Hello Tom,
My brother and I, and our two sons are planning a trip from Saigon – Vung Tau – Mui Ne – Pham Rang – Nha Trang. Do you think this is a reasonable trip over five days? We plan on hiring 125cc scooters. Will these be OK for the roads etc? I’ve read your Saigon to Mui Ne trip, and we will use this information as the backbone of our trip. Any advice would be appreciated. A fantastic site you have developed.
Regards,
Rick

Hey Tom :))
I’m using your Guide as a basis to my adventure. I’m 20 and just sorting out buying a bike to go from Hanoi to Thailand through Cambodia over two months. If you want to follow along I’m uploading things on my insta @adventures.w.chella . Thanks for your awesome guide!

Dear Tom,

Long time ago, Joe and Catherine shared Christmas with your parents and you in London at your parents place.
Those Christmas are happy and lovely memorie

All the best for your beautiful travels in Vietnam
Love
Catherine

My wife and I will be in Ha Giang Feb. 12 – 15. Can you recommend a company that provides car & driver/guide for day trips out of Ha Giang, but returns to Ha Giang at the end of the day ? Sincere thanks, Peter

I am the Cambodian people, i love history. Great to see your text. Good luck

Just great and comprehensive content.
Could you recommend local guides in Mai Chau / Pu Luong area?
Thank you very much.

Is there guides or brochures. If so could me and my girl be sent 2 by mail. Christy Fugate. 820 Riley Branch Rd. Clayhole Ky, 41317.

Hello om! I have just come across your page and it’s super useful – thank you! I’m trying to plan a trip for March 25 and would lie to head to the Con Dau islands. I would prefer to avoid flying if at all possible so was excited to read your reports on the ferries from either Vung Tau or Con Tho – however, having tried various links, I am getting absolutely zero success in trying to see schedules or do a test run booking (looking, say for in a couple of weeks rather than in March). Are they definitely still running/ will be running in March? Any ideas on how to check? Thank you. Julia

Hi Tom!

Great read here, thank you so much.

Here’s a question for you. Thinking of a 3-4 day trip to Pu Luong on January 23rd to the 27th. Do you think this is a mistake and that the fallow season will stull be in full swing and not also the start of spring to be beautiful?

Thanks! Cat

Hi
Myself and two adult kids will be riding the Northwest (Sapa to Ha Giang then Ha Giang Loop) the end of September and curious if there are any updates to the road conditions on DT177 and DT178. Thanks in advance for any info.
V/R

Do you or your team know of any operators of a one night cruise out of Cat Ba (everything seems to be from Halong)?
Many thanks.

Hi Tom,as a retired Canadian I was just wondering about rules for long term stay in Vietnam?Is that your status?

Hi Tom,
We will be first time travellers to Vietnam this coming December/ January for 4 weeks.
Flying into Hanoi, staying 5 nights in the old quarter and then heading to Hai Giang to do the 3 day two nigh Hai Giang loop, any information on this would be great. Neither of us ride so we will need a tour that provides rider/guide.
From there back to Hanoi for a few days, then we plan on doing a 3 day 2 night Halong Bay Cruise.
Again any recommendations would be great.
From there to Hoi An for 6 nights, then onto Ho Chi Minh. We have been told by friends that we should do a 3 day Mekong Delta tour, any thoughts on this would also be appreciated.
Kind Regards
Rick and Mary

Start by saying thankyou for all your efforts I’ve had many hours of viewing!!!
I am going to explore the north west departing Hanoi
Can u please recommend a route up thru Mai Chau
To down bien Phu and sapa, my cang chai
It’s hard to know which would be a more scenic less traffic route, any help is appreciated mate
Even a general idea would help me a lot
Thanks again and you are appreciated!!!!
Rob

Hi Tom,
Thank you for answering me back! We talked to our tour operator who lives in Saigon. He thinks March is the best time to go for dry weather throughout most of the country. We scrapped outside Sapa ( too much time on the loop), Con Dao (not right time of year)and we are starting in Hanoi-3 nights, then on to Ninh Binh for 2 nights, then on to Halong Bay on the Ylang luxury cruise 3 days/2nights on lan ha bay and cat ba. Explore cat ba National park. Return to Hanoi and fly to Dong Hoi to Phong NA National park. Our tour operator told us to stay inside the park as the town is crowded and a lot of back packers and tourists.
He recommend we stay at Phong Nha lake house which I see you have for upscale home stays. While the property looks nice it is a pretty boring view of a lake. Was wondering if the other upscale properties like the victory villa’s, etc are just as nice, good food on the Son River with a view of the limestone karsts? If not, we will stay with the lake house. From there we go to Hue and Hoi Ann and then Saigon/Delta with a wrap up at Amanoi luxury property for R&R. We have 3.5 weeks and are older adults so this seems reasonable Any advice would be great on the Phong Na home stay! Have gained such valuable info from your site!
Sandy

I just met a gentleman in Starbucks, and we talked of travel. He wrote down your website on a scrap of paper. Any hiking trips throughout Cambodia. I’m due for an adventure.The temples and jungle there look interesting.
Thank you. Stephen Hedman

