SE Asia tour starting in Hanoi
 

I am planning on flying into Hanoi in mid-late December and buying a decent but cheap motorbike and using that bike to travel to Ho Chi Minh then cross over into Cambodia through to Bangkok and down to Koh Phangan. Then sell the bike before leaving Asia and going home.

That’s the plan. Or at least the basics.

I have never tried to purchase a motorbike before and certainly not in a foreign country. I need all the help I can get. If you know anything about any of these things it would be much appreciated:

-what kind/model of Motorbike I should be looking for and at what price
-where to find such a bike in Hanoi on relatively short notice
-information about insurance and license requirement for a trip like this
-road conditions through the area and local laws and other things I should have to worry about
- border crossings
-amazing places to see on my trip through South East Asia
-any and all advice for me on my adventure

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!

Mate, most of your questions have been answered recently in other posts so the info there should be current, do a quick search and if there are any specific questions we are all to happy to help

The basic answer to getting a bike is to put the word out with the locals (ask your hotel manger), then wander over to the backpacking areas and see if you can find someone finishing their ride, wander around the bike mechanics and enquire. You could contact the Hanoi bike clubs beforehand and have a few options ready.
As far as sites to visit it depends on your energy level at the time, for me the road is an endless source of adventure, I try not to get temple or destination fixated. ( I go faster :blushing: ) but that being said , the Ho chi Min trails, not the main coastal highway, make for a better ride.
Grabbing a map and making your own adventure is part of the fun and the opportunity available to riders. :mchappy:

There are sometimes bikes for sale by other travellers advertised in Hanoi backpackers hostel. You don't say how long you have, I would suggest a circular route taking in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand then back through Laos but you would want at least a couple of months for that trip.
HCM trail as mentioned, Angor wat Cambodia, Phi Mai Thailand, Luang Prabang Laos, too much to mention, you will meet other travellers who will suggest places to visit, mark their suggestions on a map and join the dots, that's how I plan a trip.:welcome:

Hi,
I'm just back from visiting some friends in Hanoi for a few weeks.
A coule of things to bare in mind....
It's VERY rare to find a local on anything bigger than a 125.
To buy anything bigger you'd be relying on a fellow traveler in the right place at the right time willing to sell, or I'd suspect you'd need a decent slice of luck and deep pockets.
I hired a gl160 for a couple of weeks, but even on that felt quite conspicuous.
Dont miss the north!
A loop east from Cao Bang and a loop north round Bao Lac, Meo Vac, Dong Van, Ha Giang....
You're not likely to see another tourist and won't find any english speaking locals, but it's not to be missed.

Happy travels
Sam

To be honest, you don't need any thing bigger than a Honda 100cc Alpha Wave.
The speeds we are doing in Vietnam, are maxing out at 60km/h.
You really, really don't want faster than that.
Any thing bigger than a 125cc, will make you so "red alert" to the many police checks that i pass evey day.
Sure, the foreigners, get stopped, but as soon as you open your mouth to speak, you get the "wave on"
But it's a hassle stopping though.
Take my advice and all you want is a 100cc, or a 110cc.

60km/h may sound slow, but the roads here are in such very poor condition, any faster and you WILL come off, mark my words.

We started in Ha Noi 2 weeks ago, then had 2 days in Halong Bay, now we are half way down to Saigon.
The daily distances are around 120km.


Vette

Saigon-Sapa '11
 

Hi, I just did a trip the other way around and can share a little experience.

Renting and scooters are great ways to go, the convenience cannot be understated especially if you are on a strict timeline. Buying is way more fun though.

I did get stuck trying to sell the bike in Hanoi because it's really a crap shoot whether or not you can find a buyer.

Anyways, I paid $350 for a Honda Win from a guy around the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area. Danh Tranh, guy is not to be trusted. Told me he had connections I could sell the bike to in Hanoi, I got there and they complained he kept sending suckers up with that story and wouldn't give me half the 300 he'd told me. I ended up selling it for $140, but honestly it was worth it either way. A ripoff in Vietnam is a steal in the West.

The win is the "vietnamese light truck" as Ben from Phong Nha farmstay put it. The locals use it for everything, so it's ideal even though the cheaply made chinese honda clone _will_ rattle some bolts loose or what have you. Replacement parts are to be had everywhere, I got a new gearbox for $20. Ben also let me know $350 is the cost of a new bike, mine was at least ten years old and very few original parts from it made it all the way to Hanoi.
If I were to do it again, I'd have tried to make a connection with a local and have him buy the bike for me.

A word on the minsks, they're a popular dream but the number of them that are actually up to making the journey dwindles every month as tourists take them on yet another round through the country. Parts are way harder to come by, but if you get stuck on it at least there's a xe may (vehicle mechanic) within pushing distance almost everywhere, in the worst case.

You really want to do the HCM trail. Google Phong Nha Farmstay, it's not super budget but he's a really cool guy and they're nice digs. He's a font of knowledge. In the North make sure you ride to Sapa, it's a gorgous voyage. Everyone will tell you to stay off Highway 1, it really is a hell of a lot of traffic with the tourist buses running you off the road etc. but it's efficient as hell and not as crazy as they make it sound if you ride safe.

Hoi An is touristy as hell but still gorgeous, if you can time your visit to coincide with the full moon it's a wonderful experience. If you're going to Angkor Wat you'll be underwhelmed by the ruins of My Son in comparison but they're still cool.

Buy a Vietnamese phrasebook, you can get them for 2-5 bucks and it's amazing how the locals open up to you when you pull it out.

Phu Cuoc in the SouthWest is worth checking out, the deserted beaches to the North are lovely though not really deserted. It's nice to have that kind of space after the crowded mainland though.