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Critique my Vietnam trip, please! Critique my Vietnam trip, please!
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SE Asia Includes Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, plus Indonesia
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  • 1 Post By Gearhead.vn
  • 1 Post By AnTyx
  • 1 Post By g6snl

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  #1  
Old 10 Aug 2018
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Critique my Vietnam trip, please!
My girlfriend and I are heading to Northern Vietnam in Oct/Nov for 23 days, 13 of which will be on a moto trip. We're renting XR150s and are both good riders. How does our proposed route look? All tips are appreciated.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hano...21.0277644!3e0
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  #2  
Old 28 Aug 2018
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Hi there,

It looks very good. I would add Cao Bang and Ban Gioc waterfalls and Lung Cuu flagtower (45 min drive from Dong Van).

Are you leaving from Hanoi to Sa Pa first? If so, you could drive by Hoa Binh and add Moc Chau to your trip. It's also worthwhile.

Dien Bien Phu is also worth it, but it adds a lot of km to your trip.

Please note that the average speed will be about 40km/h. Be careful and don't rush. Traffic in VN is very particular.
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  #3  
Old 29 Aug 2018
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You're missing Ma Pi Leng, which I think is the best part of the Ha Giang Loop. Also, might as well go north from Dong Van to the flagpole on the Chinese border.

Personally I would not ride on the main roads around Hanoi. It just won't be enjoyable.

EDIT: I think you got Google to use the wrong Dong Van - not the city itself, which is further north on QL4C.
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  #4  
Old 1 Sep 2018
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I am thinking about similiar thing. November is not to late for north part of Vietnam ? Is there still warm enough to drive motorcycle ? December also ?
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  #5  
Old 1 Sep 2018
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Originally Posted by Jastrap View Post
I am thinking about similiar thing. November is not to late for north part of Vietnam ? Is there still warm enough to drive motorcycle ? December also ?
It never really gets "cold" in Vietnam not by Uk / Poland standards. Its basically Warm or Hot or Very Hot and Dry or Wet
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Old 2 Sep 2018
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Originally Posted by g6snl View Post
It never really gets "cold" in Vietnam not by Uk / Poland standards. Its basically Warm or Hot or Very Hot and Dry or Wet
I did the Northern Loop at the end of December. It wasn't so cold as to be unsafe (no snow or ice), but it can definitely get cold enough to be unpleasant. About 10-12C. Also remember that in Vietnam, building insulation is not really a thing, and neither is heating. So accommodation can definitely get cold too.
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Old 7 Nov 2018
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I was just up by Dong Van 10 days ago and I was cold, it is not unbearable but you should have a layer or two, and a good pancho. I live in Southern California now though so have become a wuss, but it was cold and grey up there.
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