Hi Tom, absolutely delighted to find this site through Lonely Planet, but my only complaint it makes it even more complicated to book my trip as you have so many amazing recommendations that i would love to see !! I am therefore having difficulty in finding information on a Ha Giang Loop tour, by open top 4 wheel drive and private driver. Can you suggest ? We are at the mature stage in life and would therefore prefer private room and homestay rather then dormitory/hostiles. Any suggestions?thanks SO much. Amanda

Hi Tom,
I stumbled on you blog on trip Vietnam TA site. What a fantastic source of information about everything Vietnam!! We are seriously planning on going to Vietnam for the 1st time. We would be using a high end trip advisor/tour operator (Asia Desk) we have traveled with them before to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos for 3 weeks 6 years ago in Nov/December and it was fantastic.
We are “older travelers” who are luxury travelers. We are thinking of 3-3+ weeks in Vietnam and would like to see the whole country as we are from the Charlotte,NC, so it’s a very long trip, and we are only going once.
We hate crowds, but realize Vietnam has crowds of tourists, will sacrifice that for the beauty of the country, food, people, etc.
Questions:
1) We have been to India and one of our friends who just came back from Hanoi said it was incredible polluted and it was hard or them to breathe, similar to Mumbai/Delhi. Is that only a certain time of year?
We are thinking of starting our tour in Hanoi, the north looks beautiful) Sapa, Dalat, Ninh Bin, Tam Croc, Hue, Hoi Ann, cruise on luxury boat for 3 days in Halong Bay to kayak, see caves, etc. then HCM and the delta. we are looking to finish our trip for about 5 days to relax in an uncrowded beach w/beautiful water-we were thinking of Can Dao at the Six Senses resort or Song Saa in Southern Cambodia. My hubby’s only request is that there is snorkeling, kayaks and a hobie cat. We saw that was not a good time to go to Con Dao from your blog. We need calmer seas and less wind. If the Maldives were closer we would have flown there (been there before) but it is very far away from Vietnam. Is there anytime that most of the country would be nice and very little rain and not sweltering.
I am sure I missed some areas that are very nice (sorry for any misspellings) and would greatly appreciate your thoughts on destinations in ietnam (we love nature, culture, etc) and what time of year would give us the best option of exploring the country. By the way, we looked at Pho Quoc also for a relaxing beach destination.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you,
Sandy

bonjour Tom, voici 2 ans que je prépare notre road trip moto au Vietnam, et vos multiples articles, cartes et conseils, m’ont beaucoup aidée, nous partons à 5 motos, 10 adultes (HONDACB500 louées chez TIGIT) du 27/02 au 15/03/2024; notre parcours avec vos meilleures routes !!!!
– HCM/CHAU DOC 2 nuits
– CHAU DOC /CAN THO 1 nuit
– CAN THO/ PHU MY 1 nuit
– PHU MY/MUI NE 2 nuits
– MUI NE/DALAT 2 nuits
-DALAT/LAK LAKE 1 nuit
– LAK LAKE/TU NHAM 1 nuit
– TU HAM/T’măng Đeeng Homestay 1nuit
– T’măng Đeeng Homestay/ HOI AN 3 nuits
– HOI AN/HUE 2 nuits
– HUE/DANANG 2 nuits RETOUR MOTIOS
5 nuits à PHU QUOC
merci encore
marielle

do you know about the guac fruit which grows on a vine? What zones does it grow in? Do you have seeds?

Thanks Tom for putting together such incredibly helpful information! I’m planning to do your Golden Loop tour but I can’t find anywhere to reserve the guesthouse you recommended in Prao in advance. Would you typically just show up? Is there risk to not having a place to stay?

Thanks for your information!

Regards,
Taylor

Hi team,

I’ve been using Vietnam Coracle for 5 years now and keep recommending it to others because the content is so good, although the website itself was a bit hard to navigate sometimes. But I must say it has become incredibly professional now! The design is beautiful, it’s easy to navigate, it shows the vast amount of the content and it invites further reading. I’m very impressed.

Cheers.

Hi there, firstly I want to thank you dearly for putting all of this together I am in ho chi Minh City now just bought a motorbike and will be living out of your maps for the next 3 months but I had a question I know it sounds stupid but when I follow your “route” on Google maps is it possible to get following turn/route directions to stay and “lock” on the route itself??
or
do I just follow with the Google maps “blue circle” at road junctions?
I apologize if I’m not asking correctly.
Thank you in advance.
I will definitely donate!!

Planning a motor Ike trip from Hanoi to Tuyen Quang, Son Duong specifically to meet and visit a long time online friend. A native of Son Duong who teaches English in primary school. Have advised her on English language for some years. Curriculum is more focused on formal grammar so I advised more on typical daily conversation in English. She’s a foodie and tells me I must come for the good Viet cuisine. 🙂 Cheers.

Very interesting article. I am thinking most people are doing visa runs? How is this trip to spend some time in Cambodia? Would I find English speaking people? Do you think I could hook up with a Cambodian Tour? I am 75 and very active but the lack of language intimidates me. Thank you also for all the other interesting info. Veronica B. Morra

I came upon your site while researching plants and flora of Vietnam. I am completely captivated. Wonderful travelogue and beautiful photos. Keep up the great work!

Chris

Hey Tom,

I travelled to Vietnam for 1 month and bought a budget bike back in 2018. It was actually great and rarely broke down, even in comparison to my friend’s rented bike. However, I’m pretty confident I was just lucky. This aside, your blog was my sole source of information and it was invaluable, so thank you!!

