'Independent Vehicle' - Experience the tour to discover the history of the Capital by Honda DD

“Independent Vehicle” is not simply a tour of the thousand-year-old capital. It is a journey initiated by people who love and preserve old Honda Cubs and Honda DDs.

In the early autumn days of Hanoi , when the golden sunlight shines through the windows, the red flag with yellow star covers the streets, people seem to "relive" the Independence autumn of the past. There is the sound of the ward loudspeaker echoing in their memories. There is the smell of kitchen smoke mixed with the smell of gasoline. There is the figure of a person pushing a motorbike through a small alley. And, there is the sound of the red Honda DD - the mechanical dream of many Vietnamese families in the 1980s.

Not the leisurely cyclo, not the colorful double-decker bus, nor the clunky tourist cars - "Xe Doc Lap" brings to Hanoi a completely new type of experience. The red Honda DDs are a symbol of pride, of family memories, of a subsidy period.

The red Honda DD is one of the motorbike models associated with the difficult period in Vietnam in the 1980s. At that time, motorbikes were not only a means of transport but also the most valuable asset. (Photo: Bao Ngoc/Vietnam+)

For the 1980-1990 generation, the Honda Cub or especially the red Honda DD was not simply a means of transport. It was a great asset for the whole family, a dream nurtured by food stamps and years of waiting. People cherished it like a member of the family. Every afternoon, the father cleaned the bike in the yard, the mother kept the space for the bike to “breathe” while the children sat around listening to the lullaby of the engine.

Mr. Nghiem Anh Quan - founder of Honda Motorbike Road Club shared about the club to find memories of Honda DD: "Once when cleaning the warehouse, I came across the rusty iron frame of an old Honda DD lying still like a forgotten souvenir. I thought, that memory cannot be in a dark corner, it must start the engine, run again, go into every street. So Road Club was born - so that memories are not only on paper, but also come alive in everyday life."

Mr. Nghiem Anh Quan (left) - founder of Honda Motorbike Road Club takes a photo with Hanoians who love classic Hondas. (Photo: Bao Ngoc/Vietnam+)

Having a car means being able to take mom to the market, take dad to work, take your childhood to school. Having a car means that even in difficult times, there is still a small pride. And when that memory passes, leaving a void in us, people realize that sometimes the sound of an engine is enough to evoke a time.

Keeping that memory alive, a group of young people and vintage car lovers founded the Honda Motorbike Road Club. They collect and preserve the remaining Honda DDs, not only to admire them, but to bring them back to those old days.

“Independent Vehicle” is not simply a sightseeing tour. It is a journey initiated by people who love and preserve old Honda Cubs and Honda DDs. They collect the vehicles that were once symbols of the subsidy period, of family pride, to today take tourists through Hanoi with the old rhythm.

"In the past, having a car meant escaping dependence, going further, and being able to take care of the family. Choosing September 2, I wanted to connect family memories with national memories so that each turn of the wheel was also a time to start the engine with the spirit of freedom," said Mr. Quan.

The “Independence Car” tour will take visitors to explore the historical sites of the capital. (Photo: Bao Ngoc/Vietnam+)

And on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), Honda Motorbike Road Club introduced the "Independent Vehicle" service for the first time in Hanoi. This is not just a sightseeing tour, but a journey of memories, sitting on a red Honda DD, visitors are taken through places associated with the history and memories of the city.

According to Mr. Quan, tourists booking a tour will be informed of the schedule and departure time, 'usually departing very early, when the streets are still covered in mist and the sun is just starting to rise,' Mr. Quan shared.

At exactly 6:30, the red Honda DDs started up, the sound of the engines beating out the rhythm of a special trip. The drivers would take the tourists into every corner of the old town, where all memories of Hanoi begin.

From the Old Quarter where the moss-covered tiled roofs and narrow alleys still preserve the traditional way of life. From there, the journey weaves through the streets, stopping at the Cathedral, a building over a hundred years old that still stands the test of time.

The small, pretty convoy weaves its way into the Old Quarter, where all memories of Hanoi begin. (Photo: Bao Ngoc/Vietnam+)

The car continued to glide past the Opera House, where the footsteps of revolutionary soldiers on the day of the Hanoi uprising were imprinted. The wheels tapped on Long Bien Bridge - a bridge that has witnessed two centuries, gone through bombs and bullets, and now stands silently in the middle of the Red River.

The journey also stops at a hand-roasted coffee shop, where the rustling sound of the mill reminds us of the simplicity and thrift of a time. Then we go to Dong Xuan Market, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, alleys with murals, or ancient pagodas hidden in the shade of trees. Each stop is not only for sightseeing, but also for visitors to feel Hanoi through the scent, sound, and touch of a Hanoi with many layers of memories.

What is special is that the drivers are also real 'tour guides', telling stories about the history, cuisine and lifestyle of Hanoi. In just one morning of about 3-4 hours, visitors can experience a complete capital from the past to the present.

Ms. Tran Thi Huyen - a guest participating in the 'Independent Vehicle' tour. (Photo: Bao Ngoc/Vietnam+)

Ms. Tran Thi Huyen - a guest after the trip shared: "I remember when I was little, every time I heard the hoarse sound of the car, the familiar smell of smoke, memories came flooding back. In the late afternoon, just the sound of the car echoing at the end of the alley, knowing that my father had just come home from work, I hurried out to welcome my loved ones. Sitting behind the car once made my heart flutter with joy."

Perhaps like this country, those old cars have gone through hardships, attached to many Vietnamese people. Sitting behind the seat of a Honda DD, people like Ms. Huyen can see more clearly Hanoi’s slowness, gentleness and depth.

In the context of the tourism industry accelerating for the peak of National Day on September 2, the appearance of the "Independent Car" tour is a "breath of fresh air." It not only contributes to enriching the tourist experience but also evokes pride, connecting different generations through a familiar symbol.

With this unique tour, Hanoi is not only seen, but also felt through the sound of engines, the smell of vehicle exhaust, and the memories of an entire period. A type of memory tourism has officially appeared in the capital, promising to become a special highlight on the cultural experience map of Vietnam./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/xe-doc-lap-trai-nghiem-tour-kham-pha-lich-su-thu-do-bang-honda-dd-post1056819.vnp