vietnam(saigon to hanoi)-march !!!!!!!!!

[oren]

Hi to all
I want to do the way from saigon to hanoi(on side roads) with a motor bike on march .
I'm looking for partners for the trip (about one month )
allso looking for info about -
1.good bikes for rent in saigon - that posible to return in hanoi .
2.traveling tips about the road , interesting places and others .
thank's
see you on the way .
oren

[scrubs]

I'll make this a quick post, as by your intended travel date you should already be 2 months into your trip, but just incase you got held up.....


Bike choices..there is a 175cc restriction in vietnam
so it is worth bearing that in mind before hand. For me there was no other
choice than the 'Minsk' a fantastic soviet era -- Belarusian dirt bike. They're
robust and strong with plenty of torque for a small bike and ideal
for motorbiking in Vietnam as they are suitable for all kinds of road
surfaces and are easy to handle. these bikes are easier to find
in Hanoi than Saigon (expect to pay around $500) so for that reason I would reccomend starting my trip there. The bikes are solid and great fun to ride on and off road. when in saigon check out a bar called Highway 4 lot's of minsk riders there to give you tips and suggested routes, a guy called Dan that owns that place also runs a Minsk club (these bikes have developed quite a sub culture among the ex-pats in Vietnam) and runs a motorbike tour company -- so he will be a great source of information for you and he's a top bloke... but here is my two penneth...

from Hanoi head north and spend some time up in the mountains seeing the fabulous H'mong tribe and skirt the chinese border.

to set you on your way heres a suggested route..

Hanoi - Hoa Lac -Mai Chau - Phu Yen - Mu Cang Chai - Sa Pa - Lao Chai -Muong Khuong - Bac Ha....

head back south stopping at your leisure.. be sure to check out Hoi An & Da nang...

Ok im gonna stop writing just incase this entire message is a waste of time and I'm too late anyway.

God Speed