This time I’m coming back with my girlfriend and we will both get a bike so I’m keen for something just as reliable. We are actually travelling south to north for 3 months (with a 5-6 week stop in Da Nang). In your experience would it still make sense for us to purchase a quality bike as renting would cost us around $600 if I’m correct? Or would you still recommend renting for the many benefits you’ve mentioned in your articles?

Hi!
I’m so excited to start reading your articles about Vietnam! We are planning our trip for March 2024. I have a question that I can’t seem to find an answer to: Do you know if they burn the fields in the Pu Luong areas each March? We recently canceled part of our trip to Luang Prabang because of all the reports of the horrible smoke. I found Pu Luong as a substitute for Luang Prabang and I hope they have better practices as far as the burning.
Many thanks for all your help and knowledge!
Kim

hi Tom,
I’m planning a trip to Vietnam for next feb24.
I’ll travel with my son (Luca, age 21), we are thinking to cycle from north to south (or viceversa).
I’d like to rent a bike locally. Any suggestion?

thanks,
let’s be in touch

Roberto.

Just moved to HCMC for work and I’ve found this to be be invaluable!

This is for Tom.
I can’t say that i am envious of you who chose to make Vietnam your home. In 1956, after being in London for about a year I begged my father to send me home. Vietnam, not London or England was my HOME for a Vietnamese child aged 15-16.
Now, at age 83 being away from Vietnam since 1968, I can’t say North California is not my home, but the chosen living away from Vietnam is rather…
Thus, your newsletters simply help as if I have continued traveling to beautiful places of my dream when the war ended.

Thank you,
tkt

Hello there,
I’ll be traveling from south to North Vietnam and find your articles very useful.
Keep up the amazing job, congrats
Luis

Hello, i just found your site while looking for passenger ferries in Vietnam. I am looking forward to a great trip to southeast Asia . looking forward to lea thanks deb

Hi Tom, I just came across your site and having toured solo through Vietnam several times can’t wait to dive in to all the in-depth articles, culture and photography presented here. Thanking you and your team of contributors for all your hard work in presenting this material. Best.

Hi Tom
Thanks for your informative articles on the web. I am planning to arrive HCMC March 2 in 2024. I aim to self-ride motor bike for around 4 weeks. Some time with a tour group and some on my own. Previously spent around 10 days Hani area so likely to not head up that far. As the trip gets closer, I will be looking for ideas.

We, Vietnamese, would like to thank you, Ben, the writers and contributors to Vietnam Coracle. We appreciate your work, care, passion, and dedication. My paternal family is from Huế, but born and raised in Saigon, I’m amazed of your and Ben’s constancy, your beautiful photos are a sight to behold and the dishes sure make my mouth water!
We live in Oakland, California and am glad that Ben is also from the Bay area. If you and Ben or any of the writers visit the San Francisco Bay area, please give me holler, we’d like to invite you to our home and enjoy our cooking.

Hello! I am so happy i found you before my upcoming trip to Vietnam with my teenager son in August! I still do not know what to do and what to see. We only have 14 days in Vietnam, arriving from 2 days in BKK to Hanoi and leaving from Ho Chi Minh.

Would you recommend 3 nts/4 days in the north region (panhou, Ha Giang…?)?
Do you know anything / recommend about Ha Long bay tours or cruise?
It would love to hear any recommendations if you have.

Thank you

Francesca

Hi Tom,
I’m new to Vietnam Coracle so excited to be on board. I’m looking to travel to Vietnam again in July for two weeks for the first time in Ten years. I’m looking for inspiration so will read with great interest. Have previously visited Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Mekong Delta & Hoi An, so interested in new opportunities such as Hue and maybe other places I have yet to explore.
Mike

Wow love your writing!
Never been to Vietnam but in the 80s spent 9 months backpacking mainly India, but also Nepal,Burma,Thailand.
Since been to Laos twice,Cambodia twice, Myanmar.
Planning another trip 2024 has to be around October November hoping to go back to best of Laos,Cambodia, Myanmar, (my friend has not been to these places, but we did Sri Lanka 2016)
So really looking forward to out of the way places in Vietnam). Your loop sounds amazing but maybe not the best time of year for us?
Look forward to your future articles.

Hey, lived on and off in Vietnam for years, so nice to have actual motorbike route overlaid onto google maps instead of scribbled on the back of napkins! I’ve been up north on bikes so many times and can never remember where I went so this is very useful to plan and work things out. Very nicely done, great content, appreciate it a lot!

Hey Tom,
firstly, I love Vietnam Coracle! It’s so helpful and a nice and authentic alternative to other Vietnam Travel Platforms out there, so thank you! I am travelling to Vietnam this month for a bit over two weeks, but won’t be visiting the North. Which cities/activities do you most recommend in centre and south Vietnam?
Thank you so much and best wishes from Germany!

Hi Tom,
I found you on lonely, planet, guidebook, towards the end of this year. I plan on spending six weeks traveling around Vietnam on a small scooter. I’m glad to have found your site to help me along the way. Thank you.

