VietNamNet Bridge – More people in HCMC have fallen in love with old bikes as these simple vehicles help them enjoy leisure time and a feeling of peace in the hustle and bustle of this city.

A customer checks a vintage Labor bicycle

A retiree called Luong living in District 5 said he has decided to buy a bicycle to frequent some specific places because the motorbike is too cumbersome for him now. “It’s much more convenient to ride a bicycle here and there when I’m retired,” he said.

As a quiet person, Luong likes to possess a vintage bicycle to fulfill his desire for owning antiques.

Nguyen Thanh Danh, the owner of a vintage bicycle shop in HCMC’s District 11, said old bicycles have been popular in Hanoi for years, and more and more people in HCMC have recently bought and collected vintage bikes.

More than a decade ago, Danh started to traverse corners of the country to collect old bicycles made in Japan in 1980-1990 and in France and Vietnam in the 1940s and 1950s.

Vintage bicycles bring owners a feeling of peace and delight when they ride in rural areas or in a busy city like HCM City

Asked about the prices he has paid for such bikes, Danh said his collection comprises of some vintage made-in-France bicycles priced at VND10-70 million each. There are many bicycles worth hundreds of millions of Vietnam dong. A brand new bicycle may cost a fortune or a house in the past.

Danh told the Daily that the value of an old bicycle depends on where it was made. For example, an original Sauvage Paris produced in 1940 is offered for sale at VND60 million, or a Peugeot of the same age costs VND45 million. Those bikes whose accessories have been replaced are sold at VND2-15 million each.

According to some collectors, most vintage bicycles on the local market were made with unique designs by famous manufacturers 60-70 years ago.

At present, many people sell famous bike brands including Marila, Sterling, Mercier, Peugeot, Aviac and Labor from France, Dyno from the U.S. or some other brands from Japan. Besides, customers can also purchase a bike assembled with different parts belonging to vintage bicycles at prices from VND500,000 to VND3 million.

Apart from the joy of owning unique bicycles, collectors also take great pleasure in fixing old vehicles. This is an interesting experience for old bike lovers, Danh explained.    

SGT