Russian Chainsaws vs the North Western Vietnamese Mountains: Photos 105 to 126

Belching smoke and with a high-revving high-pitch whine, the Minsk is a cast iron machine geared to challenge the unexplored territory hidden throughout northern Vietnam. Chiseled from steel, welded with rust and camouflaged in mud, the Minsk is the sweaty workhorse of Vietnam's rural economy. Seen hauling pigs, buffalos, lounge chairs, coffins, horses, and even full, occupied and bubbling fishtanks, the Minsk will get you where you want to go. It's tough, cheap, and simple to fix, a fresh piston will set you back $18US (including labour), while a new set of tyres can be had for $20. Found around the world in all the truly interesting places, like Afghanistan, Mongolia and Vietnam, this bike is true testimony to former Soviet Power.

Mat: It was after reading this that we decided to look in to buying a couple of Minsks for travel in Vietnam and Laos (we read it on the website of the Minsk Club of Vietnam - a bunch of expats who would rather ride an old farm bike than be seen on yet another Honda scooter).

So we arrived in Hanoi and tracked down "Cuong" a legendary Minsk mechanic. He fixes the local expat's bikes, hires

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