Awesome! Been to Thailand twice, but I think this next trip will be to Vietnam. I've been wanting to go for some time.

Lots of the same death defying driving in the crowded areas of Chiang Mai and Bangkok as well, but everyone seems to be pretty polite and accommodating (unlike the clueless idjits in Seattle and Wenatchee........)

We did bring gear for both our trips; helmets, boots gloves, Joe Rocket jackets/pants. Pretty sure we were the most over dressed people on the roads. Did see a few fender benders, most times it was the guy on the scooter not paying attention to cross traffic. The scooter rider would brush himself off, picked up his bike and ride away after exchanging a few words and hand gestures with the other driver.

The only vehicles we had issues with were the oversized tour buses and those 15 passenger Toyota vans. Those guys are out to get you.

And even though we've been home for three months, the urge to ride on the sidewalk or squeeze between lines of cars is strong. I've done it a few times..... don't tell anyone. :-)

I take it the company didn't have an issue with the one way rental?

Any decent maps available there or should I source them here before we go?

Thailand is famous for impromptu police checkpoints. Usually to make sure you are wearing a helmet and have a license. Anything like that in Vietnam? Never had a problem, the cops are usually pretty friendly and polite.

How about bike security at night? I never had a problem or a concern with parking the bikes outside our condo in Chiang Mai, and on the road we were able to park right next to our hotel room door or at the more expensive places ($30) right next to the security guard shack.

Personal safety. Never really felt unsafe in Thailand or Cambodia, is that a concern there?


Thanks!!!!


Dee

Very informative and entertaining write-up! Thank you for posting this.

__________________
Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

I paid a bit extra to have the bike delivered to me in Hoi An, where Flamingo Travel has an office. Bikes are easily shipped on trains throughout the country, and most rental agencies can deal with this.

The Flamingo Travel owner told me not to worry about bike theft, but gave me the cable lock I requested. Every place I stayed had some sort of guarded bike parking, since so many of their guests (and all their employees and owners) rode bikes themselves. I never parked overnight on the street.

As I said somewhere in my interminable report, I never had to stop at a police checkpoint.

I didn't feel unsafe at any time in Vietnam. Crime seems very limited, and I only occasionally heard about minor property thefts. Scams are common, but not particularly sophisticated.

I bought maps online before leaving home. Apparently, there's a good printed road atlas available once in-country, but I never went looking. Virtually everyone (myself excluded) uses phone apps for navigation and mapping.

You're entirely welcome. Thanks for reading.

Mark

Very good and informative report, well done Mark.

I hope you don't mind but I have posted the link here on other Asia forums.

Will bring some Traffic here as well.

Pictures easy to come by? good well script RR are not.

Excellent assessment. Especially the language problem. At age 74, I took my fifth "adventure" in late March until mid April. From Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi was quite a challenge but in its own way, rewarding. The hectic intersections (an sometimes highways) really made me realize that age had seriously caught up with me. Riding from the U.S to Panama, South America and Africa was much easier (although I was only 62 when traveling thru the tough roads in Central America. Vietnam was beautiful and the people were wonderful. Even the little 150 Honda was terrific.