Advertisement
Published: March 25th 2014
Edit Blog Post
Outside the wholesale market
This market itself was interesting ... but outside was even more fun - just watching everything arrive and leave by motorcycle. Nothing says to me more how I've adjusted to the pace of life here in Vietnam than how much more relaxed I am about getting on the back of a motorbike.
Sure, my somewhat rusty chopstick eating skills have improved, I'm no longer so stiff after sleeping on mattresses that are only marginally softer than sleeping on the floor, plus I quite comfortably cross roads now when the traffic doesn't stop.
However, if you'd told me a month ago that I'd willingly get on the back of a motorbike at night in central Saigon, I would have said you were crazy. But that's just what I did last night ... (more about that later).
It seems nearly everyone and everything travels by motorbike here in Vietnam. From families with babies and small children to pigs and chickens and products of every shape and size ... we've seen it on the back of a bike.
There are also men lurking on street corners and under shady trees all over the place with their motorbike ... it would appear the only way to distinguish them as a motorbike taxi is the "Moto, Madam?" you hear whenever you walk past
them.
My first real motorbike adventure here was not by choice.
The night I was due to leave Hanoi by overnight train for Sapa, it was raining and there was not a taxi to be had. I waited for more than 45 mins for a cab and was in danger of missing my train, so the staff from our wonderful hotel arranged for one of the doormen to give me a lift on his motorbike! Not my idea of fun ... my backpack in front of the driver, me on the back and weaving through evening traffic in Hanoi in the rain!! But I survived and the guy saw me to my carriage on the train so I couldn't complain about the door to door service.
It was in Dalat that I did my first "motorbike tour".
This southern highlands town is famous for its "Easy Riders" - a much copied group of motorcycle guides who do single and multi-day tours around Dalat and to other places in Vietnam. I ran into the 3 Germans I went trekking with in Sapa, and together we signed up for a countryside daytour.
I loved it - it
was a great way to see the scenery, my driver drove slowly and carefully and the bike was a touring bike so very comfortable and felt very 'stable'.
Next stop, Mui Ne ... a beach resort area along a strip of coastline about 5 hours from Saigon. One of its claims to fame is some big sand dunes nearby (reminded me a bit of Fraser Island...). I opted for a 'moto tour' because I'd heard complaints from other travellers that the group jeep tours didn't give you enough time in each place.
So at 7.30am, I set off with a driver arranged through my hotel ...
I was initially a bit nervous, but there was very little traffic other than other motorbikes at that hour. The photos can show better than words how amazing the dunes were ... and I was very glad I'd opted to go early before it got too hot and crowded.
Given I'd now not only survived but enjoyed two rides, I decided to sign up for a 'foodie tour' in Saigon that gets rave reviews. XO Tours uses only female drivers and takes tourists to different local eating places on the
Family transport
I was told the legal carrying capacity for motorcycles here in Vietnam is two adults and two children under 10 years old! back of motorbikes.
Mind you, I was also a little influenced to choose them even though they are much more expensive because they are the only company which offers accident insurance!!
The evening was fabulous ... and amazingly it feels safer being part of the flowing stream of motorbikes than it does on foot when they seem to be coming at you from different directions.
I never felt unsafe ... helped by the fact that because of the traffic, we rarely got above 30km/hour! My driver/guide, Y, was lovely ... she inspired confidence yet managed to hold a conversation with me while blithely navigating the traffic!
There was a group of about 10 of us, and as well as having some delicious food including local specialities I would never have otherwise tried (see photo!), they took us to parts of Saigon that tourists rarely go. I highly recommend this tour to anyone coming here ... it may take a little courage to book it, but it was a magical way to explore the city.
Until next time ... best wishes to everyone, Alison.
P.S - Once again a reminder to scroll down
Posing only...
Y and I switched places for a photo - foreigners can't legally ride motorbikes in Vietnam unless they have a Vietnamese licence. But many of them do. for lots more photos.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.121s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 9; qc: 51; dbt: 0.0703s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb