TRAVEL LIKE A PRO IN A COUNTRY WHERE BRIBING COPS IS NORMAL!
Everyone knows someone who's ridden the length of Vietnam. What if you could do the same?
For us Kiwis and Australians, it's difficult finding decent material about motorcycling in Vietnam. With so much conflicting information online and uncertainty around costs, it's no wonder people keep putting off this 1600 km road trip. Nicholas Brookland has been there and done it. In the flesh. And whether your goal is riding from Saigon to Hanoi or between beach towns, this guide is your bulletproof vest.
Let's face it. None of us are getting any younger. Your own Vietnam motorcycle odyssey awaits. And with all the information you need in one lightweight book, what's stopping you?
WHAT'S INSIDE?
Chapter 1: So, You Want to Ride in Vietnam?
Highlights what prospective riders can and should prepare before leaving home. How to organize the required licences, visas, gear, suitable travel amenities as well as immunizations and route planning.
Chapter 2: Travel Buddies
Answers the questions: should you undertake this journey alone or with others? What makes a good travel buddy and where can you find them? Also explores the pros and cons of travelling in pairs versus a large group.
Chapter 3: Gear
Includes an itemized list of the gear we had on our trip. Discusses the perfect bag weight and what types of protective gear should be acquired at home – if possible. Also outlines what type of riding gear is available in Vietnam and what makes for a comfortable, but safe, ride.
Chapter 4: Finding Your Trusty Steed
Explores how to find the right bike for your trip. Details the pros and cons of renting versus buying a motorcycle and explains how to go about each option. Introduces the most common motorbike options available in Vietnam and walks readers through what to look for in a bike and how to go about repairs while on the road.
Chapter 5: Licences and Insurance
A crucial chapter explaining what licences are worth having and how to get them, including the coveted local Vietnamese licence. This chapter takes readers through how local police may respond to different licences and how you should react. We also explore travel insurance and its importance. What types of insurance are out there and three insurance contenders for potential riders.
Chapter 6: Which Route to Take?
This chapter discusses some route options – without going into too much detail. There are hundreds of different routes riders can take and each itinerary depends on rider preferences and timeframe. Also gives a map of our exact route.
Chapter 7: Road Dangers
Here we cover the many road dangers in Vietnam and how riders can mitigate them. The idea is to show how riding in Vietnam will be very different to riding in New Zealand and Australia.
Chapter 8: Our Journey
A day-by-day outline of our trip and some of the antics we got up to along the way. It details where we ate, slept, road conditions and a few of the ups and downs every rider will face. These entries include ride times and distances and are written in a conversational style. This is also the book's longest chapter, but it will be the most interesting for prospective riders.
Chapter 9: Expenses
Detailed expense reports of all costs related to the trip. This chapter covers all pre-trip expenses like visas, flights and gear. It also breaks down what I spent each day on meals, drinks, entry fees – right down to the cost of bottled water. There is also an infographic visualizing these expenses in a non-complex way.
Chapter 10: Don't Just Take My Word For It
This...