Enthralled by Saigon’s Street Racers’ Vintage Car Collection

The Law of Attraction

Vintage Vespa enthusiasts used to say that a day riding a Vespa is better than a lifetime wandering aimlessly. This statement alone speaks to the allure of this type of scooter. The Vespa first appeared in the 1940s and made its way to Vietnam around 1953.

It possesses an elegant and gentle design, with a distinctive sound that sets it apart from any other type of motorcycle: “Tang… tang… tang.” Models like Acma, Standard, Super, and Sprint were once the dreams of many. If you were lucky enough to own a Standard model from the years 25 and 26, a Super model from VPC 44, 45, 46, or a Sprint model from 08, you had something truly special.

Mr. Tran Tien Dung (60 years old, living in District 3, an experienced vintage scooter enthusiast) shares, “Buying a Vespa in the mid-1900s was very expensive. It cost the same as buying a house (about 4 tael of gold), so only the noble families could afford to ride this type of scooter.” Vintage Vespas were not only valuable in terms of material wealth but also possessed an irresistible charm, captivating the youth in extraordinary ways. That’s why there’s a saying: “A hundred words are not as powerful as the smoke from a Sprint.”

In the following decades, various Vespa models were introduced to the Vietnamese market. This type of scooter quickly became the object of desire for both men and even the traditionally delicate female population. Watching skilled riders and beautiful ladies cruising on these vintage scooters evokes nostalgia for a bygone era. Streets were less crowded then, free from dust and noise, and of course, motorcyclists did not wear helmets like they do now.

After a while, vintage Vespas almost disappeared due to their high fuel consumption and the various mechanical issues they often encountered, such as faulty spark plugs and tires. As beautiful and classy as they were, these scooters were too gas-guzzling. Many owners opted for a Honda cup, which offered more fuel efficiency. Some people even have stories from the time when they received a monthly ration of a few liters of gasoline from their employers.

It was common for well-off young men to run out of gas while driving a date across the Saigon Bridge, especially during the weekend. If they didn’t carry a portable fuel tank, they had no choice but to hitch their Vespa to a rickshaw to get home. Many young men and women have fond memories of that time.

In Ho Chi Minh City, there is even a place specializing in restoring these scooters, owned by a genuine Englishman. One of the rarest versions of Vespa, the Piaggio LX150 (in black and gold), runs using a throttle and costs no less than 90 million dong per scooter.

Nguyen Van Hung (50 years old, living in Phu Nhuan District, a vintage scooter enthusiast) proudly states, “I have owned 6 different Vespa models. Honestly, since 1964, I have not ridden any other motorcycle besides a Vespa. It is simply because it is so attractive that once you ride this type of scooter, you don’t want to ride anything else.”

Mr. Hung currently owns a Vespa PX150 manufactured in 1985, which, according to him, is about 90% original and worth around 55 million dong. He likes to ride this type of scooter because it is beautiful, luxurious, and looks very elegant. Moreover, it is driven by a belt instead of a chain, making it safer for users. However, riders need to know how to ride, care for, and maintain it properly in order for it to last.

Truong Vinh Thang (44 years old), a vintage Vespa enthusiast and the owner of a custom workshop in District 11, said that the starting price for these scooters is around 2,500 US dollars. After restoration, a high-quality scooter with a good engine can cost several hundred million dong, which is considered normal.

Owners of vintage scooters usually have a good understanding of mechanics because breakdowns can occur. When passing through Tran Khanh Du Bridge (connecting District 1 and Binh Thanh District), or climbing the Saigon Bridge or the Thu Thiem Bridge, if the scooter stalls, you need to know how to fix it. Typically, they carry various tools in the trunk. If something goes wrong, they fix it on the spot. These scooters do not have a fuel gauge like modern motorcycles, so they often run out of gas unexpectedly, requiring riders to regularly check the fuel level. Sometimes, the smoke produces an unpleasant smell that annoys other road users because there may be an issue with the fuel-oil mixture.

Mr. Thang’s club in Ho Chi Minh City has hundreds of members. Each vintage scooter has a different color and is often parked in front of Tao Dan Park. Members of his club wear matching uniforms during charity activities, transporting foreign travelers, and they regularly meet up at a coffee shop on Nguyen Du Street, District 1.

