Thất bại là mẹ thành công
Failure is the Mother of Success.

Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating journey through the scenic landscapes of middle Vietnam? Set your sights on the captivating region north of Da Nang, where an extraordinary BDAC motorbike adventure awaits. Leave behind the bustling city and dive into an uncharted territory that promises breathtaking vistas, rich cultural heritage, and unforgettable experiences.

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As you fire up your bikes’ engine and hit the open road, prepare to be mesmerized by the awe-inspiring beauty of this lesser-known region. Towering limestone mountains, lush green valleys, and winding coastal roads will be your constant companions as you carve your way through this two-wheeled adventure. The landscapes will leave you speechless, with every twist and turn offering a new photo opportunity.

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Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture as you encounter friendly faces and authentic Vietnamese hospitality along the way. Pass through charming villages where time seems to stand still, and witness the daily lives of the locals as they go about their traditional occupations. Delight your taste buds with local delicacies, savoring the unique flavors of central Vietnam.

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As you journey through this captivating region, you'll discover hidden gems such as ancient temples, serene pagodas, and historic landmarks that showcase Vietnam's rich history. Marvel at the intricate architecture, learn the stories behind these cultural treasures, and feel the spiritual energy that emanates from these sacred places.

So, sign up and join us for an unforgettable BDAC motorbike ride through Middle Vietnam's mesmerizing North. Navigate the roads less traveled, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready to fire up your adventurous spirit and unlock the secrets of this remarkable region!

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Itinerary

 

Friday 3rd May 2024- Da Nang overnight- bikes arrive at hotel at 1600 hrs, welcome dinner 1900HRS

Saturday 4th May 2024- Da Nang overnight- shake down ride

 

Sunday 5th May 2023- Hue overnight

Monday 6th May- Dong Ha overnight

Tuesday 7th May- Dong Hoi overnight

Wednesday 8th May- Vihn Overnight

Thursday 9th May- Hoang Mai overnight

Friday 10th May- Than Hoa overnight

Saturday 11th May (rest day) - Than Hoa overnight

Sunday 12th May- Moc Chau overnight

Monday 13th May- Son La overnight

Tuesday 14th May- Cau Pau bridge overnight

Wednesday 15th May- Tram Tau overnight

Thursday 16th May- Bac Yen overnight

Friday 17th May- Hanoi Overnight- farewell dinner

Saturday 18th May - check out hotel

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The route for this ride has been planned so as we move up Northwards we avoid the relatively boring coastal routes that are the normal way people ride South to North or vice versa. We will spend the evenings by the coast but head inland during the day and up into the hills and less traveled routes and roads. That way we get the best of both worlds with great riding and exploring during the days and hotel comfort and vibrant and exciting nightlife in the evenings.

After the rest day on the 11th May we will turn inland and head up into the highlands for 5 days and nights and the brillant riding , scenery and local people that abound in that region.

We will conclude the ride in the cosmopolitan capital of Vietnam ; Hanoi, where you may choose to stay on for a few days to explore it's many exciting offerings or jump on a plane and head home to recover and start planning your next riding adventure.

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The Riding

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90% of the riding will be on quality sealed roads and the remaining 10% will not be difficult to ride on. You will be comfortable riding at all times regardless of your skill level.This ride is suitable for riders of all skill levels. You will not have to do things that are beyond your skillset.

We will average around 200kms covered each day which should equate to about 4-5 hours of actual riding and then stops along the way and lunch should take us out to around 6-7 hours per day from departure to arrival

The terrain will move from coastal flatlands for the first hour or so each day and then we will head into the hills for twisty riding for most of the day before heading down to the coastal flats just after lunch.

The last 5 days of the ride will be in the exciting mountainous Northwest area of Vietnam with its world class road riding, stunning scenery and relatively unexposed to tourists; local hamlets and populace.

 

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A typical day

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Sunrise around 0514hrs, sunset around 1816 hrs. Early risers will be in heaven.

Days do vary slightly but on the whole you will be looking at

0700 -0800 hrs - load the bikes and have breakfast at hotel

0830hrs- ride out

1200 - lunchstop

1300 - ride out

1500- arrive at hotel for the night

1845 - meet in lobby to walk to dinner spot

2030- dinner is usually done and dusted by now and you can head “out” for a sniff around or head back and get some shuteye. As always, completely up to you.

