LONELY PLANET VIETNAM GUIDE BOOK 2009

Lonely Planet Vietnam, July 2009 (Australia)

Page 119 of the Lonely Planet Vietnam guidebook recommends several Hanoi-based tour operators for travellers planning to tour Northern Vietnam by motorbike. According to the guide, these operators offer well-maintained motorbikes and can also assist with itinerary planning and motorbike guides. For more details, Lonely Planet directs readers to page 507.

For a reliable Honda trail bike from US$ 20 per day, road bikes from US$ 15 per day, or a moped from US$ 5 to US$ 8 per day, together with useful local advice, head to the Offroad Vietnam office. Our Hanoi motorbike rental service provides a range of genuine Honda motorcycles for travellers who want to explore Northern Vietnam by motorbike, from the mountains and rural back roads to the countryside around Hanoi.

Page 189 Lonely Planet Vietnam 2009

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD

With spectacular scenery, little traffic and improved roads, more and more travellers are choosing to take a motorbike around the northwest loop from Hanoi up to Lao Cai, over to Dien Bien Phu, and back to the capital.

Hanoi, where you’ll find several specialist motorbike-tour operators, is the place to start making arrangements. Consider joining a tour (p507) or hiring a guide, who will know the roads and can help with any mechanical and linguistic difficulties. Be sure to get acquainted with your bike first and check road conditions and routes.

Most motorbikes in Vietnam are small capacity (under 250cc). For years the sturdy Minsk, built in Belarus, was the bike of choice for travellers and it still has many devoted aficionados. For the full story consult www.minskclubvietnam.com, which even has a free PDF breakdown manual to download. Minsks are quirky bikes, not known for their reliability (though they will deal with rutted, rough roads well). They were common in northern Vietnam for years, and many mechanics know how to fix them. But today numbers have dwindled as mopeds and Chinese road bikes have proliferated.

Honda road bikes (such as the Honda GL160) and trail bikes are other good choices. These bikes have a good reputation for reliability and have decent shock absorbers. Some folk bike it around Vietnam on mopeds (like the 100cc Honda Wave), which tend to be reliable and their automatic gears make things easier for inexperienced riders. However, you’ll find bumps tough on your butt.

Rental agencies will help with checklists but some essentials include a good helmet, local mobile phone for emergencies, rain gear, a spare parts, and repair kit (including spark plugs, spanners, inner tube and tyre levers), air pump and decent maps. Knee and elbow pads and gloves are also a good idea.

Highways can be hell in Vietnam, so it’s wise to let the train take the strain on the long route north to Lao Cai. Load your bike into a good carriage (180,000d) while you sleep in a berth. You’ll have to (almost) drain it of petrol. Then in Lao Cai, pick it up, fill up, fire it up and off you go.

Take it slowly, particularly in the rain: smooth paved roads turn into muddy tracks in no time, after heavy rain. Do not ride during or immediately after heavy rain storms as this is the time a landslide might occur (many mountain roads are quite new and the cliff embankments can be unstable). Expect to average about 35km per hour. Only use safe hotel parking. Fill up from petrol stations where the gas is less likely to have been watered down.

And if you’re running short on time or energy remember that many bus companies will let you put your bike on the roof of a bus (around 500,000d from Son La to Hanoi), but get permission first from your bike rental company.

Recommended motorbike specialists in Hanoi include Cuong’s Motorbike Adventure (p119) and Off Road Vietnam (p119).

Page 507 Lonely Planet Vietnam 2009

Motorbike Tours

Specialised motorbike tours through Vietnam are growing in popularity. It is a great way to get off the trail and explore the mountainous regions of the north and centre of the country – two-wheel can reach the parts that four-wheel sometimes can’t, by traversing small trails and traffic free back roads. A little experience helps, but many of leading companies also offer tuition for first-timers. Mounting a Minsk to take on the peaks of the north is one of Vietnam’s defining moments and should not be missed.

Foreign guides charge considerably more than the local Vietnamese guides. Based on the group of four people, you can expect to pay around US$100 per person per day for an all-inclusive tour that provides motorbike rental, petrol, guide, food, and accommodation. Some of the best companies running trips in the north include the following: Offroad Vietnam (04-3904-5049; www.offroadvietnam.com) This is a Vietnamese-run company, and these guides generate really good feedback from their guests. Honda bikes from 125cc to 250cc. Tours from US$100 per day.

For more press releases, travel articles, magazines, and books about Offroad Vietnam motorbike tours, please follow this link. If you find any additional reviews, articles, or media coverage about Offroad Vietnam, please let us know. We always appreciate discovering new publications and independent feedback about our Vietnam motorbike tours and motorbike rental services in Hanoi. Thank you!

If you want to find out more about the Vietnam motorbike tours our company provides, please watch the video below or visit our YouTube channel. You can see more about motorbiking in Vietnam, including scenic mountain roads, rural villages, countryside trails, and less-travelled routes with Offroad Vietnam.