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And now, what can I do ? Walking trough Hanoi ? No, as in Beijin in 2004 it’s better to rent a bycicle: in this picture you can see me when I “bypassed” the surveillance of Tien An Men Square
This travel agency/hairdresser rented to me a bycicle
After 4 hours I stopped to pedal and went back to the Hotel. I’m lucky the Vietnam girl of yesterday is at the reception: she was interested in my trip to Halong Bay. It’s free time at the hostel and in the reception comes the american girl with 2 her friend. I begin to speak with the vietnamese girl about differences between italina and vietnam university. The environment is very nice, but you know the adversities of life always wait in ambush..........YES ! AGAIN ! The French girl comes in the reception, takes a seat on the couch and again begins to speak with everybody, showing her pictures...continously...for one hour. As yesterday the vietnam girl has to go to work. I repress my omicide impulse: too many witness. Maybe in the night I could smother her with the pillow, in the room. I wake up and while I’m going up stairs I meet a girl that speaks with me in italian. Her name is Giorgia and she’s studing for a master degree at the university of Bangkok: she’s from Padova. Due the reason that her touristic visa for Thailand is expired, she went for some day in Hanoi, to can renew the visa. She’s very likeable.
Back in my dormitori I begin to prepare my luggages for the fly to Italy: this was the situation at the beginning
really better after half hour
I’ll ship this two and carry with me just the camera, pc and little stuff. It comes in the room the american girl and she asks to me and Giorgia if we would like to meet after dinner with some friend to go in a club. Maybe. She asks the same to the frenc girl, but she’s busy ..thanks God.
I went to eat and I chose crabs
Back to the hotel, I meet Giorgia, the american girl and her friends.
You should know that cities like Hanoi are a big arrival point for tourists, as Siem Raep in Cambodia to can go to visit Angor Wat , or Sapa in the north of Vietnam. This cities, inevitably, had to adapt to the tourist demand. Western tourists like disco club, pub, disco music, drinks. Nothing wrong with this, but I was grown listening punk music and going in the independent rock club and so I really don’t like disco music, but with friends is different.
USA tourists=USA style club, with a little touch of Vietnam...the bartenders. Jennifer Lopez, some rap for wiggers (Eminem) and instead the pitcher of they serve a big drink the Pink Bunket, a big cup with dozen of straws. The club is divided in two parts: one with the bar and the other with very low table where you can sprawl yourself, drink and smoke some joint. As me Giorgia had in mind to go go to drink a around a table, but we began to look at the people in the club, dumping on everybody.
Giorgia is the girl with the white t-shirt…the old one wears a grey t-shirt
Looking at this video you can appreciate how stron are the vietnamite table in the club (note the size of the dancer)
Around 1 a.m. for me and Giorgia is enough and so we come back to the hotel: tomorrow I’ve the fly back to Italy and she fly to Bangkok. We are speaking in the room, when suddendly my blood ran cold...
worst than Dart Feneran an english voice, with a clear french accent say “ Ohh you can’t leave italian tourists alone that immediatly they begin to speak in italian ! “
What a f... !!! What kind of language should we use ? Japanese ? I tried to be polite and I answer “You know, sometimes happens that two italian tourists speak in italian”. Ok if now she take out her camera I’ll strangle. Giorgia was explainig her situation at the university of Bangkok, when the french girl asks how old she is. Giorgia asks “ How old do you think I could be ?” 22 for the french girl, 25 for me. I’m right.
Inevitably comes my turn: “ Maurizio, how hold are you ?” ok 25 years ago was an easy answer, today is a little bit embarrassing, but in this situation truth is the best way. “I was born in the 1962” is my answer. Giorgia is surprised she thought me “younger”. From the bed the french girl asks to us” How hold do you think I could be ?” 28 answer Giorgia. I think for some seconds: is my chance of revenge and I reflect on the french girl and on her manners: “ 35 !” She’s shoked ! “ How do you can say this ?-says the french girl- everybody normally thinks around 28/29” Do you know ‘ She’s 34. Now she asks to me why I had say 34.
“Your hands miss- is my answer- after the 30 the hands of womans begin to get some wrinkle ( now I can push a little bit the knife in the wound), as you can notice there aren’t wrinkles on the hands of Giorgia”
She says that this is a non sense, but doesn’t matter: Momi vs french tourist 1-0. I understand that Giorgia would like to give me a five, but the triumph is enough and we turn off the light leaving the french girl to think to her hands.
Wednesday 13th of June
I woke up very early to go to the airport. I had the chance to greet Giorgia before the boarding. I’m coming back to Italy, but forget Vietnam will be impossible: always in my heart.
Sorry, but my job in this period of the year don’t allow me a lot of free time and so it took a very long time to translate my Vietnam report. Sorry for my grammar, but I hope you understood almost everything.
Hi Momi, I have really enjoyed reading and looking at the wonderful photos in your ride report. We are thinking of riding in vietnam next year, its fascinating to read different peoples viewpoints and ways of travel.
Hi Momi, I have really enjoyed reading and looking at the wonderful photos in your ride report. We are thinking of riding in vietnam next year, its fascinating to read different peoples viewpoints and ways of travel.
Thank Jack and keep in mind that even with few days Vietnam can be amazing. In 10 days you can do the North Loop .
Hey Momi, great news, we will be going to Vietnam in 2 weeks to meet our youngest son, who has been in australia for a year, and we plan to ride from hcmc to hanoi and then do a northern loop, then home. Youngest son continues to Laos and Thailand and onwards. thank you again for your ride report , it inspires and gives a lot of information.
I started reading your story at 11:00pm, and now it's 3:30am! I really enjoyed it, I've always wanted to ride through Vietnam and your report has made it even more imperative. Thank you for taking so much time with this, the photos were excellent and your grammar is very good, no worries there.
Despite you're sometimes hilarious English, one of the best ride reports I have read in years. Bookmarked the whole story for later reference. I hope to make a similar tour soon. Really appreciated the clear maps, which make following the story super easy.
Thank you so much, Momi. You're the greatest!
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
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Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
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