Renting Scooters in Vietnam In 2024: 15+ Helpful Tips Before You Explore
Can you ride scooters in Vietnam?
Do you need a license to ride a scooter in Vietnam?
What is the most popular scooter in Vietnam based on the adventures I want to have?
Even though I’m confident with my scooter-riding skills in Southeast Asia, I still have questions whenever I visit a new country–Vietnam included. Renting scooters in Vietnam is relatively easy and very popular, but a bit different than the other Southeast Asian countries surrounding it.
Whether you’re new to Vietnam or a seasoned traveler, ensure you’re on the legal side of scooter rentals and getting the best bang for your Dong by reading this comprehensive guide. We’ll tell you who can (and shouldn’t) rent, what documentation is needed, estimated costs, vehicle maintenance, bringing your bike on public transportation, and more.
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Vietnam Traffic: Who Should (And Shouldn’t) Rent a Scooter?
If you’ve ever been to Vietnam, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that the roads in Vietnam’s cities are some of the most chaotic I have ever seen. Coupled with the fact that most companies rent semi-automatics, I was hesitant to get a scooter for weeks.
If you plan on just staying in the city, I would actually avoid renting scooters in Vietnam and really stick to public transport or getting Grabs (the Uber of Vietnam).
Who Should Rent A Scooter In Vietnam?
But if you plan on doing one of the very popular motorbike routes like:
- Ha Giang Loop
- Hai Van Pass
- Northern Vietnam Loop (Cao Bang’s Ban Gioc Waterfall, Ha Giang Loop, Sapa)
- Entire Length of Vietnam from South to North (or vice versa)
Then renting (or buying) a scooter in Vietnam is for you.
First Time Driver?
If this is your first time driving a scooter, good luck.
Just kidding, but I can promise it will be a bit intimidating. Seriously Vietnam’s traffic jams are no joke. Think hundreds of two-wheeled vehicles at one traffic light, all thrusting their engine simultaneously.
Find some space to practice riding first or try a motorbike tour in Hanoi first. On semi-automatic scooters, in particular, there are more moving parts than on automatics. So it’s important that you take some time to get comfortable with the controls before hitting the open road.
Tip! Adding a passenger or extra baggage will change how the car handles. Be sure to get used to the handling of your vehicle before adding significant weight.
Alternatives To Renting Scooters In Vietnam
If the idea of a tiny, two-wheeled vehicle going over windy mountain highways doesn’t sound appealing to you, that’s okay! You shouldn’t push yourself to do something outside of your comfort level.
Maybe you have a large group or are traveling long distances – if that’s the case, then other modes of transportation might be more ideal for you. So what are your options?
- Grab – The Southeast version of Uber is the Vietnam go-to ridesharing app.
- Cyclo and Motortaxi – The Vietnamese version of a cab. They will hang around popular areas like bus stations and tourist attraction entryways.
- Sleeper Busses – Vietnam’s sleeper buses are an excellent option for long-distance travel. They come in both normal and VIP (limo) varieties, and even the standard ones usually have enough space to fully recline. You’ll also be given water and snacks for the journey.
- Train – The train system in Vietnam is decent, slower than the bus, but also cheaper. Though it is pretty extensive, north of Hanoi, there is only one station. So, the bus will most likely be the better option for you if you go to more remote areas.
- Rental Car – Look for the most up-to-date best rental rates in Vietnam here.
- Easy Rider Options – On popular routes like Ha Giang Loop, you can join a tour with your own bike or pay for an Easy Rider driver where you’ll be driven as a passenger.
- Hire a Private Driver – Private transport works well for many other Southeast Asian countries, but this option can get very costly due to the size of Vietnam.
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Tips To Know Before Renting Scooters In Vietnam
Moral of the Story: Be careful. A lot of the tourists plan to drive long distances, and as I mentioned before, crazy driving conditions are really bad here. To make matters worse, almost nobody follows the traffic rules or speed limits, and there are also lots of windy roadways and places along the way where you can get ripped off by dishonest mechanics.
How to Safely Ride a Scooter in Vietnam
1. Always Keep Your International Driver’s License Or Permit On You
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have an international driver’s license, but driving without one is against the law. You will get ticketed for not having one. But unlike renting a scooter in Thailand, police checkpoints are not really a thing in Vietnam.
Traffic laws in Vietnam are pretty lax. I have seen local people and have been one to drive on a car-only expressway going the wrong direction.
Most scooter rental places don’t care if you have an international driver’s license or not. They’ll rent to anyone without verifying anything.
How To Get An International Driver’s License
The International Driving Permit (IDP) is an inexpensive document that allows your driver’s license to be interpreted in multiple languages. You generally don’t need additional tests, and the process is quick.
The main issue with getting an IDP is that you can only get one if you’re already in your home country–you cannot obtain one while abroad.
2. Familiarize Yourself with Local Driving Laws
Here are a few good rules to know on the local roads.
- Select the motorbike route when using your online maps. Vietnam has car-only expressways where it is illegal for two-wheeled vehicles to enter into
- In Vietnam, people drive on the right side of the road.
- Honking is extremely commonplace. Especially in mountainous areas, honking is used as a safety measure around corners.
3. Wear A Helmet Always!
In Vietnam, wearing a helmet is the law. Everyone wears these tiny little helmets that barely fit on people’s heads.
To ensure my safety (and avoid wearing these ridiculous, basically hard-shell baseball hats), I asked my rental company if they had full-size helmets with visors. They were kind enough to give us brand-new ones!
Where to Rent a Scooter in Vietnam
The price of scooter rentals in Vietnam can vary greatly. Crazily. I was shocked that some places charge as much as $10 USD daily! In comparison, I was only paying an average of $5/day for my transport in Indonesia.
In the end, I got a bike for less than 2.50$ per day (albeit I had a two weeks rental discount) for venturing just 8 kilometers outside of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
4. How to find Very Cheap Motorbikes for Rent
- Ask Expats: Many expats and digital nomads in Vietnam stay for extended periods and will have more information on which companies are cheap. That’s how I got my tip-off.
- Go out of downtown, especially in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City. I got my bike from “Viet Motors” in Hanoi –> there is a space between the words.
- Look at Reviews: I typically type “scooter rental dong” into Google, which brings up any reviews mentioning prices. This allows me to get an idea of how much the benchmark price is without running around in-person.
5. How To Spot The Bad Rental Companies
While some motorbike rental shops are out to scam you, there are ways to protect yourself. Check for good reviews and read the fine print of your contract.
Types of Scooters for Rent in Vietnam
The size of your rental company will largely determine the type of bike options available. Some companies only have semi-automatics, while others offer larger adventure manual motorcycles, fully automatic, or city bike options.
5. Most Common Types of Motorbikes and Scooters
Out of all the Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is the only one where it’s difficult to find automatic scooters. If you’re planning an overland trip in Vietnam, it’s best to go with a semi-automatic motorcycle instead.
Manual Motorcycle – RECOMMENDED FOR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS
While manuals are the better choice for experienced motorcyclists as they have a more powerful engine, they can be expensive.
Most Common Manual Bikes:
- Honda CRF 150CC
- Honda CGL 125CC
- Suzuki HJ 125CC
- Honda XR 150cc (dirt bike)
Semi-Automatic Motorcycle – RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNER RIDERS
For those unfamiliar, this is a motorcycle without a clutch or an automatic scooter with gears that shift.
If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. I promise it’s not as difficult as it seems. I had never heard of these myself before, but after only five minutes of research and an hour or so of practice, I was able to get used to the gear-changing process.
People in hilly, rainy northern Vietnam recommend semi-automatics because it’s easy to overheat your brakes on a manual and lose control. With a lower gear on a semi-automatic, the engine will help do some of the braking for you.
Also, you’re likely to have fewer repair problems since mechanics all over the country have semi-automatic parts in stock.
Most Common Semi-Automatic Bikes:
- Honda Blade 110CC
- Honda Wave 110CC
Automatic Scooters – NOT RECOMMENDED
Automatic scooters may have more power than semi-automatics and better brakes. However, they don’t perform as well on the extreme hills.
Because of this, scooters are mostly only rented out for transportation in dense urban areas; and usually cost more than semi-automatics. Many shops will literally not allow you to use automatics outside of cities. They may even have GPS trackers on them.
Cost Of Renting Scooters in Vietnam
Scooter prices can differ significantly depending on the store you visit and how new a bike you choose. However, since there is more competition in major cities, it’s usually possible to find better prices there.
If you’re planning a long trip, it might even make sense to rent from a city and pay to have the bike transported by train or bus closer to where you want to start your road trip.
7. Daily Rates Of Popular Tourist Places In Vietnam
Scooter daily rental rates in Vietnam are usually firm. More official companies allow you to haggle less than the mom & pop Vietnamese-owned ones.
- Semi-Automatic Daily Rates: 100,000 – 300,000 VND (4-12 USD)
- Manual Bikes: 250,000 – 600,000 VND (13-25 USD)
8. Long-Term Scooter Rental In Vietnam
The longer you rent, the higher the discount. The cost of long-term vehicle rental can depend on multiple factors, such as the shop you use, the condition and type of car, and your location.
Below are some average prices for long-term motorbike rentals in Vietnam, but it’s possible to find a lower price by researching online and on Facebook groups aimed at expats.
Tip! Depending on your intentions of taking the bike out of the inner city or not, the monthly cost will be different.
Monthly Rental Rates
- City Bike Only Monthly Rate (cheapest): 1 million VND/month (43 USD)
- Semi – Automatic Monthly Rate: 1.5 – 3 million VND/month (63 – 126 USD)
- Manual Bike Monthly Rate: Way too Varied To Say
9. Do You Want Insurance With Your Bike Order?
Some rental companies offer insurance for an extra daily fee which covers everything in case of a motorbike accident. However, this can be quite expensive at nearly the same price as renting a motorcycle per day.
It is up to you whether or not this makes sense for your trip. Check with your travel insurance company first to see what is covered under their policy.
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Process Of Renting Scooters In Vietnam
10. Required Documents & Deposit
Rental shop processes vary, with some being highly organized and others sadly disorganized. The best ones will have plenty of bikes to choose from, helmets in all sizes, an actual registration process, and proof of payment.
Deposits for most rental companies come in the form of requiring one passport per group. You can’t get around this for dual citizens by presenting your other passports, as the company will ask for the one with the Vietnamese visa stamp.
Most shops will not ask to see any valid driver’s licenses, and most smaller companies will not accept credit cards.
11. Check Before You Go! Avoid Issues by Picking a Reliable Motorbike
Scooter rental mishap in Bali story: I was riding around Nusa Lembongan when the scooter’s frame literally snapped in half! I had to walk/drive it back 5 miles; believe me, it wasn’t fun. If only I had checked how badly rusted it was before renting it, I could’ve avoided the whole debacle.
Inspect your rented scooter to ensure it is in good condition before leaving. Take pictures of any dents, scratches, or other areas of damage. Additionally, check all the lights and brakes are in proper working order.
We experienced this problem first-hand when we realized, too late, that one of our bikes had a broken headlight and gas gauge. Very inconvenient.
12. Carry the Registration and The Shop’s Contact Information
Before you take your scooter out for a spin, ask the shop about any paperwork that might be required.
Find out their policy on maintenance and repairs, and get their phone number if something happens while you’re on the road.
The Cost of Fuel and Maintenance
13. Fuel Fill-Ups
The two petrol types used for scooters are 91 and 95 grade, costing approximately 22,000 – 30,000 VND/liter (roughly $1 USD/liter) at most refueling stations. The smaller hand pumps typically cost the higher end of this range.
Insider Tip! Most Vietnamese gas stations will shut down at night and only reopen at around 5-5:30 am in the morning. Only a few prime locations, usually in cities, are open 24/7.
On average, a Honda Wave bike can travel approximately 60 kilometers per liter of fuel. Most bikes can hold about 4 liters of fuel at once, so you can do the math from there.
No matter where you are in Vietnam, there will always be a gas station close by. On the main roads, they are spaced out every couple of kilometers. Even in rural areas, people sell gasoline by the liter in bottles or from hand pumps. If you’re struggling to find gas, ask locals for help; most people have spare gas that they can siphon into your tank, but it’ll come at a high price.
14. Finding a Good Repair Shop
Fortunately for me, I rarely require maintenance *knock on wood*; however, this time, we had to repair a damaged tire twice! And mend a broken headlight.
I was warned that mechanics in some areas of the country could be unreliable and to especially steer clear from those located in Cat Ba and near Hai Van Pass.
When you’re in a bind, it’s only natural to seek help from the nearest repair shop. Before any work begins on your vehicle, contact the rental shop and discuss how much they will charge and if they or you are responsible for fixing whatever damage was done.
If you fall, the liability will, of course, be on you, but say there is a piece broken to rust, the problem will be on the shop.
15. Can You Put Your Motorbike on Public Transportation?
Since I was running out of time on my Vietnam visa, but desperately wanted to see Sapa, I knew we weren’t going to make it driving a scooter only in the daytime.
Turns out, you can buy seats in the undercarriage for your bikes. Both times we did this, it cost around the same as a human’s seat.
You can also pay for a seat on a train to do the same, but it may be put in a different carriage than you. I have yet to try this method, but if you want your motorbike comes on the same train as you, you may have to pay an additional fee. Otherwise, there could be a delay of a few days.
All buses and trains have this service. However, they will siphon the gas in your vehicle, leaving you stranded at your arrival location. Be sure to bring an empty water bottle and ask to keep the gas with you so you can fill up your tank again!
Other Tips For Renting Scooters In Vietnam
- Keep a rain jacket or poncho underneath your seat if renting a scooter during the rainy season or in the mountain passes. It does get chilly at nighttime at altitude.
- The last thing you want from your vacation is a painful sunburn, so protect yourself from the harmful UV rays.
- Although you should always get travel insurance *I use Safety Wings nomad travel insurance,* your insurance company won’t likely cover your damages if you’re in a motorbike accident without an international driver’s license.
Wrap-Up: Renting Scooters in Vietnam
Renting a motorbike in Vietnam is a fun and affordable way to explore the country’s stunning landscapes, from the rice fields of Sapa to the majestic mountains of Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay. With a little knowledge and safety precautions, you can enjoy a smooth and enjoyable ride.
Just familiarize yourself with the rules of the road, and always wear a helmet for your own protection. You’ll be well on your way to a thrilling Vietnam adventure following these tips!
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