by The Dat

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Under a sunlight spreading over a section of Truong Son road, in central Quang Binh Province, a foreigner with close-shaven head is repairing an old Honda Win motorbike on the roadside, perspiration flowing from his brow.

We stop our car and ask him if he needs help. He raises his head and shrugs his shoulders with an expression to indicate the breakdown is but a trifle.

It took him a matter of minutes to replace an inner tube.

Paul tells us he is a traveler from England. He set up an itinerary himself to experience the feeling of riding a motorbike through Viet Nam.

Paul is an traveler from England.

Getting the bug through Top Gear

Paul says he had watched a feature on Viet Nam on the Top Gear TV show during Christmas holidays. The show's presenters are professional racing drivers.

Paul says he was really impressed with the landscape and was eager to experience the feeling of riding a motorbike along the coast, through passes, sloping streets and along roads with trees on both sides.

Paul says there were two things that impressed him in the show. They were beautiful landscapes and many motorbikes. He decided to make the trip himself.

Interesting journey

Paul rarely gets the chance to ride a motorbike in his own country. He was in Viet Nam for two weeks before he bought a Honda Win for US$280 in HCM City – which was cheaper than an airline return ticket from HCM City to Ha Noi. Many of his friends bought Wins when they visited Viet Nam.

Honda Win and Paul's belongings.

Paul says he was really stressed when he first went out into the traffic in HCM City.

"The road is overcrowded with motorbikes," says Paul. "The important thing is that you have to observe and handle each situation quickly.

"When you get used to it you find out why the motorbike is No1 here: because it is flexible and useful."

Paul says riding a motorbike in Viet Nam is no different from playing an adventure game.

"Never hope that trucks in the opposite direction will give way to you. Be careful, cyclists may turn right or left at any time without signal. On the Ho Chi Minh Highway, you need to pay attention to domestic animals suddenly running across the road."

Traveling by motorbikes is really dangerous and dusty but Paul says it's an interesting experience. He likes steering on zigzag paths – such as through the Hai Van Pass – or the feeling when sea-breezes slap the face or fresh air caresses you on a long drive through a forest.

Paul says traveling by motorbike also helps him get close and familiar with local people.

"I get greetings of 'Hello' from kids cycling home from school and a diffident look from a young girl, a street vendor." — VNS