The Vientiane Scooter Club recently conducted its annual rally from Laos to Vietnam, a journey which saw many of its members rediscover their origins. A group of urban middle class Lao nationals of Vietnamese and Chinese descent, the club members are driven by a desire to find their own authentic place in Lao society.
The club is one of a few new social groups to have emerged in recent years along with greater economic and cultural liberalization in Laos. On their rallies through the countryside they spread a road safety message and donate equipment to rural schools on a painstakingly restored fleet of forty-year-old Italian Piaggio Vespa motor scooters.
The club has a policeman as its leader and its activities are conducted with politically correct ‘development’ aims in mind. But the club also functions as a way urbanites with transnational origins can represent themselves in non-state ways and forge relations with foreign nationals in the region.
The club riders this year made an historic pilgrimage along the new multi-million dollar trade route that now links Thailand with Vietnam through Laos. The rally was held from February 17-24 and saw the scooters travel almost 2,500 kilometres.
The riders stayed in the Lao town of Seno in Savannakhet province before crossing the Lao Bao border checkpoint into Vietnam on their second day. They then spent the night in the old imperial city of Hue before going on to spend a further two nights in Da Nang.
In Vietnam they established relations with the scooter club in Hue and future joint rallies were promised. They met a wealthy collector in Da Nang and discussed the provision of parts and old models that will enable the club to grow into the future. Club members own most of the estimated 40 original Vespas found in Laos.
The club is made up of a core group of Lao-Vietnamese-Chinese urban Lao, whose professions range from government official and goldsmith to mechanic and journalist. It has also been joined on current and previous rallies by riders from Australia, Luxembourg and Holland.
The vintage Piaggio Vespa has been in Laos for around 50 years since the first models were most likely imported by French and American expatriates in the post-independence period.
In 2004 the club held its first major rally accompanied by a group of Thai scooter riders from Vientiane to the southern Lao city of Pakse. In 2006 the club held its rally to the southern Chinese city of Meung La and accompanied a large group of Thai riders to Luang Prabang. On both occasions, the Lao club acted as hosts for their Thai friends and patrons for development.
Photo Essay
Slide One. Vientiane Scooter Club riders reached the Lao Bao international border checkpoint between Laos and Vietnam on their second day.
Slide Two. Extraordinary views on the road between Hue and Da Nang.
Slide Three. Riders crossed the river bridge in Da Nang on the third day.
Slide Four. High mountain roads took the group into the clouds.
Slide Five. Yellow Lao number plates were conspicuous on the streets of Da Nang.
Slide Six. The riders have fashioned themselves as new age explorers.
Slide Seven. The Lao and Vietnamese scooter clubs met in the old imperial city of Hue.
Slide Eight. For some club members it was the first opportunity in their lives to visit the sea.
Slide Nine. Riders call their scooters lot bohan, literally ‘ancient’ or ‘antique’ bikes, a term denoting their ‘vintage’ status and associated cultural value.
Slide Ten. Accommodation was at times very ‘traditional’.
[Warren Mayes is a PhD Student in Anthropology at the Australian National University currently working on a thesis on urban elites and social change in Laos. He is also a member of the Vientiane Scooter Club.]
21 responses so far ↓
1 ter laogirl // Mar 8, 2007 at 7:35 pm
wow…..it verry nice n cool page ….lolzz i like this so much ……
2 NoeL // Mar 8, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Vespa So Ctue.. Wanna go with Vespa caravan…
3 vw_laos // Mar 8, 2007 at 8:15 pm
many ppl in vientien wanna do this club but get permission is very difficult.
4 Pig Latin // Mar 8, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Ahh I like this a lot.
Warren, where do I join the club?!!
5 Newley // Mar 9, 2007 at 1:19 am
This is SO awesome. Great story, and great pics.
6 Newley Purnell » Blog Archive » Overland from Laos to Vienam — By Vespa // Mar 9, 2007 at 1:33 am
[...] story — and images — from New Mandala (which, by the way, is an insightful blog about Southeast Asia): The Vientiane Scooter Club [...]
7 Mai // Mar 10, 2007 at 5:05 am
thank you for emailing me about your trip warren.
I like the beautiful mountain views.
8 Lady // Mar 10, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Awesome! Good story and beautiful pics. I wish there are more groups and activities being held in Laos, especially for young people.
9 AIRNOY // Mar 10, 2007 at 8:57 pm
This is one example of the social progression of Laos over the past decades. The youths today and tomorrow will better the country in the future. I look forward to hearing more activities like this. If you have any more great pictures feel free to e-mail them to me. Thanks…
10 DWEE // Mar 11, 2007 at 4:19 am
I’m originally from Laos… It’s great to see the pics. Looks like a lot of fun!
11 Peta // Mar 12, 2007 at 11:11 am
Why do you always get to do the fun things Warren? Arent you supposed to be working or studying or something?! Sounds like you had a fab time! Hope your Lao is getting better! See you soon!
12 Rob O'Brien // Mar 13, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Good stuff mate, loving it.
13 Thippy // Mar 25, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I think it is nice of you to share with us all your stories and photos. I don’t mind getting posted, because it is cool to know that there are such great activities~Vespa Scooter Club exist for Lao ppl and bringing together all sort walk of life, creating, sharing and strengthening beautiful friendships on this little planet of ours…Like the aussies would say “Good On ya mate”
Cheers!
14 Richard // Mar 28, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Hey Warren, Tou and the crazy Vientiane Scooter lot!
I know, because I’ve been to Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang with you guys and my heart bleeds when I see these pix of all my fromer Vespa friends from Vientiane. I hope nobody got hurt and everybody’s Vespa made it back safely to Vientiane. Miss you!
Richard (the farang from Paxane
15 Charlie Ray // Apr 14, 2007 at 9:18 am
It looks like it was a wonderful ride. I would love to join the group next year. What would it take? I live in Napa, California, USA where I ride a 4-year old ET-2.
Would there be a Vespa I could rent to go with the group next year??
Charlie
16 Morris Lambretta // Apr 16, 2007 at 1:46 am
Hi Warren
Nice your pic and graet topic of Vientiane scooter club to Vietnam ,like me now I make Thai magazine online on webpage and crazy VDO from bkk to vietnam on youtube ,
I think for the next trip from Thai we can join for travel by scoot with you again.
Cheers
Morris lambretta
17 Morris Lambretta // Apr 16, 2007 at 1:49 am
http://motorscooterridersgroup-.pantown.com/
Cheers
Morris lambretta
18 shawn parry // Jun 8, 2007 at 6:34 am
looks like fun all that way to vietnam and not to many problems.thanks for the warm lous hospitally and friendly welcome when i came to vientiane yours shawn formerly nasc
19 Bret Johnston // Jun 8, 2007 at 6:54 am
These pictures are really cool Warren! Wonder if any of those scooters actually appear in Halpern’s slides…heh heh! Maybe sometime I’ll bring my wife and two daughters for one of these pilgrimages.
Cheers,
Bret
20 Aiden // Feb 10, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Warren - can you get in touch mate. I’d like to use some of this in an upcoming report for GoL.
21 pun // Aug 7, 2008 at 2:27 am
Hi !! everybordy friends Lao people studying in vientnam
I’m want friends studying in vientnam . I hope you are friends
add me please m_poun@hotmail (enjoy na ja)
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