Vietnam motorcycle tourism

moronic American here,

Which southeast Asian country should I go to buy/rent a motorcycle and drive around for a couple weeks? Vietnam seems cool to me, grandpa fought there so I’d feel some apocalypse now vibes. But if Thailand or Cambodia or Laos is a better experience for this I’d be open for that too. I’m guessing a rental won’t be crazy expensive and I’m not looking for a guide, will I get killed? Any thoughts?

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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >grandpa fought there so I’d feel some apocalypse now vibes
    Always makes me laugh how Americans still can't imagine Vietnam outside of their traumatised memory of the war.
    I've done a very, very short, bike rental in Vietnam, probably too short to give you a strong impression, but people I know who did it loved it. The Ha Giang Loop and Hai Van Pass are both popular bike routes.
    The guide part might be a bit more expensive though, I'd probably suggest just getting a guide for very specific destinations if you want one instead of the whole trip.
    You might get killed, but only because you're either not a good rider or because you underestimate how different the driving conditions are - take your time to accustom yourself to how the Vietnamese use the road, it's completely different to the west. At slower speeds like in cities its a free for all, on highways they will go as fast as possible, even in heavy rain, and take bends at stupid speeds. In the city, bikes are king, on the highway it doesn't matter, the truck will squash you.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      You think Vietnam is a good choice then? It seems like thailand or one of the others are a lot more popular, I’m just trying to pick one I think

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Thailand and Vietnam are both great choices, it really comes down to personal preference. I loved Vietnam so I'm certainly not going to dissuade you from it.

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    > Will I killed

    You should at least be an okay rider and pay attention to the road. Back in Nam I was on a big road and a giant bus was overtaking a giant bus. So literally two giant busses took up the whole road coming at me head on. Good thing im quick and got to the shoulder
    The scenery is amazing so its easy to get distracted and die

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    These are my recollections from ten years ago:
    Just don't do it in Cambodia and you'll be fine. I first rode in Thailand were there are basically no rules you are used to but rather "who honked first go first" or "I can fit my bike on the shoulder of the oncoming lane so I'll just quickly cross the junction diagonally between these trucks and sneak in." People drive pretty slow though, are pretty aware and let each other through once you learn how to communicate with the expected honks and waves.

    Cambodia is just as chaotic but everyone drives as fast as they can all the time fully aggressive and let's noone through.

    Vietnam is similar to Thailand but more organized
    .
    Laos has the least traffic but probably the most dangerous roads.

    I'd recommend Vietnam - buy a bike in either ho chi Minh or Hanoi and drive along the coast to the other city where you sell it. Save two days for a detour from Hanoi to ha long bay and back. Possibly three days. Two weeks are perfect for this. Eat a cobra, shotting it's still beating heart with bile mixed with rice whiskey.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I didn't ride in Cambodia but this is interesting. I went in 2019 and the traffic seemed much more tame than in Vietnam.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >Cambodia is just as chaotic but everyone drives as fast as they can all the time fully aggressive and let's noone through.
      Not true, what you described is Thailand. Vietnam and Thailand the traffic is much more calm, but still dangerous.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        s/Vietnam and Thailand/Vietnam and Cambodia/

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Do you need a motorbike license over there or nah?

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I assume you need an international license but it seems like very few foreigners actually do it. Just bribe the cop I guess.
      Or, you know, go pick up an international license.

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    See you in the >>>/gif> rekt threads. SEABlack folk deserve it, and so you scum like you

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Vietnam is the country for you. I rode from the south to the north at the beginning of 2020 before Covid really fricked up travel in the north.
    you can buy either a Honda Win or a Honda Wave for under $200 (this may have changed since covid) and put $0.01 gas into it from a pepsi bottle on the side of the road and youre golden. Best food in southeast asia is, in my opinion, Vietnam. just my personal preference. lots to do, lots to see, great country and you'll meet a ton of other travelers doing similar routes if you want to travel with them.

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    That first post pic brings me back to when I did three weeks on a Minsk up on a loop North West of Hanoi back in the day.

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Vietnam. Ha Giang Loop
    Do it!
    I want to go back!

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