RIDING A MOTORBIKE AROUND VIETNAM
I’ve had a few people ask me for advice about doing motorbike tours in Vietnam. So I decided to write a post to share my tips and experience about how to get the best from a motorbike tour of Vietnam. If you have any questions or tips you want to share, leave a comment below.
Riding a motorcycle in Vietnam isn’t an act of bravery, nor is it an act of madness. The roads in the cities are completely crazy, but if you can cross the road in Vietnam, you can ride a motorbike there. Traffic tends to swarm into every available gap in the road, but you’ll be just fine if you just take it easy.
HOW AND WHERE TO BUY A MOTORBIKE IN VIETNAM
Because seemingly everyone rides a motorbike in Vietnam, there are no shortage of dealers selling used motorbikes. There is no real advantage to be gained in buying from a dealer. There won’t be any kind of worthwhile warranty and you should certainly not pay more for one.
At a second-hand dealership the motorbikes are unlikely to have a price on them, so you’ll have to be ready to bargain hard for the right price. It’s no different to buying a used car anywhere in the world, so don’t be afraid of being a little theatrical in your negotiations if need be.
A lot of locals and travellers sell their motorbikes on Craigslist. It’s also worthwhile visiting backpacker hostels where you’ll often find people selling off their motorbikes. That requires some leg-work, but you might be able to get yourself a good deal as the seller may be short on time and therefore open to considering lower offers.
WHAT KIND OF BIKE SHOULD YOU GET?
A lot of people will buy old motorbikes like Hondas and Russian Minsks. These are okay, but you don’t have to go this route.
Mopeds (motor-scooters) are also fine. I rode around Vietnam on a 110cc 2004 Yamaha Nouvo (pictured above) that I paid $151 (£100) for. That’s a good deal cheaper than the average of $3-400 that most people want for those old Honda Wins and Minsks.
With more than 50,000 kilometres on the clock, my Yamaha cruised on the highways without any issue at 60-80kph. It crossed many a rough surface including mud and sand, and climbed the mountains north of Hanoi without grumbling once. I got one puncture that was quickly fixed at a roadside garage for less than $1.
WHAT DO YOU NEED WITH THE BIKE?
As mentioned above, when you buy your motorbike make sure you get the paperwork! That is important because while it’s unlikely that you’ll have any run-ins with the local law, if you do they are going to want to see the bikes paperwork. Without the paperwork you’ll find the bike much harder to sell at the end of your tour.
You will also need to get yourself a helmet and wear it too! I suggest getting something that looks like it might actually offer you some protection in the event of a crash, however, it seems that any kind of flimsy helmet is acceptable.
It’s a good idea to get one with some kind of eye protection. The roads can be very dusty, it sometimes rains, the air can be full of bugs, and at night it simply isn’t smart to wear sunglasses as eye protection.
Getting a decent road map would be a good idea. I didn’t really plan my tour so I never got one and while I was fine, there were times it would have been handy. You also need to consider that when rains in Vietnam it pours! So get yourself something that will keep you dry.
CARRYING YOUR BAG/BACKPACK
People carry all kinds of stuff on their motorbikes in Vietnam. I saw pigs, ducks, dogs, tires, and even an giant shelf unit being transported by motorbike while I travelled. You’ll be amazed by what people carry on their motorbikes.
Your luggage won’t be a problem! I was a little nervous about carrying my bag on the bike because it wasn’t a backpack, but a case with wheels. I purchased a gigantic plastic bag, some elastic clip ties with hooks at each end, then simply balanced my 23kg bag on the back of the bike and wrapped the elastic ties around it firmly. The bike felt heavier with the bag, but it made little difference in reality.
I carried valuable items such as my camera, laptop, and passport in a smaller backpack that I hooked over the handlebars so I could easily take it off and carry it if I left the bike anywhere – and yes, I left the bike with my luggage unattended on numerous occasions.
COPS AND THE LAW
I have seen a few websites that claim you cannot legally ride a motorbike without a Vietnamese licence. This is not correct. You can ride one on your regular licence from home, but you must have that on you. I am told your travel insurance is unlikely to cover you in the event of an accident unless you have an international drivers licence (and even then it still might not!).
It’s widely believed to be illegal for a foreigner to own a motorbike in Vietnam, however that’s not correct. With time and some effort you can register a bike or car in your own name with the authorities and if you’re planning on being in Vietnam for a long period of time then you should probably look into that. However, as long as your bike is registered in a Vietnamese name you’re good to go.
The police in Vietnam do conduct regular road-blocks where they check vehicles and motorbikes. However, not many cops speak English and perhaps because of this I was waved passed every single road-block, even the ones where they were stopping every single bike. This experience was shared by every foreigner I met who rode a motorbike in Vietnam.
The question of insurance is a tricky one. I believe you do need it, however you can’t get it without a Vietnamese license, and in any case, if you are not a resident it would be pretty useless anyway. I was on a bike in 2012 with a local who was uninsured. We were stopped at a roadblock and he just negotiated the ‘fine’ with the cops for not having insurance. He paid about the price of 2 cups of coffee, and there were 2 cops, you can probably do the math.
TAKE IT EASY!
Go slow! That is the best and probably the most important advice you can get when it comes to biking around Vietnam, or indeed anywhere. Remember you are on the motorbike to see the country, so go slow and enjoy the scenery. If you fall off the motorbike every kilometre on the speedometer magnifies your injuries and you could be a very long way from medical help.
If you’re time limited then don’t rely on Google to give you estimates for travel time. You’ll be stopping to look at things and those estimates are all but useless. Accept the fact that you might not have time to see everything and instead just relax and enjoy your trip knowing that the other stuff will always be there when you have more time.
PARKING YOUR MOTORBIKE
Whenever you park your motorbike anywhere in Vietnam, you’ll probably be approached by someone who will want you to pay them about 2,000 Dong ($0.10). This isn’t a scam, it’s how they do things there and everyone pays. The person will write a number on your bike using chalk and give you a card with that number on. They might move it in busy places, but don’t panic if you get back and it’s not immediately obvious where it is. Just give them the ticket and they’ll take you to the bike.
REPAIRS AND MOTORBIKE MAINTENANCE
If you get some old motorbike that has been driven around Vietnam several times by backpackers, then you’re probably going to have to repair it here and there. This shouldn’t be a drama. Because everyone in Vietnam rides a motorbike, you won’t have to look far for someone who can fix yours. Repairs are cheap, but as ever, be alert for people looking to take advantage of you as a ‘walking ATM.’
SELLING YOUR MOTORBIKE
You can sell it to a dealer, but they will give you very little for it. My advice would be to give it a clean, take a good picture of it and put it on Craigslist.
You can also try putting a sign on it. I had my hotel write and print a for sale sign in both English and Vietnamese that included my phone number. I stuck that on the mirror wherever I parked it and it actually got a lot of interest this way. (You will need a local phone number, so get a local sim-card if you haven’t already.)
Another idea might be printing an ad (that includes a picture) and posting that in the local hostels wherever you are. If you’re a member of couchsurfing.com you could also post an ad on the local group as its likely to be read by people looking for bikes.
After my tour I sold my bike in Hanoi for the same price I paid for it in Hue. I sold it in less than 48 hours, and I was holding out for a price I wanted! I sold it to a local couple who saw my ad on the Hanoi couchsurfing group. However, I had 2 other offers from people who saw the ad I stuck on the mirror!
ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
A road trip of this kind is a real adventure, and you’re sure to be telling the stories of it for a long time to come. Don’t over-think or over-plan the it, just give yourself enough time to slowly let the road reveal this beautiful country and its fascinating culture to you.
As I mentioned previously, I’m no expert, but should you have any other questions or tips about riding a motorbike in Vietnam then leave them a comment.
—
Read about my Vietnam road trip
Slow Road to Hanoi – Day 1
A view from onboard the bike in traffic
152 Responses to “RIDING A MOTORBIKE AROUND VIETNAM”
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Wrote the following comment on May 20, 2013 at 11:21 am
Great post, Simon. I hope others come across it and can use it for help in the future.
Wrote the following comment on May 21, 2013 at 1:00 am
Hi Simon. I found this blog today while researching the subject of motorbiking around Vietnam. You’ve covered a lot of information here which is really helpful. I’ve seen quite a few old forums and websites telling me that its dangerous, illegal, and generally ill advised which was disheartening because after seeing the Top Gear special on Vietnam I was inspired to do it myself one day. My job has been sent offshore without me, so this summer seems like that perfect “one day!”
After reading this and one other very positive blog post from an American, I am again inspired to buy my ticket to Ho Chi Minh City and have my very own adventure. I was worried about doing this solo, but you’ve inspired me mate!
Just one question. Did you find it easy to find places to stay, and roughly how much did you spend on that?
Thanks Simon. Great post!
Wrote the following comment on Jul 24, 2013 at 2:40 am
Hi Simon,
For me, You are really an expert!
All your information is correct and could be helpful for people who would like to ride motorbike in Vietnam.
Hope all the ones who want to do motorbike touring in Vietnam can see your post and will be not afraid of Vietnam traffic and having no Vietnamese Licence!
Thank you very much and do hope more and more tourists will come and have great motorbike trip with us in Vietnam!
Warmly welcome to Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert!
We are here ready to help!