Hi Tom, I happened to come across your Vietnam Coracle while doing some research. I am looking forward to discovering new things. Thanks for including me in your group. I wish you all the time a good trip and the discovery of more interesting gems.
Cheers

I’ve enjoyed your material over the past years Tom. Time long overdue for me to subscribe. Best wishes with your travels and writing in this amazing country!

Hi Tom

Big fan of the blog – fascinating and compelling reading, thank you for your work! Already thinking ahead to a trip over xmas 2023 and we’re (two adults, a 19 yo and 14yo) thinking of flying into Ho Chi Minh for a few days and then taking a train to Phan Thiet for a week or so. We were in Phu Quoc (at Ninila) just before lockdown and have always longed to return to Vietnam. We’re very open to other suggestions at this point!

very best

Rob

Love your article on Bun Rieu Cua Oc. I’m planning a trip to Phang Rang in January 2023 for Tet. Can’t wait to eat at the restaurant and many other restaurants. We are know for our seafood because of location. And f you get a chance to travel to Phang Rang, I strongly suggest you try Banh Xeo and Banh Can. I highly recommend it. Thank you for your article. Very detailed and superb photography. Keep up the awesome and good work!

Hi there Thom, Today I did my first hike in Con Dao National Park based on your excellent article about hiking in this area. After reading your experiences I decided to stay here a bit longer and focus on doing as much as possible of the five trails you posted. So that’s awesome! Also I saw your article about the ferry to Can Tho. I’ll be using this ferry to explore the Mekon Delta. Thank you for that one also. So the donation I just did, is well deserved. Keep up your good work!

Hi, planning to be in Vietnam in January 2023. Will be wanting to take the ferry from Vung Tau to Con Dau. I read they go Mondays, Wednesdays, Friday’s and Sundays but when I go to the ferry schedule, it only shows Saturdays, if anything at all. Makes it difficult to book hotels, trips etc if I don’t know when I can travel.

Any ideas please?

Hi Tom:
One of my high school classmate (class of 1975) just sent me some photo on his recent trip on Truong Son Dong road.
They are awesome!
Do you have any writing on Truong Son Tay road?
Thank you.
Duc in Anaheim, California

Hi Tom,
I’ve never been to Southeast Asia, but I’m planning a motorcycle trip from Hanoi to Singapore. Looking for advice on places to avoid, good routes, things like that. I don’t want to over a planet, but I don’t want to miss the good stuff either…

Happy to contribute photos and content to the website if you’re interested.

Thank you,

Tad

Visiting Vietnam in October
Loved. Your Advice and information

Party of 3 will be visiting Vung Tau next week.
Would like a tour of the Australian army area of operations Nui Dat & the Long Tan memorial.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Keith.

We are planning a cycling trip Hanoi- to Ho Chi Min in February 2023. Estimated distance 2600 kms. Follow the coast line and avoid mountains. Any tips? How to extend a visa since such a trip will be in excess of the standard 30 day visa period??

Hello friends thank you for this great resource. I bicycle. Pedal. I learned of your guide through another cyclist. Now am happy to see I can subscribe. I look frwd to your informative posts. I hope my return to biking SE Asia comes soon.

Hello
I am planning with 2 friends doing on motobike the hochiminh road on november 2022 starting in Hanoï. I am looking for a agency offering a guide service for the trip and a good motobike renting agency. Do you have any suggestion?
Sorry for my poor english! (:
Thank’s
Garry

Hello
Just in first stage of planning our trip! What do you suggest clothing wise and footwear ? Thank you

living in Vietnam since november 2019 so due to covid not been able to explore. Your articles will certainly put me on the right track.

thanks
Leon Dolle

Just found out about your web site and the great service you are providing. We plan to visit Vietna (first time) in November this year. We never take organized/group tour anywher we go and so happy to find Vietnamcoracle as we plan our off beat itenirary. We certainly plan to book all our hotels/local travel thruogh you web link. Looks like to visit Ha Giang, Moc Chau we may need to use local drivers. Any recommendations will be helpful ( nt sure if you ever respond to the emails sent to you through thismediuml.
With great sense of appreciation,

Pars Patel
1 615 424 0438
Brentwwod/Nashville TN USA

Hi Tom
Totally awesome site, even though I don’t ride a bike. Until I read Lonely Planet and saw your address, I was finding it confusing to get info about this part of VN. Your info and images are helping to clarify things, not to mention increasing our desire to see this part of the world for ourselves. We are two keen photographers from NZ, hoping to capture some of the spectacular landscapes and so wondered if you could tell me if we get to say, Ha Giang, would it then be possible to hire a driver and car to travel the loop and other areas or do we need to do this in Hanoi? I would prefer that local operators benefited from our tourist dollars if possible. I know you are the bike guru, but hopefully you can give me some idea.
Warm regards
Val

Back to Southeast Asia after 2 years,,,the last 3 bike trips around VN seem like a dream now, like those misty Karsts in the North.
That sense of adventure pulls us again, but it is tinged with a new unknown.
Although double vaxxed, what lies out there? Is it safe yet to go out to the ”middle of nowhere” we loved?
Is the mid July 2022 to soon?….,decisions

Outstanding information mate. I hope to convince my wife to do join me on some of those routes. Winter travel up there should be interesting?