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The weather

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In a word , perfect.

Days will be warm at around 28-32 C max and nights around 22-24 C degrees. There will be a low chance of rain and if it does occur it will be limited to localised afternoon showers.

Most hotels we will stay at are within easy walking distance of the beach or have a pool so you will be able to have a refreshing swim after your day on the bike or when you wake up in the mornings.

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The Bikes

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You have a choice of

 

Versys 300 - 5 AVAILABLE- comfort and power. The best road bike for Vietnam hands down
CB150X- 3 AVAILABLE - zippy and elevated with a relaxed stance and seating
KLX230- 5 AVAILABLE- 2023 models with plenty of power and go anywhere riding
NVX 150 ( auto)- 5 AVAILABLE- plenty of power and ease of riding. Twist the throttle and go

The bikes are very much "first in best dressed" so if you want a particular bike you need to say you are " going " and nominate which bike type you want to be on ASAP. Once a particular type of bike is " sold out" then there is no more of that type.

ALL of the bikes will be more than able to handle what will be thrown up at you this trip. You DO NOT need a “big” bike in Vietnam. It will be too heavy and cumbersome in the city traffic and the power will just be wasted in the countryside . Most riding is done between 40 to 60kmph with the very occasional stretches where you can get up to 70 or maybe 80 for short periods.

 

The bikes can come configured as follows for your bike luggage needs

KLX 230- large top plate for a bag of up to 50lts to fit onto
Versys 300- top box and hard side boxes or either or none
CB150X-top box and hard side boxes or either or none
NVX 150 ( auto)- top box or none ( quite a bit of underseat storage)

All bikes can come configured with just a top plate if you wish.
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The Hotels

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All the hotels are 3 star minimum by Western Standards and the base hotel in Da Nang at the start is 3.5 stars and Hanoi at the end is 4 star. You will have a hotel room to yourself every night, NO SHARING A ROOM. The room each night will have a comfortable bed, air conditioning, an attached ensuite bathroom, WIFI, toiletries and usually a tasty and filling breakfast the next morning.

We always try and stay at “independent” boutique style hotels so you get some local flavour rather than the faceless and boring multinational outlets. There is nothing worse than waking up in an exotic location in an exciting new city and just thinking you are in another cookie cutter room in another same same city.

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What to bring

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A very detailed post will go up in this event page in due course about what to bring but the rule of thumb is “pack light”. Whatever you are planning to use on the actual ride is going on the bike with you so pack essentials only.

Face Facts- No amount of fashionable clothing is going to make you look good. Embrace the Crustiness and relax and enjoy yourself. We are in a different town evernight, you think the locals are going to know you are wearing the same outfit as last night ?

Any excess pre and post ride luggage will be able to be securely shipped from Da Nang to Hanoi for you to await your arrival at the BDAC hotel 2 weeks later. The service is limited to 1 piece of luggage ( of any reasonable size) per rider.

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The Cost

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The idea of the BDAC rides post covid is that every rider can step off the plane in the BDAC base city that the ride is starting from and then step back onto the plane 2 weeks later and in between not have to have reached into their pockets except to buy personal items, nightlife drinks and souvenirs or gifts. You will not have to think about things like the route for the day, where to eat, fueling the bike, hotel for the night etc etc. Just relax and have the time of your life. It works. 2 BDAC rides completed so far post covid and they have run far smoother on a day to day basis than the 15 or so pre covid BDAC rides.

 

What's included in the ride fee

Fully prepared bike for 14 days
* All fuel and consumables for the bike for duration of the ride
*Transport of bike the 850kms from Hanoi to Da Nang prior to start of ride

 

Quality hotel room to yourself for 15 nights. No room sharing and each room will have the stuff you need like hot shower, comfy bed, ensuite bathroom, aircon, wifi , fridge,etc each night. Most nights will be a 3 star standard hotel.

3 delicious, filling and hearty meals a day. Drinks with lunch and dinner each night. BDAC Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner. Cold soft drinks and beer waiting on ice for you in the BDAC group cooler in the lobby when you get off the bike at the hotel everyday. (Please note any hotel room service , mini bar costs, in house massages etc etc are not included in the ride fee and are payable by the rider direct to the hotel at checkout)

Airport BDAC signboard greet and private transfer from Da Nang International airport to the BDAC Base Hotel at the start of the ride. Private Airport transfer from BDAC Hanoi hotel to Hanoi International Airport at the end of the ride.

