Minsk enthusiasts mostly from northern Vietnam gather for a Minks off-road tournament on November 5, 2017, in Hanoi, Vietnam. A new generation of Vietnamese has started to ply the roads across Vietnam on the Soviet-era Minsk motorcycle, a smoke-belching dirt bike that was introduced by the USSR in the 1950s. Despite being known for breaking down regularly, the retro-looking motorcycle is still favored among Vietnamese students with its economical cost and ability to customize. Costing between $300-$400USD for a well-running two-strokes engine motorbike, some riders further modify the Soviet-era relic during off-road races. The primitive Minsk motorbikes have been known to be a reminder of the Soviet's influence in Vietnam decades ago, and often nicknamed by Vietnamese at far-flung villages as "buffaloes."