Wrote the following comment on Jul 24, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Hi Simon, do you think I would be chancing it too much to get a 250, off to HMC in October and would love something just a bit bigger? I would like an enduro bike in any case as I love to make up my own routes but they are like rocking horse poo, are they as difficult to find out there, 125, 175, or a 250 if you think I’ll get away with it? Thanks for your blog, it was very helpful.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 27, 2013 at 12:54 am
@ Carson – You know the bike I used really served me well and I certainly did not stick to the roads (which often aren’t that good anyway). I took my bike off-road a number of times based upon the fact that I saw locals doing the very same thing on bikes not even as good or as new as my one!
So a 250cc is a great but it’s not going to be the end of the world if you can’t get it. The reason I got the auto Yamaha was because I knew it would be reliable and I didn’t fancy the idea of a footbrake as I am not usually a motorcyclist so footbrakes aren’t my default muscle action when grabbing for a brake in an emergency. (The handlebar brake would be, and that is the front wheel brake! With an auto its more like riding a bicycle.)
Enduro bikes are hard to find at a price that would be reasonable. You’re going to have to battle someone trying to charge you tourist price. I had a local friend buy mine for me while I waited around looking like an uninterested party!
The thing you need to keep in mind is the more money you outlay on a bike, the harder it will be to sell that on to cash strapped fellow explorers or locals who will always be able to get bikes cheaper than tourists.
Hope that helps, and hey, have a GREAT time in Vietnam. Don’t go to fast, remember to take it easy and enjoy the view! :-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 6, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Very nice story with a lot of information for solo rider who want to ride in Vietnam. Thank you very much for your love of our country and hope you will ge more story about motorbike tour in Vietnam
For your return trip to Vietnam we would like to invite you to come and see out Royal Enfield Bullet and sidecar in Hanoi. Will buy you a beer and have a chat about motorbike tour experiences of Vietnam
Nguyen Anh Tuan
Wrote the following comment on Sep 14, 2013 at 3:11 am
This is for entry level of riders. You are totally correct.
Adding to your post, I would recommend to check out Vietnam practical road rules here.
If anyone seeks advice not to be found here, just email me at wutuananh@gmail.com. I will he happy to provide honest and straight forward details.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 19, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Exellent post with some very useful information. So just to clarify, with my UK driving license, a Vietnam visa and the relevent motorbike paperwork I should be fine riding around?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:06 pm
@ Simon Williams – Yes Simon, that’s right, you should have no problem riding a motorbike on your UK license (I don’t have a motorbike license – just the usual provisional motorbike one you get on all UK licences).
I didn’t really have any paperwork for the motorbike either. I had the paperwork, but it wasn’t in my name, it was in the name of some random bloke from Vietnam, but I had it on me and that was essential for selling the bike.
So yeah, go to Vietnam, get a decent helmet (not all that easy) and TAKE IT EASY! Accidents happen when you’re riding too fast or not paying enough attention. Don’t hurry anywhere and don’t get cocky on the bike either and you should be fine.
Good luck!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:21 pm
That’s in fact a very complicated story about license and insurance. For more details, you may check at https://www.vietnamoffroad.com/fags (faq 13 & 14) that provides “as is” information.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:33 pm
It’s as complicated as Vietnam is on the whole. The general rule is that as a westerner you’ll be fine. Yes, there is a very remote chance you might run into that obnoxious cop who is hell bent on ruining your holiday, but I have yet to hear even one such story. And even if I did learn of a story like that, you have to put it in context of the thousands of westerners who ride motorbikes in the country. In the end, cops and the law aren’t really worth worrying about. Though, I think that someone who makes money from running motorcycle tours might have a different take on this… mentioning no names of course ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 20, 2013 at 12:43 am
Don’t talk mu words, check this link out and you will know things change very soon: https://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20130916-no-more-free-rides.aspx
I do think this is necessary, in any country.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 20, 2013 at 3:10 am
@ Anh Wu – So you’re now contradicting not only what you said the other day in your first comment where you link to your business, but now you’re contradicting the advice on your own website?
I let that first comment go because, as much as it was an obvious plug for your business, the information you linked to was useful and added something to this post. However, if you are going to use this post to continue to try and generate business for yourself then I will have to block your further comments.
You have a useful website, and on that you state very clearly that local Vietnam police are generally not interested in stopping westerners, so rather than write confusing and contradictory comments here, just update your own website which, as I said before, is useful and interesting.
I’ll look out for that update and keep my ears open for what other tourists are saying about riding in Vietnam.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 20, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Sorry, I didn’t know about this change until yesterday so posted it as an update. I will see how things go before I update my websites. In Vietnam, it normally take a long time to have laws applied. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long it takes this time.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 26, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Well I hope your wore a helmet during all that motorbiking! I had some friends in Vietnam recently who went on bikes also and had no trouble from the police. Great country!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2013 at 1:31 pm
I am an addictived to travel with motorbike, that such a magical feeling, yeah, especially when driving through the pass you feel removed from the humdrum of cities and towns, free your mind with an imposing scene below.
Great post with a lot of helpful informations. You are true expert!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2013 at 11:09 am
@ Matt – I would have preferred my usual helmet Matt (seen in the inset pic of me wearing the crazy blue jacket).
@ Ian – I agree, riding a motorbike in such places is awesome. I rode around in Laos too and other places in Asia. Love it, its always fun.
Wrote the following comment on Oct 17, 2013 at 10:05 pm
Hi Simon,
I’ve read about 5 different blogs and this is by far the most helpful, cheers!
Im off to oz in november and will be in viet naam by april and have about 6 weeks. How far should i be looking at going from HCMC in that time? My friend did HCMC to Hanoi in 8 weeks but said it was a right slog!
Wrote the following comment on Oct 20, 2013 at 10:32 am
@ James – You know James, I took the train from HCMC to Hue (a beautiful train ride by the way) then rode from there. If I were to do it again I think that I would do the same, but this time I would go up the old Ho Chi Minh Trail, the inland route.
I think 6 weeks is enough to get from HCMC to Hanoi. Your friend taking 8 weeks and calling it a slog seems strange to me, but then you must take advice from a few sources. I would ask him why it was a slog though.
Perhaps he had an older bike, a Minsk or something like that. The few tourists I saw on bikes were all riding those and they all reported having to have them fixed here and there. I chose the Yamaha moped for reliability, and to be fair I went up a few steep mountains without so much as a problem from that trusty bike.
It took me 10 days to ride from Hue to Hanoi via Ha Long Bay, and I took it real easy. So, I think you could do your planned trek in 6 weeks without too many issues. However, make sure to check when the rainy season is – that would add a LOT of drama for sure!
Good luck, and do come back and let me know how you got along. I’m sure others who read this would find your report helpful.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 14, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Hi Simon,
Great post I am off to Vietnam this December with my girlfriend, we are both very keen bikers and are looking forward to traveling from Hanoi to HCMC. Do you advise taking a helmet from the UK or buying one out in Vietnam, also is there any ruling on wearing helmets as when I have been in China some people wear them while others don’t – just thinking about me tan LOL.
Regards Peter
Wrote the following comment on Nov 15, 2013 at 12:19 am
@ Peter – Thanks for the comment Peter. Going south huh, nice! I haven’t done the old Ho Chi Minh trail route, but I am told that’s really a great route. But in fairness, I think any way is a good way, just get off the big roads and enjoy yourself.
Should you take your own helmets. In my opinion, if you have room to take them, then I would. Vietnamese helmets aren’t top quality, and you’d be shocked by some of the flimsy nonsense things that pass for helmets there. Some of them are little more than plastic baseball caps! The red one you see me wearing in the picture above was one I got there in a shop. But it took me a long time to find one big enough!
They are very strict about helmets. If you ride anywhere even remotely busy without a helmet you can expect to get shouted at by just about everyone. Like you I am used to seeing locals in Asian countries riding around without them, but that’s not really the case in Vietnam, and to be honest, it’s probably a good thing they wear them because the roads are nuts!
That said, it may not have escaped your attention that I’m not wearing a helmet in a couple of the pics above. This was way out in the countryside, and I only took it off for the shots and video! But even then, the locals all pointed at my head while smiling, as if to say “Hey buddy, you forgot your helmet.”
Bottom line. You do and should wear a helmet, and TAKE IT SLOW. Vietnam roads are pretty bad in places and scars don’t look as good as a tan!
I hope you both have a great time. It’s a real adventure and I’m sure you’ll really have a blast. If you find time, do come back and let us know how you got on. :-)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 18, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Simon, are you familiar with the procedures / laws / regulations for transferring motorbike registration from one foreigner to another. Motorbike is “NN” registered – ie – ownership papers under a Viet Kieu (French national). He is selling, I want to buy. Location HCMC.
