VIETNAM MOTORBIKE TOURS
VIETNAM
Vietnam shares its borders with China in the north, Laos and Cambodia in the west, and the South China Sea in the east. This stunning country lies in the centre of South-East Asia (see map at the bottom of this page). Vietnam's territory stretches from Lung Cu village (Ha Tuyen province) in the north, to Rach Tau hamlet (Minh Hai province) in the south. It is an S-shaped peninsula, with thousands of off-shore islands and archipelagos; the biggest of which are the Hoang SA (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos. Vietnam's mainland covers 331,689 square kilometres, and we’re sure you will agree that each and every kilometre is full of astounding beauty!
INFORMATION
GENERAL
According to archaeological discoveries made at Do Mountain, it is believed that life in Vietnam began as far back as 300,000 years ago. Officially, the history of Vietnam stretches back 4,000 years when it was founded by the Hung Kings. It was then named Van Lang.
When speaking upon the history of Vietnam, it is important to note the large role played by the French in Vietnam. It began in 1858, when the French took over Danang in southern Vietnam. Over time, more and more territory was won over by the French. It wasn't until 1954, when the French surrendered to the Viet Minh, ending the French Indochina War, that the French colonial control in Vietnam ended.
The immediate image in the minds of most people at the mention of Vietnam is that of the war fought against the United States just a few decades ago. Most people think of the country only in terms of the American conflict in Indochina. The war ended as recently as 1975, and today, despite lingering signs of past American involvement, the situation in Vietnam is markedly different. Now that travelers and tourists from the West are being welcomed into what was once a forbidden country, people are finally beginning to look at the country from another perspective. It may take a bit more effort and tenacity to plan an excursion into Vietnam than it would for another South-East Asian country, but Vietnam has an immeasurable amount to offer in terms of culture and sights.
The weather in the southern part of Vietnam is tropical. VMT HQ is located in the stunning coastal city of Nha Trang “the pearl of SE Asia“ famed for greatest year round weather in all of Vietnam. Nha Trang backs directly onto the gateway of the incredible Central Highlands, offering the best motorcycling touring in Vietnam with ideal riding conditions much of the year. Nha Trang is just 30 minute flight up the coast from Ho Chi Minh City
Best months for touring range from mid February to late October. Later months between November to January are considered the winter months, with rain mostly in the evenings.
Northern Vietnam experiences monsoonal storms limiting the riding time to just a few months per year.
WEATHER
CONDITIONS
The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese, with minute percentages of Chinese. The Viet culture originated on the delta of the Red River and the Ma River where the Viet people cultivated paddy fields. They led a simple farming life in small villages, usually living around a communal house. Today the people living in the countryside still follow this lifestyle. The Viet people are influenced by Confucianism, in particular the principle of respect for their elders. In spite of the immense suffering of the Vietnamese and the previously ruined state of the country, they are generally very warm and friendly people. Surprisingly, the Vietnamese bear little (if any) resentment or bitterness toward Americans. Children in the streets will commonly greet visitors with the name Lien Xo, which means Russian, but they will easily be corrected if you respond, "Hello!" or "Good morning" and explain you are an American, European or Australian, etc.
Ethnic Groups:
The country is predominantly 85-90% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, with ethnic minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham, and many other mountain tribes.
Languages:
Vietnamese is the official language; French, Chinese, English, Khmer and tribal dialects (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) are also spoken.
Religion:
Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic and Protestant.
Population:
95.5 Million People on 2017
Capital:
Hanoi City
Flag:
The flag of Vietnam is red
with a large yellow five
pointed star in the center.
PEOPLE AND
CULTURE
VMT HQ is based in the beautiful seaside city of Nha Trang.
Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine, clean sand and clear ocean water with a mild temperature all year round.
There are several resorts and amusement parks both within the city and on the many islands off the coast. One of the most beautiful streets of the city is Tran Phu, which stretches along the seaside. Nha Trang is also a venue for annual sailing boat racing from Hong Kong. In recent years, the city has welcomed many 5-star sea cruises. The city is famous for its incredible fresh seafood and the area's bird's nest soup is deemed one of the best in Vietnam.
Nha Trang is a coastal city and is the capital of Khánh Hòa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is often claimed to be amongst the world's most beautiful bays.
In addition to the sailing boat racing, Nha Trang has a wealth of tourist activities for visitors. Island hopping, scuba diving, water sports and many other great beach resort community activities can be found here in Nha Trang, not to mention the extensive shopping opportunities!
The city has about 300,000 inhabitants and is projected to increase to 500,000 to 600,000 inhabitants in the year 2020 according to estimation of Nha Trang Administrative Board Status.