One of the pleasures of riding through Vietnam is stopping for a meal in a town you had never planned to visit. A bowl of noodles before leaving, a rice lunch beside the road and dinner at a homestay can become part of the…
Cao Bang is one of my favourite places to ride in northern Vietnam. You can spend a day exploring near the city, head east to Ban Gioc Waterfall, or use the roads west and south to build a longer trip through Bao Lac and Ba Be.…
Updated 17/09/26 In Vietnam, distance can be misleading. A 150 km mountain day can take longer and require more concentration than a 250 km ride on good main roads, so simply looking at the number of kilometres rarely tells you ho
Updated 18/09/26 Someone planning a ten-day motorcycle tour in northern Vietnam may assume that all ten days can be spent riding around Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Sa Pa, Mu Cang Chai or Ba Be. In reality, Hanoi still has to be ridden…
Updated 13/09/26 If you are choosing between the Honda XR150L and XR190L for a motorcycle trip in Vietnam, the decision is not as simple as picking the bike with the larger engine. Both are lightweight dual-sport motorcycles that…
Updated 12/09/26 If you are planning a motorcycle trip in Vietnam, the time you start can make a surprisingly large difference to the day. The same road can feel very different in the morning and late afternoon because traffic,…
Updated 04/09/26 One of the best things about riding through Cao Bằng is that an ordinary-looking town can be completely transformed on market morning. People travel in from the surrounding villages to buy and sell food,…
Updated: 05/09/26 September is one of those months when Northern Vietnam starts to become especially tempting. The worst of the summer heat begins to ease, the landscape is still intensely green in many areas. There are still…
Updated 07/09/26 Riding a motorbike through Vietnam is an unmatched experience, but if your evening plans involve a cold Bia Hơi, you need to understand the reality of getting home. Vietnam operates under a strict, non-negotiable…
Updated 05/09/26 Parking a motorcycle in Vietnam is an experience all its own. From neatly packed rows on bustling Hanoi sidewalks to massive underground basement mazes. Locals even pull their bikes straight into the living room…