'Northwest Vietnam - Sapa Loop : May 2006

[belgarathc]

May 2006 - North West Vietnam

 

Route: Hanoi -> Mai Chau -> Dien Bien Phu -> Sapa -> Hanoi

Distance: ~1000km

Reference: Lonely Planet Vietnam, minskclubvietnam.com

Bike: Sports Minsky from Cuong at US$6 per day

Comments: Excellent scenery, fun winding roads into the mountains

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/route-map-vietnam.jpg

Map of North Vietnam and route taken

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/high-elevation-mountain-road.jpg

Roads to Mai Chau

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/locals-mai-chau.jpg

Friendly locals posing for a photo. Mai Chau town is in the background.

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/lac-white-thai-village.jpg

Lac village (White Thai minority)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/road-to-dien-bien-phu.jpg

Roads to Dien Bien Phu, troublesome ride

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/green-mountains-river.jpg

Enjoying the view..

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/broken-russian-minsk.jpg

Oops, hit a rock and fell. Gear pedal got stucked but a helpful villager later helped me knock it back to a working position

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/vietnam-village.jpg

Riding through the villages

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/vietnam-village-kids.jpg

Friendly village kids

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/road-to-sapa.jpg

Beautiful scenery en route to Sapa

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200605/Vietnam/sapa-guesthouse.jpg

Fancy a stay in the clouds?

 

Planning a similar trip? Please visit Northwest Vietnam Sapa Loop trip report for more details.

[belgarathc]

South Cambodia - Bokor Hill station ride will be posted in a separate thread

[belgarathc]

Northeast Cambodia ride will be posted in a separate thread

[belgarathc]

Northeast Cambodia ride will be posted in a separate thread

[YZFx]

great pic!!!!

[Nighthawk_250]

You took beautiful pictures One of the best biker photo i'd ever seen!

[YZFx]

I agree... the photos r sharp n good

[mudman]

inspiring bro ......

[belgarathc]

Thanks for the comments

[biking nomad]

brilliant stuff!

 

U take very good shots. Helps me enjoy your journey vicariously.

 

The Minsk is a Russian make, isn't it? I;ve heard its a popular touring bike in Vietnam. Or is it the only make avaiable for rent? What abt scrams n the like?

[dinie]

damn when's the next trip? haha.. btw wads the requirements do rent a bike there? can a 2B p-plater rent a bike as well? gr8 pics btw bro.. really inspirational..

[belgarathc]

rxZster,

Just some point and shoot photos ah. Anyway yep, the Minsk is Russian made. I believe scramblers eg baja are also available for rent. I remember FB666Y mentioning it in his trip report.

 

 

dinie,

According to minskclubvietnam.com, it seems that a local license is required. But I don't think it is strictly enforced. At least, I wasn't asked to show my license when renting the bike. So basically, there are no requirements. But of course, you should be able to ride a bike, comfortably.

I will probably be doing a short Thakhek loop in Laos next month.

[paithorn]

Originally posted by belgarathc@January 14, 2007 09:07 am

rxZster,

Just some point and shoot photos ah. Anyway yep, the Minsk is Russian made. I believe scramblers eg baja are also available for rent. I remember FB666Y mentioning it in his trip report.

 

 

dinie,

According to minskclubvietnam.com, it seems that a local license is required. But I don't think it is strictly enforced. At least, I wasn't asked to show my license when renting the bike. So basically, there are no requirements. But of course, you should be able to ride a bike, comfortably.

I will probably be doing a short Thakhek loop in Laos next month.

do you do all these trips alone?

[belgarathc]

yah loh, alone.

[paithorn]

Originally posted by belgarathc@January 14, 2007 10:43 pm

yah loh, alone.

you prefer it this way or can't find anyone to go together?

 

do you have difficulties in languages/communications?

[sabbaha]

Truly Madly Deeply Exciting!

[dinie]

wads the total cost for one trip alone? and do u ride there or fly there? thanks for answering my questions bro.. cos im really keen on riding overseas jus tt im still new to this scene..

[belgarathc]

For the December 2006 trip to Cambodia, I spent around S$850. The air tickets + tax already cost me $350. I guess I can't complain much as I went during the festive period (22 Dec to 2 Jan). This is also one of the reasons why I went alone, paisei to ask friends to skip their celebrations mah. Okay lah, I admit it's also because I wanted to attempt this trip alone.

 

Regarding the June and July 2006 trip, they were actually part of a larger trip. I first flew to Macau with 3 friends. After spending some time there and in Guangzhou, we took an overnight train to Guilin. We spent around 10 days exploring Guilin, Longsheng and Yangshuo. At this point, one friend flew back to Singapore while the 3 of us continued on to Hanoi, crossing the border at Pingxiang.

