The so-called Ho Chi Minh Trail is one of the most renowned legends of the Vietnam War. So far, there have been many people outside Vietnam who have only superficial knowledge on the road system winding along the Truong Son Range, that facilitated movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam. The Trail was playing the key role in the Communist victory over South Vietnam.
In the early 2000, the Communist government in Hanoi decided to construct a highway, the Ho Chi Minh Highway, along the Truong Son Range to connect North Vietnam with South Vietnam, parallel to the existing Highway 1 in the coastal areas of Central Vietnam. The construction is going on, and would be completed in four years if everything goes as planned.

Prompted by tales of the formidable Ho Chi Minh Trail, many journalists and observers outside Vietnam quickly adopt the false notion that the new highway is built on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, or the Trail is reborn and rebuilt as Ho Chi Minh Highway, without giving it a second thought.

In fact, the old trail and the new highway ARE NOT AT THE SAME LOCATION BUT MILES APART.

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Always keep your eyes forward and slow down at every intersection. If you and another are both converging on the same spot then who ever make the first evasive move (to the left or right) is the action that both of you should then follow. You are not bonded by notions of right or wrong driving rules from back home - if the guy turn to avoid you and it means he is heading into traffic and even if it is on the wrong side of the road, then it is good practice. By following the first move everyone know each other’s intention. If you are heading straight at someone then communicate to the other person by giving your handle bars a bit of a turn in the direction you are committing yourself to indicate to them what you are about to do. Whatever you indicate will then lock you into a non-collision situation.

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The two stroke, single cylinder Byelorussian Minsk is a 125cc dirt bike capable of getting you anywhere in Vietnam. In its manual it says: “These motorcycles are especially suitable for service in the country-side with bad or no roads.”

If you tinker with it, keep it clean and make regular inspections then the Minsk will become a true friend. You will not see many of these bikes in the Hanoi as the locals consider themselves above such an ungainly, oil billowing reminder of past Russian dominance. In the mountains and hills, however, the Minsk rules supreme. Every mechanic knows how to fix a Minsk, and there are places everywhere selling spare parts.

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The 1996 - model Minsk

The 1996 - model Misk

In 1996 two versions of the standard Minsk were made. They look exactly the same but on the inside one is better because its alternator is stronger and easier to fix. If you buy the bike new then for an extra US$10 they will put in the better version. The weaker alternator is easily recognized because it has a number of round holes drilled through its cover.

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