Any info or direction where I can get info would be appreciated. Thanks
Wrote the following comment on Nov 18, 2013 at 5:39 pm
@ David – You know I am not really an expert and I can’t say I have any knowledge about this issue. However, that said I can tell you that I purchased a motorbike and it was registered to someone else in HCMC. He had sold it to a dealer and I rode it on that registration without any drama. (Police are VERY unlikely to stop you.) When it came time to sell it I sold it without any issues at all. Hope that helps, and be careful when you’re out there! Have fun!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 24, 2013 at 1:14 pm
hey mate !! iv heard sooo much about that motorbike road trip ….. im actually at the airport leaving manila to ho chi minh i am travelling the world since 2year and half i am a french canadian from montreal !!!!
i think your blogue is what ppl need.. iv been travelling so much and always whitout knowing fuckall about my next destination ( this is my kind of travelling ;) but obviously every now and then i have to get a bit of info about specifique situation… averything else iv read about the road trip was just so negative …they should travel in a bubble instead…but im happy to read you mate … that exactly what i needed ;) much appreciate !!!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2013 at 11:01 am
@ Samuel – Glad you were able to get some info and encouragement from this post Samuel. Have a great time in Vietnam!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 7, 2013 at 9:09 pm
Great post Simon, I’m planning something similar maybe in India next year and this is helpful
Wrote the following comment on Dec 8, 2013 at 10:07 am
@ John – Glad to be of help John. India is amazing and you should have no problems with the bike there either as there is a motorbike mechanic every third or a mile it seems! :) Good luck!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 17, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Hey Simon! Thanks for the info Mate! Question here for ya…
Myself and two other buddies are doing a motorbike trip this January, starting in Saigon and hoping to cross over into Cambodia and then even Thailand.
What do you know about taking bikes purchased in Vietnam through border crossings and into other countries in SEAsia???
Anything you can share regarding this is appreciated.
Peace! Tim…
Wrote the following comment on Dec 18, 2013 at 11:01 am
Great site Simon. Thanks for the tips mate.
Wrote the following comment on Dec 19, 2013 at 8:32 am
@ Tim – You know what Tim, I actually don’t have any personal experience of taking a motorcycle over the borders but I’ve heard from other travelers that it’s a little tricky. One guy I met in Laos said that he was turned away from the Laos Vietnam border, but that he just gave it a few hours and tried again then was successful. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 3, 2014 at 1:20 pm
This is a great post. lots of info. Thanks for the work!
Wrote the following comment on Jan 23, 2014 at 8:10 pm
My wife and i have riding bikes all over the world and for many years but after researching riding and buying on vietnam we were scared off the the idea. Then we came accross your blog. You bring hope and inspiration to those who want to live the dream but dont have the balls. Well done mate And Good luck on on your quest to inspire the world to be the people they want to be.nickx
Wrote the following comment on Jan 24, 2014 at 10:48 am
@ Nick – Thanks mate, I’m really pleased that I’ve given you some encouragement. I know there is a lot of negativity out there but I think a lot of that is overblown. I think that stories of people going over there and having a great time probably don’t surface quite as often or as quickly as the nightmares we might read about. Kind of like the news I guess, bad stuff floats to the top quicker.
Anyway, go to Vietnam, buy a motorbike and have an awesome adventure! Best of luck to you!
Wrote the following comment on Jan 25, 2014 at 7:04 am
Hi my girlfriend and I have just got back from a 3 week trip to Vietnam, we started our trip in the old quarter of Hanoi as this is known as the bike district. We ended up hiring 2 bikes from Cuonges who were mentioned in Horizons Unlimited blogs. We then set off on Highway 1 for a 1250 mile ride on our trusty 125 Honda,s from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City.
We booked hotels along route as we went, the trip was awesome and at no point did we feel worried – well after getting used to the way they drive that is lol.
If you want any help or advice feel free contact me on peter.lowry@yahoo.com – the total cost of our trip worked out at £1300 each, its got to be done as its an awesome adventure.
Regards Pete
Wrote the following comment on Jan 25, 2014 at 4:50 pm
GREAT POST.
Just to let the other people know that we have a motorcycle bar restaurant and cafe and welcome all bikers either arriving from HCMC or departing from Hanoi to south. We ask nothing from you only to share your stories or give you a map and help you plan your route. Simon I like your post very cool for you to do something like this.
All other bikers ride safe and feel free to stop in check out our informative face book page KUB Cafe Hanoi or our website which is KUB.VN
RIDE safe enjoy Vietnam :)
Wrote the following comment on Jan 26, 2014 at 12:08 pm
@ Pete – Sounds like a great trip Pete. And yeah, that traffic is insanity isn’t it!
@ KUB – I’ll check that out for when I am next there. Sounds like a cool place for sure.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 26, 2014 at 10:44 pm
It’s an awesome country people friendly, food great and amazing views along the coast roads and up in the hills on the way to Dalat.
Regards Pete
Wrote the following comment on Feb 11, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Hi
Myself and 4 others are doing the same journey in May and would love to pick your brains as we are inexperienced Novices please email me of you get the chance thank you.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 11, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Your information is not entirely correct, a foreigner can own and register a motorcycle (any capacity) or car in Vietnam.
I (Australian) registered a Yamaha 135 in my name for almost 2 years already and my boss (American) has registered a 1,690cc Harley in his name, although he cannot get a big bike license until March this year(when they relax the license laws to allow anyone to apply for a large capacity bike license), you need to fill certain criteria such as have proof of purchase and tax payment, a valid passport, visa or residents permit etc.
But it is possible and has been for a number of years, but most people are unaware or too lazy to bother going to the trouble.
You will get issued with NN plates, with your country of origin code on them
Wrote the following comment on Feb 12, 2014 at 12:44 am
Thanks for the correct info there Max. That’s really handy, I’ll update the post to include this info. It’s tricky for tourists like me though because there are so many websites (including some very official and informed looking ones) that tell you information to the contrary, so I suppose that’s how there is this general understanding about it being illegal. Trouble is, I think most tourists (like me) won’t bother going to too much trouble.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 16, 2014 at 3:43 am
I have read hundreds of Vietnam related anti-biking blogs on the internet, written by scaremongering idiots who probably haven’t even touched a bike in Southeast Asia…
Therefore, its great to see someone with personal experience put a positive light on motorbiking in Vietnam. As you say, go slow, stay calm and you’ll be fine.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 16, 2014 at 3:50 am
@ James – Glad you liked the post James. It’s great to know people are finding this information, and finding it useful too!
Wrote the following comment on Feb 20, 2014 at 6:48 am
Just returned from Nam only 10 days into a 2 month excursion after wrecking my bike (wrists, and shoulder too) just a few kilometers south of Nha Trang. I could say a lot to aspiring vagabikers, but with limited wrist motion I will keep this short…
1. GO. SLOW… don’t let anything/anyone (daylight, travel mates, etc) push you at a pace beyond your level of comfortability. This includes such precautions as making sure to rise early to hit the road in order to avoid dwindling sunlight as a motivational factor to speed up or push into riding at night.
2. Allow extra time to get where you need to go. Blogs and maps are helpful, but sometimes out of date or unspecific. For example, a map may show only 180 KM between you and your destination, but doesn’t take in to account that some of the roads you’ll be traveling are underdeveloped or riddled with potholes which could double your travel time.
3. Pay attention. Always. Its reaaaaally easy to allow those multi-hour stretches to take hold of your wandering mind, and you may find yourself entranced in layers of thought 2 hours into a 4 hour trek. You can easily distract and leave yourself vulnerable to split-second obstacles. Enjoy the venturings of your imagination, but keep your eyes scanning and observe everything with the potential to meet your path and obstruct it.
4. Learn to ride AT HOME! Although my inexperience played a minimal part in my accident, it still played a part. Riding in Vietnam is unlike riding a motorcycle ANYWHERE else in the world. That said, take at least a couple of days to observe traffic patterns and the “you hesitate, you die” approach of many Vietnamese motorists. It’ll give you an idea of how to assert yourself, with reason and rationale intact.
Hope some of this helps…
Wrote the following comment on Feb 21, 2014 at 12:53 pm
@ Tim – Oh no Tim! What a disaster. Your tips are great though. You already have seen that I have written about going slow several times, but it’s all too tempting to step up the speed over over-stretch your abilities. I’m really sorry you had to find out this way.
Wrote the following comment on Mar 5, 2014 at 8:43 am
Hi great site and info, this has really inspired me to get of my ass and sort MY road trip of a life time out. Got a couple of friends who have said they are up for it.
So the plan so far is 4 of us flying to hanoi november 2015 ( cant rush this sort of thing ) buying/hiring bikes then riding down the coast to the mekong delta then to saigon, sell bikes fly home 14 days later . Sound reasonable and plausible to you ?
Again thanks for all the great info !
Wrote the following comment on Mar 6, 2014 at 11:11 am
@ Honky – Well I am glad you’re inspired, but the end of 2015? Really? Do you think you’ll really do it. That seems like a long way away and a lot of reasons between now and then why you can put it off. I say bring that forward a lot and make it happen sooner rather than later. Get the tickets and commit yourself so that you can’t simply put it off as one of those things “I will do, honest I will!” :-)
Wrote the following comment on Mar 7, 2014 at 7:00 am
i know what you are saying but all ready got thailand booked for june 2014 and cruise in January 2015 , spent 6 mnths last year planning for my 4000 mile journey around India which i completed last november (which was by taxi,plane and train (no bikes ))so i am confident that i will get to vietnam ; )
but i will keep you informed thanks
Wrote the following comment on Mar 10, 2014 at 12:27 am
Excellent blog, thanks for sharing!
Are there any sidecar outfits available at all? Sidecars are all over Thailand, not sure how available they are in VN. I’d like to take a trip like this with my son when he’s a little older. A sidecar would be nice..