 

After a few days exploring Hanoi and taking a day tour to Tam Coc, my remaining 2 friends flew back to Singapore. Left alone, I rented a Minsk and set off for Sapa. I took 4 days to finish the loop. After 1-2 days of resting, I took a 30 hr train ride to Ho Chi Minh. There, I spent a few days visiting the tourist sites before taking a 2 day tour to Phnom Penh, visiting the Mekong delta and crossing the river border at Vinh Xuong.

 

At Phnom Penh, I visited the markets and Tuong Sleng Museum. Then, I took a 2 day riding trip to Bokor Hill Station. My next stop was Siem Reap where I spent a couple of days visiting the temples of Angkor. I soon got templed out and took a bus for the border at Poipet.

 

From Aranyaprathet, I took a train to Bangkok. I continued southwards on train, stopping at Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur before I finally reached Singapore.

 

The whole trip took me around 6 weeks. I cant really remember how much I spent but it's probably around 1.5k.

 

Language wise, it's definitely useful to learn some words. But those in the tourist industry (bike rental shops, guesthouses, restaurants, moto taxis) can speak some English. In villages, hand signs seem to work well.

[Pauche]

Originally posted by belgarathc@January 15, 2007 10:31 pm

At Phnom Penh, I visited the markets and Tuong Sleng Museum. Then, I took a 2 day riding trip to Bokor Hill Station.

Hey, in PP, which bike shop did u rent the bike from and how much do they charge you. And the condition/reliability of their bike is ok?

[paithorn]

Thanks for the details bro...

 

What is on your plans next?

[SGGH]

Wooo~~ I also want to go for trip like this.. too bad now NS.

 

2yrs later. Anyway, u rent the bike right? then return back to the same shop. Means u start and end at the same place? Not like those who use their bike and rides up malaysia, to thailand kind right?

[dinie]

thanks bro.. very informative indeed..

[belgarathc]

Pauche,

A Honda Degree from Lucky! Lucky! cost US$6 per day. I told the boss I was just going to ride around Phnom Penh. So I assume it's going to cost more if you ride out of Phnom Penh. Helmet is an extra US$1 per day. The bike I got is in very good riding condition, even though the speedometer and odometer aren't working.

At Angkor Motorcycles, I paid US$9 per day for a Honda degree. At first, the boss quoted US$8 because she thought I was just going to ride to Strung Treng. When i told her that I am also going to Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri, she told me the standard price is US$10. We settled at US$9. The bike I got isn't as good as the one from Lucky! Lucky! but both the speedometer and odometer are working. Angkor Motorcycles also provided me with a bag of tools.

Oh yah, I read your very excellent trip report.

 

paithorn,

Laos is probably my next destination. After that, maybe North Thailand. Given a chance, I would also like to do a ride from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh.

 

SGGH,

Yep to all your questions. But there are some shops which will allow you to drop your bike at other locations, albeit with an additional cost. One example is Green Discovery which has ~5 branches in Laos. Cuong can also make arrangements for you to drop your bike at Ho Chi Minh, instead of Hanoi.

[Pauche]

Originally posted by belgarathc@January 17, 2007 08:54 pm

Pauche,

A Honda Degree from Lucky! Lucky! cost US$6 per day. I told the boss I was just going to ride around Phnom Penh. So I assume it's going to cost more if you ride out of Phnom Penh. Helmet is an extra US$1 per day. The bike I got is in very good riding condition, even though the speedometer and odometer aren't working.

At Angkor Motorcycles, I paid US$9 per day for a Honda degree. At first, the boss quoted US$8 because she thought I was just going to ride to Strung Treng. When i told her that I am also going to Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri, she told me the standard price is US$10. We settled at US$9. The bike I got isn't as good as the one from Lucky! Lucky! but both the speedometer and odometer are working. Angkor Motorcycles also provided me with a bag of tools.

Oh yah, I read your very excellent trip report.

i've not heard about Lucky Lucky but I think you got it at a steal at just $6. I heard that Angkor has some good bikes but I think prolly you got the 'not so good ones'.

 

But I am just curious why is it that they charge you based on where you are going? Does that mean the further you go, the more expensive they are going to charge you??? It should be the longer you rent, the lesser it cost, shouldn't it?

 

[lao uncle]

But I am just curious why is it that they charge you based on where you are going? Does that mean the further you go, the more expensive they are going to charge you??? It should be the longer you rent, the lesser it cost, shouldn't it?

 

That got to do with mileage that you clock, the more the bike go the faster the next oil change that they have to do. No forgetting the wear on the engine parts and of course the tires.