Job Discussion Forums

canadacommando · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 7

Hey all.

Me and a few friends are pondering motorbiking down from Hanoi to HCMC. Now, I see trips advertised, but it is something I think we would like to do on our own. SOOO..I got me a few questions:

-Is it possible to buy bikes down there? About how much for a beat up 250 or 500?

-How long would the trip take (travel time, not sightseeing)?

-Is it doable weather wise in April or June?

-Any unforeseen dangers out there?

Done Vietnam twice before but it was all bus hops..so don't really have a feel for how it would be to travel on. Any advice would be wicked. Thanks!

chipy66 · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 26 Location: HO- Town

hey i plan on doing a similiar trip next june. And i know one person who has already done it.

As for bikes...bikes over 150CC are illegal in vietnam ( allthough ive heard this has been or is going to be changed?)

My friend did it on a Bonus bike, i beleive they are 125CC...ive heard minsk bikes are good as well

you can get one for $300-400 or so..and then sell it when you are done

april - june should be fine..more towards april would be better as the rainy season starts around june

and if you only stop to sleep and eat and stuff....i could see you doing it in about 4 or 5 days....its 1600 km..so if you do 400 km a day..

huxter · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Hanoi

Hanoi to HCMC? Why put yourself through it on HWY1? You really won't see much if you don't plan to stop (apart from hundreds of dusty trucker towns), the traffic is horrendous and the crap that gets blown up from the roads will kill your eyes as well as your lungs. Let's not even go into the standard of driving or fatality rate on that road! An hour on HWY1 is my limit and most who live here agree. I would recommend a quieter trip, for example NW loop from Hanoi to Sapa. You can also drive all the way from Hue to Mui Ne on quiet, scenic roads, also taking in the Ho Chi Minh Trail. I'm sure either of these options would leave you with much better memories than a HWY1 ordeal.
Hope this helps.

wildfire · Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 37

well if you plan it do it.
why not.

but be prepared to ditch the plan and take a bus or just a general detour.

be prepared for it to be hard, and for anything really.

if nothing bad happens then you will have achieved a huge goal and
feel great just for trying at least if you dont.