Cheers for the great report Alex. You confirm much of what I've heard about Vietnam. I've been all through Thailand on rented bikes ... and a bit in Cambodia. Vietnam I've only visited off the bike.

A few quick questions:
I'm amazed how cheap those bikes were. Are there other, more "enduro" type bikes for sale there? I rode 125 two strokes all over Thailand ... like the CRM125 dual sport bike ... fantastic. Anything like that? Or other possibles that might be better in mud? I guess all the old Russian Minsk bikes are mostly gone by now?

You mention all the rules contrary to a foreigner owning a bike ... so how do you work that out with the seller? Reports I've read don't seem to have problems buying from a dealer or shop? Thoughts?

I have a Motorcycle endorsement on my California license and an International driving license. The CA license is very trick and official looking with a Halogram and bar code. Should be OK?

Plus One on your riding tips. My first ride in Thailand on highway I was stunned when trucks and buses would pass coming my way. A few times I ended up in the Paddy ... but soon adapted once I knew "the rules".

Did you end up selling on your bikes once you got back to Saigon? Or? Any hassles doing this? When you buy the bike ... what official paperwork do you have to show as proof it is yours? Will dealers buy a bike from a Farang?
Legal?

Have you heard anything about taking your Vietnamese based bike into Laos?
Anyone do that? Possible?

Thanks again for your report.