#drivinginvietnam

Pros - Meet some of the friendliest locals in the small villages. 

My Experience: Riding through many small villages through Vietnam gave me a good look how amazing Vietnamese people are. I felt a warm welcome every time i talk to them or just being there with them. People in the small villages are so curious to see a foreigner. When they stare at you it doesn’t mean anything bad or being rude. They are just freak out a bit. Just imagine you seeing an alien for the first time in your life. Some people never saw a foreigner before. What i did was not feel weird about it. I just gave them the biggest smile i could give and then you will see they will open up and embrace you in their arms. Most of them don’t speak much english, but in my experience that wasn’t a problem. I just use anything i could to communicate. Don’t get upset and annoyed. You are in their country and you should try to adapt and speak their country. Every time i met some locals they were just sitting along the roads with some friends drinking some beers and having some food together. I just join them or they invited me to come sit with them. In Vietnam when the locals invite you. It means they want you to come and drink with them without anything in return. They just want to spend time with you and have a laugh. Just go with the flow and you will see how amazing this is.

Pros - See things that you will never see in a train or bus.

my Experience: Driving through Vietnam will give you a much greater view of this amazing country. The scenery is just amazing.  I could stop anywhere i wanted to have a break. Or just to take a picture. The Ho Chi Minh Trail is just a great roads to see many things Vietnam has to offer.

Pros - Just be able to do and go wherever you want. Feel the freedom.

my Experience: The feeling i get from driving here is freedom. I can stop for a drink if i want to. I can stop for a picture if i want to. And there are always some people to talk to along the way. Vietnamese people are very friendly. But it depends of course on you also. If your intentions are to smile and meet local people then it won’t be hard for you. But if you wonder why people are staring at you and why are they so rude. Then you won’t find many local friends here.

Pros - See the not so touristy spots of Vietnam.

my Experience: Going to small town and villages is great. Not that i don’t like big cities. But the small towns and villages don’t have much tourism. In my experience is that the people there are much nicer than in the big cities. They won’t try to rip you off in the small town and villages too. Actually i never got ripped off in those places. I always feel really welcome in small towns.

Pros - If you break down somewhere? Everyone local that pass by will try to help you get your bike fixed.

my Experience: What if your bike breaks down. Of course there is a chance that you won’t find a mechanic. But when i had a problem, there were always locals driving by and stop to help you. every time i got help from someone. There is no company that you can call for emergencies. But there are always some locals nearby that they can call. They will come and fix your bike for you.

Cons

Cons - Crazy driving

My Experience: Driving in Vietnam has opened my eyes a bit. I used to live in The Netherlands. It was more organised on the roads in The Netherlands. When i came here i had to keep myself calm every time i jumped on the bike. The locals are a little reckless drivers. For example if someone is coming out of the corner on the main road. Its goes without looking. They just drive into the main and expects the people on the main road to watch out for him. Or the rear view mirrors. For most locals they don’t exist. I always wonder why they install it on the bikes. Perhaps to do their make up or do their hair with it. But basically the horn is what they use to warn someone that they are coming driving at the back. Advice to everyone. Don’t go crazy on the road. Remember  you are in another country. You know they drive a little bit different than you used to. You have to be careful here. They have been driving like this their whole life. So they won’t change. You  have to change. Not them. Complaining doesn’t help to. Just enjoy the craziness of the roads of Vietnam.

Cons - buying a bike

My Experience: Buying a bike can be difficult here. Or its not difficult. There are bikes everywhere. But getting a good bike for the right price is not easy. Especially when you arrive in the big city and you are  buying one there. Many people i spoke to got ripped off a bit. But i heard also some good stories. Don’t think only the locals will rip you off. Lots of tourist who wants to sell their bikes will rip you off too. Because they need money to travel more. Just do some research back home for how to see when a bike is good. how it sounds. also what helps is to check out some local  expat pages. Facebook has some. For example. Danang hoi an expats or expats in Ho Chi Minh City

Cons - Fuel is quite expensive.