South to North Vietnam (Feb to April 2025)
 

Will be flying into Saigon on 24/2/2025 and depart Hanoi on 13/4/2025.

This will be tour #10 and my third tour to Vietnam. I did the North East and Extreme North in 2022 and in 2023 did the North West.

This will be my longest tour to date with 48 days and have a rough itinerary planned out.
Will update report periodically on my rest days.

Renting a Honda XR150 which was the bike I used for the last 2 tours in Vietnam.

Meeting up with a friend I haven't seen in 10 years in Saigon and he might want to rent a bike and join me for a few days.

Looking forward to ride again in VN.
Among all the SEA countries I have ridden, Vietnam is still my favourite.


bierbeer:D:scooter:

Overview of South to North route starting from Saigon SGN and ending at Hanoi HAN.

I still want to go back to Ha Giang again since my last visit in 2022. I really love the views there! But this trip I won't be able to make it there but I will make another trip to Ha Giang again in the future.

Enjoy the trip

Wayne

Thanks mate!

:scooter:

Sounds fun. Looking forward to your updates

Looks like I might be right behind you. I'm flying into BKK (23/2/21025), spending a few days and then flying into Ho Chi Minh.
I've never been there before - would you mind telling me from where you are renting the XR150?

Oh... give me a PM when you are in Saigon then!

Contact Dragon Bikes. Ask for Patrick.
The other one I have never used and popular is Tigit Bikes.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dr...oASAFQAw%3D%3D

Hope that helps!:scooter:

Thanks for that info! I'll PM you with my WhatsApp.

Arrived Saigon on 24/2 around 1600hrs.

Left my Kindle e-reader on the first leg of my flight and only discovered that I has left it on the plane when I was in the air on my way to Saigon.
Felt disappointed with myself for being so careless.

Anyway, once I arrived Saigon I went to the lost&found baggage counter and they gave me a QR code which lead directly to Malaysia Airlines (MH) lost items. I completed the forms and lodged the report that i left my Kindle on board the plane.

Took a Grab to the hotel about 45 minutes away and then went out for dinner to meet a friend I had not seen in 10 years who is now based in Saigon.

Good news was that just as I was preparing to go out for dinner I received a email from MH that they had the Kindle with them. Bloody good news!
I replied thanking them and asked about the arrangements to collect back my Kindle since I would be traveling for about 7 weeks.

I have to collect it back from KLIA airport but I am trying to see if they could courier it back to my home instead.

Slept early after dinner as I was rather worn out from all the flying & anxiety about losing the Kindle.

:scooter::mchappy:

Glad you got it located mate
Enjoy the trip

Wayne

Thanks mate!

Will start riding on 28/2 morning.

bier:scooter:

24/2 to 27/2

Did the usual touristy stuff and met up with a mate from NZ I haven't seen for 10 years.
We had dinner on the 24/2 and also lunch on 27/2.

On 25/2 I went to Tigit Bikes to try the LS2 Vento summer pants. It fit so I bought it as a second pair of riding pants. For riding pants, I have to try them as pants are difficult to get the sizing right. Jackets I can buy online.
The Vento is CE A rated and comes with Level 1 knee armour. I'll swap them to L2 knee armour and hips I will add Level 2 protection too.

I then had lunch with Patrick from Dragon Bikes.
There I met a young German guy who wanted to ride from Saigon to Hanoi. It was his first rodeo and I offered him to join me for a few days so that he could get acclimatized to Vietnam's traffic etc.

Then in the evening went to the Bui Vien walking street. The music was way too loud for me.

On 26/2 went to the War Remnants Museum which was very interesting and there they had pictures of the effects of Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War. Those pictures put a lump in my throat and were deeply moving.

Saigon Post office was touristy but it still functions as a actual post office and you can actually buy postcards, buy stamps and post it out. There was a queue though.

The famous Notre Dame cathedral was still under renovation so there wasn't much to see.

Had Indian curry for dinner on the 26/2 and after 30 minutes had to hurry back to the hotel as I felt like going to the toilet. I am used to eating spicy food and it must have not been very hygienic.

Grab bike is a good way to get around Saigon traffic and it's also cheap and convenient.

Also tried the Saigon metro which has been operational only for a few months. Has AC, clean, fast and even cheaper than Grab bike. But you still have to buy the metro tickets at the booth as the machines were all out of order.

https://images2.imgbox.com/50/e7/TREAqE7G_o.jpg