Nambusters II : North Vietnam Trip Blog

firestorm996

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2014
Hi all

Following the last trip to north vietnam (trip report here http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/showthread.php?t=6491) we planned to do a return trip to Vietnam this year, and so we are. Rather than try and keep several trip reports up to date along with Facebook etc I set up a blog (linky below) in advance. I've tried to get it rolling with some useful prep info for now, but while we're away I'll endeavour to update it at the end of each day. It would be great if any of you followed the trip, and comments are always welcome. :)

Nambusters

In a nutshell, we'll be heading north/north east from Hanoi up to the border with China, taking in the incredible Ban Gioc waterfall, then heading across the south east extremity of the Himalayas over several days. One of the roads we'll take in is the Ma Pi Leng Pass:



But in general there will be a lot of riding at altitude, mountains and scenery.

This year we're ditching the Minsks and using Honda XR150's. I think we earned our Minsk stripes last time and many of the places we're going are so remote we can do without engine blowups again.

Since we're well off the beaten track with this trip, much of the time we'll be staying at home stays, which tend to be bamboo stilt houses where you sleep on a mat on the floor. We've got about 36 days until we fly out to Hanoi, I'll drop a note on here when the trips about to begin.

 
Look's like a very interesting trip, looking forward to your updates and how well the XR's perform.
 
Am already getting a bit of leg pulling over my kit list for this trip. I think it's not too mad myself and anyway, it all goes in my 40L bag (with the first aid kit, tablet and cameras going in the 'easy-access' 15L Oceanpack). It would be interesting to see how it compares with other bikers 'lists'. Any comments on things to add -or indeed subtract, are welcome.

Kit for 8 days ride in NE Vietnam



Macna Chilli Jacket.
Forcefield 'Net' back protector, elbow protectors and shoulder protectors.
Fly Patrol MX ConvertibleTrousers
Molecule Shorts
Waterproof overjacket
Waterproof overtrousers
Knox Flex-lite Knee Armour
Gaerne G-Midland Boots
Arai SZ Open Face helmet
Goggles x2
Ballistic Facesheild x1
Gloves x2
Sunglasses (real FGs not Khoa San shatter-ready fakes)
Necktube x4
Kathmandu performance sleeved top x1
Gilden performance T-shirt
Knox Dryinside T-top and shorts
Kathmandu Quickdry underpants x3
Bamboo underpants x3 (eve wear)
Army grade Goretex socks/liners X1
Dri-stride merino-silk mix socks x4 (bike wear)
Bamboo socks x3 (eve wear)
Merino top and bottom base layer ( pyjamas)
Cargo jeans x2
Shorts
Flipflops
Trainers


Sony RX100 Compact Camera
Sony HX9V Camera
Mini Tripod.
32gb Ultra SD Card x2
Charge cables & spare batts.
Nexus Tablet
64 Gb stick
Phone


Overboard 40L bag
Oeanpack 15L rolltop bag
Givi Waterproof Leg bag
Ratchet straps X2
Cargo net
Carabinas -lockable X6
Mesh seatcover
Neckpillow


Deet (Mosquito repellent) 120ml
Malarone Tablets (anti-malarial)
Suntan cream
Prickly heat Talc


Ziptop plastic washbag
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
2 x Razor
Soap
Towel 1000 x 500


Ductape wrapped around cig lighter
Swiss army knife
Reading glasses x2
Swiss army knife
12 x Zipties


Airline E-ticket copies x2
Passport copies x2
UK Driving license


First Aid kit
2 x Conforming bandage 5cm x 4.5m
2 x Conforming bandage 7.5cm x 4.5m
2 x Steropax eyepad - sterile
2 x Ice pack
6 X wound closure strips
1 x Non-woven triangular bandage
6 x Alcohol free cleansing wipes
20 x Washproof sterile plasters (hypo-allergenic adhesive)
2 x Pairs of medium gloves
6 x Safety pins
1 x Roll of microporous tape
2 x Low adherent dressing - sterile
4 x Steropore 5cm x 7.5cm
1 x Tweezers
1 x Foil first aid blanket 140cm x 204cm
3 x Wound/Eyewash phials
1 X Cetrimide 125ml
1 x Ventolin Inhaler (spare)
 
Only 1 week to go before we set off. Remember you can follow the trip blog at Nambusters.blogspot.co.uk
 
Just wanted to post up a link to the trip blog following our recent tour of North East Vietnam.

Added links below to each day's blog.

First day in Hanoi

Day 1 - Hanoi to Ba Be Lake

Day 2 - Ba Be to Quang Uyen

Day 3 - Quang Uyen to Ban Gioc Waterfall then Cao Bang

Day 4 - Cao Bang to Bao Lac

Day 5 - Bao Lac to Dongvan (via Ma Pi Leng Pass)

Day 6 - Dongvan to Ha Giang

Day 7 - Ha Giang to Lau Cai


Some teaser photos for you...




















































The last photo shows China just behind us at Lao Cai.


I hope some of you find this of interest, we enjoyed it even more than the first trip we did last year!
 
Interesting read thanks for updating...


PS. If you're looking for an even easier video editor for mac, try wondershare video editor, even i can use it :ltop
 
Hi Firestorm

Great RR from last year, cant open your blog at the moment due to my VPN is down hope I can view it later mate ,if you don't mind i like to post a few pictures of the Ban Gioc waterfall but from the other side ??? China . Which is called Detian waterfall , it's like riding a road 1 way then you go back the other way it always looks different heheheh

From the Chinese side I could see not much going on the Vietnam side apart from the flea market which was set up over on your side , with boats allowing Chinese people to go over ? was this the same from your side ??? could you take the boat over to the Chinese side ???

The Chinese side is very commercialized with loads of hotel and shop but this all came at a cost ??? you had to pay to see the waterfall , was that the same on your side was there a entry fee ????
Here are a few pictures of the area and the falls from the Chinese side.

The sigh post to the Falls


hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 045.jpg

The town and entry area to the Falls

hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 749.jpg

This picture is down side of the Falls and you can see Vietnam on the other side of the river

hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 748.jpg




The Falls



hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 750.jpg


hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 751.jpg


hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 754.jpg



hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 753.jpg

hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 757.jpg

The boats that take Chinese arcoss to the Vietnam side to the flea market


hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 758.jpg

hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 761.jpg


The road leading to the main falls had some very scenic views


hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 737.jpg

hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 740.jpg

hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 744.jpg


hainan&thailand& china 2014 2015 745.jpg
 
Hi prince :)

On the Vietnam side it was really just that flea market you could see and that was it. It wasn't commercialised as such, no shops or anything just a small fee to go see the waterfall. The rafts took us close to the shore on the China side but weren't allowed to land on the shore.

Nice to see photos from another angle, do you mind if I share your photos on the nambusters blog?
 
Hi prince :)

On the Vietnam side it was really just that flea market you could see and that was it. It wasn't commercialised as such, no shops or anything just a small fee to go see the waterfall. The rafts took us close to the shore on the China side but weren't allowed to land on the shore.

Nice to see photos from another angle, do you mind if I share your photos on the nambusters blog?

you are welcome to use my pictures on your blog :giving:
 
Some videos added...

NB2 - Part 1: [video]https://youtu.be/c3t5AdHwwDc[/video]

NB2 - Part 2: [video]https://youtu.be/lFeXgKj6elM[/video]

NB2 - Part 3: [video]https://youtu.be/HtAdbUV2XyE[/video]
 
Just to update this, we fly out a week on Friday for NamBusters 3. Getting super excited now! Photos and blog update in due course...
 
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