Wrote the following comment on Mar 19, 2014 at 12:03 am
Hi Simon,
Thanks for all the info, by far the most informative blog I have found to date. Me and two friends are heading to Vietnam in November for 15/16 days. We land into Ho Chi Min and want to see some of the south (Nha Trang on first look through my lonely planet.) I would also like to see Hoi An, Hue and one of the national parks on the way to Haling Bay. I appreciate to do the whole trip on a bike would be impossible because of the time constraints. I was thinking of doing something similar to yourself and trying to get a bike in Hue and then travel up to Halong bay. I saw in one of your earlier posts that it took you 10 days to make this trip and was wondering if it would be possible to do this in 7/8 days and still see a lot on the way. I was thinking of taking a train to Nha Trang from Ho Chi Min and then a bus onto Hoi An and again to Hue from Hoi An. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.
Wrote the following comment on Mar 19, 2014 at 12:36 am
@ Smithy, I got to Halong Bay in 8 days, but I spent pretty much the whole time riding – which I loved! And I went a very wiggly way around it, avoiding main roads, which is a good idea. So yes, you could get there in 7-8 days, but you need to be prepared to do a lot of riding and my concern would be that having such a strict time constraint, you might be motivated to go a little faster than you should do. LOTS of people have crashes (see comment 43 above).
Riding a motorbike is SE Asia is challenging and you’ll really need your wits about you. The number 1 rule at all times is to take it easy and GO SLOW! If you crash the slower you’re going the better, and believe me, its a distracting country with wild roads so crashing is a real risk! GO SLOW GO SLOW GO SLOW! Seriously, that’s REALLY important advice!
Are you planning or renting A-B bikes? If so then you’ll be fine, otherwise you need to factor in time to sell your bike wherever you end up.
It’s an exciting place to travel. The night train from Ho Chi Minh to Hue is awesome, and Hoi An is really nice too (tho pricey and something of a tourist trap).
If I were to do it again I would avoid the coastline route I took, and instead go inland more. But I imagine both have pros and cons.
It’s a beautiful and wonderful place, eat Pho in local places surrounded by locals who will watch you eat and smile at you when you look at them watching you. Enjoy the sketchy hotels and I’d give getting a massage a miss unless you’re looking for something a little extra! It will be an adventure you’ll always love, but really, the main thing to remember is that you need to give yourself a lot of time so that you can GO SLOW on the bikes!
Let me know how it works out for you mate!
Wrote the following comment on Mar 21, 2014 at 10:27 am
Looks like it was a beautiful trip. I would love to do something like this someday. Thanks for sharing it.
Wrote the following comment on Apr 21, 2014 at 9:52 am
Me and my girlfriend are thinking about doing a trip around south east asia as part of our gap year around february next year. Though I’d ideally love to replicate what you did, I’ve read in a few places that you now need a Vietnamese licence to drive a bike in Vietnam – do you have knowledge about this?
Also, do you need to buy insurance as well as the bike?
Cheers
Wrote the following comment on Apr 21, 2014 at 10:35 am
@ Daniel – You know Daniel, I’m no expert really. All I can tell you is that Vietnam’s authorities have often said they are tightening up on things, but what the authorities say and what the police do are often very different indeed.
When I went there I was told I needed a Vietnamese license to ride, yet I rode around without one and had absolutely no problems at all. In reality, you might be better asking a local motorbike rental place. There are a few companies that rent bikes to tourists specifically for the north – south run, surely they would know as their business is ruined should tough (and pointless) new laws be put in place.
I will say this, should I go again this year (and I might well do) I will not give a second thought to riding a motorbike in Vietnam. The police are really the least of your worries when motorbiking anywhere in Asia. Your main concern should be to allow yourself a lot of time to get where you want to go so that you can take it real slow and not feel the need to rush, because that truly is dangerous.
Good luck!
Wrote the following comment on May 4, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Hi,
All the motorbike trips could be short but the stories after are for the lifetime.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 5, 2014 at 4:32 am
Hi, great inspiring blog. I,m looking to do something similar January 2015. I haven’t sorted even a rough itinery yet. I,ve motorbiked around some resorts in Thailand for a couple of weeks and have a full UK licence Anyone fancy joining a 50yr old for a couple of days or a couple of weeks?
Wrote the following comment on Jun 14, 2014 at 11:53 pm
I would just like to thank you for this blog, I used this before I went on my trip. Since my friend and me will get to Ho Chi Minh in a few days, we’re now selling ours. If interested, check it out on https://vietnam.craigslist.org/mcy/4520042449.html. Also, in case you are doing this trip and want some advice, hit me up at milandereede@hotmail.com, I’d be glad to help.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 24, 2014 at 11:08 pm
We also did a biking trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh!
Feel free to check our videos out for more traveling tips :)
(Click my name above to see the videos)
Wrote the following comment on Jun 25, 2014 at 3:22 am
@ Joanne – Looks like you had a great trip Joanne. But it also looks like you crashed, a few times! I’m glad you didn’t get badly hurt though :) As always, your accidents highlight the need to GO SLOW when on motorbikes in far away places (or in general really).
I’m in Indonesia at the moment and as I ride around the fastest bikers speeding passed me always seem to be ridden by tourists!
Obviously the temptation is to just open up the throttle and enjoy the feeling of the wind in your hair and the warmth of the sun on your arms. However, I try to remind anyone who will listen that they are on vacation and as such there should be NO hurry to get anywhere, least of all the scene of the accident! :)
Anyway, your videos were fun to watch. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 23, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Hi there sorry to ask you a question that I’m sure you have been asked 1000 times, but I’m currently in Vientiene in Laos, I bought a XR250 in Van Vien which has a Cambodian number plate, I have a card which is the last owners proof of ownership with me, I asked at the embassy and they said it’s impossible for me to get this bike into Vietnam, just wondering if you knew any different, any help would be amazing as I have been told no certain answer from anyone out here, thank you
Wrote the following comment on Jul 23, 2014 at 11:59 pm
@ Sam Unfortunately Sam, I don’t know the answer to this either. I did meet someone who rode across Asia on a motorbike they bought in Vietnam, and they said they just “rocked up” to borders and tried their luck. If they were turned away, they just went back later!
I appreciate that’s of little help to you, but hey, if you do find an answer anywhere, or try the “rock up” approach, I’d really appreciate you getting back to here and letting everyone know your experience. Good luck!
Wrote the following comment on Jul 26, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Hi,
great article, it helped me alot.
I’m planning a 4 week trip to vietnam in november, but i still have 1 question.I’m currently wotking out my budget.
Do u know how much a got to spend on gas for a biketrip throgh vietnam?
Thx
Wrote the following comment on Jul 27, 2014 at 2:53 am
@ Tim – I’m not really sure how much I spent on fuel. I know that gasoline is cheap in Vietnam (like everything!) and that my motorbike was very lean on fuel. I would refill it each night after I found a place to stay and offloaded my luggage that was tied to the bike. It was a pain to refill it in the day when the luggage was attached, because I’d have to untie the bag, pop the seat, hen fill it and replace it all again, and that took a few minutes.
I imagine I spent about $2-4 a day on fuel. I would remember if fuel costs had been significant.
Hope that helps!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 11, 2014 at 8:33 am
Dude, great post. I really want to travel on bike with my girlfriend next 2015 year and this post has really given me more confidence. I do hope it is that easy and cheep to pick up a bike – top man, top post!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 12, 2014 at 2:46 am
Great post and lots of interesting information in the comments so thank you for your efforts.
I have a flight booked arriving in Hanoi and leaving 31 days later from Siem Reap.
I want to make stops at some of the usual places a long the way, Ha long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Saigon then eventually Angkor Wat. Of course all stops are subject to change, but I was originally planning to fly the Hanoi to Hue route to save time and then take trains or buses the rest of the way.
A friend of mine is no considering joining and suggested the idea of buying motorcycles.
I guess my question is, do you think a route like this is possible in this time frame on motorcycles while also following the ‘go slow’ advice?
It’s a vacation so obviously feeling rushed is no fun either.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 24, 2014 at 1:08 am
Great post. I am heading in Jan with a girl who has no experience on motor bikes but rides a pushie to work. She isn’t keen on getting a bike, but will the 100cc stuff handle the 2 of us and minimal luggage or do I need to track down something bigger??
The basic trip we are planning on is around the South. Is 1000ks a week unrealistic?? I am wondering if we are taking on too much.
Thanks!!
Wrote the following comment on Oct 5, 2014 at 8:41 pm
hi all ye guys
just a quick question.we will be motorbiking from HCMC to hanoi in january. from hanoi we need to get to Chiang Mai in thailand about 1264 km distance through laos. there is no direct flight so can this be done by motorbike? or are we been crazy. another question- is 2 weeks driving from HCMC to Hanoi enough time or do we need more or less
thanks everyone
Wrote the following comment on Oct 6, 2014 at 3:31 am
@ Steve Hall – Thanks Steve, and good luck with your 2015 plans. I enlisted the help of a local to get the bike at an attractive non ‘white taxed’ price, so maybe check out couchsurfing or some similar website, and see if you too could get a local to help you with buying the bike.
