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Why I’m Leaving Vietnam (temporarily)

  • Tours
Updated 20/03/26

My knowledge of Vietnam goes far beyond a map!! I don’t just know the route; I know the experience. I can guide you to the smoothest roads, the strongest coffee, and the most authentic homestays tucked away in the countryside. Vietnam is my home and my paradise, and sharing that knowledge is why I built Rentabike Vietnam.”

But in the world of adventure motorcycling, comfort is a dangerous thing. When you stop being a little bit afraid, you stop growing. That is why, in May 2026, I am trading the tropical rice terraces for high-altitude glaciers. I am going to ride the “Everest of Motorcycling”: The Karakoram Highway in Northern Pakistan.

This isn’t just a holiday; it’s a mission to build the ultimate guide for you. Here is the plan.

Contents

The "Why" – Escaping Paradise

Why would a man living in a biker’s paradise decide to leave? It comes down to the need for friction.

  • The Comfort Trap
    Living in Vietnam is easy. The riding is spectacular, but after years of doing it, the challenge fades. I realized I was cruising, not exploring. To stay sharp as a rider and a business owner, I needed to shock the system.

  • Chasing the “Old Vietnam” Vibe
    People talk about Vietnam 20 years ago—raw, unpaved, and wild. That version of Vietnam is disappearing as infrastructure improves. I am chasing that specific feeling of the “wild frontier” where the map is just a suggestion.

  • The Altitude Variable
    Fansipan is Vietnam’s highest peak at 3,143m. On this trip, the road itself goes higher than that. Dealing with altitude sickness while piloting a motorcycle is a variable I have never had to manage before.

  • Re-learning to be a Beginner
    I’m an expert in Vietnam. In Pakistan, I’m a nobody. I don’t speak the language, I don’t know the traffic flow, and I don’t know the customs. Being a beginner again is the only way to truly learn.

The Destination – The Roof of the World

This isn’t a casual Sunday ride. The geography of Northern Pakistan is on a scale that is hard to comprehend.

  • The Eighth Wonder
    The Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Pakistan and China, cutting through the most savage mountain ranges on earth. It is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World due to the sheer impossibility of its construction.

  • The Khunjerab Pass Goal
    The mission objective is clear: Reach the Khunjerab Pass. At 4,693 meters (15,397 ft), it is the highest paved international border crossing in the world.

  • Visual Contrast
    I am used to lush green and 90% humidity. Pakistan offers the stark opposite: grey granite, white snow, and bone-dry air. Visually, it is the most dramatic contrast I could possibly find to my daily life in Hanoi.

  • The Security Reality
    Pakistan has a complex reputation. Part of this trip is to ground-truth the reality. From checkpoints to Tourist Police, I will be documenting what it’s actually like on the ground versus what we see on the news.

The Machine & The Gear

I can’t bring my own bike. I have to rent locally. This brings up the great debate: Honda vs. Suzuki.

  • The Rental Dilemma
    Similar to Vietnam’s more diverse market, Pakistan is dominated by small-displacement bikes. The budget choice comes down to the Suzuki GS150 (better suspension/power) vs. the Honda CG125 (unkillable reliability). I’m currently leaning toward the Suzuki.

  • Dressing for Two Climates
    Temperatures will range from 35°C in Islamabad to -5°C at the pass. My gear strategy is a full mesh jacket for the heat, with a heavy-duty rain shell to block the wind at altitude.

  • Soft Luggage Strategy
    Hard panniers are a liability on rocky trails—they break ankles. I’ll be using a soft luggage system (saddlebags and a duffle) to keep the weight low and tight to the bike.

The Strategy – Building in Public

I’m not just taking a trip; I’m building a product. Here is how I plan to document the journey.

  • Documentation vs. Vacation
    This is a working trip. My goal is to film, photograph, and note-take every aspect. I am sacrificing the flow of a holiday to ensure I capture the data you might need for your own trip.

  • The YouTube Series: Karakoram Project
    Starting in January, I will release bi-weekly videos covering the prep. From the visa application to the gear packing, you will see the “Mission Prep” before the ride even starts.

  • The “Guide to Northern Pakistan”
    I am compiling my research into a downloadable PDF guide. It will be the manual I wish I had right now—comprehensive, honest, and logistical.

What This Means for Rentabike Vietnam

outside ha giang homestay

I may be leaving, but the shop stays open. Here is what this means for my customers in Vietnam.

  • Business as Usual
    Rentabike Vietnam remains fully operational. We are not pausing rentals, and we are not cancelling tours. The shop doors are open.

  • The Team is Ready
    My staff has been running the day-to-day operations for years. They are more than capable of handling bookings, maintenance, and customer service without me looking over their shoulders.

