bridge, Cầu treo Cây Sú, swaying gently above the river.
Farther on, the road skirts remote valleys dotted with small Bru–Vân Kiều villages, before reaching Long Sơn, the trail’s most practical overnight stop with a motel and petrol station set against dramatic limestone. Pushing south toward Khe Sanh, the landscape opens into broad mountain passes and old wartime sites, rounding out a route that rewards anyone following it as a slow, exploratory travel guide rather than a simple point-to-point ride.
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Stop at Long Sơn Village
Long Sơn sits roughly at the midpoint between Phong Nha and Khe Sanh, a small riverside hamlet tucked into a bend of the Long Đại as it threads through towering limestone. The river runs clear enough for cool off and swim along the road, and the mix of water buffalo, small fishing boats and kids splashing along the banks gives the place an unhurried, lived-in feel.
This is one of the very few inhabited areas on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road, and certainly the most striking. The approach in either direction cuts through jagged karst, deep forest and a surprising number of viewpoints where the road coils around cliffs and ridgelines. Distances are deceptively long here: the constant climbing and descending, plus countless tempting stops for photos or a quick swim, stretch the journey far beyond the map’s estimate.
Because of this, Long Sơn’s small motel and petrol station are more than a convenience, they anchor a remote section of the route where services are nearly nonexistent. It’s the natural pause point for riders breaking the trip into two days, offering a simple bed, a refuel and a quiet place to watch the river drift by.
About the Hotel
The local guesthouse is near the center of Long Sơn hamlet on the western side of the road. It serves as the village’s only accommodation and the only dependable place to stay along this remote stretch. The building sits behind a wide concrete courtyard, softened by fruit trees. This gives it a calm, village-home feel despite its simple, boxy architecture.
The farmer family who runs it keeps the interior spotless floors polished, rooms aired out, and common areas tidy in a way that immediately reassures anyone arriving after hours on the road.
Rooms come in standard double or twin layouts and match what most travelers expect from a classic Vietnamese nhà nghỉ: firm mattresses with fresh linens, working air-con and fans, reliable Wi-Fi, a television, and windows that sometimes frame small garden views.
Bathrooms are basic with hot water and the usual rural plumbing quirks. Nothing modern and do not expect it even, facilities are minimal but serviceable, and prices remain low typically around 300,000 VND per night (USD 12). Breakfast isn’t offered, but you won’t have trouble finding a meal nearby. Another guesthouse exists across the road, but availability can be hit-or-miss, so rely on the main hotel for a guaranteed bed.
- Google Map add of the motel
- Phone: 0844 870 151 and 0915 256 892 (They only speak Vietnamese)
Long Sơn has a handful of simple rice-and-noodle eateries and several small shops selling drinks, snacks, and basic supplies such as rain ponchos or batteries. The village is peaceful in the early morning and evening, and wandering through the back lanes gives a sense of rural life in this isolated region. If the weather holds, the Long Đại River is close enough for a refreshing swim at the local bathing spot.
Gas Station in Long Sơn
Importantly, the gas station is on the eastern side of the road at the southern entrance to the hamlet. It is one of the most critical facilities on the entire Western Ho Chi Minh Road.
This is the only dependable fuel stop between Khe Sanh and Phong Nha (or Khe Gát), apart from Hướng Phùng. Travelers face roughly 240 km with just two possible refueling points. Either station may close temporarily for lunch or run low on petrol. For this reason, topping up at Long Sơn is essential.
A couple of small mechanic shops also operate in the hamlet. They are useful for tightening loose bolts, fixing flats, or solving minor mechanical hiccups. This is especially helpful before heading back into the mountains, where services are nearly nonexistent.
Conclusion: Essentials along the western Ho Chi Minh Road
Riding the Western Ho Chi Minh Trail is worth every kilometer. Travelers will find remote landscapes, quiet mountain roads, and glimpses of rural life far from the usual routes. Long Sơn provides the only dependable bed, fuel, and basic services. Careful planning makes this isolated stretch more manageable and rewarding.
Moreover, ride it in the dry months for clearer views and safer conditions. Treat Long Sơn as your anchor point before continuing deeper into one of Vietnam’s most remarkable road corridors.
About an author
Hamid is an experienced rider and travel writer who has explored Vietnam’s remote roads extensively, including the Western Ho Chi Minh Trail. His guides focus on practical advice, local insights, and essential services for travelers navigating isolated routes.
Source: Author’s personal experience and field research in Vietnam, 2026.