@ Joe T – I think you won’t have any problems doing all that in 31 days Joe. The only thing I could foresee being an issue is getting a motorbike across the border. That requires a great deal of paperwork and you’d need a fair amount of luck too. However, it could also be very easy, it really depends on the border guard and his mood. Whatever, you’ll struggle to sell the bike in another country. But if you buy it cheap then maybe just factor that in as a cost and ride the thing to the airport then leave the keys in it?
@ Tom – Sounds like you’ve got a good adventure coming your way Tom. I think you’ll need a 125cc really. A 100cc probably wouldn’t cut it with 2 of you and luggage, and you might even be asking a tad too much of a 125 too. 1000K a week is totally doable, so remember to take it easy, stay alert and tell your passenger to hold tight and not move around too much! :)
@ Paul – You know what Paul, I think 2 weeks is enough time to get from HCMC to Hanoi, but you might have to get a move on. It took me 10 days to get from Hue to Hanoi taking in Halong Bay, and I spent a lot of time on the bike. You’ve got 4 more days, so it’s doable, but as ever, I would advise that you just take it easy and don’t try to push too much.
As for taking the bike across borders, I think this is tricky. I met a guy in Laos who was trying to get into Vietnam. He claimed that a friend had done it and had no problem, but he had been turned back three times. When we spoke to him he was going to try and cross in the middle of the night banking on the fact that border officials might be tired and in no mood to halt him. I don’t know how he got on.
I’m no expert on border crossings, but it’s my understanding that there is extra paperwork needed for the bike and assurances that you will return to the country of the bikes registration. Being that you’re a foreigner, I doubt they will believe you. You could try greasing the wheels with a few well placed dollars, but I’ve never done that and frankly I’m not sure I would want to risk time in a South East Asia jail for bribery :)
Wrote the following comment on Oct 16, 2014 at 12:30 am
Hi Simon,
Great post and really interesting hearing another account from a fellow adventurer! I did a similar thing this year, riding from Saigon to Hanoi and i’ve just written a post about it. Take a look if you’re interested!
https://www.paulathroughthelookingglass.com/motorbiking-vietnam/
Thanks
Wrote the following comment on Oct 16, 2014 at 3:05 am
@ Paula – Thanks Paula, I’ll check out your post. It’s one of the best road trips of my life for sure!
Wrote the following comment on Oct 22, 2014 at 11:50 pm
Hi Simon, great pics and blog as usual, must admit I’ve not had a lot of time lately to check on were you are and what your up to, (have been setting up my own little business) in fact the last time I was here you were on your way back to the uk or had just returned after losing your passport!
The blogs are as entertaining as ever and the pics are are stunning! Still waiting for you to write the book ????
Anyway…. Take care and I look forward to future blogs, ive just started following you on Twitter too :-)
Gary
Wrote the following comment on Oct 23, 2014 at 1:59 am
Wow, this article is very great and pretty full. It is necessary for a trip to VietNam. And I come from Viet Nam and so my best advice is to wear a helmet. Everyone is very friendly to tourists, so you can find amazing things in here! I love Viet Nam! :)
Wrote the following comment on Oct 27, 2014 at 3:29 am
Simon,
Bravo! just fantastic blogs and pics. All above information is very helpful. I do hope to ride with you in Vietnam in the near future. We based in Hanoi and arrange all motorbike tours in Vietnam.
Thanks and see you soon for another great trip.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2014 at 5:03 am
Love that you have included a quick travelers guide on how to sell the motorbike! I figured the most effective way is to stick a flyer up in every bar tat you can find, and chat to lots of people who will just be starting their journey too!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2014 at 5:44 pm
@ Gary – Nice to see you hear Gary. I saw your little biz, good luck with that! As for the book, stay tuned right :)
@ Josh – Yes Josh, that is a good way to sell the bike. It shouldn’t be hard to sell it really as there are lots of people who do this adventure and that number is growing as Vietnams tourism continues to boom.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 15, 2014 at 11:20 am
So you are still alive Mr Jones!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 15, 2014 at 5:11 pm
@ Emmett – Hey there Emmett! Yep, I’m still alive. Just in Thailand right now, heading home to Aus very soon though, and I need to start blogging again! I’ve sent you an email too.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 17, 2014 at 3:41 pm
Hey Simon, landing in Ho Chi Minh in about 2 days. Buying a bike and travelling up the east coast. Hopefully selling it in Hanoi before I go trek some mountains and make my way into Laos down to Cambodia. Your post was very informative. I had three questions, however.
1. For a backpacker with a 70L backpack and a small backpack, how do you fit these onto the motorcycle?
2. Do hostels in each city offer parking for these motorcycles?
3. You said you stopped in many places to just check out things. How do you keep your possessions safe in that mean time? If I am travelling with all my stuff can I just leave my backpack on my motorcycle?
Thanks a lot for the help and advice.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 17, 2014 at 8:12 pm
@ Pierre – Good questions Pierre. Let me answer them as best I can, but this is just advice from my own personal experience, obviously :)
1. For a backpacker with a 70L backpack and a small backpack, how do you fit these onto the motorcycle?
I had a relatively big case that I wrapped in a big plastic bag and then strapped to the back on the bike. I was unsure about doing that at first, but after a couple of days I was quite used to it and actually liked the weight and stability it gave the motorbike. Also, my laptop and valuables bag was wrapped around the handlebars. See this pic and this pic.
2. Do hostels in each city offer parking for these motorcycles?
I didn’t really stay in that many hostels as hotels were so cheap. But yes, they all offer parking as far as I could see.
3. You said you stopped in many places to just check out things. How do you keep your possessions safe in that mean time? If I am travelling with all my stuff can I just leave my backpack on my motorcycle?
I did indeed stop in many place. My laptop, camera, hard drives, and all my other valuables came with me in my small backpack that I hooked over the bike handlebars. The big bag that was on the back of the bike was left there. In towns you always have to pay to park, and that means there is usually a guy watching the bikes. If it feels unsafe, don’t park there.
It would have been terrible if someone had taken all my clothes, but they never did. On the whole I felt very safe in Vietnam.
Good luck with your trip! Let us know how you go, and for heavens sake DON’T RUSH! Take it slow and easy and don’t be afraid to take small roads. If you can get a decent paper map as Google isn’t always that great.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 25, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Hi! Me and my boyfriend are doing the South to North run in March next year and was wondering if you have any tips for a route we could take and how long roughly it’ll take? We’re only there for 10 days so would like to see as much as possible.. Your blog was a great read by the way!
Thank you in advance
Wrote the following comment on Nov 25, 2014 at 9:50 pm
@ Leah – I assume you’re not planning on getting a motorbike then? You might be able to rent one in one location and drop it off in another, but that would be expensive. I think with 10 days you should enjoy a day or so in HCMC then jump on the train and get yourself up to Hue. The Ocean Cloud Pass (locally called the Hai Van Pass) is a great train ride. You’ll rattle your way there overnight on a sleeper train which is always a fun experience if you ask me.
Spend a little time in Hue, maybe rent a moped and get out of the city to see some of the countryside stuff. Then jump the train to Danang to get a motorbike-taxi to beautiful Hoi An. Spend a couple of days there, rent a bike and find yourself a quiet deserted beach where locals fish from circular fishing boats. From there get back on the train and head to Nha Trang. It’s a tad on the touristy side, but it’s not unpleasant and again, get on a motorbike and go exploring!
From there you can catch a train north to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay is a little out the way, but if you have time you could take a look. It’s one of the wonders of the world and people often speak highly of it, but as you saw in my blog, it was my least favorite place and full of people trying to rip you off on crappy cruises. Sapa in the north is also a favorite place for tourists to go, so maybe you want to look into getting there, but to be fair, my advice is that you’ve got 10 days. Find your way slowly to Hanoi and promise yourself you’ll return one day for longer.
Hope that helps!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2014 at 5:31 pm
Hi Simon!
Your blog has been incredibly helpful! :)
I am in Saigon at the moment and unfortunately my travelcard has been playing up the day I was supposed to buy my scooter and ride with a friend to Vung Tau.
He has now had to leave without me so I will now have to find someone else to do the trip with. Are there any forums or places to go which you can recommend where I can meet fellow travellers who are also doing the route up to Hanoi?
Unfortunately, I have found the hostels aren’t very social and it’s hard to meet someone on a drunken night out and make plans.
Any advice would be amazing.
I have bought a scooter through a company called Tigit which has provided me with priceless information and help such as maps with how long the journey will take and also the Vietnamese lady who works for the company has said I can call her if I get lost or break down. She will negotiate the correct price for me with any mechanic and they have mechanics up and down the country. Also, I have downloaded an app called ‘Map Me’ where you can download maps of whole countries and get directions even when offline. I am ready and rearing to go but I would love a partner in crime if anyone is interested.
Thanks, Eve :)
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2014 at 5:40 pm
@ Eve – Hi Eve. I am sorry but on this question I don’t think I have any answer that would be of any particular help. Have you looked at couchsurfing.com? Quite a few people make travel plans through their site, or at least they used to in the old days before the new people at CS screwed everything up. If I think of anything else I’ll let you know. And hey, should you find a website or app that is invaluable to you for this, then please come back and share it. Good luck!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 2, 2014 at 3:31 am
Can i drive a motorbike on a provisional licence or do i need a full licence or international driving licence. Im flying into hcmc and driving to hanoi?????
