Well, we'll start with a book I just bought at the local market...........



That at least gives this thread a Honda flavour!



Picture taken when we were out to dinner last night................



Nice gardens and tombs



Not the friendliest critter, he decided I was too close to the glass so did a bit of posturing!

So, Hurricanista, where am I?

Cheers, SB

 

Back in the land of Ho Chi Minh?

 

It really was too easy wasn't it Woof. Yup, Vietnam - but unfortunately no bikes to ride unless I've been on the back of a 'Xe-om' - the scooter taxi.

Cheers, SB

 

Looks like you're having fun!

 

Yes Conrice, it's hard not to have fun here! We look at the weather back in South Australia, the Adelaide Hills in particular where we normally dwell and there's hail, sleet, snow, flooding and we're here in 37 degree, humid bliss. Swim in the pool morning and evening, taxied here there and everywhere for pennies.

Still loving the little motorcycles though and here's a couple I quite liked.



Just divine!



The other side and................



A neat little Vespa in a beautiful, shady Hoi An back street.

More later.

Cheers, SB

 

What has happened to your camera, broken? Hanging out for some more holiday snaps, I suppose you are home by now

 

Indeed we are Jarvid, back to the wild, woolly wintry weather in the Adelaide Hills. More wind and rain than the last 30 years. I'll go through the photos today and post a few more up.

This being the 4th trip in 5 years to Vietnam, the differences are incredible since that first journey in 2012. Saigon is now almost gridlocked at times with cars (rather than scooters) and I saw a lot more exotic bikes in Hanoi. Ducati's, big Hondas and Kawasakis. I even saw a Kawasaki dealership in Hanoi!

Cheers, SB

 

How many angels will fit on the head of a pin....rephrase to...How many chickens will fit on a Goldwing?

So the real question would be, what is the driving force behind bigger modes of transportation? The small Honda cub with excellent fuel economy is now replaced with bigger less economic vehicles. Has the price of fuel dropped considerably?

 

No, fuel costs about the same as when we did our first trip in 2012 TB2, so I think it is increasing affluence, particularly in the South.

So a few photos to wrap up the trip - and I have some friends heading over in a couple of weeks time, first time to an Asian country, so it will be interesting to see their impressions.

Pictures from the last day in Hanoi and the last couple of days in Saigon.



A little Kawasaki Estrella of which the owner was immensely proud!



The tank in detail



A little shop near our hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Harley and Ducati. Bikes like this were just not seen in our earlier trips.



Harley Sporty?



The Little Shop of Mopeds - all Solex and Motebecane (French).



All in neat to very neat condition. I had a chat to the owner of them all who did all of the restoration work himself.



Lovely 50's French Chic.



And just to prove it wasn't all motorcycles and mopeds. Easily one of the best meals we had in Vietnam. Simple street-side stall, beautiful deep fried pork spring rolls, a seafood fried rice that was full of calamari rings cooked so tenderly that they dissolved in your mouth and a brace of Hanoi beer. About $6.50 USD all up.



Beer Street. One of the 'must dos' if you ever venture to Hanoi. Daily brewed beer for about 30 cents a glass.



Many more cars in Saigon with resultant traffic chaos (more than Hanoi).



How do they do it?



A Kawasaki dealership in Saigon.



Yes.................... Good Coffee but!



I'd fall off a CBR1000F if I lay down on the tank/seat. More Saigon Scooter Sleepers.



Last afternoon in Saigon. Rooftop pool, just waiting for the storm to hit!



A Ducati Scrambler parked out the front of our hotel. One of two we saw that night.

And with that, it was back to Australia the next day to work and save for our next trip abroad.

Cheers, SB

 

Nice pics, Seb.

They sell those Duke Scramblers about a mile from where I work.

I lust for one of them