::: Vietnam Rain forest - Adventure ride

[DavidFL]

This looks like a mega trip with the rain, well done.

 

[VietHorse]

Davidfl;291219 wrote: This looks like a mega trip with the rain, well done.

Thank you. I used to be afraid of rain while riding, until getting on this GS. No more issue.

 

[VietHorse]

Rod Page;291217 wrote: And getting the 'paperwork' completed for foreigners? Is it comparatively easy (or impossible)?
Recalling that Duong MCM Tay is in great parts closed to locals not foreigners (!) - its interesting for adventurers from afar to know what may lie ahead. Are the restrictions in place due to the military nature of the area or due to 'other issues' - eg illegal logging, or whatever?
The name of the book of maps you were studying in preparing your trip?

To be noted that the road (just a part of that road) is under extreme security, only. Others are okay to ride without any issue.
Talking about HCM Tay (West HCM Trail), I did not see any check point which people need to stop and register. There are several foreigners have experienced HCM Tay with no problem.
May be, just may be, if you travel within some sort of "sensitive" time then you could be asked for checking. With all paperwork for yourself, your bike, then you are in good shape. Don't worry about logging tracklog. That road is opened for public.
The map book which I have studied is the collection of Vietnamese traffic maps. Quite details and comprehensive. Looks like a Topo map.
You can find it in big Library or Bookstore in Hanoi or HCMC. I am not so sure at other area.
It covers all part of Vietnam. Price at 315,000VND (US$15.00)

 

[Moto-Rex]

You and your friends were very brave riding those big bikes in the wet season mate.

Those narrow concrete roads look like good fun, but red clay on your 220 plus kilo bikes must have been tricky.

Thanks for a great report.

Moto-Rex

 

[VietHorse]

Thank you. It's really fun to have totally different feeling from my previous bikes.
We have to head back once when facing with such wet red clay in the evening of the 2nd day. It was lucky that none of us dropped the bike.

 

[VietHorse]

We spent our night explore Ban Me Thuot City. That's really nice highland city.
Wake up early morning:

Moved to the breakfast:

Sort of special dish there - beef noodle with two bows:

Leaving Buon Ma Thuot:

 

[VietHorse]

Some more view just outside of Buon Ma Thuot City:

Don't know why many pupils on the road. It should be weekend of the Summer holiday:

Special thing of highland - many many of cows:

...

 

[VietHorse]

A quick rest to see off the highland friend. He 's got to come back home:

Nice corner:

He's ready to be back with kids:

 

[VietHorse]

5 bikers left for the ride. We were going down hill, toward the Hochiminh City.

There should be a lake:

An open area among the mounts:

 

[VietHorse]

Let's take a silent moment to enjoy the nature view:

People here raise fish on the water:

Some local houses:

They spend their lives floating like that, don't give a **** care to the noisy and dirty city:

 

[tehsk30]

very cool pics....awesome adventure ride....keep it up

 

[VietHorse]

tehsk30;291669 wrote: very cool pics....awesome adventure ride....keep it up

Thank you. There are not much more for this trip...

 

[VietHorse]

Nothing much from there to our homes.

Phu Son pass:

It rained again:

Well, we focused on the way home, almost no more pix taken then
The trip was ended up with total around 1,000km, with great feeling. Don't know when can we have the same trip again..

You can find the tracklog posted here: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1432950

We will be back with bikers spirit and friendship...

and with new challenges....