Hi Tom

I have visited Vietnam, mainly for work, on many occasions and am longing to return after 2.5 years away!! I have to visit SE Asia anyway in April and wanted to add a few days in Hanoi to see friends. I am fully vaccinated and boosted but am still unclear whether it will actually happen and how difficult visa/ border controls will be. Any sense from what you hear on the ground. I have both a UK and a EU passport.

Hi Tom, I have been visiting Vietnamcoracle, since last two, your blog is too good, I love reading it, I have been planning to visit Vietnam, due to covid I had to postpone it.
Please keep updating and write new articles.

Hi!
I just wanted to say that I came across your website while researching Vietnam as I am considering moving here to teach next summer, and it is probably the most amazing website I have ever seen. It is so incredibly useful for me (I am from the UK and turning 22 the same as you when you came out) and I am so grateful you have created this. I am excited to read more of your posts! Thank you so so much!

Tom – thoroughly enjoy all your Vietnam blogs – especially while I’m a Covid exile back in UK from my new home in Hanoi. I am a cyclist rather than a biker but I find your maps – and routes – and journeys, as ideal for bicycles as motorbikes. One thing I am looking for though is an interpretative map that has the ability to show vertical profiles along identified routes (similar to what you get with some UK OS maps – like Anquet, etc) – Have you come across any such maps for Vietnam at all ??
Regards
Eddie McGowan

Hi Tom,
I’m Vietnamese, i like the articles made by foreigners writing about our country. I enjoy seeing the way you discover the places, people and things in VN.
Keep try,
stay health in this Covid time!

Rgds/huu

Hi Tom,

Just realized who you are, I don’t know how I missed it. Hope you’re well?
Anyway followed your Saigon to Muine ride in the opposite direction on a bicycle in May of this year and loved it. Great recommendations and a beautiful quiet route.
Now looking at continuing the route from Phan Theit, I can take my bicycle on the train and do the rest of the ride to Nha Trang using the campsites you have recommended.

Thanks for saving me from COVID confinement!!

KR
Trish

Your style writing is beautifully vivid and gripping . I aspire to become an author in the space of travel . Lately I have been writing , but it comes across as the writing of an amateur . I am inspired to build this skill and so I have been reading a few blogs . I haven’t come across many like you . The piece you wrote on Bo Bla made me get goose bumps . Its articulate and its rustic and beautiful . I read about the first sketch in Saigon . I am really hoping that one day I can reach somewhere close to your level of art . This is a stroke of luck of pure sign that nature is supporting me in my endeavor .

Hello and thank you very much for this really amazing site! I couldn’t agree more with the other people posts that how much value you have created with your writings!

It’s been 5 years since my last visit to Vietnam and then there was nowhere near as good online guides as your website. It’s been really helpful for lots of things on our (my wife and 4 years old son) journey in Vietnam now. Thank you and keep up the great work!

A fabulous resource! Well done. I can’t imagine how much time you have put into this.
Anyway, we are visiting for 4 weeks in Feb/March 2020, and I am currently reading as much as I can for ideas of where to go and what to see and do. Once again, well done and thanks.

Emyr

Wow … what a fantastic resource. Thanks Tom, a magnificant effort putting all this together and making it available. I am heading to Vietnam in November of this year. I am meeting a friend in Hanoi and we are doing a 6 day ride in Hà Giang. After that, I had been thinking of doing a short trip to Laos but after looking at Vietnam Coracle I am increasingly thinking that I should stay in Vietnam and do some of the roads you reported on in the Southern Dry Season guide. I have around 6 days from the 9th – 15th of November – is this a good time do you think – is it still raining at this time or would the wet season have finished?

Kind regards

Richard

Hi Tom,

Planning my first trip to Vietnam, and your site is fantastic! I am spending some time in the north, and am contemplating doing the Sapa Sin Ho loop. Are there directions on your site to direct me how to download your map(s) onto my google maps? I couldn’t find them, so I thought I would ask. Again, many thanks, Vince.

Tom. Brilliant site, well done. Its guys like you with the energy and drive to set up and operate these sites that make life easy for the rest of us.
Just moved to Dong Hoi to live, operate a small tourist information site, so I will search your site for all references to DH and surrounding area.

My goodness, what an excellent site!

One question: Have you visited D’Ran or Dran, as I have alternately seen it. Apparently 40 km from Da Lat through dramatic terrain.

Wow…just Wow. This is such a valuable, thoughtful, comprehensive, and well organized piece of work! This is a loving tribute to your adopted home, and I’m looking forward to checking out tons of your suggestions on our motorbike ride the northeast in December/January. I’m so impressed, and so thankful for your putting together this guide.

Hi Tom

Love your blog!

I’m travelling around south east Asia for 5 weeks Jan-March.

The current plan for the Vietnam leg of the trip has us arriving in Hanoi in the 1st week of March (after 2 weeks in the south).

I’ve had conflicting advice on Hanoi/Halong Bay at that time of year…

Some suggest it is likely to be cool & wet – in which case, we might stick to the south and Hue/Hoi An (deferring Hanoi/Halong until a future visit).

Others suggest it’s not too bad in the north in early March, and try to encourage us to book our Halong/Bai Tu Long cruises now.

Another option – if it is really hard to predict the weather in early March months in advance – would be to book the Hanoi hotel but not book any Halong/Bai Tu Long cruises until we get a better idea of the weather trends a week or so beforehand…

…what are your thoughts?

Tom
What a fantastic resource you have put together here! I am an Australian lucky enough to have dec and jan off each year. I have been to Vietnam a few times now , but never done the motorbike adventure. I have now had my Australian motorbike license for 10 months, ride everyday to work, now I am ready. What I would like to do is do some adventures north of Hanoi nut I am a little worried about the weather. I would be leaving Hanoi on the 10 December and get back to Hanoi 2 weeks later. It’s not the cold weather that would worry me, nut the idea of snow, mist and fog? Not too sure.

After the north I would take the Ho Chi Minh road and end in Da Nang. This is option 1.

Other option is to go south from Hanoi via Ho Chi Minh road and end up at Plieku. Then make my way across the border into Cambodia and get to Siem Reap, one of my favourite places. After Siem reap off to Ho Chi Minh. Trouble here is that I have not seen much info on this route to Siem Reap, the conditions of roads etc.

I have 5 weeks foe my adventure. What do u think?

Thx again for you site, it is amazing!11

Hi Tom. I bumped into your beautiful and interesting site just now. So much amazing detailed info .
we want to get to pu luong in mid september. we are a family of 2 adaults and 2 kids age 11 and 13 so we will not use bikes…
Do you know any other option to get there?
can you get somewhere with a bus or local driver and then have a guide take us trekking?
cheers
yarden

Hi Tom

Thinking about getting out of Ho Chi Minh, and ride my motor bike one way back down the coast to Ho Chi Minh. over 3 or 4 days.

Whats the best way to get to somewhere (Train or whatever) and then enjoy a one way trip down the coast, I just thinking about saving time as I only have 4 or 5 days.

Love the Vietnam Coracle and has inspired me to do more.

Thanks Mate
Zane

Hi Tom,
I got your guide recommended from another bike rider on my way thru Vietnam. He told me that he copied your maps me pins in his maps.me. I tried everything to do the same with my phone (iPhone) but couldn’t work it out how.
THANKS for all the nice advices and your work behind it. It’s so good!

Hi Tom,

We love reading your site and last year took your recommendations for accomodation in Ho Chi Minh – The Myst ( out of this world) and Lasenta – Hoi An – also impressive.
This year we are booking the Impressive hotel in Hanoi . Then heading back down to the Lasenta for two nights (train from Hanoi to Da Nang.)
We have another 6 nights in that area unplanned. We are not bike riders but would like your recommendations for this area.
We had thought Lang Co but can’t find much on the area.
We wanted to stay within 100 kmish of Da Nang.
Love to hear your advice.
Maddie

Hello Tom, once Congratulations to your beautiful website. I want to the Beach gate of Saigon after huế driving with my wife. I can of Beach route to Ho Chi Minh route drive? by which city from I come best to Ho Chi Minh route?

Greeting Nils

Hi Tom,

Thank you so much for your wonderful share on vietnam road trip. Im going to hanoi on 6th March for road trip to saigon in 12 days. Ive did my planning on where to stay and t daily travelling distance based on google maps. I have few questions and hope you can help me with it.

1. Is that reliable to depend on google maps for estimation?
2.At the max i will b travelling 350 km in a day. Is it possible to complete in single day time and not going till sunset?
3. How is the road safety and is it dangerous?
4. If my bike break down at any point how easy is it to get it fixed?
5. Getting local phone line is worth it? How is the gps connectivity throughout the journey. I have not decided which route to take but just by finding it in google maps my journey will b around 2,500 KM. I did saw ur post on 5 route but i need to study it.

Hope you can give me some info on those matters and really appreciate your support.

Hi Tom,

I use your website as a resource for my bicycle (push bike) trip from south to north. So far I’ve made it as far as Phong Nha and plan on continuing to follow DHCM all the way. I’m wondering if the same brutal hills will follow me all the way, or does the landscape kind of flatten out a bit from here (Phong Nha) on North? It’s pretty crucial to know the topo when it comes to cycle touring and strategy.

Cheers,
Dana

Hi Tom
I’m in your debt for this wonderful resource as I’m planning a motorbike trip in March from Hanoi to Saigon and onto Phnon Penh. Just wondered if I should do the Saigon to Phuc Quoc loop that takes you back to Saigon (and catch the bus from Saigon to Phnon Penh) or do one side of the loop (which one) and take the bike from Phuc Quoc to Phnon Penh if I can or at least the border?

Terry from Australia

Hi Tom,
Just this morning I thought of traveling to Vietnam for three weeks coming March, and was lucky to hit your site which is very informative and useful, though I still need to go through all the emails and your responses to them,
I intend taking a road trip and have the following queries please and seek your assistance.
1. Which route covers the maximum ‘must see places’ in Vietnam; as well as covers the mountains as well as the beaches.
2. I am quite comfortable riding a bike, but is there any chance of getting a car or a camper for the trip.
3. Is it convenient to find home stays, back packers hostels along the route, or is hotels the only option. I prefer these to hostels.
4. I would be traveling solo, how safe would that be.
5. Is there a possibility to find like minded travel partners for the road trips,.
6. What kind of comfortable budget must one be planning on a three week trip.
7. Which bike would you recommend which is stable on the road and has power as well.
8. Does one need an international driving licence for riding a bike.
My apologies , if that was too much to ask, may have some more as well 🙂
Thank you for the good job you are doing in assisting the travellers with your experience.
Surinder Mann
India

