Vietnam Xmas 2024

[ATT]

I am enjoying this and it is also bringing back many happy memories of my SE Asian exploits...A part of me wants you to stop, as it is reawakening my wonderlust, but this is giving me desire I crave for when my life moves onto the next phase.

Just fucking enjoy.....As I know you are, you lucky, lucky bastard.

 

[TLSgazza]

I am enjoying this and it is also bringing back many happy memories of my SE Asian exploits...A part of me wants you to stop, as it is reawakening my wonderlust, but this is giving me desire I crave for when my life moves onto the next phase.

Just fucking enjoy.....As I know you are, you lucky, lucky bastard.

Thanks ATT.
I remember you commenting last year, part of the reason I decided I'd try to do a daily update.
There is a possibility of some sunshine tomorrow. We will see.

 

[TLSgazza]

Day 6 on the road.
Nice day today. It was still cloudy all day with a lot of haze but dry and warm.
I rode about 250 Kms in total.
The first 3 hours or so we're on main roads really. At least I got to use 5&6th gear a fair bit more. It was busy in parts with trucks busses etc but not too bad.
Then the road started getting higher to go over some passes.
I'd ridden this last year so knew it wasn't as high as yesterdays pass so I was hoping I'd keep out of the clouds.
There were many many groups of tourists some with with as many as 25-30 bikes, scooters mostly and nearly all 2up. That was fun getting past them on the mountain roads
Loads of groups in all the photo stops as well.
Tourism is big business over here. Had a great ride over the passes despite them.
I decided to do a route down to an area that is said to be really nice and there are a few home stays in the area and a waterfall. When I turned off the main road and entered part of the route into Google maps it said 26kms and 1hr10mins. I thought that can't be right
Actually it was. Large parts were really rough rocks and gravel. Very steep hills with loads of hairpins. It was superb. The views were stunning all along it. The iconic limestone mountains were in abundance. One of the most beautiful places I've ever ridden in and I know there is more to come.
I carried on down another stunning pass to find a bed for the night. More astounding views.
Found a lovely little homestay in the middle of nowhere, just what I like.
I wandered up to the waterfall after checking in. Google maps struggled to get there. I was up and down many tiny trails but sussed it in the end.
It was pleasant and on 3 or levels. Not massive but worth the final walk.
Back to the homestay. Showered and made coffee. I wish there were clear skies as they would be wonderful out here. Dinners ordered.

 

[TLSgazza]

 

[TLSgazza]

 

[TLSgazza]

Today's route

 

[Aidan1150]

Most excellent. Thank you very much.

 

[PW Cymru]

Looks like a great trip, its on the cards for 2025 or 26.

My mate did it last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Northern jock]

Looks great. Are you happy with the bike or would a smaller trail bike be easier?

 

[TLSgazza]

Looks great. Are you happy with the bike or would a smaller trail bike be easier?

A smaller bike may be easier in some respects. But as I'm 6'4" the slightly bigger bike fits better if you see what I mean. Plus the luggage is good. I had a versys 300 last year which was great too but the boxes were small and plastic and no back box which was why I decided on the 500.
A 150/250 dirt bike was considered but I thought it wouldn't be nice to ride most of the day. I see a lot here and they look quite cramped.

 

[jasp]

Amazing trip, thanks for the time posting, very envious.

 

[Big Geordi]

Looks like your having a grand time

 

[TLSgazza]

