Here it is by Hoan Kiem Lake in central Ha Noi. Friendly isn't it? Just asking you to hop in and go for a trip. It would not have been so friendly looking when it was young. It was left here at the end of the American war. We don't actually know how old it is as its documents discreetly say manufactured before 1975. There is one main difference and some minor ones to how it looked in those days. The main difference is that we have had big wheels fitted. The American G.I.s were expected to tolerate the rough ride that the original narrow wheels gave.

 

 

Our big wide tyres make a huge difference to the comfort of passengers - as we hope you will find out. The soft top is a new design and the wing mirrors and number plates are just keeping up with legal requirements. (Actually the seats have a bit more padding too).

 

The last three pictures were taken in Ha Noi by the Truc Bach and West Lakes.

But before you start to think we never let it out of the town, here are some pictures out on tour. The one above was taken to the north west of Ha Noi, but here you are seeing the jeep before we had removed the modern lights on the roof and the camouflage cloth coverings - also modern.

And then below two shots near Than Uyen, on one of our favourite routes - few tourists, fine road, and friendly local ethnic people along the way. To the right the Jeep as it was, and to the left as it is now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next pictures take us up to the north of Vietnam. First two in Ha Giang Province. To the left leaving the Mi Pi Leng Gorge on the way down to Meo Vac, and to the right showing how easy it is taking photographs from the Jeep up among the hills of Dong Van.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we are in high places. Here you see Phang Xi Pang, mainland south east Asia's highest mountain just getting into the picture at the left. Here we are on the Tram Ton pass coming over to Sa Pa. Sadly this was a good day, too often Sa Pa and the surrounding area hide themselves in mist - as do all such places. Now here is a place the Jeep cannot take you - if you have three or four spare days there are guided climbs of the mountain.

Here more typical roads, the right hand one being soon after an avalanche.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the result is that the Jeep may come to look like it does in the left-hand picture above. In the right picture it is seen negotiating a mud bath - and, no it has not really changed colour, just what happens if you lighten a picture taken at dusk.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately everywhere there are those willing to wash a Jeep for a small sum, so it does not have to remain dust covered for too long. In wilder parts there are usually fords which allow a free wash, and as you see in the picture to the right below, sometimes the driver wants to be included in the wash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jeep does go long distances, that last picture was taken on a trip to Laos. And the next picture shows it by the central lake in Da Lat in the south of Vietnam. Sometimes people like to fly one way on these longer trips and go by Jeep for the other leg of the journey.

 

 

 

 

 

While we think of the Jeep as a great way of seeing the country, others get fascinated by the Jeep itself, and once away, in areas like this in the far north of Vietnam, it becomes an object of curiosity and an endless excuse for exchanges with local people.

 

 

 

 

When at home in Tinh Gia the Jeep gets put to other uses. Sometimes just as beast of burden - here below carrying a tree ready for the New Year celebrations - Tet.

And if you want to have a really fashionable Wedding Car then this is it!