chrissables

2 minutes ago, Tedly said:

Thanks for sharing your story and photos! I really enjoyed the scenery. Through your sharing I am able to see things I may never see any other way.

Thanks for the compliment! If you get the chance, go take a look ?

9 hours ago, Tofer said:

Didn't you read, he had his moobs tampered with!!

 

Thoroughy enjoyed your post Chris , thanks for sharing.

 

Brave chap to take on that journey on a Click style mc.

If i go again, which i think i will, i would rent an off road style bike Honda CRF style, but only for comfort, i suffered a lot on the small bike seat even though i had it altered.

11 hours ago, VirgoSG said:

The trip sounds fabulous.  While I'm not personally a motorcyclist, I appreciate your effort in putting the report together, as I am sure many readers will.  Great experience for you.

 

A question for you.  I get conflicting reports as to whether self-drive car rental is available for foreigners in Vietnam.  The internet seems to suggest yes, but tour guides I've spoken to in Vietnam say no.  Did you come across any non-Vietnamese with rental cars on your journey?

 

Kudos!

 

Motorbike, everyone rents out. Cars i did not see, but i was not looking. Tour guides may tell you no so you must use them.

One issue would be insurance, but if you have a Thai licence that is acceptable.

11 hours ago, Mansell said:

I enjoyed your write up and the lovely variety of photos. I have seen a lot of Vietnam and the pics brought back good memories. Though I was somewhat mystified by your insistence on wanting to enter China illegally, especially as the Chinese do not look kindly on foreigners entering their country this way. I would imagine you might have found yourself locked up in a pretty nasty dirty dark cell which would probably initiate your claustrophobia......somehow I don't think you thought your actions through to this possible conclusion and in this case were very lucky to avoid that nasty experience.

It was not so much i wanted to it illegally, i just wanted to see how it was at remote areas. I always had my passport with me, but mostly these places were not manned. 

I did think everything through and decided it was worth it and the risk was minimal.

13 hours ago, TunnelRat69 said:

Great story, I live in Vietnam 3 months a year and haven't done a ride such as this.  Will rectify that next year with the Motorcycle Tour Company  - 75 days thru out the country  - I like structure and their tours are well organized...........Thanx for the inspiration!!!

 

For me i would want to not ride as part of a tour. I like to start and finish when i want, stop for photos when i want etc.

I spend a lot of time planning my rides and trying to find out of the way places too, but admit a guided tour would make some of the trip easier. ?

12 hours ago, Scotssing said:

Wonderful trip, wish I could do it!

 

Once or twice you got a bit lost. Can you get as good SatNav as you do in Thailand?

The road were strange at times, a dual carriageway would continue into the distance which ends in a dead end, and the turning i needed would be like a side soi that you would never think of using.

I was using maps and my phone, i had to change my provider due to lack of signal where needed. I have been told of a map you can download to your phone which is good, i was told at the end of the trip! 

8 hours ago, Tofer said:

I feel for you. I am a bit the same.

 

Almost got in a panic reading about the cave rescue events, also watching a film about a guy buried alive in a coffin, had to turn it off.

Yes, i was the same, turned the film off!

19 minutes ago, Tofer said:

Not pleasant I imagine, surprised you didn't get more confused. 

 

I had an experience, woke up in the middle of the night in a hotel with no stationary around and had no idea where I was. Phoned reception to ask where I was, answer Queens Hotel, OK but where?, Nuera Leah, where's that?, Sri Lanka - OK thanks.

 

Probably too many beers also....

Not confused, just in a total panic. Crazy!

3 hours ago, Mansell said:

One of my all time favorite cars. You used to see them in old French movies as police cars with Le flic riding on the running board that many of them had. When I was based in Singapore in 1963 in the RN there was an officer in the dockyard with a beautiful cream colored specimen. I often wonder what happened to that beauty as the next year we gave them independence, or we closed the dockyard. Classic styling.

Yes! Good looking cars.

1 hour ago, Randell said:

Wow Chris you did it again. Another very enjoyable post and fabulous photos and best of all your daily travelog. Well done and thank you very much I enjoyed that tremendously .

Cheers! Its a great escape from Thailand, but glad to be back!

4 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

Vietnamese version of brake failure?

I would presume so!

5 minutes ago, oldrunner said:

Maybe because she wasn't a boy? There is no such thing as an aged 20 year old lady.

?

18 minutes ago, zyphodb said:

Nice one Chris, looks like a great trip, Thanks for putting all the time and effort to post,  I'm curious why you decided to do it in the middle of the rainy season though...

 

Actually the rainy season was out of season and early. I planned on riding north ahead of when it normally rains, that worked mostly. Only in the mountains that run south to north would storms usually come late pm.

In the north the rains arrived early, but mostly i was ok and really i was quite lucky. The ride back also was good.

16 minutes ago, rhodie said:

Another great trip in Vietnam. Thanks for sharing again. ? 

 

What visa did you get?

I got a 3 month multi entry, but in the end i stayed in Vietnam for the whole trip.

36 minutes ago, grollies said:

Cheers chris, great narrative and photos, thanks.

Thanks ?

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Wow! Hell of a trip and a brilliant report! Really enjoyed it. Some great information for others to follow. Thanks for taking ghe time to put it together. Cheers.

Thanks, it was a great trip and the places to see there are so good. I just need a more comfortable bike next time.

2 hours ago, maximillian said:

Thanks a lot for the great report and the many great fotos.

How many rolls of film did you use ? ??

Digital ? Thousands though.

2 hours ago, jenny2017 said:

Maybe Charly isn't really dead? ?‍♂️

Traveling in coffin on the back of a motorbike he soon will be hahaha

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

Amazing trip! Thank you for sharing. It is a lot of work to edit photos and write a description.

Thanks!

Day 76. 29 June. Hoi An

Stayed local.

Day 77. 30 June 282 km

Ride to near the Laos border.

A pleasant ride, I had intended to go right to the border, but was suffering with the seating again and cut it short.

Day 78. 01 July Hoi An to Quy Nhon 5 hrs 304 km

An extremely hot and tedious ride, a day of other road users trying to kill me.

Day 79. 02 july. Quy Nhon to Nha Trang 4 hrs 235km

A nice ride along the coast from Quy Nhon, very hot again.

Day 80. 03 July Nha Trang

Stroll on the beach, relaxing.