Quite a day.
Another 240 or Kms and almost 8 hours travelling. There were stretches of roadworks again in places just to make it interesting.
Started nicely on the same road I rode in on last night.
It is rough in places but great views. Onto the main road to head north and started to climb. It was a very hazy day again and I ended up in the clouds a little again.
A very nice road to ride with some good tarmac in places. Stunning views again. It was getting chilly again higher up though. I carried on north to get to the flag tower very close to the Chinese border. On the way there on quite rough and slippery wet roads I was in the clouds again and it was very cold.
Many groups of tourists again in formation all the way up. I made it to the tower and rode up on a new bit of road to the base. Many groups already there and more coming in.
I decided not to pay to ascend to the top. It was too cloudy to enjoy the view and also there were a hell of a lot of steps to get up there.
I headed back south on the same road. Then headed south east on another great road. I turned off up a very rough dirt track to do a loop to see a valley on the other side. It was a bit of a trek but the valley was so beautiful. Well worth it .
These mountains are so high up here.
Further south and the limestone mountains were magnificent yet again. I just stood there totally in awe of the view in front of me. There was another view of a river which is apparently in the deepest gorge in south east Asia. Incredible.
The next couple of hours riding were heading south on a super twisty road mostly through amazing mountain passes and dense jungle. Stopped to get an oil change as the hire company ask you to get it done every 1500 Kms or so. It cost about a tenner
I had to carry on as the nearest hotels at this point were another 70 or so Kms further on and an hour and a halfs riding. It's so remote up here.
Found a nice hotel though and booked in for the night.

 

[TLSgazza]

 

[TLSgazza]

 

[TLSgazza]

Today's route so close to china up there.

 

[richie]

Enjoy! Hope you have some warm clothes for N Vietnam as we froze there in January...2C for a couple of days

Yep. I am thinking of heading to SEA again, but Hanoi from Now until at least the end of January will be cold and damp.

 

[TLSgazza]

Yep. I am thinking of heading to SEA again, but Hanoi from Now until at least the end of January will be cold and damp.

Actually Hanoi was in the low to mid 20's a week ago. And it's quite pleasant in the valleys even in the north. Yesterday we sat outside to eat in the evening at the homestay and that was in the mountains. It's just very cold and in the clouds on the high mountain passes. Where I am today is very mild too. 18-19°c definitely not cold and damp.

 

[ATT]

Actually Hanoi was in the low to mid 20's a week ago. And it's quite pleasant in the valleys even in the north. Yesterday we sat outside to eat in the evening at the homestay and that was in the mountains. It's just very cold and in the clouds on the high mountain passes. Where I am today is very mild too. 18-19°c definitely not cold and damp.

We have that forecast for christmas eve and day, so I shall look at my two banana trees and pretend I am in Vietnam/Thailand, but without the humidity!

I am really enjoying this and thank you....I can even smell the land, as you know the smells are all a big part of it...I love SE Asia.

Bollocks, I really need to be there.

 

[TLSgazza]

Rode around 200 Kms today.
The sun was threatening
to come out when I left at 08,30, it was looking promising.
I put the first part of the route into Google maps and it said 85 Kms and 2hrs 35 mins.
This once again made me think these roads will be interesting
They were indeed. The usual array of Vietnamese roads. Some rough, some lovely tarmac. All very twisty. So I was riding between 40-60 kmph most of the time as usual. The rest was much slower
The bike may have actually been upright for some of it.
The sun came out properly by about 10am. Woohoo
Finally after a week I have blue skies. This made all the views of the same limestone mountains so much better. I reached the iconic Khau Coc Cha Mountain Pass, last year it had all been dug up and was just a rough road all the way up. In the last 12 months they have actually managed to resurface it. Much easier going.
More fantastic roads and me wanting to take a picture of the views after every single pass I went over, it was so beautiful.
The road twisting in-between unspoilt jungle covered mountains. Much less in the way of rice and tea fields in this area.
As it was so sunny I decided to go and visit the gods eye mountain again as it was cloudy and wet last year.
As I rode down the rough path to get I saw loads of busses. Last year it was deserted. This year it seems there were hundreds of young school children there for the day. Amazing.
I rode around a bit more this year as it was less slippery. Saw a little more of the valley. It's quite beautiful.
I then had to decide where to carry on too. I decided to go back north to the Ban Gioc waterfall right on the Chinese border again. I thought I'd like to see this in the sunshine.
I found a little hotel just up the road from it, unpacked and headed down. It's lovely though tourism is taking over a little as there are many little stalls there selling souvenirs and the like. I guess they need to earn where they can. I even did the little boat trip and entered China as we crossed the middle of the river.
I shall go down to watch the light show again later that comes from the Chinese side, it's pretty impressive if it's on. That's today done. Very Warm and sunny at last.