Half day exploring historical sites in Hanoi on a legendary motorbike from the subsidy period

During the subsidy period, when everything was scarce, owning a red Honda C70 or Super Cub was often synonymous with “having money”, because it was expensive and considered the property of the whole family. Besides, this car was also the pride of the owner, cherished, preserved and cleaned to a shiny shine.

From the idea of taking visitors back to the subsidy period, roaming Hanoi on the few remaining red DD motorbikes, a travel company has launched the tour product "Independence motorbike - Honda Motorbike Road Club".

Accordingly, tourists will be picked up and taken around town by the company's staff on this subsidy-era "super car".

The tour lasts 4.5 hours, the car starts picking up guests at Tong Duy Tan street at 7:30 am and drops off guests at 12 pm. The tour passes through famous destinations of the city such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Flag Tower, house 48 Hang Ngang - where President Ho Chi Minh wrote the Declaration of Independence, Long Bien bridge, stopping at a traditional coffee roasting workshop, a Cantonese assembly hall and enjoying snacks in Hanoi .

The “Independence Bike” tour was launched in August, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, September 2. However, the idea for this trip was thought of by Nghiem Minh Quan, co-founder of Vietnam Wander, in 2024, when he found an old, dusty Honda DD frame in his grandfather’s warehouse.

From then on, he and his friends who shared a passion for collecting vintage cars began restoring and repairing each one to prepare for the launch of a car tour to explore the capital.

At the stops of the journey, visitors are guided by a tour guide to explain the destination, the history of the place as well as the culture and daily life of the local people.

Izabel aanrad (far right), a Dutch tourist visiting Vietnam for the second time but Hanoi for the first time. “This city is beyond my imagination, both ancient and vibrant,” she said.

The female tourists said they were looking for a different experience, not simply walking around the old town. Therefore, they asked the staff at the hostel in the area for directions and decided to try booking this tour.

“Sitting in an old car is really special, like going back in time. The car drove slowly, taking me through the old streets, and the moment I remember most was when I stood on Long Bien Bridge, the cool wind of the Red River blowing on my face,” Kyra said.

In the photo, a group of tourists are walking and sightseeing at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The central area of the Imperial Citadel was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 2010.

Mr. Quan’s company currently has 15 red DD cars ready to transport passengers. Each month, the company welcomes 10-20 guests, each tour usually has 3-7 people, including both Vietnamese and international guests.

Kyra Lubber, a tourist from the Netherlands, was very excited as she sat on the back of a motorbike to visit the central area of Hanoi on the morning of August 22. This was her first time in Hanoi. “Everything was so new that I felt like I was entering a completely different world.”

Visitors participating in this tour will receive a small scarf printed with traditional motifs as a souvenir of their trip to Vietnam.

Minh Quan said what he wants most is not to take visitors on a tour, but also to let them touch history through the Honda DD, which was once a symbol in Vietnam.

Tia, a Serbian tourist, excitedly took pictures with her phone everywhere she went.

The international delegation visited Hanoi on the occasion of National Day, September 2nd, and was very excited to see the streets and shops everywhere decorated with the bright red flag with yellow star.

The group of tourists stopped at the Hanoi Moi newspaper, a famous check-in spot for young people when they come to the capital. Here, Kyra and the tour guide spontaneously danced to a tune in the middle of the street, surrounded by a group of friends cheering them on.

Tour price is about more than 1.5 million VND per person.

In addition to the experience of exploring the capital on a red Honda, the tourists said the most memorable moment was when the convoy stopped at a coffee roasting factory. “Smelling the fragrant aroma of coffee while it was being roasted, making it myself and drinking it right there was an experience I will never forget,” Kyra said.

“I was really surprised to see red flags covering the streets. The city seemed to come to life. I saw the pride in the eyes of the people, it touched me,” said Serbian tourist Tia.

Source: Vnexpress Newspaper

Source: http://sodulich.hanoi.gov.vn/nua-ngay-kham-pha-cac-diem-lich-su-o-ha-noi-tren-xe-may-huyen-thoai-thoi-bao-cap.html

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