14 day Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh
This group, Frontier Travel Vietnam, were amazing. I've never been on a motorcycle holiday before and had never ridden off-road either, so for a novice rider it was an amazing experience.
Firstly, the team.
Incredible bunch. There was a total of 6 people looking after a large group of 12 of us that ranged from tour leader to mechanics, backup and photographer. They were the most hospitable bunch I've ever come across on any holiday. They looked after everyone before we set out on bikes, during and after the tour and went way past above-and-beyond to do so. They made us feel very welcome, showed us the best spots to dine and visit and were extremely polite, helpful and hospitable. Couldn’t have asked for a better team.
The ride
Because our team was so large, we had the option to split the groups regularly and choose whether to ride on-road or off-road which suited me as I hadn't been on a motorbike 10 years or so prior to the trip. The riding was varied and times challenging. Varied beautiful scenery, various weather conditions (basically wet or dry mostly warm, cooler in the mountains), and all different types of terrain. Even, for me, some of the roads were still being constructed which meant lots of potholes, gravel and slipping and sliding. My personal fave was riding through some of the crowded city areas. Lots of weaving and fun! But, for the more experienced lot, beach rides, muddy fields, rocky forests, steep climbs – plenty to keep anyone challenged. There’s lots to describe but all amazing and worth getting involved with.
The stops
A different hotel or home-stay/hostel each night. Some luxury, some basic – all were brilliant. The people were all very friendly everywhere. Some nice surprises thrown in too!
The kit
You could go to Vietnam completely unprepared and just buy all the kit you’ll need there for a lot, lot cheaper than almost anywhere else. Most people went with boots, helmet and waterproofs and little else. Camelbacks are highly recommended, you won’t need to carry much if you have the support car which will transport all your luggage. The bikes: mainly Honda CRF 300’s. Some few thousand KM’s old, some brand new. Some hiccups along the way, tyres going flat, lights dying, mirrors smashing all the way up to bikes getting submerged into the sea! Everything got fixed asap and people were back on the road in no time.
FIVE STARS FOR THIS LOT
The team that looked after us went out of their way to look after us and deserve special praise:
Victor – tour leader. Excellent rider, friendly guy, led everyone to each checkpoint. He will get lost sometimes but firmly believes breaking away from Sat Nav creates a more enjoyable experience.
Windy (not real name!) – Photographer. Supporting Victor. Amazing ability to take photos while riding (!!). Also, handles drone cameras for excellent shots of riders and surrounding.
Dazza – Mechanic. Always on hand following the teams keeping close eye on everyone’s riding abilities. If you like your drink this guy will make your day… every day!
Dave – Rear support. Stayed at rear of pack and ensured nobody got left behind or lost. Dai, Annie and Aimee. Dai was the driver and additional mechanic of the support car and ensured everyone’s belongings were transported safely. Annie was like a mum for us – SUPER organised and helpful she would ensure everyone was checked into the hotels, the correct luggage was sent to the correct rooms, ensured lunches were amazing – same for dinners. Kept everything in check was just amazing. Same for Annie too who didn’t join the tour but made sure were well looked after before we set out. Like I mentioned before, I’ve never encountered such a dedicated team of tour operators who went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly and that their customers had a fantastic experience. I highly, highly recommend this group and would definitely use them again if I were to return. Thank you for everything!!!
