¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ

Hi Danny,

How long will the trip take? I'm crazy enough but do don't dare to ride

Lan Anh

On a pair of wheels you will barred from a couple of expressways and if you think TP HCM is bad, just wait until the jerks on 4-wheels let you know what's what.

Many of the roads are two lane plus shoulders. Terrible shape, too. Best plan is drive until you feel you need a rest then stop and sleep over. Forget destination driving. About 40-45 kM/H average.

If you are going to Phu Quoc Island the ferry leaves from Ha Tien daily. You can take cars, trucks and motorcycles over.



The CGST has portable laser speed radar down there, and American chase cars, too, complete with radar and cameras.

Jaitch,

I have been riding in SaiGon for years without any licenses.  Other than day trips to Vung Tau I haven't been anywhere far.

I have an International Driving Permit now just in case I get stopped...do you know if they honor this? If not, what's an acceptable "fine" these days to get off without they impounding my bike?

You my friend are a wealth of information! Very grateful to have found this blog!

Danny

Lan Anh,

Total 3 days for the return trip. I don't have that much time to spend in VN so have to make it quick!


Danny

International licences are not accepted by VN.

Three days, on your wheels, might get you around Can Tho. (Be careful there, it's the home of a VK who wears strange hats)

Donations to CGST 'pensions' are around VND100,000-200,000.

Taking your dogs?

I'm just going to pop in for about a week looking around for areas I like to rent. The dogs won't be joining until everything is set up.

I have never been to Can Tho...the place i'm going is where our family is originally from, just visiting some nieces and trying to make an adventure out of it instead of just riding the bus. I love the sceneries of the Mekong Delta so the freedom of being on a bike will make it more enjoyable.

Those roads are dangerous no doubt. One must constantly be on guard to avoid coming back with missing limbs....or come back at all!

Danny

Jaitch wrote:

(Be careful there, it's the home of a VK who wears strange hats)

Yeah, what choo talkin' 'bout, Jaitch???  Can Tho is a kingdom; and that 'strange hat' is a crown!!! 

Anyways, Danny, you should have converted that International License into a temporary Vietnamese License, when you first got here.  I think where or how to go about in doing that is well-documented on here. 

But, if you do not get it by the time you leave, then just pretend that you don't speak Vietnamese, when you get pulled over.  Don't acknowledge anything and, most importantly, don't laugh.  I worked every time for me.

Good luck,
Howie

Wild_1 wrote:

just pretend that you don't speak Vietnamese, when you get pulled over.

I often wondered about this trick and whether it works.....glad to know it does! Maybe I can practice my Cambodian the next time I get whistled in for a chat..

Believe me, it works.  For how much longer, I don't know.  But, as we speak, it works like a charm.  The most important part, if you really understand Vietnamese, is your ability to hold a straight face.  These cops and their cronies are very funny, when dealt with such unexpected events.