Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

By Ngoisao/Giang Myt   June 5, 2016 | 08:27 pm PT
If you are still hesitating about your plans to visit Vietnam, this article may help you decide.
Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

Emanuel Hänsenberger, 24, and Fabian Seiler, 25, from Switzerland, who were also inspired to come to the Southeast Asian country by a tourist’s video on Youtube, spent 4 weeks traveling over 1700 km from Hanoi to Saigon by motorbike.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

“I’m a bike fanatic, and I heard that Vietnam is great to travel by bike,” said Hänsenberger.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

They bought two Honda Wins on their third day in Hanoi and started the trip southwards.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

“We didn’t have any specific plan, except from that we didn’t want to spend too much time in touristic places. So no schedule, we just decided spontaneously.” Hänsenberger recalled. 
Photo taken in Ninh Binh

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

"What impressed me the most was the people, like it was very easy to build friendships and have an emotional bond in a short time with a lot of them," said Hänsenberger.
Photo taken in Phong Nha, Quang Binh Province.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

Photo taken in Phong Nha, Quang Binh Province.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

“I have always had a fascination for Asian countries and their cultures, and as I didn’t know much about Vietnam, it would be more for me to discover.”

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

Photo taken in Phu Yen Province.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

We visited Ninh Binh, Vinh, Phong Nha (Quang Binh), Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Da Lat,.. where we stayed at least one night in each place."

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

“(When) we couldn’t speak English or French to the locals, we used Google translator or drawings,” Hänsenberger recalled the language issues on the way.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

Hänsenberger and Seiler couchsurfed in Vinh City, Nghe An Province.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

They encountered several difficulties on the road. “Fabian had some digestion problems at the beginning, and the bikes had always little problems, which is normal when u drive Honda Wins,” said Hänsenberger.

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

“We got to know a few mechanics. And we always tried to fix the bikes together and to learn it from them, so we can fix them ourselves next time.”

Bike-packing in Vietnam: why not?

They arrived Saigon in the end of April, after weeks of travelling, and sold the bikes before leaving Vietnam.

Emanuel Hänsenberger, 24, and Fabian Seiler, 25, from Switzerland, who were also inspired to come to the Southeast Asian country by a tourist’s video on Youtube, spent 4 weeks traveling over 1700 km from Hanoi to Saigon by motorbike.

Photos courtesy of Emanuel Hansenberger and Fabian Seiler

 
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