Vietnam Trip 3, 2019.

[chrissables]

Day 67. 11 Nov. Phong Nha HCM road loop. 146 km. 4 hrs 20

A great ride south along the HCM road, my first time riding this part going south!

[chrissables]

Day 68. 12 Nov. Phong Nha to Hue. 306 km. 8 hrs

Rain from the start and very slow going along the HCM Road. Eventually I decided to ride out of the mountains onto quicker roads and less rain. I was soaked through by the time I arrived in Hue.

Day 69. Service the bike and relaxing

Day 70. 14 Nov. Hue to Laos border and back. 236 km. 8 hrs

Nice weather and riding today.

There was major construction work at the Laos border. Obviously looking at expanding trade.

[chrissables]

Day 71. 15 Nov. Hue coast run. 119 km. 4 hrs.

I found Loc Binh Beach off the beaten track with lots of potential at the end of QL49B

[chrissables]

Day 72. 16 Nov. Hue to the mountains around Luoi, Hamburger Hill. 206 km. 10 hrs 15min.

I changed my route when I arrived at the HCM Road, originally I was going to ride south from the junction of QL49 with the HCM Road. For some reason I went north with the idea of seeing Suoi A Lin rapids near A Luoi.

The rapids were nothing special, but from a broken bridge nearby I could see a road winding up into the mountains heading north east, so I went exploring.

The road/track I found was very steep and rough in places, but good fun to ride. After riding down the other side of the mountain for a while I came back and decided to try and find Hamburger Hill.

Hamburger Hill, is renowned from the Vietnam War, near the Laos border and as far as I know it requires a permit and a guide to go there.

Google maps gave me the run around for a long time sending me down anything but good roads. Eventually though I found the road there.

When I arrived at the base of the hill there was nobody there, so i decided grab my tank bag to wander up. I don’t recommend this in motorbike boots, clothing and a heavy tank bag.

I eventually made it to the top after climbing up, through and over some fallen trees about 45 minutes later. It was a very hot and sweaty walk!

It took just as long to get down, which left me with a few hours of riding in the dark back to Hue.

 

Photos, the start of the day and looking for Hamburger Hill!

[chrissables]

The way up Hamburger Hill

[chrissables]

Day 73. 17 Nov

A relaxing day around Hue.

 

Day 74. 18 Nov. Hue to Hoi An. 286 km. 7 hrs 20.

I took a long route up to the HCM Road, south and back down to Hoi An with a little off road diversion on the way.

Great weather and riding conditions.

 

The mountains in the first two photos are the Vietnam / Laos border.

[chrissables]

Day 75. 19. Nov. Hoi An Prison Loop. 190 km. 6 hrs 15m

From Hoi An west on DT608 and QL14B towards Dai Hung and then a left on an unnamed road that cut west until joining QL14 and looping back to Hoi An.

I made up the loop from looking at a map and then took a wrong turn my mistake.

I ended up riding through rubber tree plantations with restricted sign everywhere before coming across prisoners dressed in iconic prison stripped uniforms escorted by armed guards!

There was no issue and I carried on my way.

[chrissables]

Day 76. 20 Nov. Hoi An Rubber tree Plantation Loop. 164km. 6 hrs.

Today I connected up with yesterdays loop arriving from the north via QL14G and heading south.

There were barriers and restricted times motorbikes were allowed through. I presume due to the rubber plantation trucks bringing the timber out.

[chrissables]

Day 77. 21 Nov. Hoi An back roads due west. 189 km. 6 hrs 30 min

Today’s route included a lot of very rough roads which ended up just downstream from a dam, the small concrete road across the water had red signs and I could hear lots of yelling as I rode over it. Maybe they were going to release some water, I really don’t know.

 

Day 78. 22 Nov. Hoi An Hai Van Pass and new bypass loop again. 251 km. 6 hrs

As the weather was looking good I decided to ride this loop again, also I have read that maybe the new bypass will ban motorbikes, so this could have been my last chance.

I was stopped from going up to the top of the Hai Van Pass again 

[chrissables]

Day 78. 22 Nov. Hoi An Hai Van Pass and new bypass loop again. 251 km. 6 hrs

As the weather was looking good I decided to ride this loop again, also I have read that maybe the new bypass will ban motorbikes, so this could have been my last chance.

I was stopped from going up to the top of the Hai Van Pass again.

 

The link below to my route

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qV1nKMR76

[chrissables]

Day 83. 27 Nov. Nha Trang – Dalat Loop. 311 km. 7 hrs

There was rain in the morning, some heavy and thick fog in the mountains. Some sun later.

