[Trip Report] Hanoi. Been There.. Rode there. Yet another great Indo China experience

[Elan7891]

HCM have ???

[runjoerun]

Thanks for sharing your riding tour to the land of the cubs, Vietnam. May visit Vietnam one day myself. Safe journey ya.

[himl]

Another epic ride by the legend.

Power lah bro...

[yem_paul]

Day 15 Hanoi - Vinh, 300km.

 

Wife left to catch the morning flight to Singapore carrying with her half the luggage i brought from home. This is the longest time she has left the kids behind for so long. But we have made substantial arrangements to ensure they are constantly occupied.

 

The day's ride was to head south for town of Vinh. This time we ventured into Ho Chin Minh highway which offers far better riding conditions. This time there was almost non bus drivers, less cars, less road users. The tarmac was in good condition. This road also connects from South to North and my judgement will be that it will take lesser time from Saigon to Hanoi if you use this path. The view was no less spectacular either. Later part of the ride, the guide decided to venture through minor village road for shorter distance. And we were glad he did. We were exposed to daily normal routine of the Vietnamese villagers. Stopped by a place for a drink and was greeted with pleasant hospitality from them.

 

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Leaving Hanoi

 

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Last night in Vietnam

 

Day 16 Vinh - Vientianne, 467km

 

Woke up early knowing that any hold ups at the border will drag until dusk. How right we were. The border of Cau Treo, Vietnam - Nam Phao, Laos is situated on top of a mountain with some nice twisties to it. The road to Pak Kading from Laos boundaries was really breathtaking. But with 150km to Vietianne, the dusk settled and I really hated riding at night.

 

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Morning in Vinh

 

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Hit and Run incident.

 

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Aren't they cute.

 

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It's really worth admiring.

 

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Cau Treo border, covered in clouds.

Edited November 28, 2012 by yem_paul

[yem_paul]

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So long Vietnam.

 

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Nam Phao boundary post.

 

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We spent 2 hours here because the staff has gone for lunch. And we arrived at 1130hours. What luck.

 

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Laos, in my opinion has got one of the most spectacular landscape in South East Asia. Very impressive.

 

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Accident between a Thai trailer and a Laos SUV. 1 hour hold up. We knew reaching Vientianne before dark is impossible.

 

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Edited November 28, 2012 by yem_paul

[yem_paul]

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The tarmac in Laos is certainly much better than Vietnam.

 

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As expected, arrived Vientianne at night.

 

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Dinner by the Mekong

 

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Broken fork seal. Can't wait to get to Bangkok to fix it.

Edited November 28, 2012 by yem_paul

[yem_paul]

Day 18 Vientianne - Bangkok, 640km

 

Agenda was to get to Bangkok and get my fork seal replaced. Was realistic that we couldn't get to Bangkok before they closes. Even if we do, they won't be able to get it done immediately and the next day being Sunday, I knew i have to spend more days in Bangkok.

 

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Time for some luxury. Checked in Asia Hotel. The next few days in Bangkok were spent doing some shopping, good food and good massage. Got the bike into Barcelona Motors to get the fork seal done. But not in time to catch the train to Hatyai. So left me all alone for another night in Bangkok.

 

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All tickets are fully booked. Want 3 black market tickets?? Look for Phoe. Not the same price tho.

 

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After sending them off to train station, back to Barcelona Motors to pick up the bike.

 

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Probably the next one.

 

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That's mine. No hiccups. Train left as per schedule.

 

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Edited November 30, 2012 by yem_paul

[yem_paul]

Day 22 Hatyai - Singapore

 

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Arrived in Hatyai with heavy rain. Contemplated whether to stay a night in Hatyai. Dragged myself out and made my way to the border. All the way raining up till Dengkil Highway.

 

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And was screaming with joy when I finally arrived here.

 

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A total of 6900km of riding from Singapore to Hanoi and back. Plus another 1890km spend on board of train.

 

3 riders and my wife as my pillion. She joined me in HCM and flew back from Hanoi.

 

Routes taken

 

Singapore-Hatyai

Hatyai-Bangkok

Bangkok- Battambang

Battambang-Bavet

Bavet-Saigon

Saigon-Nha Trang

Nha Trang-Hoi An

Hoi An - Hue

Hue-Thanh Hoa

Thanh Hoa-Halong

Halong-Yen Bai

Yen Bai-Sapa

Sapa-Hanoi

Hanoi-Vinh

Vinh-Vientianne

Vientianne-Bangkok

Bangkok-Hatyai

Hatyai-Singapore

 

The Southern guide only brings us from Saigon to Nha Trang. From there, we were on our own for 5 days until the Northern guide catched up with us in Yen Bai. No escort vehicles, just the guide on the back of our bikes. Riding in big cities of Saigon and Hanoi, you'll face with volume problems but riding on their National Highway, you risked being pushed out of the road by big bullies. Some minor problems like broken fork seal, coolant problem, cosmetic damages, hit and run in Vinh, haunted looking accomodation in Thanh Hoa, raging bulls and parking problem in Halong.