Hello Tom,
I just bumped in your extraordinary site on Vietnam. Thanks for the time you spend so we can enjoy all the knowledge that you accumulated over the years.
Just to make a long story short: We are a couple with 130 years of combined life experience (ha ha ha). We travel the world for the last 4 years with our Landcruiser which took us in most remote places. However, we cannot travel in Vietnam as our car has a right hand wheel which is not allowed in Vietnam.
Here comes in the bike. Both of us have no experience with riding a motorcycle even very little as a back sitter. We have no licence. My wife is rushing now to get her licence for 125cc. I cannot get a licence as I am amputee above the knee (left leg) . I am 85 kg 184 cm height, my wife is 65 kg 168 height. Our plan is to ride for 7 weeks from South to North starting on December 20,2017
Questions:
1. What is the semi-automatic or automatic motorbike that you would recommend and the company to rent from in Ho Chi Minh and return it in Hanoi area?
2. Bothers me that sitting in the back with a prosthesis might be difficult. Any comments if you have some experience on this issue?
3. Any comments on our lack of riding experience in regard to riding in Vietnam?
4. Which route (from the 5 recommended) would you recommend considering our riding skills (or maybe lack of skills) and time frame? We are more interested in scenery and local culture less in beaches.

Thanks a lot for you prompt response if possible as we fly on December 20
Regards,
Israel

Hi Tom
I live in a little place call Maple Ridge in British Colombia Canada.
I have travelled thru many many countries but never did keep any diary or journals, and then one day i was surfing the net and happen to hit your website…..WOW……(that was about a month ago).
I have really enjoyed reading about your trips and “adventures” next thing I am planning to make a trip to Vietnam.
How crazy is that. I will keep you updated. My trip will probably be in Feb 2018.
Truly inspirational. THANK YOU
Al

Hi Tom,
So so glad i stumbled across your page. My name is Huyen, but I go by Kathy since I was 14 years old. I am Canadian Vietnamese. I left Vietnam since I was 5 years old and escaped the country as boat people with my family. I will be going back to Vietnam literally in 10 days. I have been back there a couple of times, but the first time I just stayed mostly in Hai Phong, in the North of Vietnam at my Dad’s place, then flew into Saigon (Ho Chi Minh). I did swung by Ha Noi for a day, Ha Long Bay for half of a day as well as Nha Trang and Vung Tau for a day each and I also went with friends at the time so I didn’t really get to experience much. This up coming trip is big deal for me and will be an epic trip for me. I will be there for a little over three weeks. This time around I am traveling alone and I am planning to go from the Saigon all the way up to the North to Sapa. Hope it will be enough time do visit all the places that I planned to hit. Reading through your blogs on your site I feel like i have a tour guide. I have done extensive research for this trip and i have to say your site is awesome! Keep it up and thank you for loving Vietnam and for sharing all that you know. Where about are you located by the way. Do you have a youtube channel or a Facebook page as well by chance?
Looking forward to reading more of your experience and adventure.
To the love of travelling,
Kathy

Hello, Tom!
My name is Ronke, and I live and work in Hanoi since 2015.
Having a strong sense of adventure, I try as much as I can to travel around the country to explore its hidden gems.
I needed to let you know that I’m infinitely grateful, and needed to thank you immensely for your travel guide which I now regard as my personal holy travel resource!
My wish is to meet you in person! You sound like an amazingly adventurous person, a fond quality, and what a talented writer your are! Ok, you got it, I’m your biggest fan! I’m writing this comment on Ong Lang Beach – Mango Bay Resort, thanks to your guide to exploring Phu Quoc by motorbike!
Thank you so much!

Hi Tom,

Your website is very usefully for our plans. We would like to go to Vietnam in December. Around december 26. From Panama City. What is the best area for this time of the ayer, Nort or South ?

Thank you !

I have my own bike from Australia, If I get a tourist visa can I just roll through the border or will they disallow the bike?
I don’t want a local bike.
Simon.

Hi and thanks for a great website and information. I am arriving into Ho Chi MIn 14/03/2017 for my first visit to Vietnam. I will most likely take the train to Danang or onto Hanoi. I have a 30 day tourist visa and am travelling solo. I am not sure what is best whether I should try to rent a motor bike in Danang and ride to Hanoi to tour the northern region of Vietnam or rent a bike in Hanoi and spend more time in the north. I love mountain scenery, but not sure what is best. Do you have any suggestions? I hope to come back in future, so what I miss this time around will try to complete another time. Being my first visit, I am no doubt an underling in Vietnam, so not sure really. Thanks for your assistance.

Hi Tom
Your content is fantastic. I am planning (1st time to Viet Nam) 3 weeks in January 2017. Flying in and out of Da Nang. I will happily follow any leads you have in terms of bike rental and accommodations, etc during my trip.

I am reading all your pages but any direct advice will be much appreciated and I will try to get you some commission$.
Thanks Buddy!
Scott

Hi Tom,

This site is amazing. So much information. There is so much to see and this is causing me to have a hard time deciding where to go on my upcoming trip (first time!) to Vietnam. I was wondering if you could help?

