Day 23: The Final Day of the Journey

• From - To: Doris Cruise – Hotel Emerald Waters Classy

• Distance: 158 km, 4:00h

• Routes: CT06 – QL279 – DT326 – QL18 – QL17 – DT276 – DT287

• Accommodation: Hotel Emerald Waters Classy, Standard Double Room with A/C 35 Eur per night, including breakfast

Ha Long is connected to Hanoi by a 140 km long toll highway, which prohibits two-wheeled vehicles. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that Google Maps settings exclude toll roads and highways, and if possible, choose a motorbike-friendly route.

Strangely, Google Maps proposed different routes on Android and iPhone devices. Even more peculiar was that the Android motorbike route directed me via QL18 – a toll highway. On the last day of my trip, I was reminded once again that while Google Maps is a useful assistant, it should not be trusted blindly. Hence, I advise checking your daily route in advance, preferably the night before. Zoom in on the map with the Satellite view to ascertain if it's truly a highway, to spot trucks or buses, nature or houses along the road, and if there are markers for points of interest like temples, viewpoints, caves, etc. My rule of thumb is – the better I prepare for a journey, the fewer surprises I encounter. Some people may disagree with me, as they enjoy unexpected adventures on their trips. That’s fine; everyone is different, and the choice is yours.

My journey from Ha Long to Hanoi was pleasurable. The road offered a variety of segments, so it wasn’t monotonous. In the beginning, the road was nearly empty, meandering through green hills and small villages. Here, I often saw huge, ornately decorated tents, sometimes erected right on a closed-off street. It was Saturday, and the Vietnamese were preparing for weddings. Even though it was only midday, with tables being set and decorations arranged, loud music was already playing, and early guests had begun singing karaoke.

In the middle of the trip, the road expanded, with the appearance of buses and some trucks. Nearing Hanoi, settlements thickened, and the number of scooters increased. With 50 kilometers left to Hanoi, it already felt like I was inside the city. The scooter flow briefly thinned on the embankment along the Duong River but intensified again when crossing the Chuong Duong Bridge over the Red River. Just a kilometer later, I turned into a narrow, bustling street in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

After three weeks of navigating Vietnam's roads on a motorbike, I felt as confident as I do driving my car in Vilnius. Traffic, which at first seemed completely chaotic, now seemed normal, predictable, and no longer affected my pulse rate. At one moment, I even felt a twinge of sadness, realizing it was my last day riding the Winner, knowing I would return it the next day and everything would revert to how it used to be...

No, things won't be as they were before. I realized that I enjoyed motorbiking so much that I wanted to take the bike to bed with me! But I knew my wife Vilma wouldn’t allow it. Only an utter madman sleeps with a motorbike...

But I also knew she'd be right. However... I needed to figure out something, find a way to convince her that our garage had room for a motorbike. I think the best idea would be for us to return to Vietnam for another motorbike journey. Maybe even with friends. I'm sure they would love it; it couldn't be any other way.

Three aspects continually amazed me throughout my twenty-three-day journey: the limitless beauty of nature, the people’s hospitality, and... the prices. Vietnam is an incredibly beautiful and astonishingly affordable country!

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Short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and Crocs are examples of inappropriate attire for motorbike riding. You should never dress like this when riding a bike!

This holds true even when you are returning the Winner X after having traveled 2.638 kilometers over 23 days, and even if Happy Zip Motorbikes is only 700 meters away ;)