Experiences from a couple who rode motorbikes across Vietnam in 8 days.

Anyone passionate about traveling probably dreams of exploring Vietnam at least once. This dream is always on their mind, but it's not always possible to simply go, due to various obstacles related to time, finances, and personal safety. Fortunately, finding a travel companion, 28-year-old Ly Nguyen from Thai Binh province realized her dream of a cross-Vietnam trip before turning 30 during the recent April 30th - May 1st holiday.

What preparations are needed for a trip across Vietnam?

First, your "steed" needs special care before the trip. The bike needs maintenance and repairs to perform at its best during the road trip. Basic repair tools, an electronic tire pump, and chain and sprocket cleaning tools should also be readily available to handle any problems that may arise. Because large displacement motorcycles usually travel at high speeds, clothing for road trips also needs attention, including: a helmet, a thick jacket, and protective gear (knee pads, elbow pads).

Ly Nguyen and her boyfriend chose a Triumph T120 motorcycle for their cross-Vietnam trip. Because they chose a route from South to North, the couple had to ship the bike from Hanoi to Saigon 9 days prior to their trip at a cost of 3.5 million VND through a specialized shipping company. This cost is quite high compared to other shipping options, so you might also consider the North-South railway, which offers more affordable prices.

The weather on this backpacking trip was beautiful, with frequent sunshine, so the couple didn't bring many clothes. They chose to pack just enough, washing and drying them at the hotel every evening so they would be dry by morning. Some basic medical supplies and medications for emergencies, accidents, or illnesses were also essential for any backpacking trip. Finally, indispensable for the couple were their cameras and recording equipment to document their 8-day, 7-night journey across Vietnam.

Flexibility in eating, sleeping, and resting arrangements is also a "privilege."

Although she's a freelancer, Ly Nguyen still had to arrange her work schedule for her cross-Vietnam trip, unlike many people who think "you can go whenever you want." But she was allowed to "rest whenever she wanted," "eat whenever she was hungry" throughout her trip, as long as she could balance her time, distance, health, and personal experience.

Even though she had planned her destination, she wasn't sure where she would go, so she usually only booked her hotel room about 10 minutes before stopping. This also allowed the couple to check out the rooms before deciding on a place to stay. "After a day of driving, I prioritize staying at a hotel or resort to feel as comfortable as possible. However, you can optimize this cost by choosing guesthouses, homestays, or budget hotels," Ly Nguyen shared.

Fortunately, their accommodations were quite close to the local residential area, so exploring the local cuisine on foot was one of the special experiences for the couple on their trip. Along the way, she had the opportunity to meet and chat with many locals, feeling their warmth and hospitality. Simply by "signaling" for nearby eateries, she could easily find a delicious, affordable restaurant without needing Google.

"Draw" your ideal route - enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful roads.

She and her boyfriend decided to choose the Ho Chi Minh Trail for their cross-Vietnam journey from South to North. The couple avoided national highways as much as possible, because vehicles traveling at high speeds are more prone to traffic accidents.

"There are countless unexpected situations along the way that can put you in danger, such as people crossing the road without looking, trucks overtaking unsafely in the wrong direction, stray dogs, cats, and cattle sometimes chasing you. So, anyone who wants to travel across Vietnam by motorbike needs to be observant, alert, and good at handling situations," Ly Nguyen recounted.

Based on their planned speed, the couple estimated they could cover 250-350 km in 6 hours continuously. Besides choosing scenic routes, they also had to adjust their speed to allow for overnight stops at popular tourist destinations. This experience allowed them to discover many beautiful places in their country that are not yet widely known.

She said that for those traveling in the opposite direction, from North to South, they usually choose the Western Truong Son route. With the vast ocean on one side and rolling hills on the other, the beautiful scenery gradually unfolds during the months of traveling across the country, making Ly Nguyen "only wish I could always travel on roads like that."

The couple were captivated by the adventurous journey along the sun-drenched roads of Phu Yen and Ninh Thuan provinces, and then continued their adventure on the breathtakingly beautiful winding roads of the Central Highlands, prompting her to exclaim, "How can there be such beautiful roads!"

Often, witnessing breathtaking scenery while traveling along the roads of Vietnam, they can only feel and retain it in their memories, unable to stop and take a picture. Venturing into the forests of Pleiku city (Gia Lai province), pairs of white butterflies flutter gracefully, standing out against the cool, verdant backdrop of the vast mountain forests – "a captivating beauty beyond words!"

The most impressive feature was still the long stretches of beaches along the South Central coast. The further they went, the more they realized the pristine, refreshing beauty of the clear blue beaches, sometimes just a few steps away. Following the coastline, they found simple eateries, chatted with the warm, friendly, and endearing locals who lived in the sun and wind.

"Without this trip, I probably would never have been able to fully embrace the beauty of our country, to meet the simple, friendly people. To know that our country still has so much beauty, and that Vietnamese people are hospitable and kind. Any fear can disappear when we start doing it," Ly Nguyen shared with Travellive readers.

The route this girl took mainly ran along the coast of Southern and South Central Vietnam, and the Ho Chi Minh Trail through 20 provinces and cities. The total cost of the trip was approximately 25 million VND.

Here's a suggested itinerary for an 8-day trip across Vietnam:

Day 1: Saigon - Dong Nai - (Vung Tau) Ba Ria Vung Tau - (Mui Ne) Binh Thuan

Day 2: (Mui Ne) Binh Thuan - Ninh Thuan - (Cam Ranh - Nha Trang) Khanh Hoa

Day 3: (Nha Trang) Khanh Hoa - Phu Yen - (Quy Nhon) Binh Dinh

Day 4: (Quy Nhon) Binh Dinh - (Pleiku) Gia Lai - (Mang Den) Kontum

Day 5: (Mang Den) Kontum - Quang Ngai - Quang Nam (Hoi An) - Da Nang

Day 6: Da Nang - Hue - Quang Tri - (Nhat Le) Quang Binh

Day 7: (Nhat Le) Quang Binh - Nghe An - (Sam Son) Thanh Hoa

Day 8: (Sam Son) Thanh Hoa - Hoa Binh - Hanoi

Bi Le