April 2014 sees our third ride in Vietnam, making nearly 80% of the country travelled.
Starting in HCMC we arrange hire of 2x Suzuki EN150's from Saigon Scooter Rental at $25 a day with only a
credit card as ransom.
Day 1 ride west to visit Cu Chi Tunnels and ride on to Tay Ninh for overnight.
Visit to Cao Dai Temple and their Popes home then ride on thru rubber tree plantations heading for Dong Xoai and Highway 14. After a break for the obligatory iced coffee and a meal its on to the hwy of hell to Gia Nghia. Road is
being widened in many places, so enjoy the bumpy roads and construction vehicles. This roadworks is expected to take
5 years it has been said to me by locals.
Overnite in Gia at hotel with lockup garage for $20 and a few laughs at a local eatery. On to Buon Ma Thout from here
and back to 150 ks at least of rocky road, not to good for the video shots. BMT is a big town and we had no time to see it. From here you can go north and your on the HCM Trail....what a ride that was (2011) or head east across the mountains
to Nha Trang. We headed down towards Lak Lake on QL27 and onto Da Lat to spend a few days touring the area.
Good roads all around the mountain village to many different activities . Coffee plantations, rollercoaster rides to
temples and waterfalls, strange hotels, 'The Crazy House', the old railway station and trail bombed by the Americans.
Eventually time to go, we head out along the top mountain roads thru rainforests to Nha Trang for 2 days at the beach.
We meet up with Nam of Vietnamrider Touring Co for lunch. Nam arranged our first tour in 2011, a great guide who
gives you a real tour. He told us of a ride via Cam Ranh back up the mountains on QL27 via Thanh My to a homestay
in Di Linh, and it was well worth the ride and the stay at Juliets Resort coffee plantation.
Next day was out on the QL28 back to the coast at Phan Thiet. Very expensive area for hotels, to much Russian involvement here. We stick to the coast roads travelling to Vung Tau, stopping at La Gi, Dat Do and Long Tan to visit
the memorial on ANZAC Day.
Vung Tau deserves a few days stay, chatting with expats and taking in the views and beaches....nice place, I will
visit again. I lost the bike key at the beach here and after looking thru tons of sand sought help from the local Feds.... a locksmith was hand cutting a new key with a file for the next hour and i was under way again...for 200000d it was well
worth the wait. Left a full size Sherrin (AFL Football) with the guys at Matildas as appreciation for their efforts to
childrens charity in the town.
Day 10, our last day we travel the QL15 back to Saigon 3-4 hrs away. Arrange for the bikes to be picked up from the
hotel and get the credit card back. All is good. 10 days and no dramas apart from a wayward dog and a lost key.
credit card as ransom.
Day 1 ride west to visit Cu Chi Tunnels and ride on to Tay Ninh for overnight.
Visit to Cao Dai Temple and their Popes home then ride on thru rubber tree plantations heading for Dong Xoai and Highway 14. After a break for the obligatory iced coffee and a meal its on to the hwy of hell to Gia Nghia. Road is
being widened in many places, so enjoy the bumpy roads and construction vehicles. This roadworks is expected to take
5 years it has been said to me by locals.
Overnite in Gia at hotel with lockup garage for $20 and a few laughs at a local eatery. On to Buon Ma Thout from here
and back to 150 ks at least of rocky road, not to good for the video shots. BMT is a big town and we had no time to see it. From here you can go north and your on the HCM Trail....what a ride that was (2011) or head east across the mountains
to Nha Trang. We headed down towards Lak Lake on QL27 and onto Da Lat to spend a few days touring the area.
Good roads all around the mountain village to many different activities . Coffee plantations, rollercoaster rides to
temples and waterfalls, strange hotels, 'The Crazy House', the old railway station and trail bombed by the Americans.
Eventually time to go, we head out along the top mountain roads thru rainforests to Nha Trang for 2 days at the beach.
We meet up with Nam of Vietnamrider Touring Co for lunch. Nam arranged our first tour in 2011, a great guide who
gives you a real tour. He told us of a ride via Cam Ranh back up the mountains on QL27 via Thanh My to a homestay
in Di Linh, and it was well worth the ride and the stay at Juliets Resort coffee plantation.
Next day was out on the QL28 back to the coast at Phan Thiet. Very expensive area for hotels, to much Russian involvement here. We stick to the coast roads travelling to Vung Tau, stopping at La Gi, Dat Do and Long Tan to visit
the memorial on ANZAC Day.
Vung Tau deserves a few days stay, chatting with expats and taking in the views and beaches....nice place, I will
visit again. I lost the bike key at the beach here and after looking thru tons of sand sought help from the local Feds.... a locksmith was hand cutting a new key with a file for the next hour and i was under way again...for 200000d it was well
worth the wait. Left a full size Sherrin (AFL Football) with the guys at Matildas as appreciation for their efforts to
childrens charity in the town.
Day 10, our last day we travel the QL15 back to Saigon 3-4 hrs away. Arrange for the bikes to be picked up from the
hotel and get the credit card back. All is good. 10 days and no dramas apart from a wayward dog and a lost key.
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