Anyone toured Vietnam?

**Robert Taylor** · 19th August 2009, 22:06

Originally Posted by Boob Johnson

Spill the beans, any motorbike stories from your time there would be great. Short or long trips, road or trail, keen to hear of your experiences

I had an ex US army colonel who I built a shock for who had toured Vietnam in the 60s and helped with clearing out a few VC. He has since been back twice on motorcycle and loves the place.

**nadroj** · 19th August 2009, 22:07

Are the family tagging along?

**Boob Johnson** · 19th August 2009, 22:20

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

I had an ex US army colonel who I built a shock for who had toured Vietnam in the 60s and helped with clearing out a few VC. He has since been back twice on motorcycle and loves the place.

Ha ha, classic, bet he could spin a few yarns aye

Was just talkin to my brother n law, he said your a bit of a hard case Robert, Bill Bailey.

Originally Posted by nadroj

Are the family tagging along?

Negative

**stig** · 19th August 2009, 23:02

I did south-central Vietnam last year, one of my best experiances yet and i'll be back to do the north sometime soon for sure.

I saw some nasty accidents as well and would recomend a pressure suit as part of your protection, they are good in the hot temps as well.

Hard part is getting hold of a decent bike. May be easier in the north.
I broke my left arm offroad on the cambodia leg a week before so had to ride a clutchless honda dream, it was rugged, and tiring to put down decent miles on.
Rentals want a passport for bond too and since you need to present one to stay anywhere you may have a catch 22 if your traveling alone.

Cheap beer, awesome food, real nice people.
you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it

**Boob Johnson** · 19th August 2009, 23:11

Originally Posted by stig

I did south-central Vietnam last year, one of my best experiances yet and i'll be back to do the north sometime soon for sure.

I saw some nasty accidents as well and would recomend a pressure suit as part of your protection, they are good in the hot temps as well.

Hard part is getting hold of a decent bike. May be easier in the north.
I broke my left arm offroad on the cambodia leg a week before so had to ride a clutchless honda dream, it was rugged, and tiring to put down decent miles on.
Rentals want a passport for bond too and since you need to present one to stay anywhere you may have a catch 22 if your traveling alone.

Cheap beer, awesome food, real nice people.
you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it

Awesome, cheers for that mate. Mmmm, that sounds like an issue (passport). Surely they will take a cash bond? Or credit card imprint?

Did you do it lone wolf or on a tour?

**stig** · 19th August 2009, 23:34

went with a mate, no tour. winging it as you go is half the adventure.
not so sure on the cash bond, once you hand over cash in sea your kinda on your own I think. could be a way around it, im not sure.

It was said earlier but read through the different insurance policies for one that covers bikes.

Get those two sorted and the rest is easy.

**Boob Johnson** · 19th August 2009, 23:57

Originally Posted by stig

went with a mate, no tour. winging it as you go is half the adventure.
not so sure on the cash bond, once you hand over cash in sea your kinda on your own I think. could be a way around it, im not sure.

It was said earlier but read through the different insurance policies for one that covers bikes.

Get those two sorted and the rest is easy.

Sweet, yeah plenty of more reading to do for sure.

And most definately no into planning too much, floating with the wind is most certainly half the fun. Most of the backpackers that come through here do exactly that. They have a skeleton of an idea then put the meat on as they go.

F.I.T's we call them ---> Free Independant Traveler

**kiwigazza** · 20th August 2009, 07:06

when i was there i had some piece of paper in my passport that i got when i crossed the border, that was used as a bond for the bike......cause yeah every place you stay will wanna hold your passport

**portokiwi** · 20th August 2009, 08:51

Hay mate, a girl at my wifes work is flying to Vetnam in Feb,
She found out that it was cheaper to book your tickets from Aussie.
She got return flights for $500.00
Now all she has to buy is tickets from NZ to Aussie.
Huge savings......
I hope this helps.

**kevfromcoro** · 20th August 2009, 18:11

Just on passports... the bike hire company will usually take a copy of your passport.. corse they dont have copiers. and ya got to take a walk to get a copy.not to keen on giving out my passport.
Kev

**Rover** · 20th August 2009, 20:05

Look at doing northern Vietnam several years ago. Ended up going solo around Northern Thailand. Up the Loas border across the top and down the Berma border. 100% recommended. Got around by a combination of key GPS points and the Golden Triangle maps. Bike hire is easy in Chiang Mai. Only discomfort is they keep your passport as security. It is just the way they do things. Still got the maps if anyone was after them. Great what you can do when you get older. Vietnam still looks appealing.

**Eurodave** · 20th August 2009, 20:12

Yeah,I was in 'Nam back in '68

Sydenham

**kevfromcoro** · 21st August 2009, 05:02

Originally Posted by Rover

Look at doing northern Vietnam several years ago. Ended up going solo around Northern Thailand. Up the Loas border across the top and down the Berma border. 100% recommended. Got around by a combination of key GPS points and the Golden Triangle maps. Bike hire is easy in Chiang Mai. Only discomfort is they keep your passport as security. It is just the way they do things. Still got the maps if anyone was after them. Great what you can do when you get older. Vietnam still looks appealing.

you still got the maps.. you didnt get them off a Mr David Uncovich did you.
wouldnt mind getting my hands on them.iam in tauruanga at the moment.
will pm ya.
Kev