Wrote the following comment on Dec 2, 2014 at 3:54 am
@ Paul – I think you would probably get away with a provisional, but be careful. I’m going to sound really old here Paul, but I’m guessing you’re pretty young as you haven’t yet got your full driving license. With that in mind I imagine, like me when I was a younger man, you’ll want to go everywhere really fast. The temptation to open up the throttle will be immense. Just keep in mind that your inexperience will be a factor, and try to keep your youthful confidence in check. ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Dec 2, 2014 at 11:49 am
This blog post was not only very informative, but also your series of posts from the road left me really inspired to get out there and do this myself. I’ve been looking for my 2015 adventure and this is it! Riding a motorbike across Viet Nam!
Thanks for the information Simon, but most of all, thanks for the inspiration!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 15, 2014 at 9:17 am
This was a amazing informative blog but I still have one questions, are we required to purchase an insurance to ride a motorbike in Vietnam and how much will it cost?
Wrote the following comment on Dec 16, 2014 at 4:38 pm
@ Marc – Insurance is a tricky one. I think you are supposed to have insurance in case you crash into something, or someone else. Seems logical right? Truth is, I never bothered, and I haven’t spoken with any other rider from overseas who did. That said, in an earlier trip to Vietnam a local rider (EasyRider) who was taking me to Dalat, was stopped in a road block check. He didn’t have up-to-date insurance and his bike was impounded until he negotiated a ‘fine’ with police officers who then released his bike and allowed us to continue on our way. The fine he paid was about the cost of a cup of coffee, and was in cash with no tickets or paperwork or any kind.
Wrote the following comment on Dec 27, 2014 at 9:45 am
That’s good to know. Thanks!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 28, 2014 at 8:28 am
Hi everybody. Does any1 know of a ready to go or buying credit type of sim pack i can get in vietnam so i can put in my fone so as to keep in touch with friends and family back in ireland?????
Wrote the following comment on Dec 28, 2014 at 3:23 pm
@ Paul – You can pick SIM’s up almost anywhere. Every convenience store has them and there are plenty of technology or mobile phone stores that will sell you a SIM and credit. Too easy mate!
Wrote the following comment on Jan 12, 2015 at 3:56 am
Hiya simon. Ur very helpful.i owe ya a beer. Im flyin in 2 hcmc next saturday the 17 january. Can u recommend an address of sumwhere i could buy a motorbike an drive to hanoi. Cheers
Wrote the following comment on Jan 12, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Simon is possible that after i buy a motorbike to send it home when im finished with it
Wrote the following comment on Jan 11, 2015 at 10:37 am
Hi,
I came across this blog and its been a great read. My question is, if you have ideas or knowledge on this is…My boyfriend and I are planning to either rent or buy a motorbike and side car to travel south to north over 6 weeks. I’ve not had as much luck as I thought in finding one for sale. In your experience would it be easy to find one while we are there the first week. Are they expensive? I don’t drive a motor bike and we will have some luggage so we think it would be the best way. What do you think?
Wrote the following comment on May 16, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Experiencing Saigon By Riding Motorbike– Most people think that simply crossing the street in Ho Chi Minh City is a real life Frogger game – a death wish. Vietnam is known for their chaotic motorbike traffic and it can be quite intimidating to most tourists. Many people say that they would never get on a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh city let alone drive themselves anywhere. However, Sherry and I decided that we wanted to experience the local side of Saigon so much that we did the unthinkable – we became motorbike passengers with Saigon Unseen.
Wrote the following comment on May 23, 2015 at 4:36 am
evening from a chilly middle of England after doing the rides around Europe ive done Thailand decided Vietnam has to be next came across you page by accident just purely looking for info as ya do anyway its been great reading and ive decided 2 weeks in January next year 2015 buy a scooter ride ho chi min to Hanoi or Hanoi ho chI minh either way im doing it either alone or with friends as usual it will be alone but im sure the experience is gonna be great many thanks for your great experiences
Wrote the following comment on Jun 18, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Hey Simon,
We have 7 days and we are looking at doing the HCM to Hanoi trip on motorbikes…Been told that 7 days would be very very hectic and as an option was asked to spend time in HCM, take the bus or train to Hoi An and then start the ride from Hoi An as the Hoi An to Hanoi road stretch is the more enjoyable one with lesser traffic and better scenes around you.. Is this true ? Do you have any advice that would help us ? We are planning to do this in mid-september.
Would appreciate any sort of help on this.
Thanks man
Wrote the following comment on Jun 19, 2015 at 3:54 pm
@ Shayz – Yes that’s good advice. If you try to go from HCMC to Hanoi in 7 days you’ll have to cover a lot of distance each day which will lead you to having to go fast. This is dangerous, not to mention unenjoyable.
Get a train to Hoi-an, buy your bike there (cheaper than HCMC) and go from there. The train ride from HCMC is an enjoyable ride on the Ocean Cloud Pass. Get a sleeper and you’ll have another story in your adventure.
As I said in the post, motorbiking in Vietnam is fun, but if you have to go fast it becomes very dangerous because the roads are hectic and not so good in many places. If you have an accident things could get very and very quickly. Don’t risk it. If you only have 7 days, go from Hoi-an, or just do the whole thing by bus.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 25, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Hi Simon,
I’m photorgrapher, not a terrorist. Ha ha I like it
Thanks for great pics and article.
Before I work as a operator here in Vietnam, I have travel around the world but hate to admit that I dont have that feeling. Travelling in Vietnam have never being easy for any expert, just enjoy it to pass such a difficulty when you guy face them.
Anyway…. Take care and I look forward to future blogs, ive just started following you on Twitter too :-)
Wrote the following comment on Jun 29, 2015 at 4:37 am
Fantastic blog Simon,i am going to Hanoi in November this year,2 people in total,and will be motorbiking from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh,hoping to do the trip in 6 weeks,but will have a 90 day visa,so can take longer if needed,what places are a must to visit and are there any places you did not get to see but heard from others were a great place to visit.
How many days were you actually on the road in your time to reach Hanoi and how many days did you spend in 1 place before hitting the road again,also what was your average distance travelled each day (KM’S)and how many hours were you on the road each time??.
Thanks in Advance for any information you can give me,its really been great reading your adventure,i just want time to fly now,can not wait to be there.
Many Thanks mate
Wrote the following comment on Jun 29, 2015 at 5:34 am
@ Neil – So I rode from Hue (a good place to stop for sure) to Ha Long Bay then onto Hanoi. All in all I was on the road for ten days covering 1,554 Kilometres. I spent most of the days riding slowly, stopping frequently, and always finding somewhere to stay overnight before sunset (apart from once). I would have been happy to govern slower and stop at more places for longer. I also wanted to go to Sapa, but I’ll do that another time. Must stops? Anywhere that takes you I think! Hoi An was very nice if a little touristy, but on the motorbike you’d be able to get to the deserted beaches for sure. Hue was also cool for a few days, and after that I just stopped wherever the whim took me.
You might enjoy reading the blogs from each day, or at least looking at the pics. Start from here or Day 1.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 29, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Vietnamese Police normaly doesn’t stop western riders because they can not speak english and afraid of political aspect. So far if you want to save money, just buy a second hand bike without blue card (paperwork). It’s half price cheaper.
Bikes: Now, Russia Minsk is no longer use for long trip ride because it’s too old. You have many choice such as wave RS, Chinese Honda Win,etc. They are cheapr and more reliable than Minsk. For more comfortable, rent a bike from my company [No affiliate to this blog] you will be peace in mind, not worry about quality because we alway along with you all trip
Wrote the following comment on Jul 1, 2015 at 8:38 am
Thank you Simon,yes read all the blogs,sounds great mate,got the buzz just reading them,now you’ve got me wishing my life away,only 124 days to go :)
hoping to do similar to you,spending as much time off the Highway and seeing the real Vietnam,did you use GPS on your trip or is it possible to use GPS in Vietnam??
Well THANKS for replying,best of health to you…Neil
Wrote the following comment on Jul 2, 2015 at 6:44 am
@ Neil – You know what, I didn’t use a map or GPS! Because I was going up the boast (more or less) I knew that if the coast appeared anywhere but on my right, I was likely going the wrong way! In the morning I was review my location and the possible roads ahead on my iPod touch using hotel wifi, I would then save these maps as best I could and just head off onto the open road. Now I don’t really think thats the most sensible approach to a road trip, but I was fine. My rule of getting a room by dusk was a good one. It was really just a bloody awesome road trip. I won’t lie when I say there were many times I felt like Charley Boorman or Ewan McGregor on their Long Way Round.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 3, 2015 at 8:18 am
Simon,
i think that’s a great approach you had,riding in to the unknown,i will just make sure the coast is on my left,i have got a minimum of 6 weeks to get to Ho Chi Minh,so surely I can afford to get lost a few times :)
Reading your Blog has really got me motivated more now mate,the flights are already booked,also heard that as of August this year,you can use the International Driving Permit in Vietnam,so that’s one less thing to worry about,if I can suss out how to make a Blog online,you might soon see me following your tracks.
Thanks for your time mate and all the info,and thanks for letting me know to not ask a guy if he has WIFI upstairs,if he’s got a wife :D
Cheers mate
Wrote the following comment on Jul 20, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Vietnamese police can not speak english at all so they do not stop visiter, epsecially westerner
Wrote the following comment on Jul 26, 2015 at 7:37 am
Thanks a lot Simon .. was in such a conundrum after reading so many discouraging blogs on motorbiking in Vietnam and the legal issues involved. I really wanted to do a North – south stretch of Vietnam on a 150-175 cc but was so much confused till I read your blog. Amazing info and a wonderful log of the 10 days of your trip ( I read all of them in one go!). Can’t tell you how excited I am for my trip which starts in mid September. I have good experience in riding on the chaotic Indian roads and off roads and even the difficult Himalayan roads but still coudln’t get the push to do what I wished but your blog inspired me!
Just one question – do you reckon buying a better option than renting a bike from Hanoi, given that I have strict 10 days of time in Vietnam? It’s obviously cheaper option but I am not sure if I will get enough time to buy and sell a motorbike?
Again, Thanks a lot !
Wrote the following comment on Jul 27, 2015 at 2:48 am
@ Abhinav – You know, with just 10 days on your schedule I think that renting would be a better option. Your time is really limited and I think it would be more enjoyable to just get on a trustworthy rented bike and go, without having the worry of selling it in the back of your mind while you ride.
You never said where you plan to get to in the south. If you’re planning a Hanoi to HCMC run just keep in mind thats a very long way and that it took me 10 days to do just half that (I started in Hue). In my opinion you’d be rushed and have to go at speeds that would surely be less than relaxing and enjoyable. But maybe it’s possible. Whatever, remember that speed is a big factor in accidents so take it easy and enjoy the ride. Stop often to look at things and enjoy the road.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 13, 2015 at 4:21 am
What a great site! Planning a 6 week trip in North VN, including 2 weeks in Laos. Starting and ending in Hanoi. Question: should I rent or buy? Rental rates look cheap ($50ish for a month), and since I’m starting and ending in the same spot, so no issue/cost of dropping the bike in a different location. Maybe I can’t take a rental to Laos? One rental place I talked to said I could but would need to leave a large deposit ($1,500). Would be interested in your opinion. Thanks Simon
Wrote the following comment on Aug 13, 2015 at 6:11 am
@ Craig – You know if you’re happy to rent a bike then I’d say do that, it would eliminate the pain of trying to sell it before you leave. That said, watch out for hidden charges. ‘White tax’ is very much a factor in Asia (yes I know it looks bad writing that, but it’s nonetheless true!). When I tried to buy the moped I used the price was 9m Dong, but to my local friend there who got it for me, the price was 4m Dong, which she bargained down to 3.2m Dong!
With regards to taking the bike to Laos, I am not an expert but I think you’ll find that to be rather difficult. Ordinarily you would need documentation (I think called a CARNA?) that would be checked as you crossed borders, but as you’re planning on returning to the point of rental maybe you wouldn’t. Honestly I am not the person to ask on this. It would be the same if you bought a bike too I think.
Anyway, good luck with your adventure, and should you feel inspired to share, please do come back and let me and everyone else know how you got on.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 12, 2015 at 6:02 pm
In February I did the same journey and made a video/ guide about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Z9IHZ1ge8
Wrote the following comment on Sep 15, 2015 at 2:14 am
Hi,
Did you plan to travel from the South to the North of Vietnam? I’m planing to go but it’s quite difficult for a girl. Hope you had a good trip.
Calla
Wrote the following comment on Sep 15, 2015 at 3:16 am
@ Calla – Honestly I never planned any of it. I just turned up in Vietnam because it seemed like a good idea. I’d been there before and enjoyed the visit, so I figured I’d go again to see a friend I met there the year before. Once there I started entertaining the idea of riding a motorbike to Hanoi, they were cheap and I like being on the road, so I had the friend help me buy a moped (at a sensible local price) and then I simply put my back on it and started heading north with no map and no itinerary. The plan was to have an adventure, and I did just that!
Honestly, you can get a little bogged down with planning an adventure like this. There’s a lot of conflicting information online (of which I suppose this is a part of), but it was actually pretty easy and safe. I don’t speak a word of Vietnamese aside “hello” and “thank you” but I got by without any drama.
I’m not a girl so you have to bear that in mind, but my advice is don’t overthink it, but do get a map, and do go slow! Get a local sim card when you arrive (really cheap and easy) and let GPS help you when you need it. Hotels are safe and cheap and if you take it easy and make sure you’re in a hotel or hostel before dinner, you’ll be fine.
Good luck, have fun, go slow, and come back and tell us how it went!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2015 at 2:47 am
Simon,
I’m late to your show here, but I loved it.
I had a Yamaha 80cc when I was working as a civilian in Viet Nam 48 years ago – 1967 – 1969. I explored my Delta province — Kien Hoa, now called Ben Tre Province.
The roads, people and motobikes look the same now, especially “This little piggy went to market”.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 23, 2015 at 7:23 pm
@ Steve – 48 years ago! Wow! Well I am glad you enjoyed seeing the pics Steve and I hope it bought back those good memories.
Wrote the following comment on Oct 28, 2015 at 1:56 pm
@Calla Not every foreigner can ride in Vietnam but if you are familiar on two wheels, just have a check. It will be a strange experience in your life.
Wrote the following comment on Oct 31, 2015 at 2:15 am
Hi Simon,
Do you have any advice if we want to ride motorbikes but only have a week in Vietnam? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Stu
Wrote the following comment on Oct 31, 2015 at 3:24 am
@ Stu You know a week isn’t long. What you would probably be best advised to do is fly into Hanoi and rent motorbikes from any number of the companies that offer motorbike tours. Buying a motorbike would be time consuming and then you’re pressured to sell it at the end. Renting is pretty much you’re only choice. Maybe rent from Hanoi and head to Sapa? That would be a good ride for sure!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 21, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Thank you so much Simon, I’m from Chile and my gilfriend from new Zealand and we just got a Honda win 110 yesterday and we are ready for our adventure from Hanoi to hochi Minh in 4 weeks time frame, your advise it’s great, so much helpful.
Wrote the following comment on Dec 7, 2015 at 11:26 am
Hi Simon,
I came across your site yesterday whilst looking at getting back into motorbikes after several years.
I’m so inspired that I went home and informed my wife that we are going to moped Vietnam….
I’m reading the rest of your blog and would like to know what camera you used as your pictures are excellent quality.
Kind regards
Steve
Wrote the following comment on Dec 8, 2015 at 1:01 am
@ Steve – I’m glad I inspired you Steve! You’ll have a great adventure I’m sure.
I used a Canon G12 to snap the pictures in this blog post. It’s a pocket camera as I don’t really believe in carrying a heavy and expensive SLR as I travel the globe. In fact if you liked those pictures check out other pictures I took in Vietnam and other places a year earlier in 2012. You can see them at 366pictures.com.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 1, 2016 at 7:50 pm
this is amazing experience riding bikes in Vietnam. this is wonderful, thanks for sharing this.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 1, 2016 at 8:34 am
We’ll be visiting NEXT year. It’s two of us. Will it be necessary to have TWO motobikes to accomodate us and luggage? We travel really light. And what about the accomodations? Will it be easy to find lodgings along the road? We don’t want to have everything planned.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 1, 2016 at 8:44 am
@ Victoria J Quesada – It will really depend how much luggage you’re carrying Victoria. Two people can easily fit on a motorbike, but the luggage situation might make that a bit of a squeeze that could get uncomfortable after a few days. It might also have some road safety implications that could be an issue if you’re an inexperienced rider, especially on unfamiliar roads.
It will indeed be easy to find lodgings along the way. I just went to hotels and while that might sound extravagant, it wasn’t really. Vietnam is very affordable, even for a budget traveller, it’s one of the things that makes it such a popular riders destination.
Just go and you’ll figure it out I’m quite sure.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 2, 2016 at 9:19 am
Hello! Love the blog! Just a quick question, I have ridden bikes however only have a provisional. Will I be able to ride a bike over there? Thank you :-)
Wrote the following comment on Feb 2, 2016 at 12:20 pm
@ Natasha – You know Natasha, I am not sure I would attempt this with no real road experience. Vietnams roads are not for the faint hearted. So yeah, I am just advising you to give it some thought before you embark on this. The temptation will be to go a little quicker than you’re capable of, and with only a provisional licence I have to assume you’re not very experienced on motorbikes or roads. So yeah, just waving a yellow flag for you on this one :-)
That said, good news is that most of the cops in Vietnam can’t read English so you’re probably in the clear even if its not officially allowed.
Just remember the golden rule. DO NOT RUSH, give yourself plenty of time, and go slow – go slow – go slow!
Wrote the following comment on Apr 5, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Hi Simon
We’re also a motorbike tour operator, however, what you pointed out for the motorbike tours in Vietnam is further better than our own visions. You are a foreigner but understand Vietnam rather than a Vietnamese. We learn so much from you honestly.
Thanks so much for your sharings & hope to see your more contributions in the upcoming time.
Wrote the following comment on Apr 11, 2016 at 8:32 pm
Great blog, Simon! I’ve done a fair bit of motorbike touring and city riding in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in recent years. Newcomers need to realise that the traffic is just anarchy here. If there are any road rules at all no one seems to obey them. Even stopping for a red light seems to be optional.
Most Vietnamese are lovely people, but on the roads all signs of courtesy seem to vanish. I think many readers will have already heard about the wrong-side-of-the-road riders. You get used to them after a while, but there are worse things.
