ATV Quad Bike & Jeep Tour: Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne Review

So, you’re thinking about kicking off from the city and making tracks all the way from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne? And you want to do it with a little oomph? An ATV quad bike or maybe even a Jeep, like your own little movie montage playing out in real life? It might be that you have stumbled onto a pretty remarkable way to experience the heart of Vietnam, that is to say if you know what you’re getting into, and that’s why you might want to keep reading. We’re going to lay down the essentials on what one of these tours looks like, feels like, and what to look out for.

What’s the Idea? A Look at the Route

First thing’s first, what does this escapade usually consist of? I mean, it isn’t just point-A-to-point-B. Like your typical tour goes, these trips typically aim to weave through spots that are definitely way off the beaten path. Very often that includes bits of the coast you can’t see from just sticking to main roads, or perhaps little local communities, almost like stepping back in time. You might be looking at something in the neighborhood of a 200km blast (more or less) where, actually, the goal isn’t really to get there fast, it’s to just soak everything in. Usually that stretches over a couple days, too. Which gives you the time needed to have a really nice glimpse of Vietnam beyond the major tourist spots.

Why Choose Wheels? Picking Your Poison: ATV or Jeep?

Now, why get down and dusty in a rumbling machine, eh? You could hop on a bus, sure. That said, there is a huge plus in choosing either an ATV or Jeep: freedom, that’s if you appreciate adventure. On an ATV, you’re literally in the open air, you know, sensing every smell, every change in the weather – I think it’s a pretty raw way to see stuff. A Jeep gives you a bit of comfort; sometimes that’s pretty nice to have, what with sun beating down all day. Whichever you go for, just make sure that they have the right level of grunt. So, you might want to make sure that they can cope with some of the sandier bits around Mui Ne. It’s not a race car; it’s a way to get you immersed, basically.

The Nitty-Gritty: Tour Details

Okay, what’s next then? Digging into the tour itself. Usually, you could say, these tours often roll out as a small group kind of gig, like you with just enough other folks to get a nice vibe going. It looks as if almost always there’s a guide who really knows their stuff, actually a person that speaks English reasonably and isn’t too shy to give you some background on the sights. Typically they sort out your accommodation too – you shouldn’t be figuring this out on your own – which more or less can vary from alright but simple spots, to places with a view that’ll knock you sideways. They feed you, obviously. You get to experience the dishes; probably something that doesn’t end up on restaurant menus in Ho Chi Minh, even, that’s very likely to happen. All things considered, double-check what the tour gets you, particularly like any fuel costs, any entry fees for little sites you might buzz by, even a bit of breakdown cover would be really nice.

Safety First! Things to Bear in Mind

It’s not always fun and games. A quad bike, very honestly, is a bit of a beast, and while a Jeep is probably going to be fine most of the time, you’ll want to take into account: your hide. Now, it might be that you are not planning to cane it everywhere like Mad Max, but gravel rash is no one’s friend. Look at the tour firm’s safety record, very carefully; some countries aren’t so hot on that type of thing. That is if you were going with an ATV. And what are their vehicles looking like? Actually, have they maintained them? How new are they? All questions probably worth answering before putting money down. You probably also ought to find out if their insurance covers you in a crash. Furthermore, maybe, ensure you’ve got the correct license if, say, you were planning to take the wheel of the Jeep yourself.

Timing It Right: When Should You Head Out?

Vietnam being Vietnam, things get fairly hot. So, like, when’s the best period to actually head off? In most of Vietnam, there tends to be what you might consider a dry season running roughly from November until, maybe, April. But just so you know, Mui Ne is its own little microclimate, almost, so it sometimes gets away with drying months later than places not too far away. Which is actually great for kicking around in the sand dunes, actually. What’s really unpleasant for driving anything (other than maybe a boat) is storms. Oh, yes, you can pretty much count on storms happening in the wet season and these can impact driving conditions a little bit.

Don’t Forget These Essentials

Alright, now what bits and pieces should you take? A cap or hat would probably be helpful and I would really suggest you take loads of sunscreen. In truth, shades will become almost a part of your face for the duration of your journey. Perhaps clothes wise, loose layers work, what with being able to shrug stuff off when you are starting to burn up and slap them back on again as the sun sinks. Also, what you should be thinking about is durable, comfy footwear because, odds are, there will be sections where you will want to wander away from your set of wheels a little bit. Maybe consider midge repellent and some basic meds.

Capture the Moments: Photography Tips

While seeing things with your own eyes tends to be top banana, very truthfully, you are going to want to get photos or short movies to brag to your pals. It turns out that you would probably do best to grab yourself a bit of a memory card so you can actually load up all those shots from that device with a proper good camera, even. And so maybe a spare power bank so your battery does not become empty half way into the first day? Consider as well, very likely, you’re in mucky territory so you may need something that’s not bothered by splashes. By and large, using drones over other people could be deemed to be antisocial; if the tour folks tell you not to then respect them.

Making It Personal: Customization Options

Most tours are really similar to ready-meals – but a few people providing them might really be ready to play ball with your preferences. Now it could be you’re really into seeing some little backstreet market that isn’t very famed with other tourists, so you could speak up, right? Maybe, even, there is a particular eatery or style of eating you would prefer – why not suggest it? By all accounts, these journeys really must stick with the things that have actually been committed to, but there just could exist, possibly, flexibility for someone to actually cater the escapade around the stuff you are very much jazzed about. Worth thinking about when assessing who to go to.

Review round-up

To come clean, getting from A to B in a robust, and maybe less conventional manner, makes a real difference to an escapade and this tour in Vietnam, perhaps, could well become unforgettable. You do need, arguably, to keep that perspective as regards what you must bring with you and definitely which people you commit to but getting up-close-and-personal with real stuff happening away from those vacation hotspots definitely brings its own set of prizes.

So, is this tour really going to appeal to you? You’re probably someone with a strong spirit of daring. It’s probable that your desire to check out cool sights is way more important than some frilly hotel suite. What’s more, you would love this route from Ho Chi Minh through to Mui Ne if, to be honest, you are seeking out just a bit more of the genuine thing.