Johnny Roesco;265345 wrote: Interesting response.
I apologize for prying into the big secret.
Just rough figures are helpful for trip planning.
In Thailand for instance A liter of fuel runs about a $1.25, hotels about $15, a driver with a car $50 a day. an hour massage $10. boots polished about $1.
large beer $2-3. average bowl of noodle meal $1. bike rentals $3-30 a day.
I'd like to know how much the "Song Hoi" massage actually cost, what's the big deal? That wont be in the "guide book".
I had a friend just pass into town who recently made a motorcycle thought central and south america. He was on an F650gs and the whole 6 months trip cost about $10k. That was very helpful info.
This is info most travelers are interested in. This was a motorcycle travelers forum when checked in?
"Buy a guidebook"
OK, would you be recommending the "Lonely Planet" guidebook then?:happy4:
OK, here is my final response. It is not a big secret, nor am I trying to be a prick by telling you to look in a guidebook. I am telling you the figures I have are not helpful.
So here goes again; our guide(s) were the owner and managers of a high end Vietnam Travel agency. Yes, we stayed at the same hotel, ate meals together, and traveled together. The fee for this was worked out by our friend and was a business deal between the two. Obviously, or at least it should be obvious, you do not post this kind of information on the internet. The same goes for hotel rates that are charged to travel agencies. I don't know if we got a good discount or not. I don't feel it is appropriate to itemize the rates here, as again, if you run a business do you want your business costs posted on the internet?
Therefore; for hotel rates relevant to you and whatever type of accommodation you prefer, a guidebook or the internet is a better source.
When we fueled the bikes, all the bikes were filled at the same time. The total was paid at the end of the trip. I don't know how much it cost per litre, or what kind of mileage we got, or how far we traveled each day, so I cannot give you an answer. I am sure I looked at the time, but I honestly don't remember and I do not have it written down.
My own feeling toward fuel prices when traveling is, they are what they are. I am still going to fill my tank no matter what the cost, so why worry about it.
As for the "Song Hoi Massage Parlour". I didn't go there either.
I will tell you that the total cost for the four of us, for the Vietnam leg alone, was just over 100,000 baht, excluding visa and motorcycle paperwork costs. Now, if you can break that down into any type of useful information, considering all the variables involved, good for you. :thumbup:
As this was basically a "survey trip" for all involved, it would be done differently in the future. The Vietnam agent did learn, that for his business, he would not consider doing this again for a group of less than at least 7 motorcycles.
Again; I steered the original poster to the answers as to the paperwork needed to enter Vietnam. Again; other than to perhaps address your curiosity, the rest of the information you have so diligently sought from me, is useless to anyone (as I said in the first place).
What I consider good information is, as stated in some of my posts and also in the link that started this whole thing;
It is not worth all the time and effort to take your own bike into Vietnam. There are some great reports on this site of people who have flown in, saving travel time, rented a motorcycle or a scooter, made their own plans and itinerary and had a great trip. This is what I would do next time.
There are also some reports on this site of people who have had different experiences in finding and using "guides and fixers". There are many more reports of those that didn't make it.
So. and finally; if you really want the information you desire so badly, search this site, consult a guidebook, and plan your trip. Good Luck. :roll:
