Hi all
Just got back from the week of my life with a mate Mark and 7 others ( including our Aussie guide Travis boss of Wide Eyed Tours , based in Hanoi )
I’m sure there are plenty of Old Bulls that would lap this sort of adventure up. I have talked to Trailboss about it but I thought I’d throw something on the forum and see if it goes anywhere. As some of you know I’m a bit of an Old Bull sleeper, I have a look here and there on the forum but don’t get out for many rides with you guys so here goes…
I will try and keep it short but there is so much to tell. Wide Eyed are trying to get these motorbike tours off the ground, they do bicycle tours , trekking and many other types of tours. http://www.wideeyedtours.com Tarvis the owner and tour leader is married to a Vietnamese girl has kids and lives there, he speaks the language and knows the culture.
If you google a map and images of towns like Ha Giang, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, Dong Van you will get some idea of the terrain and the people. We rode step through Honda Future Neos which sounds gay but they were perfect for the job. We started with a night on Halong Bay swimming, kayaking , sight seeing, drinking eating etc which was a great way to kick off or end the tour. You need 4-5 hour bus rides to get in and out of traffic of Hanoi before riding
Traffic is bloody crazy you need insurance just in case but once in the remote areas near the Chinese border its much safer. Wet weather gear was needed at times and a warm enduro jacket some guys bought cheap ponchos and threw them away at the end.
We made it to a little old town named Pho Bang 5km from the boom gates to China and no mans land, had a cuppa with the locals then rode to the border wher the soldiers and officials didnt like cameras or any jokes. Great to make it there but. Overall we did something between 600-1000kms there was too much to look at to worry about stuff like that. Roads can be crap but we were mostly on tar, buses and truck dont give you any love so off road experience is a big bonus !!!! We only had one guy lay it down as his front had deflated a bit, several had close calls but nothing too bad.
Highlights ? so many and hard to narrow it down
The panoramic views at every turn
The local childrens smiles when you wave and say hello
The times when we could are a go in the mountain bends
Eating food in places you would never dream of
Being in such remote places and seeing how the people live ( bloody mobiles worked most of the time !)
Speaking to my mum and wife standing on what seemed like the top of the world then giving my phone to alittle mountain kid who has possibly never used a phone or seen a telivision
Our night and day arvo at Pan Hou Village Eco resort after riding over a suspension bridge to get there, followed by beers, hot tub, massage, great food, open fire. http://www.panhou-village.com
Doing it all with a great bunch of blokes
Cost wise these are approx $1100 airfare $700 for monday to friday ride bike hire accom. Extras …. additional nights $38 double, fuel for bikes $20 for the week?, drinking money $?, Halong bay overnight $90 for a high end boat ( much nicer ) and 4 hour bus ride to the bay. Breakfast , Dinners and Lunches $5 max each meal brekky maybe $2? Insurance for us was $120 approx with bike coverage with flight centre/ covermore insurance
( do your own research there not sure the best coverage ).
Gunna try and put some pics up havent done that before , if you want to see more I am on facebook message me if you want
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more pictures please mate, your enthusiasm on the phone was very contagious 
