Haven't heard anything about those bandits. In Laos I've only been to the very South though: 4000 islands and on and around the Bolaven Plateau.

Apparently they were only active around Plain of Jars and further north, so staying south should be fine. That's my plan too.

The attached a Chinese tour bus and killed one passenger, as well as a truck, two motorcyclists, and a few others since late last year.

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www.motoindo.com
One-way and multi-island rentals ex Bali

My husband and I bought bikes in Hanoi and intended on using them our whole 3 month stay by doing the northern loop, heading south, and selling them in Saigon.

The bikes were ok, and I was actually learning how to ride a fully manual bike for the first time, in the middle of Hanoi traffic, and I was completely fine.

However, we only made it 6 weeks through the northern loop before we gave up and went back to Hanoi to sell them. It wasn't enjoyable, we got scammed a lot, and it was more trouble than it was worth. The biggest problem was that EVERYWHERE we went, someone would break something on the bike overnight, or even while we were inside a temple or other site and then laugh when they offered to fix it at their shop conveniently across the street. For, like, $200 or something.

This happened before we even left Hanoi, and hubby pushed the dead bike with a clearly clipped accelerator cable 2 miles through town to where we bought it from instead of allowing the laughing goons the pleasure of "helping" us.

So, I guess I never felt unsafe or in the way of bodily harm, even as a new driver in strange terrain and having to cross landslides and all that, but we were heavily inconvenienced and it was costing more than it was worth, enjoyment-wise.

But it was a great way to see the country and I would try it again, and would recommend it, with enough precautions.

As a side note, we did Laos for 2 months and had a blast and I want to do that for the rest of my life. Amazing.

That is really devious

I've arranged with our city hotels to make sure they have off-street parking for the bikes, but we have no idea where we will be on any given day between the cities. Even if we did, it's likely to be a modest "granny flat" kind of accommodation with no off street parking.

I suppose the next best thing is to take some spare cables and tools. Thanks for the warning.

FWIW I never had any trouble in Indonesia. Except I was embarrassed when mechanics would only take a dollar for working on my bike for ages.

In terms of "honesty/integrity", I'd rate Indonesia highest and probably Philippines lowest But is sounds like Vietnam has a few villains too!

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www.motoindo.com
One-way and multi-island rentals ex Bali