Local SIM card (Viettel, the best network for this ride) in your BDAC welcome pack when you arrive at the BDAC Da Nang base hotel. Just install it in your phone and you are good to go for the trip ( make sure your phone is unlocked and is able to function on the spectrum in Vietnam). 4G of data to use a day and the SIM will be valid for 30 days.

 

250 000 VND ( $10 USD approx ) cash in your BDAC Welcome Pack so you can head straight to the hotel on airport arrival and have a beer or 2 and a cheap meal and take advantage of the better money exchange rates or ATMs away from the airport

All entrance fees , road tolls and taxes where applicable during the ride itself.

All group taxis and group transport needed during the duration of the ride

Group Laundry costs for rest day. ( get your gear cleaned ½ way through the trip)

 

Exciting and varied itinerary for the trip. Daily maps and routes and activities and sightseeing.

BDAC welcome pack with a range of well thought out essential items for you to use on this ride and keep for future use.

Transfer of your excess luggage from Da Nang to Hanoi via secured, weatherproof truck to await your arrival at the BDAC Hano hotel 2 weeks later

“Behind the scenes” full logistical backup in the event of a operational, mechanical or medical issue.We have been partnering with the BDAC team in Vietnam now for over 8 years and the backup we have behind each ride in Vietnam is world class.

 

The Bottom Line

 

The “base cost” for this BDAC ride is $1673 USD. All costs for the ride are in USD

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Your bike selection will give you the final figure for your individual ride fee

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VERSYS 300 14 Days @ $ 60 per day = $ 840  SHIPPING $120 = $960 = $2633 ride fee

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KLX 230 14 Days @ $ 50 per day = $ 700  SHIPPING $80 = $780 = $ 2453 ride fee

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CB 150x 14 Days @ $ 40 per day = $ 560   SHIPPING $80 = $640 = $ 2313 ride fee

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Nmax 155 14 Days @ $ 22 per day = $ 308  SHIPPING $80 = $ 388 = $ 2061 ride fee

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LUXURY VAN with driver and fuel -14 days
@ $160 per day = $2240 @1PAX = $ 3713 ride fee
@ 2PAX = $ 2593 ride fee
@ 3 PAX = $ 2220 ride fee

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NOTE: THE MONEY FOR THE FOOD , FUEL, " CONTINGENCIES" AND SUNDRIES IS CALCULATED ON A ESTIMATED BUDGET FOR EACH DAY FOR THE RIDE. FUEL FOR VAN IS PAID BY THE VAN SUPPLIER AND IS INCLUDED IN THE DAILY VAN COST. .

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ANY EXCESS FUNDS AT THE END OF THE RIDE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BACK TO EACH PARTICIPANT IN AN EQUAL SHARE FROM 9AM ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY 18TH MAY AND WILL BE IN AN ENVELOPE WITH YOUR NAME AND ROOM NUMBER IN IT AT HOTEL RECEPTION DESK. IT WILL BE IN VND CASH.

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COSTING OF FOOD AND FUEL IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE AND THE LAST 2 RIDES WE HAVE RETURNED AROUND $80USD PER HEAD IN LOCAL CURRENCY TO EACH RIDER AT THE END OF THE RIDE BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY EXCESS FUNDS IN THE GROUP KITTY ON THIS; OR ANY FUTURE BDAC RIDE.

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Terms. Deposit of $500USD to be paid into BDAC partner Hanoi bank account (Bike and hotel deposits) within 14 days of saying you are going. Further payment of $800 USD into BDAC partner Hanoi bank account not less than 60 days from commencement date of ride. All money transfer costs to be borne by the rider. Balance of Ride Fee payable in cash upon arrival in Da Nang and prior to the ride starting.

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The Numbers

10 bikes MAX and up to 3 PAX in a van if there is demand. Book early to avoid disappointment.

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PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A ‘ONE PERSON PER BIKE “RIDE. THERE IS NO OPTION FOR PILLIONS OR PARTNERS ON THIS RIDE

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You Only Die Once