The original idea was the my husband and I were going to meet our friend from New Zealand in Hanoi and travel to Saigon by motorcycle. We arrive in Hanoi on Dec 27th and we are there for about 16 days so the more we thought about this the more I decided biking the whole way in so little time might not be the best idea. So I wanted to share what we are thinking our itinerary will look like so far and get your feedback, if you don’t mind, on what we should add or leave out. We are pretty open and up for a bit of adventure as well.

Dec 27: Arrive in Hanoi and get oriented- that evening take the night train to Sapa
Dec 28: Find bikes and begin the loop tour you recommend here
Dec 30: Make our way back to Sapa and take the night train back to Hanoi
Dec 31: Spend NYE in Hanoi (Not sure if this is a good spot for this- we are open)
Jan 1 or 2: Get down to Hue
Jan 2 or 3: Find bikes and take the Hoi Van Pass to Hoi An
Jan 4: Hang out in Hoi An
From there I am not sure if we should go to Nha Trang abd Dalat or go inland a bit or how we should travel there. Recommendations would be lovely. We eventually have to end up in HCM for our flight home on Jan 11th so there is time to fit a couple places in. I have read mixed things about trying to fit the Mekong Delta in with so little time, as well as Halong Bay but if there is anything that you think we will regret missing please let me know.
Last thing- is it very important to book accommodation ahead of time? I am assuming because of the time of year we are going that it is but if we can leave some things a little more open that would be awesome.

Any help you can give would be super appreciated! Thank you so much.

Cheers,
Joanne

Hi Tom,

I intend to ride my CFR250 from Singapore to China and spend more time in Vietnam, from August to September 2017 next year. Appreciate very much if you could provide me some information on motor bike shops available along the way. I’ll be riding solo and just started planning, hope to cover some interesting routes provided by you, before i proceed to Mong Cai. FYI i will start from HCMC to Hanoi.

I might need to change my tires there, because my last experienced three weeks in Thailand it lasted less than 4000km on my sports bike. Your feedback is very important for my planning. Hope to hear from you soon. Many Thanks and I’ve already subscribed..

Mohd Othman

Hi Tom
your newsletter was passed on to me by a good mate who lived for years in Nha Trang and recently returned to Adelaide. He motored all over central VN and sent me some interesting stories of his travels. I recently spent a week motorbiking along the Mekong down in the delta. I have plans at some stage to do route 14, Dalat then Nha Trang.
Keep up the good work. yes…i have subscribed..!!
Julius

Vary interested in the traveling the HCM Road next time I’m in VietNam.

Love your site! I had the pleasure of traveling to Vietnam last year and stayed for a whole month! This was my first international trip! I am very lucky to have a sister in-law who grew up in Vietnam. Beautiful Country, amazing food and found the Vietnamese people warm, loving and some of the most resourceful talented people I’ve ever witnessed! I had the pleasure of avoiding the tourist traps and was introduced to the real culture of this beautiful country. Travelled from all the way South to the middle of Central…and so looking forward to returning to continue from where I left off and travel all the way North. Thank you for bringing attention to this beautiful Country. I really enjoyed reading your spot on perspective!!

Tom oi
I just notice your site this morning, and I have only read the Phan Ranh – Cam Ranh route yet.
I fully agree that this is an extremely nice route, which I have taken 3 times during since October 15. The reason that is not well known, is that the road from Khanh Son, Khanh Hoa to Tan Son, Ninh Hoa is not on any Google Maps, and I remember in October when asking the locals in the Khanh Son area, if I could drive that way, they said no! Irrespective of the no, I went through down to AH1 without any problems. Last time I went that way was in February during/after heavy rain, and the road that disappeared into the river many places, however, they worked hard to repair it. My next tour there will likely be in 3 weeks.
I like what you are writing, however, there is one thing I was puzzled about, namely you call it the Cai River. According to my information then the Cai River starts in Dak Lak and ends in Nha Trang at the Tran Phu Bridge. The river ending in Cam Ranh is Dinh River. Furthermore the route you describe is Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan, the border somewhere between Khanh Son and Tan Son, easily to note, as the quality of the road all of a sudden improve in Ninh Thuan – I am always driving anti-clock wise, as I come from Nha Trang.
I am like your efforts to describe the various routes – I have a few without description, as I like to drive around taking photos of mainly the people and special landscapes.
erik

Hi Tom,
Found your site whilst researching Saigon for a weekend ‘visa run’ from Bangkok, where we are both teachers. It’s great, and really useful and informative. Looking forward to getting down to Chicken Corner and trying it out.
Keep up the great work
Yours
David and Lucy

Hi, fantastic blog, really good information..
Just a question, was looking at flying into Hanoi and catching a train to Lao Cai. I am really impressed about the Sapa route, so I intend on doing that. How is the transport from Lao Cai to Sapa?

Keep up the great work 🙂

Hi Tom,
Just spent some time on your site – recommended by a friend, it is an awesome source of info. and great pictures!!
We are taking a motorbike trip to Hanoi area in November and will most likely do the Northern Loop as you have laid out. I really can’t wait to eat at the Noodle House and meet Duyen! We have done trips prior to this in Thailand and Cambodia and have always wanted to visit Vietnam, something tells me it won’t be my last trip here.
Thanks so much for this great source! I have subscribed to your newsletter.
Tom G.
Agawam, Massachusetts USA