S12 E8
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Season 12  "Vietnam Special"  12x8

Aired 15 years ago - Dec 28, 2008

Arriving in Vietnam, James, Richard and James have to travel the entire length of the country in just eight days. But first they have to buy some suitable transport for the trip, and despite having several million Dong in their pockets, this proves to be rather more difficult than they expected, especially in one of the most expensive car markets in the world.

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Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 1
Go on. No.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 2
Over 60 million of those have been built,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 3
Guys, I can't do that.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 4
'Jeremy and I had to get helmets made...
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 5
'If we were to reach our overnight stop in the mountain town of Da Lat,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 6
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 7
Gear box has a mind of its own, there's no suspension, it just wobbles!
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 8
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 9
Over 60 million of these sold, so if you combine the Beetle,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 10
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 11
We've drunk 'em, but we'll get another.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 12
'But later, we may have made mischief with Hammond's helmet.'
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 13
Name one upside!
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 14
That rain makes a really annoying noise on my colander...helmet.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 15
we can't just keep them going with tools,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 16
I might even get third gear. Wait for it.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 17
This is where it gets bad. Got to be careful on the downhill bits cos only the back brake works.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 18
# Nowhere to hide... #
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 19
Ah, this is Chinese brocade.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 20
Oh, come on, it's like being on holiday with two idiots.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 21
B52s, here?
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 22
You getting fond of your motorcycle, Jeremy? No. Are you sure? Yes.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 23
Check out the lining! Ho-ho-ho!
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 24
I need some straps.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 25
'communistical farming, reminders of the war, stunning food,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 26
It's gone.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 27
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 28
JEREMY CHORTLES Oh, yes!
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 29
The sun rose over another beautiful day in the 'Nam.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 30
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 31
How did you know what she asked?
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 32
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 33
We are now licenced. We could have a Top Gear licence, with all our faces on it.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 34
and the finish line was still more than 400 miles away.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 35
James was a bit upset that my spare wheel had come through my painting.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 36
In the accident, we've lost her hand.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 37
It's not brilliant, mate, if I'm honest.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 38
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 39
'Hammond didn't fancy any of that and nor did he go for the main course.'
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 40
I doubt they're connected by a three-foot wide dusty path
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 41
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 42
So there we are. It's my first bike crash, so I'm a member of the club now.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 43
Ha Long City! There it is!
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 44
No, but look on the bright side. No. What?
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 45
James had attached his bike to a traditional fishing boat,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 46
'But then in true Top Gear amphibious tradition,
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 47
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 48
He doesn't usually pitch up on a homemade amphibious scooter. No.
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 49
'But then...'
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 50
'Eventually, blind luck brought Hammond close to the pontoon

Or scroll and see one by one:

Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 2
Over 60 million of those have been built,
#2
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 3
Guys, I can't do that.
#3
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 4
'Jeremy and I had to get helmets made...
#4
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 5
'If we were to reach our overnight stop in the mountain town of Da Lat,
#5
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 6 #6 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 7
Gear box has a mind of its own, there's no suspension, it just wobbles!
#7
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 8 #8 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 9
Over 60 million of these sold, so if you combine the Beetle,
#9
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 10 #10 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 11
We've drunk 'em, but we'll get another.
#11
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 12
'But later, we may have made mischief with Hammond's helmet.'
#12
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 13
Name one upside!
#13
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 14
That rain makes a really annoying noise on my colander...helmet.
#14
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 15
we can't just keep them going with tools,
#15
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 16
I might even get third gear. Wait for it.
#16
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 17
This is where it gets bad. Got to be careful on the downhill bits cos only the back brake works.
#17
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 18
# Nowhere to hide... #
#18
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 19
Ah, this is Chinese brocade.
#19
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 20
Oh, come on, it's like being on holiday with two idiots.
#20
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 21
B52s, here?
#21
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 22
You getting fond of your motorcycle, Jeremy? No. Are you sure? Yes.
#22
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 23
Check out the lining! Ho-ho-ho!
#23
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 24
I need some straps.
#24
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 25
'communistical farming, reminders of the war, stunning food,
#25
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 26
It's gone.
#26
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 27 #27 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 28
JEREMY CHORTLES Oh, yes!
#28
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 29
The sun rose over another beautiful day in the 'Nam.
#29
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 30 #30 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 31
How did you know what she asked?
#31
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 32 #32 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 33
We are now licenced. We could have a Top Gear licence, with all our faces on it.
#33
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 34
and the finish line was still more than 400 miles away.
#34
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 35
James was a bit upset that my spare wheel had come through my painting.
#35
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 36
In the accident, we've lost her hand.
#36
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 37
It's not brilliant, mate, if I'm honest.
#37
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 38 #38 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 39
'Hammond didn't fancy any of that and nor did he go for the main course.'
#39
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 40
I doubt they're connected by a three-foot wide dusty path
#40
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 41 #41 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 42
So there we are. It's my first bike crash, so I'm a member of the club now.
#42
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 43
Ha Long City! There it is!
#43
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 44
No, but look on the bright side. No. What?
#44
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 45
James had attached his bike to a traditional fishing boat,
#45
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 46
'But then in true Top Gear amphibious tradition,
#46
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 47 #47 Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 48
He doesn't usually pitch up on a homemade amphibious scooter. No.
#48
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 49
'But then...'
#49
Recap of Top Gear Season 12 Episode 8 (S12E08) - 50
'Eventually, blind luck brought Hammond close to the pontoon
#50