  • Bringing Knowledge Home
    Every time I travel, I learn something new about hospitality or logistics. I plan to bring the best practices from Pakistan back to Hanoi to upgrade our own services.

FAQ

I fly out on May 15, 2026. The preparation content starts now (December 2025), and the guide launches in late April.

Yes, there will be one tour(dates to be announced) that a select few riders can join. This will be a media tour where we explore and also create media for future promotion of tours and more in depth guide books. I have already made Pakistan Tour Pages here, but nothing is concrete, yet.

Statistically, yes, especially in the North. However, a huge part of my mission is to answer this question honestly based on on-the-ground experience.

Absolutely nothing changes. Your bike will be ready, and my team will take excellent care of you.

I will be launching a pre-order page in February. Join the email list to get notified first.

Final Thoughts

This trip is about more than just mileage. It is about proving that even when you have found paradise, you still need to seek out the unknown. I am trading the rice terraces for the glaciers, not because I don’t love Vietnam, but because I love the spirit of adventure that brought me here in the first place.

I’m terrified, I’m excited, and I’m ready to work. I hope you’ll subscribe to the channel and follow the build. Let’s ride to the roof of the world.

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Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle rental

Engine Type

air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC

Displacement

411 cc

Bore X Stroke

78 mm x 86 mm

Ignition

TCI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

9.5:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm

Rear Suspension

linkage-type monoshock

Front Brakes

single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper

Rear Brakes

single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper

Front Tyres

90/90 – 21

Rear Tyres

120/90 – 17

Wheelbase

1465 mm

Seat Height

800 mm

Ground Clearance

220 mm

Kerb Weight

199 kg

Fuel Capacity

15 litres

Dimensions

2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)

Daily

Total

Rider (CRF 300)

$220

Pillion

$120

Damage Waiver

$20

Private Room

$40

Support Vehicle*

$150

* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group. 

Daily

Total

Rider (XR 150)

Rider (CRF 300)

Rider (CB 500X)

Rider (Himalayan 400)

$220

Rider (GS 1250)

Pillion

$120

Damage Waiver

$20

Private Room

$40

Support Vehicle*

$150

* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group. 

Daily

Total

Jeep (1 PAX)

$210

Jeep (2 PAX)

$120

Jeep (3 PAX)

$90

Jeep (4+ PAX)

$80

Rider (Easy Rider)

$115

Rider (Self-Drive)

$105

Private Room

$15

* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.

BMW 1250 GS

Engine Type

air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine

Displacement

1255 cc

Bore X Stroke

102.5 mm x 76 mm

Ignition

FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

12.5:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm

Rear Suspension

single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever

Front Brakes

dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers

Rear Brakes

single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper

Front Tyres

120/70 R19

Rear Tyres

170/60 R17

Wheelbase

1514 mm

Seat Height

850 mm

Ground Clearance

790 mm

Kerb Weight

249 kg

Fuel Capacity

20 litres

Dimensions

2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)

Honda XR 150 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

air cooled, OHC, single cylinder

Displacement

149 cc

Bore X Stroke

57.3 mm x 57.8 mm

Ignition

CDI

Fuel System

20 mm piston valve carburettor

Compression Ratio

9.5:1

Starter

electric with kick starter backup

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel

Rear Suspension

single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel

Front Brakes

dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc

Rear Brakes

mechanical drum

Front Tyres

90/90 19

Rear Tyres

110/90 17

Wheelbase

1362 mm

Seat Height

825 mm

Ground Clearance

243 mm

Kerb Weight

129 kg

Fuel Capacity

12 litres

Dimensions

2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)

Honda CB 500X motorcycle rental

Engine Type

liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke

Displacement

470 cc

Bore X Stroke

67 mm x 66.8 mm

Ignition

PGMI – FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS

Rear Brakes

240 mm disc; ABS

Front Tyres

110/80R19M/C (59H)

Rear Tyres

160/60R17M/C

Wheelbase

1445 mm

Seat Height

830 mm

Ground Clearance

180 mm

Kerb Weight

199 kg

Fuel Capacity

17.7 litres

Dimensions

2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)

Honda CRF 300 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled

Displacement

286 cc

Bore X Stroke

76 mm x 63 mm

Ignition

Full Transistor Digital

Fuel System

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

43 mm telescopic upside down

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

256 mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

220 mm disc, single piston caliper

Front Tyres

80/100 21

Rear Tyres

120/80 18

Wheelbase

1455 mm

Seat Height

880 mm

Ground Clearance

285 mm

Kerb Weight

142 kg

Fuel Capacity

7.8 litres

Dimensions

2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)