 

But with sweet memories, being able to witness the daily life of normal Vietnamese, their cultures, awesome sceneries, good Pho, children smiling and making many friends, the trip will be one difficult to forget.

Edited November 28, 2012 by yem_paul

[kmax]

yem_paul... you are killing me....

 

feel like just start the bike and ride out....

 

been following your facebook and thanks for trip report..

 

really an inspiration...

[thoms]

Yes! 2 thumbs up bro!!! damn inspiring. feel like just take leave another mth leave & shot off rt now!!! but ****!!! my little princess had just born to this world abt 1 wk, cant bear to leave her and my beloved wife. However, this type of trip is a must for every biker!!! Hopefully can make it this or next yr!!! long live to all riders!!! We live to ride & also ride to live!!!

[yem_paul]

yem_paul... you are killing me....

 

feel like just start the bike and ride out....

 

been following your facebook and thanks for trip report..

 

really an inspiration...

 

Kmax .. you know what to do then ....

 

Yes! 2 thumbs up bro!!! damn inspiring. feel like just take leave another mth leave & shot off rt now!!! but ****!!! my little princess had just born to this world abt 1 wk, cant bear to leave her and my beloved wife. However, this type of trip is a must for every biker!!! Hopefully can make it this or next yr!!! long live to all riders!!! We live to ride & also ride to live!!!

 

Congrats on your new born. She will be a bundle of joy. Ride can always wait la bro ... but dont wait too long .... hehe

[ramen71]

Kmax .. you know what to do then ....

 

 

 

Congrats on your new born. She will be a bundle of joy. Ride can always wait la bro ... but dont wait too long .... hehe

 

Hi Bro,

Really envy you,in short time of period u went there twice,your positive mindset

lead you to the place that most of us never been there.particularly on sapa, lao cai province. I'm planning to head Cambodia on 14 jan. so all your trip report is encouraging me to travel beyond thailand.

 

Waiting for another adventuring update.

[fir_chan]

This is definitely a well planned trip!

 

Great pictures and a hell of an experience!!!!

 

Guess it is a new frontier for majority of the local bikers.... thumbs up!!!

[yem_paul]

Hi Bro,

Really envy you,in short time of period u went there twice,your positive mindset

lead you to the place that most of us never been there.particularly on sapa, lao cai province. I'm planning to head Cambodia on 14 jan. so all your trip report is encouraging me to travel beyond thailand.

 

Waiting for another adventuring update.

 

Lao Cai province was beautiful. And Sapa itself was worth the visit. Even the locals couldn't believe we took all the trouble to go there. Wish we spent more time there.

 

Enjoy your Cambodia trip. And if possible, avoid riding at night. Even if you have to, just be extra careful.

 

Ride on ...

[GuiNNeSS]

Legend, you just set another benchmark.

[sambora67]

fantastic bro love the pics n ur ride trip

[mumumu]

Thanks for sharing!

[viethorse]

It's great trip Bros.

Nice to meet you up and go along from Moc Bai to HCMC.

Wish to make trip like u guys in near future...

VH.

[viethorse]

Hi there.

So happy to hear you guys enjoy the trip in Vietnam.

It's also our pleasure to see and escort you from the Border to HCMC.

 

I'd like to share some pics taken from the trip to Moc Bai Border to meet up you guys...

 

This is our team's logo (ACEMTSaigon):

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5272/ace1resize.jpg

 

Early morning, we departed from HCM @ 06:00.

 

Breakfast on the way to Moc Bai (about 20km to the border):

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3269_GF.jpg

 

Our bikes, outside of TayNinh special noodle shop:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3271_GF.jpg

 

VFR800 - X4 (1300) - Z1000:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3276_GF.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3277_GF.jpg

 

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3278_GF.jpg

 

Honda ST1300 - GoldWing1500:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3279_GF.jpg

 

It's same as yoours - R1200:

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn317/viethorse/2010-ACE-SGN-MocBai/IMG_3282_GF.jpg

[yaphui_gts]

Wow.. very nice trip report. Making me itchy to organise a trip there with the goldwings. Can I check with you do you meet with any muddy terrain on the way for the whole trip?

[yem_paul]

Wow.. very nice trip report. Making me itchy to organise a trip there with the goldwings. Can I check with you do you meet with any muddy terrain on the way for the whole trip?

 

If you stay away from the homestay then it should be fine. There's a stretch in Cambodia, after Phnom Penh where they were doing road constructions, but nothing the Wing can't handle.

[yem_paul]

It's great trip Bros.

Nice to meet you up and go along from Moc Bai to HCMC.

Wish to make trip like u guys in near future...

VH.

 

viethorse

 

The ACE might be coming to Singapore... hope to see you then

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

IT is a great write up and the place looks beautiful

[SBR750]

I miss Vietnam oredy!

[DaBonz]

awesome!! :thumb: