Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam

Expenses for a Motorbike Road Trip in Vietnam

Last updated September 2022 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle

Tom, Vietnam Coracle

Tom Divers is the founder and creator of Vietnam Coracle. He’s lived, travelled and worked in Vietnam since 2005. Born in London, he travelled from an early age, visiting over 40 countries (he first visited Vietnam in 1999). Now, whenever he has the opportunity to make a trip, he rarely looks beyond Vietnam’s borders and his trusty motorbike, Stavros. Read more about Tom on the About Page, Vietnam Times and ASE Podcast.


An independent motorbike road trip in Vietnam is an unforgettable travel experience, but how much does it cost? In this guide, I’ve summarized the essential expenses for a road trip in Vietnam and calculated an average daily budget. Certain expenses are fundamental and unavoidable, but others are optional and depend entirely on how much you want to or can afford to spend. Even within the necessary costs, there are different levels to choose from according to your budget. The information in this guide is designed to help travellers estimate how much their road trip in Vietnam will cost.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Relax & stay within budget on your motorbike road trip

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EXPENSES FOR A MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP


A Guide to Daily Costs & How Much to Budget

In this guide, I’ve outlined all the basic daily expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam, followed by estimates of total daily costs. This guide covers the most essential components of a road trip, from motorbike rental to accommodation, food and drink to gasoline. I’ve given a detailed summary of each major daily expense so that travellers can work out roughly how much to budget for a road trip in Vietnam. Bear in mind that prices in this guide are only approximate and, of course, subject to change. (For more useful resources, take a look at Related Posts.)

CONTENTS:

Motorbike Rental

Accommodation

Food & Drink

Gasoline

Extras

Total Daily Costs

More Resources


Please Support My Site
Vietnam Coracle is free to read & 100% independent. I never receive payment for anything I write & there’s no sponsored content. If you like this guide, please consider making a donation or becoming a patron.
Thank you,
Tom


Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
A great travel experience. but how much does a motorbike road trip cost?

*Road Safety & Disclaimer: Riding a motorbike in Vietnam – or anywhere in the world – has its dangers. I would hope & expect anyone who chooses to pursue a self-drive road trip based on the information on this website does so with care, respect & due diligence. I encourage careful riding & adherence to road rules, but I am not responsible for the legality or manner in which you ride, nor any negative consequences which may result from your decision to ride a motorbike in Vietnam: you do so at your own risk. Read more >

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Motorbike Rental: $7-$15/day

The biggest single expense of your road trip will be your motorbike. Whether you rent or buy, the payment is made up front in one lump sum at the beginning of your road trip. And, in the case of rental, you’ll be required to pay a deposit. The rental market in Vietnam is now highly sophisticated and efficient, meaning the only reason to buy your motorbike is if you’re planning on being in Vietnam long-term: significantly more than a month. Ultimately, it’s cheaper, more convenient, safer and better in every way to rent than buy. Details below:


Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
To rent or to buy? that is the question

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Selected Resources What’s this?

Renting a Motorbike: There are lots of excellent motorbike rental companies in Vietnam and competition keeps standards high and prices reasonable. If you choose to rent your motorbike, you should do so from a reputable company, such as Tigit, Flamingo, Rent A Bike, Dragon Bikes and Style Motorbikes* to name just a few. These are all highly professional and reliable rental services that are represented in major cities across Vietnam and can arrange pick-up and drop-off in specific locations nationwide. Rental costs depend on the model of motorbike and how long you rent for. Standard models – 110cc-125cc Honda/Yamaha automatics or semi-automatics – work out between $7-$12 per day if renting for at least a couple of weeks. This represents extremely good value for money. Even bigger bikes, such as the Honda XR manual and many others, work out as low as $15 per day if renting for a month. The bottom line is that for $150-$350/month you can rent a wide range of good motorbikes for the duration of your road trip.

Remember that rental bikes are well-maintained (it’s in the rental companies’ interest to keep their motorbikes in good condition) and often include certain accessories, such as good helmets, rain ponchos and luggage racks, as standard. What’s more, all good rental companies offer 24-hour assistance. In addition, there are lots of tempting optional add-ons, such as sat-nav, GIVI bike boxes and more. However, once you start adding extras, your daily costs quickly spiral. The rental companies’ websites are increasingly user-friendly and easy to navigate, and the whole rental process is much more streamlined than it used to be. The bar keeps being raised. So why wouldn’t you rent? The only reason, from a budget traveller’s perspective, is that you are required to pay a deposit: generally between $300-$1,000 depending on the motorbike model.

*Please note: This website sometimes carries advertising for motorbike rental companies that I know, like, personally use and/or vouch for. Although I respect and value these companies, I am not affiliated with them in any way.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Motorbike rental in Vietnam is now highly sophisticated, efficient & reliable

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Buying a Motorbike: You can buy an old manual motorbike, such as a Honda Win, for as little as $200 (5,000,000vnđ) by scouring the backpacker areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi or searching online marketplaces, such as Facebook and Craigslist. However, to find a better quality second-hand motorbike, such as a 110cc Honda Wave/Honda Blade semi-automatic or 125cc Yamaha Nouvo/Honda Air Blade automatic, you will need to spend more: $250-$350 (6,000,000-8,500,000vnđ). In the case of a Honda Win, you will likely have to spend money on maintenance before and, most probably, during your trip, which, aside from being a nuisance (and a safety risk), will increase the costs considerably. Another drawback of buying your motorbike, is that you will lose a couple of precious days at the beginning of your road trip trying to find a suitable bike to buy, and, at the end of your road trip, trying to find a buyer to take it off your hands.

In addition, unlike the rental companies who have a vested interest in keeping all their bikes well-maintained and in good condition because they will be using them again and again, when you buy a motorbike from a random person, their only incentive is to sell the bike as quickly as possible, regardless of quality, condition or value for money. Remember, too, that when you buy a motorbike, you must have the accompanying ‘blue/green card’. Even if you buy a rock-bottom priced Honda Win for $200, your savings, if any, are minimal compared to the monthly price of renting a motorbike. Given all of the above, I strongly recommend renting instead of buying, unless you intend to be in Vietnam for significantly longer than a month or if you have enough mechanical knowledge to assess the quality of bikes for sale.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Is it worth buying your bike? Not really

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Accommodation: $5-$15-$50+/day

Your biggest daily expense while on the road will be accommodation. In the cities and major tourist destinations you can find everything from dirt cheap dorms to astronomically priced luxury resorts. But, on the road in the countryside, the choice is generally limited to cheap local guesthouses, mini-hotels and homestays. One of the best ways to save on accommodation is not to travel alone: sharing the cost of a room between two or more people can halve the price of sleeping. If you’re a budget traveller, you should be able to keep average accommodation costs down to $10 per night. Details below:


Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Best way to save on accommodation: don’t travel alone

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Guest Houses, Hostels & Mini-Hotels: Unless you’re sticking entirely to the beaten track, you will be spending many of your nights on the road in nhà nghỉ (local guest houses). These can be found all over the country – even in the remotest regions – and are usually good value for money. Often family-run, nhà nghỉ offer simple, clean, comfortable accommodation with private bathrooms: they are essentially mini-hotels. Averaging 200,000-400,000vnđ ($8-$16) for a double, twin, triple, or even quadruple room, nhà nghỉ are particularly good value for couples, two travelling friends, or a small group of travelling companions. If you’re travelling alone you should be able to get a room for 200,000-300,000vnđ ($8-$12). (I’ve written more about nhà nghỉ on this page.) Dorm-style ‘backpacker’ hostels are common in well-established tourist enclaves, such as big cities and popular destinations. These can be very cheap (100,000vnđ/$4 per night), convivial and traveller-friendly places for a night or two.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
A good, cheap dormitory in a hostel

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Homestays & Airbnbs: In certain regions of Vietnam, particularly in the northern mountains, homestays in traditional wooden houses offer some of the cheapest (and most atmospheric) accommodation available anywhere in the country. The price for a mattress on the floor under a mosquito net in highland destinations, such as Hà Giang, Mù Cang Chải, Sa Pa, Pù Luông and Mai Châu, can be as little as 50,000-100,000vnđ ($2-$4) per night. Generally, guests are also expected to buy into the family-style dinner (an additional 100,000-200,000vnđ), but there’s no reason why you can’t just pay for your bed and opt out of the food. Homestays are becoming more common throughout Vietnam, even in lowland and coastal regions. However, ‘homestay’ has become a buzzword that is now given to a range of non-homestay accommodation, so bear this in mind if booking online. (Check out my Homestays Archive). Airbnb in Vietnam lists some surprisingly cheap, budget and homestay-style accommodation. It’s worth checking Airbnb listings wherever you are in the country. However, Airbnb hosts usually prefer travellers who are staying for a minimum of 2-3 nights.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Sleeping on the floor in a homestay

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Camping: One way to significantly reduce the cost of accommodation is to camp. However, camping is only really an option on more remote or sparsely populated stretches of road, such as the Western Ho Chi Minh Road and the Pine Tree Road, or where there are designated campsites, such as along the Coast Road. Camping can be an extremely rewarding experience, but if you intend to ‘wild camp’, it means bringing all the equipment with your on the motorbike. In addition, you need to be very careful when choosing a site to pitch your tent. (For more about where and how to camp in Vietnam, take a look at my Camping Archives.

Beach camping, Nui Chua Coast Road
Camping is very fun, but requires carrying equipment

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Hotels & Resorts: Mid-range travellers will find plenty of good-value hotels and resorts in all cities and popular tourist destinations, but not in more out of the way regions. If your accommodation budget stretches between $20-$50 a night, there are some excellent mid-range hotels across the nation. Personally, I like to treat myself to a night somewhere nice after a week or two of ‘roughing it’ in the mountains. Check out my Hotel Reviews Archive for independent recommendations of places to stay throughout Vietnam.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Mid-range travellers can get a lot for their money

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Food & Drink: $10-$25/day

When it comes to food – and especially drink – how much you spend is down to you. On the road in rural areas of Vietnam, if you eat like a local, you can keep food and drink costs very low and still be highly satisfied with the quantity and quality. However, in the cities and tourist hotspots, prices are generally higher than the countryside, and there’s more variety and choice to tempt you. If you’re a fussy or unadventurous eater, or if you don’t like local food, or if you have specific dietary requirements, then you will likely end up spending more for your meals, or going hungry, or simply not enjoying food on your road trip, which would be very sad, indeed. The best way to keep food costs down is to travel with an open mind and an open palate.

If you eat at street food vendors and local rice and noodle joints (quán cơm phở) for all your meals, then you could spend as little as 25,000-100,000vnđ ($1-$4) per meal. Likewise, if you drink bottled water, soft drinks, Vietnamese iced coffee and local lager, you’ll never spend more than 10,000-20,000vnđ (under $1) per drink. For example, a hearty breakfast of cơm tấm (rice and pork) or phở (beef noodles) with a cà phê đen đá (iced black coffee) and a big 1.5 litre bottle of water will set you back around 50,000-70,000vnđ ($2-$3). Lunch will be something similar, and dinner might be a relative feast in a local rice eatery with several meat and vegetable dishes, soup and cans of beer. This will probably cost around 100,000-200,000vnđ ($4-$8). Bear in mind, too, that eating alone can sometimes be more expensive than dining in a group. Vietnamese food is often intended to be eaten family-style, so whenever possible eat with friends, not alone, especially dinner. The bottom line is, you could eat and drink well for as little as 200,000vnd ($8) per day.

If, however, you eat Western food and dine only at ‘tourist-friendly’ restaurants, you can essentially double all the prices listed above. If you eat burgers instead of rice, drink cappuccinos instead of Vietnamese-style iced coffee, craft beer instead of local lager, then you’re looking at a daily food and drink budget of around 350,000-500,000vnđ+ ($15-$20+). Having said that, when you’re on the road in the countryside, there are fewer opportunities to eat Western food or drink craft beer, so there’s no alternative but to eat locally and, therefore, spend less.

*Check out my Food & Drink archives for lots of information, recommendations, reviews and practical guides to eating and drinking across the nation.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Eat local, eat well, eat cheaply

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Gasoline: $4-$7/day

Daily expenditure for gasoline depends on a number of factors: the distances you’re covering, the terrain you’re riding through, the type of motorbike you’re on, and the amount of luggage/passengers you have with you. At the time of writing (September 2022), gasoline prices were around 25,000vnđ per litre (just over $1). Most standard motorbikes have a 4-5 litre tank (although bigger, ‘real’ motorcycles have much larger tanks: usually over 10 litres). Therefore, a full tank costs around 100,000-125,000vnđ ($4-$5). Depending on the condition of your motorbike, the terrain, and the weight you’re carrying, you might expect a full tank on a standard bike to take you between 150km-200km. To put this into perspective, a long day on the road in Vietnam is 250km+; a short day is under 100km. However, if your motorbike is weighed down with luggage and a pillion, or if you’re riding through mountainous landscapes on very steep roads, or if your bike is an older model, these things can reduce your range by as much as 50km per tank. Another factor to take into account, if you’re on a multi-week road trip, you’re unlikely to ride long distances every day: from time to time you’ll take a ‘day off’ and be static for 24 hours and therefore not ride much at all. These ‘days off’ will offset the long riding days and, over the course of your road trip, reduce the average daily expenditure on gasoline. Taking all these things into consideration, you will probably only use one full tank of gasoline per day on average across your entire road trip.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Filling up at an ‘informal’ gas station in the highlands

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Extras: $5-$10/day

Inevitably, there will be extra costs every day that you should allow $5-$10 to cover. These might be practical things – mobile phone credit and data, entrance fees to museums, sites and national parks, minor repairs to your motorbike, roadside snacks and water – but also little ‘luxuries’, such as a sunset cocktail at a smart beach bar, a present for a friend or family member back home, a Western meal in a big city after days of eating rice in the mountains, or a round of beers for your new local friends in a mountainside eatery. If possible, don’t budget too strictly or be too tight with your spending; leave room to be flexible and generous – both to yourself and to others.

Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
Leave room for luxuries: gin & tonic on the balcony at sunset

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Total Daily Costs: $30-$45-$60/day

Below, I’ve estimated average daily costs for three different budgets: ‘Bikepacker’, ‘Flashpacker’ and ‘Mid-Ranger’. Bear in mind that the calculations below include the cost of your motorbike, which, in reality, will be paid as a lump sum at the start of your trip: either when you pick up your motorbike from the rental company or when you buy it. The following estimates are per person, per motorbike, per day. Travelling two on a motorbike or travelling in a small group will significantly reduce the average daily cost, because you will be sharing the expenses for room, food and gas.

If you’re on the ‘Bikepacker’ budget and you really want or need to stay within a tight budget, you can probably manage to shave off a few dollars a day from this estimate. If you’re on the ‘Flashpacker’ budget, you shouldn’t have much problem staying within these costs, especially if you’re an experienced traveller. And, if you’re on the ‘Mid-Ranger’ budget, you’ll live and ride very comfortably indeed:

The Bikepacker: $30+/day (700,000vnđ)

The Flashpacker: $45+/day (1,050,000vnđ)

The Mid-Ranger: $60+/day (1,400,000vnđ+)


Guide to expenses for a motorbike road trip in Vietnam
‘Bikepacker’, ‘Flashpacker’ or ‘Mid-Ranger’ – it’s always worth it.

*Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free and independent. I’ve written this guide because I want to: I like this route and I want my readers to know about them. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page

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Leave a Comment

Questions, updates and trip reports are all welcome. However, please keep comments polite and on-topic. See commenting etiquette for details.

  1. Marh says:
    December 12, 2023 at 3:29 AM

    Hello Tom,

    Thank you very much for those precious infos, I was preparing to by one not knowing all the great renting possibilities nowadays !

    Just one thing that bothers me: I have a big backpack with me (20 kgs) since I plan on hiking in the north. Is it compatible with a bike? Do I have to buy equipment to fix it or can they help me with that that at the renting company ?

    1. Tom says:
      December 17, 2023 at 11:19 AM

      Hi Mathieu,

      Yes, the motorbike rental services will have ways to carry your 20kg luggage on the bike – whether that’s a rack or bike boxes. You’ll be able to carry your stuff with you on the bike.

      Best,

      Tom

      1. Math says:
        January 2, 2024 at 2:09 AM

        Thank you for the answer ! 🙂
        All the best,
        Mathieu

  2. Ben says:
    May 10, 2023 at 6:14 AM

    Hi Tom

    I was wondering if you had any experience with Australians hiring motorbikes. From my research its looks like Australia is not a signatory to the 1968 International Drivers License convention, which means IDPs from Australia aren’t valid. I can see this might pose two issues:

    1. With police because I would technically be unlicensed riding a motorbike around (it seems like this would be ok practically speaking)

    2. Getting insurance because insurers don’t cover illegal activities (just in case of a crash and having to pay medical expenses or other compensation costs)

    Have you heard about how people get around this issue?

    Many thanks

    Ben

    1. Tom says:
      May 11, 2023 at 1:19 PM

      Hi Ben,

      Yes, there’s always a bit of confusion around that. It’s best to ask for more details about licenses and legality from the reputable motorbike rental outlets that I mention on this page in the Rent section – they will be able to advise you better than I can. You can also search the Vietnam Back Roads Facebook group for more information regarding licenses.

      Best,

      Tom

  3. Michael says:
    April 19, 2023 at 2:38 PM

    Very helpful site! Excellent info. Thank you so much for sharing. Since I haven’t ridden a bike since I was 18 (I am 50 now) I was wondering whether it would be possible and/or wise to try to rent a car. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    1. Tom says:
      April 23, 2023 at 10:00 AM

      Hi Michael,

      Unfortunately, it’s not currently possible for foreign visitors in Vietnam to rent a car for self-drive. However, you can rent a car and driver, or you can also rent a motorbike and driver – for the latter, try contacting the motorbike rental companies mentioned on this page above in the Rent section.

      Best,

      Tom

  4. Benjamin says:
    February 19, 2023 at 9:02 PM

    Love the work that you do and the perfect travel guides. What kind of license do you need to be allowed to drive a motorcycle in vietnam? Is it enough to have an international driving license for a 125cc motorcycle?

    1. Tom says:
      February 20, 2023 at 4:32 AM

      Hi Benjamin,

      Thank you for the kind words.

      It depends what international driving license you have. I would suggest contacting the rental companies I mention above on this page for more details on licenses – they will be able to advise you.

      Best,

      Tom

  5. jeffrey martin says:
    November 20, 2022 at 12:24 AM

    Hi. Great site. So informational and inspiring. Q: have you ever had a bike breakdown while out quite a distance from any kind of help/assistance? I’m sure part of that kind of eventuality is dependent on good planning – just curious if bike rental shops offer any kind of road assistance?

    1. Tom says:
      November 21, 2022 at 11:22 AM

      Hi Jeffrey,

      You’re never too far from a sửa xe (mechanic) in Vietnam or at least a passerby who will offer to help you out. But all the bike rental places that I recommend on this page offer 24 hour assistance, so you should be well-covered if you have a breakdown.

      Best,

      Tom

  6. Thomas says:
    September 5, 2022 at 4:05 PM

    Great information! Breaking things down to a per day cost really helps with planning/budgeting.

    Was booked for a trip in early 2020 but got cancelled due to pandemic.

    Your guide will help with planning a trip in 2023.

    Thanks !

    1. Tom says:
      September 6, 2022 at 10:40 AM

      Thanks, Thomas.

      I hope your 2023 road trip goes smoothly.

      Best,

      Tom

  7. willem kaijser says:
    May 28, 2022 at 8:56 AM

    Hi. I am looking for e-bike rentals in Hanoi for 1 week in July this year. Those on websites all seem to ask for very high deposits i.e. US$1000. Probably a normal scooter will be the better option then?

    1. Tom says:
      May 31, 2022 at 2:06 AM

      Hi Willem,

      I’m sorry for my slow reply.

      You could try to negotiate the deposit for the e-bikes. Otherwise, your best option is to rent a normal scooter instead.

      I’m trying to switch to electric myself, so if you do end up making your trip on an e-bike, I’d love to hear how it goes.

      Best,

      Tom

  8. Marco Leal says:
    February 13, 2022 at 4:14 PM

    hello, what’s the rent bike company that you chose?

    1. Tom says:
      February 14, 2022 at 12:48 AM

      Hi Marco,

      Please see my recommendations for motorbike rental above on this page. Or just click here.

      Thanks,

      Tom

  9. Tan Chhoeun says:
    November 14, 2021 at 10:49 PM

    hi Tom,
    it sound like renting a bike is a simple process. What a bout driving license and motorcycle riding experiences requirement.
    is the rental place taking care of the license to operate. Secondly can i rent the motorcycle in vietnam and take it across to Cambodia.

    thank,

    1. Tom says:
      November 15, 2021 at 6:24 AM

      Hi Tan,

      Yes, renting is very easy and sophisticated in Vietnam now.

      For licenses and cross-border rental it’s better to contact the rental companies directly – they’ll be able to better-informed than I about that.

      Best,

      Tom

  10. Vytas says:
    March 14, 2019 at 4:06 PM

    Hello Tom, great article! I was just wandering if it would be crazy to rent a bike without having a licence, would any rental companies do that? I know it sounds crazy, but I did that in Malaysia and Thailand for a daily rentals, but in Vietnam I would want to do 3 weeks trip. I do feel comfortable on the bike on the road, also quite alright in crowded cities, so from the side of driving I wouldn’t have any problems, just want to ask if you think any companies would do that? Thanks for reply

    1. Tom says:
      March 15, 2019 at 4:46 AM

      Hi Vytas,

      It’s best if you contact the rental companies that I recommend on this page above to ask about that – they will be able to give you some advice regarding riding with/without a license.

      Tom

  11. jacob says:
    December 27, 2018 at 3:56 AM

    any ideas what to do with our big backpacks? Is there any company that would send our bags from Dalat to Ho chi min and store them for 2 months? Do you know how to do this for a reasonable price?

    1. Tom says:
      December 28, 2018 at 2:08 AM

      Hi Jacob,

      I’m not sure about that. You could ask your motorbike rental company if they have any suggestions – my recommendations for rental companies are listed above.

      Tom

  12. colin dance says:
    December 7, 2018 at 2:46 AM

    Hi Tom,
    Thanks for a great site with so much helpful and illustrated information
    I am planning my trip to vietnam for 21 days from mid march to early april 2019.
    I would like to know your opinion on if it is better to travel from Hanoi to Saigon or Saigon to Hanoi.

    Many thanks

    Colin

    1. Tom says:
      December 7, 2018 at 3:12 AM

      Hi Colin,

      At that time of year it’s probably better to travel from Saigon to Hanoi, because of the weather. But in general, March, April, May is a good time to see the whole country.

      Tom

  13. Meghan says:
    December 6, 2018 at 1:31 AM

    Tom, you rock! Thanks so much for all your insight and tips – deeply grateful.

    I’m planning on doing a solo trip in Vietnam in February for somewhere between 2-3 weeks. Novice to biking and aware that the south would generally have the most favorable weather, what would you recommend doing? I’d love to go from Saigon to Hanoi and get a better feel for the country, but if not biking what would you advise?

    Thanks again!

    1. Tom says:
      December 6, 2018 at 2:54 AM

      Hi Meghan,

      With 3 weeks you can ride Saigon to Hanoi – take a look at my 5 Suggested Routes here, which include rough estimates of time.

      You’re right, the weather will be better in the south at that time of year. But if you start in the south, then maybe by the time you get further north the weather will have improved.

      Another thing to be aware of is that the Tet Lunar New Year holiday is around early February in 2019. This can be a difficult time to travel in Vietnam, because everyone in the country is travelling, too – which can lead to very crowded roads and destinations.

      If you choose to stay in the south, you could consider riding all, or some, on mixing any of my Southern Routes together. A good example is the Tet Classic, but there are many more.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  14. TICIANO says:
    November 6, 2018 at 5:53 PM

    Any simple scooter will do for a first timer? Is it posible to return the rented scooter in a different location? For instance: picked up in Hanoi and dropped it off in Hoi An

    1. Tom says:
      November 7, 2018 at 11:53 AM

      Hi Ticiano,

      Yes, you can return your bike to different locations as explained above.

      I think that an automatic is good for a first-timer because it is simple to ride and has no manual gears to operate. But automatics are heavier than manuals.

      You can contact the rental companies (also mentioned above) to ask them about which model bikes they have available and about which locations they can arrange pick up from.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. TICIANO says:
        November 13, 2018 at 3:28 AM

        Thanks a lot. One more question: do you think the road from Phong Nha to Hue is too long for a byke ride? Is it posible to take a bus and bring the bike along? Is it posible? Thanks buddy

        1. Tom says:
          November 13, 2018 at 4:33 PM

          Hi,

          You can ride between Phong Nha and Hue – how long it takes depends on which route you go. If you take the Western Ho Chi Minh Road it will take about 2 days, but if you take the Eastern Ho Chi Minh Road, or Highway 1, of the coastal back-roads, you can ride it in one day.

          On some buses on some routes you can put your bike on a bus.

          Tom

  15. Mike says:
    October 10, 2018 at 4:54 AM

    Hi Tom,

    Your site is hugely, hugely helpful, and I really appreciate all your insights!

    I’m going to Vietnam this Nov with my wife, and we’re both experienced riders so we’re looking to rent manual bikes. I’m also big even for a Westerner (6’2″, 240lbs), so I’m interested in renting something like a Honda XR 150, Honda Master, Honda FTR, etc.,. However, it seems like for all the newer Honda’s, both Tigit and Style warn that getting mechanic support outside of the cities could be spotty given parts could be hard to come by, local mechanics may be intimidated, etc. We’ll be riding from Danang up to Hanoi, through some pretty rural bits, so this has me worried. We both want manual bikes, and ideally something with good size and suspension, but don’t want to get stranded in the countryside because no one can repair them.

    What do you think? Any advice is appreciated!

    1. Tom says:
      October 10, 2018 at 5:22 AM

      Hi Mike,

      That’s a good question. I’ve never heard from anyone who’s had a problem with an XR in a remote area – they are very good, tough, reliable bikes. Mechanics would definitely try to help (even if they weren’t sure how to proceed), but Style and Tigit would know more about that then me. Try to squeeze a bit more info out of them – they both good, reliable companies, and I would trust their judgement.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Mike says:
        October 22, 2018 at 6:48 PM

        Definitely helpful =) The folks at Tigit were very helpful as well, we’ve gone ahead and reserved a couple of XR’s for the trip. Thanks for the vote of confidence in the XR, I wouldn’t imagine a newer bike like that breaking down that frequently either. Sounds like they were mainly warning away inexperienced riders or travellers without any mechanical capacity at all. Looks like my main concern will be flats, and that should be easy enough to deal with.

        Thanks again!

  16. Robert says:
    August 29, 2018 at 5:35 AM

    Hello Tom!
    Really appreciate your page!
    I’m wondering if 2 ppl on one scooter can do the Ha Giang Loop? Is it hard? I have 100Kg, my wife 50 and max 20 of luggage.

    Also planing to go from South to North and do the Ha Giang Loop in 22 days. We don;t want to be in a rush. Is it doable? I read all your route suggestions … but asking:)
    Regards, Robert.

    1. Tom says:
      August 29, 2018 at 6:17 AM

      Hi Robert,

      As long as it’s a powerful bike and in good condition then there’s no reason why you can’t make it around Ha Giang with two people and luggage. Just make sure you get a good bike – check out the trusted rental companies that I recommend here.

      22 days isn’t really that long if you want to go from south to north and do the Ha Giang Loop and take it at a leisurely pace. It depends which route you take, of course. But as an example, a long day riding on Vietnam’s roads (especially with two people and luggage) is anything betwen 150-300km a day. An easy and satisfying daily pace is to average 100-150km per day. But of course if you stop for a day somewhere then you have to make up the distance the next day.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Robert says:
        August 29, 2018 at 6:47 AM

        There is a big Ha Giang loop and a small? Trying to plan these 22 days. Can you help :)? We are beginners with the bikes. Planing to go between February and April .. or May ….

        I understand that the ha Giang loop is a Must! What do you recommend? North to South or better stay in North and Central ?

        1. Tom says:
          August 29, 2018 at 1:29 PM

          Hi Robert,

          You can spend as little as 2 days or as much as 5 days riding the Ha Giang Loop – there’s the main loop and then there are additional side route: see my full guide for more details.

          I recommend coming in late March, April or May, because the weather during those months should be better almost everywhere compared to February and early March.

          If you don’t care about beaches, then you can start your road trip from Danang and then head up to Hanoi and Ha Giang following any of my 5 Suggested Routes. But if you do like beaches then the south is better, so you could start in Nha Trang, for example.

          Tom

  17. Shay Ylioja says:
    August 19, 2018 at 12:57 AM

    Incredible blog and information on here! In your opinion will 26 days be comfortable to do the classic tour, I am going to vietnam end of september to mid october. I am curious to what the weather will be like than and if it will hold me up. Or is it better to do a bike tour at a different time of year? Thank you

    1. Tom says:
      August 19, 2018 at 1:19 AM

      Hi Shay,

      Yes, 26 days is a good amount of time to ride the Classic route.

      September is one of the best times of year to ride south to north, and October is still fine but by that time the weather might be changing in Central Vietnam and getting wetter. But in general the conditions should be fine. Typhoons can sometimes come in from the east during those months, but there’s nothing you can do about that – just hole up for a couple of days and wait for it to pass.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  18. Gary says:
    November 30, 2017 at 1:58 AM

    Hi Tom,

    I am thinking of doing a 6 week ride from Saigon up to Hanoi, and back down to Saigon. Do you think it is safe to do alone? I do not speak Vietnamese, but I want to take an adventure before starting school.

    Thanks!
    Gary

    1. Tom says:
      December 1, 2017 at 1:30 AM

      Hi Gary,

      Yes, Vietnam is generally a very safe country in which to travel. Just take all the normal precautions you would when travelling anywhere else in the world. In terms of riding, once you are out of the big cities the traffic is reasonably light, and all my motorbike routes try to stay off busy main highways as much as possible. Of course, driving rules and culture in Vietnam are very different and obviously you should be extremely careful when riding a motorbike in Vietnam. But as long as you ride carefully and responsibly you should be fine. Also, Vietnamese people are generally very friendly and hospitable to foreign travellers, especially the further off the beaten path you go, so if you get lost or break down the chances are that someone will help you.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  19. patricia dias dos santos says:
    October 12, 2017 at 8:44 PM

    é possivel comprar uma moto dessas no norte e ir ate o sul, ou vice e versa é melhor

    1. Tom says:
      October 12, 2017 at 10:50 PM

      Hi Patricia,

      Yes, it is possible. Try contacting the motorbike rental services listed in the sidebar and bottom of all my pages. You can mention Vietnam Coracle if you like, they know me.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  20. Ian - R says:
    October 5, 2017 at 10:24 AM

    Hi.

    Do you know if it is possible to get 2 people and 2 60ltr backpacks on a bike.

    I ve scoured the internet to see if people have done this and I’m not sure it is really practical.

    If it is possible what bikes would be best to accommodate this setup. Would be planning on doing HCMC to Hanoi in January.

    Thanks

    Ian -R

    1. Tom says:
      October 6, 2017 at 12:05 AM

      Hi Ian,

      Yes, it is possible, and it is OK as long as the bike is in good condition and some kind of rack is attached to it for the bags to be strapped to. Most of the recommended motorbike rental companies in the right sidebar and bottom of all my pages equip their bikes with such a rack. Try contacting them and asking. You can mention Vietnam Coracle if you like, they know me.

      However, it also depends of the regions you will be riding in, and the season: if you’re planning to ride in very mountainous regions, such as Ha Giang, then the heavy load on the bike might take its toll after going up and down so many steep hills. And the issue of comfort with two people and luggage if you’re ridding in the hot and humid months should be a consideration too, if you’ll be on a long trip.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  21. Julius says:
    March 22, 2017 at 4:49 AM

    Fantastic blog. Super helpful. Thank you very much for sharing.

    Quick question: you suggested about 3-4 days for the golden loop. What locations would you add if you can extend that loop to a total of 6 days?

    Thanks a lot

    1. Tom says:
      March 22, 2017 at 5:08 PM

      Hi Julius,

      Did you post a similar comment on a different page recently? I did reply to that comment but perhaps you didn’t get the email notification. Anyway, here is my answer:

      You don’t have much choice for stops between Prao and A Luoi, because there are no towns between the two of them. So you could spend an extra day in each of those places if you like – both of them are interesting, scenic and relatively remote off-the-beaten-path little towns. Other than that, you could stay an extra night in Hue – there’s lots to see in that city – and maybe spend a night on the beach on Thuan An Peninsular, or the lagoon south of Hue, or Lang Co. Also, Danang is a very interesting up-and-coming city these days, and then of course there’s Hoi An.

      So you shouldn’t have too much trouble extending this loop to 6 days 🙂

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  22. chiang says:
    January 18, 2017 at 5:27 AM

    Hi Tom!
    Im thinking of going on a motorbike roadtrip from Hanoi to HCM.
    May i ask if you have international drivers license during your trip?
    if yes, how?

    Thank you!

    1. Tom says:
      January 18, 2017 at 8:08 AM

      Hi Chiang,

      I have a Vietnamese driving license. Rules and regulations regarding licenses are not set in stone and seem to be in a constant state of flux, and the vast majority of foreign riders in Vietnam do not have a local license. I would suggest contacting any of the motorbike rental agencies recommended on my site and asking them for more information. There are links to Tigit Motorbikes, Rent a Bike Vietnam, and Style Motorbikes in the right sidebar and bottom of all my pages.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  23. Jonai says:
    October 22, 2016 at 10:11 AM

    hello Tom, I can’t say how thankful I am that your website exists! I booked a flight to Hanoi this december and i plan to do the ff consecutively:
    Cat Ba- Halong
    Sapa / Fansipan
    Extreme North Loop
    NorthEast Loop

    However, since I wil go to Hanoi by night train, Im not sure how I could rent a bike that I can use moving forward to the loops. You mentioned that Flamingo and Rentabike can deliver to wherever in the country? Have you had any experience of this please? Thanks and I’m hopeful to get a response. 🙂

    1. Jonai says:
      October 22, 2016 at 10:14 AM

      Oops… correcting myself.. since I will go to Sapa from Hanoi by night train.
      So, would any renting company be able to drop the bike to Sapa? I will return it when I get back to Hanoi.

      1. Tom says:
        October 22, 2016 at 12:34 PM

        Also, for a bit more information about renting motorbikes, read this.

        Tom

        1. Tom says:
          October 22, 2016 at 12:37 PM

          Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize your comment was already on this page 🙂

    2. Tom says:
      October 22, 2016 at 12:29 PM

      Hi Jonai,

      You can rent your bike in Hanoi and put it on the train to Sapa (although it might go on a different train to you). Check out the links to the motorbike rental companies that I have in the right sidebar and bottom of all my pages: Rent a Bike Vietnam, Style Motorbikes, Tigit Motorbikes. They all have offices in Hanoi. You can mention Vietnam Coracle if you like, they know me.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  24. Nick says:
    September 1, 2016 at 4:19 AM

    Hi Tom,
    Im heading to Vietnam for 5 weeks at the end of September to film a solo motorcycle adventure documentary. I was planning on leaving from Hanoi and venturing through Cambodia and Laos while heading south to HCM. Do you think that I will have enough time to see these other countries or is 5 weeks only enough to explore Vietnam?
    Thanks for any help.

    1. Tom says:
      September 1, 2016 at 5:17 AM

      Hi Nick,

      Personally, I would spend all 5 weeks in Vietnam – then you will have time to explore the regions north of Hanoi as well as riding south to HCMC.

      However, most bikers do rave about Laos, so I’m sure there’s some great riding to be had there too. Although the road network is not as extensive as Vietnam, and road conditions vary even more than they do in Vietnam. Check out Laos GPS for more about biking there.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Nick says:
        September 2, 2016 at 7:24 PM

        Thanks a lot Tom. I appreciate the advice. On another note… do you recommend buying a helmet there vs. bringing one?

        1. Tom says:
          September 3, 2016 at 12:08 AM

          There are lots of helmets available here, of all varieties, so it’s not necessary to bring your own, unless you have very specific needs.

          Tom

  25. Jessica says:
    August 29, 2016 at 3:29 AM

    Hi Tom!

    Love your site, its very helpful in planning my upcoming trip in the north! Wonder if you know if its possible to hire a guide together with the motorbike at one of the bikeshops you mentioned, and if so, how much does it cost? I’d like to ride pillion with the guide as I’m not a very good rider and the roads in the north seem pretty daunting..

    Thanks!

    1. Tom says:
      August 29, 2016 at 4:33 AM

      Hi Jessica,

      Rent a Bike Vietnam might be able to arrange a guide; it’s worth asking them.

      Most people who want to ride pillion tend to hook up with an Easy Rider: these are Vietnamese bikers with lots of road and travel experience who specialize in taking foreigners on the backs of their bikes around the country. There are quite of lot of similarly named groups out there now so do a bit of Google research first.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Jessica says:
        August 31, 2016 at 2:22 AM

        Thanks Tom! One question, do you think it will be cheaper and possible to just find an easy rider in Hanoi compared to booking online?

        1. Tom says:
          August 31, 2016 at 3:40 AM

          I’m not sure about Hanoi – I don’t know where they hang out there; probably near one of the bigger backpacker hostels in the Old Quarter. Certainly in Dalat it’s easy to arrange an Easy Rider when you’re there, so I don’t see why it should be any different in Hanoi.

          Tom

  26. Marcus says:
    August 10, 2016 at 12:50 AM

    Hey crew in Ho Chi Minh I’m Marcus 39 Australian I’m riding to Hanoi starting today 10/8/2016 roughly 3 weeks Staying in Vun Tau tonight if anyone is keen to ride with me give me a shout.
    markyfarquar@gmail.com

    1. Tom says:
      August 10, 2016 at 1:53 AM

      Hi Marcus,

      It’s fine to post a question like this here, but as I mentioned before, you are probably more likely to find other riders to join on the road by posting this question on the Vietnam Back-Roads Facebook page.

      Good luck,

      Tom

  27. S Kahn says:
    August 8, 2016 at 3:14 AM

    Hi mate,

    Really love your blog! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.

    Quick question which i’d very grateful for if you could answer:
    -Roughly how long does it take to travel 100 km on the highways? I know this depends a lot on traffic and stuff but could you give me a rough guide?
    (If you want specifics: we’ll be setting off at 5:30 AM in the mornings, and we are all amateur bikers so won’t be driving too fast)

    I know that’s a stupid question to ask cos it varies so much but i’ve been looking at folks who take a whole day to travel 100-150 km. What do you think? I was hoping you could cover that in 5 hours!

    1. Tom says:
      August 8, 2016 at 3:22 AM

      Hi,

      Yes, you’re right, it does depend on the road you’re on. But in general, if you are on a good highway with reasonable traffic, you can expect to average 40km an hour. So 100km should take around 3-4 hours, including stops for gas, photos, maps checks, drinks, snacks etc.

      However, on very mountainous roads, especially in the far north, your average speed can drop to 30km or even 20km an hour. This is partly because the roads are smaller and full of twists and turns, but it is also because the scenery is so good that you’ll want to stop again and again 🙂 h

      Leaving at 5:30am and keeping your average daily distance down to 100-200km a day is a smart thing to do if you have the time, and you’ll enjoy it all much more.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  28. Chris says:
    July 31, 2016 at 10:13 AM

    Not sure if this is the best place to include this but I have seen some posts concerning tickets here. I am a few miles short of 3000 and have been stopped once and received a ticket. It was ata road block in Mui Ne. I showed my blue card and they asked for international drivers license which I did not have. They had an official looking fine sheet that showed that infraction was 800000 to 1200000. As I was looking through my money he said 500 okay, so I paid it and on my way

    1. Tom says:
      July 31, 2016 at 12:32 PM

      Hi Chris,

      Yes, Mui Ne is infamous for police stopping foreigners on bikes are then extorting all the money they possibly can. 500 is not so bad; it should be around 200-300 but don’t take it too personally – it happens to all of us at some point.

      I hope it doesn’t ruin the fun of your road trip.

      Tom

      1. Chris says:
        August 1, 2016 at 3:21 AM

        It was all in good fun, I expected that at some. Just wanted to provide an anecdote of what a police stop is like.

  29. Chris says:
    July 16, 2016 at 1:42 AM

    This is not totally related to finances but if you are considering a trip, my opinion is that a mask with a clear face guard is the way to go. It will help big time in rain and also keeps down wind fatigue, possibly a little city pollution although not sure on that last part… you can also open it up if you want the wind in your face at times.

    1. Tom says:
      July 16, 2016 at 6:19 AM

      Hi Chris,

      Yes, clear face guards are good – as long as they’re good quality and don’t scratch easily. Personally, I wear sunglasses during the day and clear glasses at night or when it rains.

      Tom

  30. Jerry says:
    May 20, 2016 at 2:13 AM

    Hi Tom, Great post full of information and your price estimation will certainly help a lot.My friends and I are planning to have motorbike ride in Vietnam for next vacation.Can you please tell me which season or month it is most suitable to have motorbike trip and recommend me some place???

    1. Tom says:
      May 21, 2016 at 12:03 AM

      Hi Jerry,

      You can read about seasons and when and where to go in my Weather Guide. And for recommendations about where to go on a motorbike road trip I suggest that you browse through my Motorbike Guide Archive to get more of an idea of the kind of rides that appeal to you.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  31. Brian says:
    May 11, 2016 at 5:46 AM

    Am thinking of doing the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City ride or the other way around. What months would be best weather-wise?

    Brian

    1. Tom says:
      May 11, 2016 at 12:22 PM

      Hi Brian,

      Vietnam has very complicated weather, so it’s difficult to generalize. But, nationwide, the best time is either late spring or autumn: April/May or September/October. For much more detail about weather and when and where to go take a look at my Weather Guide.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  32. Jeremy Kemp says:
    April 26, 2016 at 6:42 PM

    Tom,

    Myself and four friends (from the States) are planning a three week motorbike trip from HCMC to Hanoi (roughly a la your itinerary). Having been to HCMC previously, I know how hellacious traffic is in Vietnamese cities. Do you have any recommendations for how to minimize risk while riding out of HCMC into the much safer countryside? Times of day, routes, etc.? We are using Rent-A-Bike and picking up the bikes from the Saigon train station on May 18. Our primary concern is maximizing safety while on the road!

    Further, we are all outdoors enthusiasts and are planning to camp out roughly two of every three nights on the trip as a way to save a bit of money and enjoy the terrain! Any advice on camping? Particularly nice spots you had along your route? Ways to not draw attention to ourselves? Logistical suggestions? We are planning on hammock camping!

    Sorry to inundate you! Your website has been a spectacular resource.

    Cheers,
    Jeremy

    1. Tom says:
      April 27, 2016 at 7:53 AM

      Hi Jeremy,

      Firstly, if you’ve been using my Scenic Route guide, take a look at my most recent post instead outlining 5 suggested routes from Saigon to Hanoi here.

      Yes, the initial 1-2 hours out of Saigon is ‘traditionally’ quite horrible – in any direction. However, you can minimize the ‘pain’ by leaving early (really early) in the morning – trust me, it’s worth it: leave at 4 or 4.30am and the ride will be much smoother. If you’re heading towards the coast from Saigon you can take the ‘Back Road’ out of the city to the highway, which involves a short ferry ride (it operates 24 hours). Just zoom in on the relevant parts of my maps in the previously mentioned Saigon to Hanoi routes guide and click on the map pins for links to more details on this or any other part of the route.

      For more information about camping see my camping guides here and check my replies to comments at the end of these guides as they contain some more tips. Even if you can’t find a good spot to camp for the night, you’ll never be too far from a cheap nhà nghỉ (local guesthouse) which I’ve written more about here.

      Particularly good areas for camping include the southeast coast and the Western Ho Chi Minh Road – again, just click the map pins on the Saigon to Hanoi routes and follow the links to more information on these areas.

      If you can’t find what you need, email me and I’ll answer your specific questions.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  33. Sean Reddington says:
    April 17, 2016 at 6:39 PM

    Great stuff Tom,
    I am moving to HCMC at the end of July. It would be great to meet up for a cold one. What district would you recommend for a Yankee to live in? One more is there a lot of people playing tennis? Thanks for all the information.

    Sean

    1. Tom says:
      April 18, 2016 at 1:01 AM

      Hi Sean,

      Well, that depends on your budget and the kind of area you want to live in: if you like your western-style comforts then districts 2, 7 and 1 will suit you; but if you want to go a bit more local try Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan districts. Also, you’ll want to decide between a house or an apartment: I prefer a house because there’s more space and more contact with the area you’re living in, but many foreigners prefer apartments because it’s more secure and convenient. Take your pick!

      As for tennis, what’s your level like? I play regularly with some good ex-college players from the US and Europe. Let me know if you’re around that level. If not, just try posting for tennis partners in the Expats Ho Chi Minh Facebook page.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  34. Charlie Saunders says:
    April 6, 2016 at 9:33 AM

    Hi, I am going motorbiking in Vietnam shortly, and I am still unsure whether to hire or buy a motorbike. I’ve heard stories of people hiring bikes, and getting charged ridiculous amounts of money by the hire companies for minimal damage (just a scratch), and I was wondering if this would be the case with the two companies you recommended?
    Also, another problem is that you can’t get personal liability insurance cover in the UK for motorbiking abroad, and so wouldn’t it be easier to buy insurance as part of hiring the bike, rather than buying a bike and then having to go and get insurance separately?
    I’m probably leaning to towards hiring rather than buying, but I just wanted to check these couple of things with you. Thanks so much!

    1. Charlie Saunders says:
      April 6, 2016 at 10:01 AM

      Hi, I just have one more question please – if I hire a bike, will I be able to pick it up in Ho Chi Minh and drop it off in Hanoi?

      1. Tom says:
        April 7, 2016 at 2:09 PM

        Hi Charlie,

        Yes, you can – just take a look at my answer to your previous question 🙂

        Tom

    2. Tom says:
      April 7, 2016 at 2:08 PM

      Hi Charlie,

      Whether to buy or rent is a common question. In the past I would suggest that renting is better for shorter stays – of 3 weeks or less, for example – and buying is better for longer stays. But thanks to good rental companies, such as Rent a Bike Vietnam and Flamingo, who both offer pick up and collection in Saigon, Hanoi or Danang, it’s now even easier to hire a bike for your south to north trip (you can find a link to Rent a Bike Vietnam in the right sidebar and bottom of this page). However, thanks to Tigit Motorbikes it is now also very easy to buy a bike and sell it back, even for shorter trip of less than 3 weeks. This is because Tigit guarantees that they will buy your bike back once you reach Hanoi (or wherever it is that you’re going to). This means that their bikes are in excellent condition because it is in their interest to properly maintain them because they will be buying it back and using it again. It works like this: you pay for the bike – usually $1000 (sounds like a lot, but wait), then when you reach Hanoi they buy it back from you for $800 or $750 depending on the length of your journey and the period of time. It works really well – I’ve done it myself – and the bikes are much better than anything else you can buy for $200. Check out the Tigt Motorbikes website – there’s a link in the right sidebar and bottom of this page.

      I can’t really give you much help with the insurance – but it’s very difficult to get covered for motorbiking in Vietnam, without paying a premium for it: it’s worth it, of course.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  35. Don says:
    January 26, 2016 at 2:17 PM

    Tom do you know if a international lic. is now valid in Vietnam or not? I have found mixed information on line.

    Cheers

    Don

    1. Tom says:
      January 26, 2016 at 2:39 PM

      Hi Don,

      Yes, that is THE question. There’s always talk about international licenses being accepted, but to the best of my knowledge they are still not officially valid in Vietnam. However, this should not stop you from undertaking a motorbike road trip in Vietnam – the standard fine is 200,000 ($10) if you are unlucky and get stopped by the police.

      If you like you could post the question on the Expats Ho Chi Minh Facebook page – you will no doubt get conflicting answers there too, but it’s worth it. You can also contact a reputable bike rental/tour agency to see what information they have – try Rent a Bike Vietnam (you’ll find a link to them in the right sidebar and above the comment section on this page)

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

      1. Don says:
        January 28, 2016 at 12:13 PM

        I arrive Saturday night and still plan on buying a bike either way. Just good to keep in mind with my travel insurance restriction. I don’t know where my driver ran off too.?? lol

  36. Holly says:
    January 23, 2016 at 8:17 AM

    Hiya! Great info. My partner and I are heading to Vietnam next week and would love to get a bike. You see a lot more of the actual country this way we like to think. As we are only there for a month, we are thinking we might save ourselves the hassle and just rent a bike. We have our big bags, about 25kg total, plus us. Do you know of any rental companies that would have bikes to rent that would fit us both on and have a bag rack? Would be easier to buy and get a rack made, but time constraints! Thanks, Holly

    1. Tom says:
      January 23, 2016 at 8:53 AM

      Hi Holly,

      A month is decent amount of time to have for a country-wide road trip in Vietnam 🙂

      Yes, renting a bike probably would save you some hassle. Try Rent a Bike Vietnam (you’ll find a link to them in the right-hand sidebar and bottom of this post). They should be able to sort you out a good bike and some saddle bags to carry your stuff, or at least some advise about how/where to get a rack fixed. You can mention Vietnam Coracle if you like, they know me.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  37. Rebekah says:
    December 1, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    Hi Tom! Super excited to bring my teen son to Vietnam. First trip there and first time choosing to road trip! I should think it wouldn’t be an issue to buy motorbikes on arrival but I’m wondering how the selling can be acheived before our departure flights?? Any thoughts? Any tips on what we shouldn’t miss in the Ho Chi Minh area before heading to Hanoi? We will need to loop back for our departure flight as well so perhaps a coastal path on the way there and inland on the way back? Thanks so much for all of your artcles and advice! It makes a first timers experience so much better 🙂

    1. Tom says:
      December 2, 2015 at 1:02 AM

      Hi Rebekah,

      Yes, it’s not too difficult to buy and sell bikes in Vietnam. You can check noticeboards in backpacker hostels, cafes and bars or try the Expats Ho Chi Minh Facebook page too. The same goes for selling the bike. However, this process may bite several days into the beginning and end of your trip. I recommend renting a bike instead: you can easily rent from Saigon or Hanoi and then return it either in Saigon or Hanoi at the end of the trip. Good bike rental companies include Flamingo Travel and Rent a Bike Vietnam – you can mention Vietnam Coracle if you like, they know me.

      In general, the best way to do the route is to stick to the coast in the south and head inland to the mountains from the centre to the north. Take a look at this route map and click on some of the links to my motorbike guides to get an idea of what where everything is. Also have a look at my North-South Archive.

      I hope this helps,

      Tom

  38. Dorianne Sarrazin says:
    October 22, 2015 at 10:50 AM

    Hello Tom,

    I am planning to drive to hanoi from Mui Ne so I’m going to buy a bike in Mui Ne. Do you think an automatic is ok or should i buy a semi-automatic? I heard that to going to Da Lat the road are very up and down and it coast me more fuel with an automatic. But i never drive a semi-automatic before.
    Can you give me advice about what do think i should buy?

    Thank u very much 🙂

    1. Tom says:
      October 22, 2015 at 11:20 AM

      Hi Dorianne,

      Yes, an automatic motorbike, like the Yamaha Nouvo or Honda Blade, is perfect. These automatic bikes will make it up and down any of the hills and mountains in Vietnam. Just make sure the bike is in good condition before you buy it. Everyone says that automatics use more fuel, but it really doesn’t make that much difference to the overall cost. Especially if you are used to an automatic then buy an automatic 🙂

      Have a great trip,

      Tom

  39. Calla says:
    September 13, 2015 at 4:22 PM

    Hi Tom,
    Thank a lot for your information. It’s so useful for me this time. I’m planing to travel from Ho Chi Minh to Ha Noi by motorbike on October. But It’s quite not easy for a girl . So I’m finding a partner who wants to travel like this to go together. However, not yet found. 🙂 By the way, thanks again.

    1. Tom says:
      September 14, 2015 at 2:39 AM

      Hi Calla,

      Yes, I understand. You might be able to find someone while you’re in Ho Chi Minh City. Or you can trying posting on social media like Couchsurfing, Expats Ho Chi Minh facebook page etc.

      I hope you find someone, but even if you don’t travelling solo in Vietnam is safe 🙂

      Tom

      1. Calla says:
        September 14, 2015 at 3:32 PM

        Hi Tom,

        Thank you. I have more motivation from your post. Plan and do it.

        Have a nice time,
        Calla

  40. Patricia says:
    July 27, 2015 at 3:48 AM

    Your blog is a find! I’ve already sent the link to 12 people who are going to vietnam this year. We are going to Vietnam for the month of November and were looking to kayak around Bai Tu Long Bay and Halong Bay but now are considering motorbiking your northern route and the falls. How hard to learn to ride a motorbike like the one in the photo. I’m a cyclist and the last time I had a dirtbike I was 15.

    1. Tom says:
      July 27, 2015 at 4:39 AM

      Hi Patricia,

      Thanks. Learning to ride a bike like mine is very easy. You’ll already have the balance from riding a bicycle. My bike is an automatic so you literally just turn the key and it goes. Gears are automatic, and brakes are the same as a bicycle. However, road ‘rules’ in Vietnam are difficult to get used to, especially in the city. But once you are out in the countryside it shouldn’t be a problem.

      The problem for you is that November isn’t necessarily a great time to ride the north: it can be cold, grey and miserable at that time of year. But then again, the same is true of Bai Tu Long Bay. Personally, I would choose a road trip over the bay, mainly because it can get very touristy in the bay these days. Either way, you’ll have a great time 🙂

      Tom

  41. Jyoti says:
    July 5, 2015 at 11:48 AM

    Hi Tom,

    What a lovely site you have built. I am planning a motorbike trip next week, as a pillion rider. Haven’t ridden in a while. Maybe I’ll ride next time.

    Your estimates are very helpful. Planning a ride slightly north of and around the Mekong Delta, starting in HCMH.

    Best regards,
    Jyoti

    1. Tom says:
      July 5, 2015 at 1:46 PM

      Hi Jyoti,

      Thanks. I’ll sure you’ll enjoy riding pillion around the Delta 🙂

      Tom

  42. Phuong Khuu says:
    June 16, 2015 at 12:20 AM

    Hi Tom, where did you buy your tent? Thanks^^

    1. Tom says:
      June 16, 2015 at 1:12 AM

      Hi Phương,
      I bought my tent in London 🙂 But you can get decent tents in Saigon at Lều Du Lịch Trúc Linh in Go Vap District – this is their website.
      Tom

  43. James Matthews says:
    May 18, 2015 at 1:40 PM

    Hi Tom

    Me and 3 mates travel to Ho Chi Minh this Satruday, we are buying motorbikes and driving up to Hanoi.

    Do you have any recommendations on where to buy our Bikes in HCMC?

    Regards
    James

    1. Tom says:
      May 19, 2015 at 9:57 AM

      Hi James,

      There are usually bikes available to buy on Criagslist and there are also bikes regularly advertised on the Facebook page for Expats Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a good idea to join that page and post about buying a bike and see what comes up.
      You can also try some of the more reputable bike rental places is Saigon – they often have bikes for sale too. Flamingo Travel has an office in Saigon now and I think Saigon Scooters might have some for sale.

      Also check the noticeboards in any pf the popular Pham Ngu Lao (the ba

    2. Tom says:
      May 19, 2015 at 10:05 AM

      …sorry I got cut off an the end of the previous reply. Check the noticeboard at popular guesthouses and bars in Pham Ngu Lao (Saigon’s backpacker district) – there are usually bikes for sale there.
      Good luck.
      Tom

  44. Samuel Mather says:
    May 1, 2015 at 11:28 AM

    A legend indeed… Nice shots, too. Another great post from The Vietnam (C)oracle!

    1. Tom says:
      May 1, 2015 at 3:10 PM

      Thanks, Sam!
      Credit goes to Samuel Mather Photography for the fuel stop photo, obviously 🙂
      Don’t wait too long for your return trip out here!
      Tom

  45. Thao says:
    May 1, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    What a useful piece of information, Tom! When I did the motorbike trip with my friend Kevin last year, I had to send him a similar list of expenses prior to his arrival in Vietnam. From now on, if any of my foreign friends ask me for helping with this, I just simply share your post :).

    1. Tom says:
      May 1, 2015 at 3:00 PM

      🙂 Thanks, Thao.
      Yes, I hope it’ll be a useful guide for anymore considering a road trip in Vietnam. Of course, prices will go up year upon year, but in general this has been how much I’ve spent on most of my road trips.
      Tom

  46. Alan Murray says:
    May 1, 2015 at 10:58 AM

    Hi Tom

    No mention of obtaining a Vietnamese driving licence.
    In Dalat recently they wouldn’t hire you a bike without one.
    Although you can get round this, if you have an accident and you haven’t a licence, any health/accident travel insurance won’t pay out.
    I heard of travelers who did get around it, had an accident and the police confiscated the bikes. VND3m to get each bike back!
    Thanks for another useful post.

    Cheers

    Alan

    1. Tom says:
      May 1, 2015 at 11:30 AM

      Hi Alan,

      Yes, that’s right. But, it is still quite unusual to be refused rental without a Vietnamese license, even the most professional bike rental services accept that the process of obtaining one is rather long-winded and most travellers do not have the time to do this. However, things are getting better, and there are rumors that soon an international drivers’ license will be accepted in Vietnam.

      As for travel insurance, you are right again. But as travel insurance is for the whole trip – not just for the road trip – I consider this a general expense, just as airfares etc.

      As for the fine, this is definitely a chance you take when riding in Vietnam. Most reputable rental companies will give you their contact number so that you can call them if and when you encounter the traffic police. However, even with all necessary documents – license, ownership papers, visas, insurance – which I currently possess, the police can still extract a bribe from you – sometimes it hasn’t nothing to do with breaking the law.

      Tom

  47. Matt says:
    May 1, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Hi Tom,
    Thankyou for your guides. You are a legend!
    I have been thinking about next (4th) trip to VN, and you have inspired me to bike it.
    See you on the road.
    Mot, hai, ba, YO!

    1. Tom says:
      May 1, 2015 at 10:51 AM

      Hi Matt,
      Thanks. Great to hear that you’ve decided on a road trip for your next visit. I hope it works out well.
      Tom

  48. Huy Nguyen says:
    April 29, 2015 at 11:07 PM

    The ultimate comfort food for me in your photo.
    I would pay 10 times what you paid for it in the photo 🙂

    1. Huy Nguyen says:
      April 29, 2015 at 11:08 PM

      I will be there soon enough in 5 weeks. Will be looking for those dishes often.
      Happy Independence Day!

      1. Tom says:
        April 30, 2015 at 12:44 AM

        Thanks, Huy.
        I hope you find that meal, and that it doesn’t cost you $20!
        Tom

        1. Huy Nguyen says:
          April 24, 2016 at 3:59 PM

          Fast forward one year to 2016. I have booked for another 3+ weeks. Will be taking it easy this year, not like last year where I switch cities every 2-4 days.

          1. Tom says:
            April 25, 2016 at 4:25 AM

            Hi Huy,

            Great to hear that you’re coming back! I hope this time will be as enjoyable as the last (and more relaxing too :-))

            Tom