Meanwhile, the online vintage Vespa club receives new members every day from all over the country. New Vespa clubs have even emerged in remote areas such as Ca Mau and Quang Ninh. The Saigon Vespa Club and Hanoi Vespa Club are the most active when it comes to activities and collections.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the number of members participating in these clubs has reached nearly 500, with people from all walks of life and ages, divided into various smaller groups including Vespavn, Vespa Saigon, PX, and Q6. Each group organizes unique and distinctive activities, but they all share a common interest and passion for vintage Vespas. Seeing these Vespa scooters gliding under the gentle sun, both young men and women express their unique personalities. It’s clear that the trend of riding vintage scooters is rapidly gaining popularity.

In recent years, during times of economic affluence, the streets of Saigon have seen a rise in the trend of riding vintage scooters such as Lambretta (Lam “gia”), Super cup, Mobylette, and more. It is not only the gentlemen who adopt this rugged style, but many girls also enjoy riding these scooters, often wearing trendy outfits to match. If the scooter is repainted red, the girl’s dress must also be red.

Nguyen Thi Van Khanh (29 years old, living on Le Van Luong Street, District 7) shares, “Seeing my friends riding this type of scooter, I saved up money and asked my boyfriend to find one for me. I really enjoy riding these vintage scooters. They have a special charm.” As a girl, Van Khanh only knows how to push the scooter if it breaks down, as many of them are already too old and nearly all parts need to be replaced.

A Valuable Collection

One well-known vintage scooter enthusiast is Mr. Ky, the CEO of a travel company in Ho Chi Minh City. He has a collection of 15 vintage scooters, including Honda cup, classic 67 scooters, and more, all of which are in their original condition and “untouched.” “I noticed that everyone has hobbies like collecting stamps, business cards, bicycles, light bulbs, and so on for entertainment; that’s why about a decade ago, I came up with the idea of collecting vintage scooters because I have loved motorcycles since I was young,” Mr. Ky confided.

True to his word, Mr. Ky embarked on a quest, searching at vintage motorcycle shops and vintage scooter clubs in Ho Chi Minh City to find the rarest, untouched scooters with original engines. These “hunters” searched from Western to Eastern regions to find the oldest vintage scooters. Finally, they brought back to Saigon what appeared to be piles of scrap metal. News traveled fast, and Mr. Ky immediately took the old scooters to a specialized vintage scooter restoration shop on Ly Thai To Street to bring them back to life.

With the passage of time, he gradually expanded his collection from just a few scooters to his most recent addition, the 15th scooter, a vintage Vespa Standard from 1960, which is considered extremely scarce in Saigon. Currently, no new additions have been made to this collection due to the limited availability of vintage scooters that are still in their original condition, as Mr. Ky shared. Each scooter in this collection costs more than 2,000 US dollars. Some people were willing to pay even higher prices, but he was not swayed.

Mr. Ky took us to his parking area, where he lovingly cared for each scooter. Out of the 6 Mobylette scooters, 3 remained unpainted and the paint on them remained exactly as it was 70 years ago. The other 3 were refurbished, with chrome plating, reupholstering, and now have eye-catching red and gold paint jobs, complete with beautiful leather bags on the sides. Mr. Ky explained that after so many years, the leather bags he bought originally were torn, so he had to make new ones. In addition, there are 4 red Velo Solex scooters that are completely original, and the pedal pairs are also “untouched.”

As Mr. Ky passionately explained the preciousness of the fuel tanks for these vintage scooters, he mentioned that replacing a fuel cap costs up to 200 USD, which is not easy to find. Trying out the Vespa Standard with the license plate 52T2… the roaring sound of “grum… grum… grum…” resonated throughout the surroundings. This particular scooter had been repainted in a striking black-and-blue color scheme.

“I have to preserve these vintage scooters so that in the future, children and grandchildren can remember a past era when Vietnam was under French and American colonization. This is something that should be viewed through the lens of history. Perhaps it is through these vintage scooters that future generations will develop a deeper love for our beautiful and prosperous country,” Mr. Ky confided.