 

Link to my route below.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4JA4ZnR6

 

[chrissables]

Day 84. 28 Nov. Nha Trang – Ninh Van Beaches. 160 km. 4 hrs.

A little rain, very windy, and getting blown all over the place.

 

Link to my route below.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOd3exRR4v

 

[chrissables]

Day 85. 29 Nov.

I stayed local due to the weather, wet!

 

Day 86. 30 Nov. 15 km

Another day staying local and taking it easy.

 

Day 87. 01 Dec. Nha Trang to Mui Ne. 263 km. 5 hrs 50.

I took a bit of a convoluted route to avoid the known police scam areas.

 

Link to my route below.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v1vjp991pJ6

 

[chrissables]

Day 88. 02 Dec. Nui Ne to Saigon. 207 Km, 5 hrs

A noisy, dusty, horrible ride.

 

Link to route below

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vAOZBn7yNyO

 

[chrissables]

Three nights in Saigon and home to Thailand! What a trip! Can’t wait to go again. 15,336 km’s of fun!

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, neeray said:

Great post. Appreciate all the pictures.

 

Some parts look quite challenging. I'd be up for the challenge! (Well, a few years ago)

Thanks ????

 

Challenging at times for sure. But great fun!

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, Ron jeremy said:

Quite a journey, thanks for the time and great report.

looking forward to the ha giang cao bang loop in March. 

 

Thanks.

 

It is great riding in the whole area! Actually most of the country!

[Randell]

Thanks so much Chris spectacular doesn't even cover it. I like that relive app using sat maps and elevation it sure gives you a feel for the  location. Your  rental bike looked somewhat different from your last trip or am I mistaken? Being a tall fellow as well(191) I can see why you built up your seat more than a couple of inches. Very informative and you coverage of your trips is very addictive ha ha.  Thanks a gain.????????????

  Randell

[chrissables]

4 minutes ago, Randell said:

Thanks so much Chris spectacular doesn't even cover it. I like that relive app using sat maps and elevation it sure gives you a feel for the  location. Your  rental bike looked somewhat different from your last trip or am I mistaken? Being a tall fellow as well(191) I can see why you built up your seat more than a couple of inches. Very informative and you coverage of your trips is very addictive ha ha.  Thanks a gain.????????????

  Randell

Cheers Randell. 

I wish i knew about the app before. It's fun to see a days ride like that. But you need another app if you want to record the route for further use.

This is a CRF Honda / Chinese copy, very good for what it's built for. The seat had a hump in it, i had that cut out and leveled. Far more comfortable than on previous rides there.

Addictive for me too!

[Nakmuay887]

Best thread I have read in a while, really enjoyed the details and photos!!

[Nakmuay887]

Off topic but have you ever driven Tak province on a bike? Mae Sot to Mae Hong Son is such a beautiful drive but you would need a beast of a machine to do it. I see many guys with beautiful bikes heading out weekly to do this route, although some just drive the mountains of Mae Sot to Tak and then back

[papa al]

4 hours ago, chrissables said:

 

This is a CRF Honda / Chinese copy, very good for what it's built for. 

Is that the 230cc version?

How much rental fee for 3 months?

You da man.

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, papa al said:

Is that the 230cc version?

How much rental fee for 3 months?

You da man.

Honda XR150cc All you need.

 

Tigit have bigger bikes if you want

 

$750 total for 3 months with breakdown cover.

[chrissables]

6 hours ago, Nakmuay887 said:

Best thread I have read in a while, really enjoyed the details and photos!!

Thank you ????

[chrissables]

6 hours ago, Nakmuay887 said:

Off topic but have you ever driven Tak province on a bike? Mae Sot to Mae Hong Son is such a beautiful drive but you would need a beast of a machine to do it. I see many guys with beautiful bikes heading out weekly to do this route, although some just drive the mountains of Mae Sot to Tak and then back

Many times i have ridden that route, on a Honda PCX, CRF Rally and a Versys. You don't need a big bike, but of course on some roads they are more fun.

[Gnasher328]

Great blog Chris. It deserves an airing on one of the dedicated rider sites like 'Rideasia'.

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, Gnasher328 said:

Great blog Chris. It deserves an airing on one of the dedicated rider sites like 'Rideasia'.

Thanks, i put it on a facebook page Foreign motorcycle riders in Thailand, but just some photos and not the text.

 

I also think posting it at the Christmas / New Year time was a wrong decision as i have had very few comments back. Usually from my other trips i receive a lot of feedback.