1. The roads of Vietnam are in surprisingly good conditions. The mountain routes, outside the main cities, had far less traffic, if no deserted at times. Follow the Ho Chi Minh Road.

2. As the route stretches the 2 regions of South to North it’s hard to say the best time of year to go. Generally conditions from March to September are the best.

3. Get an International Drivers License. Otherwise if you are in an accident your health insurance will not cover you. Any police that pulls you over can fine you or impound your bike.

4. Bike theft is very common. Always lock your bike wheel, have an extra bike lock and never leave it out overnight.

5. You will pass through many traffic stops, for the most part they are looking for vehicles or traffic violations. Wear your helmet, follow the speed limit. The country is corrupt, so you might encounter road stops with fines. Remove your keys, stay calm, never hand over your passport. Stay clear of Mui Ne traffic stop if possible or if you must do so early in the morning or late at night. They are notorious for fining (very unfairly) tourists and impounding bikes for fines from $10 to $100 USD. Keep a small amount of change in your wallet and the rest of your money else wear in your bag.

6. International Health Insurance. Make sure you are covered for motorbike accidents. Carry a printed copy with you in case of emergency with eligible hospitals.

7. Download Maps.me and Google Translate apps. Google Translate does not work well for Vietnam, but is something. With an unlocked phone, get a local sim with data, Vietell or Mobiphone are the most popular.

8. Flat Tires or Motorbike Repair. There is no way to escape flat tires, they happen. At a Honda dealership, they will repair the tire, checked our chain, and pumped up our tires for 20,000 vnd. However, most mechanics will charge approximately 100,000 vnd plus the cost of an inner tube on the road. Supply and demand at its finest. Some mechanics have been known to swap out parts while “repairing” your bike.

9. Estimate to drive an average of about 30 km/hr. City Speed limits were 40 and 60 on highways. Plus include obstacles, butt breaks, and picture breaks.