On the highways there are the kamikaze bus and truck drivers who overtake against oncoming traffic. “Might is right” here so pull onto the shoulder and get out of their way! Thankfully there are now concrete barriers along the middle of much of highway 1 to prevent them from doing this, but they’ll still do it wherever they can.
Then there are the people who will suddenly just swerve across your path, come shooting out of driveways onto a busy road, drive like a moving roadblock, or brake hard without any warning. In Saigon and Hanoi you’ve got motorbikes riding a couple of inches away from you on all sides and people behind you persistently trying to force their way between you and the bike beside you. Meanwhile in front of you there are pedestrians, wobbling cyclists, people pushing carts, people on motorbikes carrying 6 metre lengths of pipe over their shoulders, people on motorbikes carrying large panes of glass, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.
All of these traffic behaviours are considered normal here, but they take some getting used to for us Westerners. I’m 62 and I’ve been riding motorbikes nearly all my life, but I still find the big city traffic here very unnerving. Anything can come at you from any direction at any moment so you have to be constantly on the alert.
Accidents happen frequently – you’ll see the many painted motorbike outlines on the roads from past crashes – so looking out for No.1 is the key to survival. I had an accident in Laos where a guy just shot across the highway in front of me without even looking to see if anything was coming. I was doing about 70kmh and couldn’t avoid T-boning him. He was knocked out but was OK. Luckily for me I only got a few cuts and scrapes and the bike was still rideable so I was able to get to the next town for repairs.
Road conditions vary greatly but can be very bad, especially in the backblocks. The last time I rode the Ho Chi Minh highway (2013) large parts of it were unsealed and very bumpy, potholed and dusty. Highway 1 is much better but along the central coast the rice farmers spread their grain on the motorcycle lanes to dry – so watch out!
If you come upon a patch of rice you have to check that you haven’t got a car behind you and move into the car lane. In many places there is a pronounced shoulder between the car and motorcycle lanes so you have to take care when moving between them. I wouldn’t recommend riding here for the inexperienced or the fainthearted, but that said, Vietnam is a marvellous place to explore by motorbike.
Wrote the following comment on Apr 13, 2016 at 11:21 pm
Hi Simon, I just thought I’d add that I think your choice of the Yamaha Nouvo was a good one. The great majority of foreign tourists go for the Honda Wins (100 or 110cc) which you can now buy from dealers in the backpacker districts for as little as $200.
Most are in pretty sad condition though, so if you go that route you can expect to have some breakdowns along the way (been there, done that!). On the positive side though, you can get them repaired almost anywhere, because with these motors being so ubiquitous here every roadside motorbike repairer has pretty much all of the spare parts, and they’re amazingly cheap.
People seem to prefer the Wins to scooters because they have a gearbox, but they only have 4 speeds which means you’re short on gears when climbing hills. Quite a few scooters, like the Yamaha Exciters, also have a gearbox, but with 5 speeds and a bigger engine. They also have large diameter wheels (better for the bumpy roads) and you can carry luggage under the seat and in front of the rider. No reason at all why you can’t tour on them – the locals certainly do!
Wrote the following comment on Apr 29, 2016 at 11:38 am
@ Jim – Thanks for that information Jim, good advice there for sure. I just got back from India for the second year in a row. Have you ever ridden there? I’m thinking a good plan would be to go there, but a Enfield and drive around that amazing country for a bit. Something to think about at least!
Wrote the following comment on May 3, 2016 at 3:54 am
been to the nam rode bike I bought cost me £160 the electrics gradually gave up along the route me and a mate got stopped once by police asked for licence got stumped what to do when gave them it gave up n let us go told us not to speed again it was the most amazing ride I have ever done and I am going back for another go taking 2 others with me excited yeah we excited we gonna ride the highway 1 turning in to villages stopping to say hello to the locals only problems I had punctures fixed with in yards loads of places to get them fixed bike and bag never got touched when reached ho chi minh stopped outside me hotel never even turned the key I had a buyer for it 2 blokes from finland gave me £140 for it had a bike for £20 for 2 weeks great ride great place people country best experience ever its a must to go go relax and enjoy the ride have fun
Wrote the following comment on May 4, 2016 at 9:49 am
@ Chris – Great to hear back from you Chris! I am really pleased you had such an amazing time. It is indeed an amazing and really accessible adventure for anyone isn’t it. Thanks for coming back and reporting on your trip. Good to know you made it back in one bit! lol
Wrote the following comment on Oct 6, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Hi!
Love your post! There is a lot of insightful information I wish I had seen before buying and selling a motorbike in less than 24 hours.
I recently wrote a post about a similar subject, but more on the all the costs related to riding a motorcycle across Vietnam! Let me know what you think about the article :)
Wrote the following comment on Oct 6, 2016 at 8:47 pm
@ Joaquim – I read your article. Good info in there too! I’ll send people there when they ask me about money as they often do. Thanks for the link. I commented back on your article too :)
Wrote the following comment on Oct 15, 2016 at 6:51 pm
I do not hold a motorbike licence, can I still ride a moped?
Wrote the following comment on Oct 16, 2016 at 1:31 am
@ Lee – I don’t have a motorbike licence but I’ve ridden motorbikes all over the world without any issue. You might need one, but in my experience, in countries around Asia, the police have no interest in checking your licence.
If you’re from the UK Lee, then you will automatically have a moped licence (with some limitations) if you have a full UK driving licence.
Wrote the following comment on Dec 16, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Licence checking must be a negligible thing in many countries. But there is a serous issue of drunk and drive cases.
Wrote the following comment on Dec 20, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Thanks For the Guide!I might get this Experience bcz visiting there Next Month. :)
Wrote the following comment on Jan 8, 2017 at 1:32 am
Hi
brilliant to see so many people who have done this trip and the info is brilliant. you see so many negative comments else where which makes it hard to get any good info.
myself & three friends are flying out in september for 17 days.
We are starting in Ho Chi Minh City and traveling to Hanoi. Do you have a rough guide on how much u spent while there, plus places you stayed ect. how much would you roughly spend on a bike.
Thankyou
Wrote the following comment on Jan 9, 2017 at 1:57 pm
@ Carl – It’s funny that so many people are so negative about touring on motorbikes. The truth is that it is indeed VERY dangerous, but only insofar as motorbikes in general are death machines! But with all risks one needs to understand context and reality. We all do risky things that we overlook, like driving or crossing busy roads, those are real risks as opposed to the risks we worry about, like terrorism and shark attacks (here in Aus).
The trick with riding a motorbike in Vietnam is JUST GO SLOW! I say this over and over and it’s the best advice you’ll get, but it’s boring compared to telling you horror stories about people who had accidents or whatever. Those are stories people seem to enjoy more than the masses of stories where people went to Vietnam, rode a moto, and had an amazing time.
With regards to the cost. In general I spent no more than $10 or a hotel room per night. I stayed in basic but comfortable places, and even one rather sketchy ‘love hotel’ where they rented the rooms by the hour – the sound track to that night was rhythmic!
Petrol for the bike was cheap, and the bike was not at all thirsty. I can’t recall how much I paid really as it was all so cheap i paid very little attention to the costs. I appreciate that’s not exactly stella advice, but it’s the truth.
I’m not a rich man, so if I wasn’t concerned about costs, then I think that most people from western countries shouldn’t feel the need to be too worried. The most expensive thing was the airfare to and from Vietnam!
Good luck, and hey, come back with any tips you might have.
Wrote the following comment on Jan 10, 2017 at 7:13 am
Thankyou for the advice when we get back i will defiantly let you know how it went, plus make a blog myself.
Wrote the following comment on Mar 3, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Hi there,
Love your spot. Riding motorbike in Vietnam never boring.
Thanks so much for great writing.
Alan Chien
Wrote the following comment on May 23, 2017 at 12:10 am
Heading to Vietnam in a few days and considering bikes to be able to see more. Really not sure though because none of us (3) have much experience with motorbikes, me virtually any.
Do you think it would still be doable for 3 very novis riders?
And also, we have 18 days and want to see as much as we can, we want to get from South to North in this time and see all the cool spots along the way. Do you think it would be pushing it to do Saigon to Hanoi in 18 days?
And do we need to use the trains if we have bikes or can we bike the whole way up?
Appreciate your response in advance,
from confused backpackers low on time and money!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 8, 2017 at 5:37 am
@Trixie Croad – It’s okay. Just sit back and relax. You got your company. It’s not a huge country, you’ll easily get help for motorbike fixing or any other issues. Just GO SLOW as Mr.Simon says. ;) and just give it a try, you’ll never ever ever regret it. Just relax and go for it. It’ll be worth it. And the answer to your other question will be answered by Mr.Simon. :P
Wrote the following comment on Nov 8, 2017 at 5:41 am
Hey Simon, It’s so inspiring at times to read such stories. I’m 20 and trying to earn a living right now but I look forward for such rides in future. Nice post. :)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 8, 2017 at 6:02 am
@ Inamul – Thanks for the comment and nice words. I am happy to have inspired you. :-)
Wrote the following comment on Jan 21, 2018 at 1:17 am
Great post about my country and motorbikes. Good advices.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 11, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Hi Simon. It is very interesting reading your post. Thank you very much for sharing with us!
Wrote the following comment on Jul 12, 2018 at 8:48 pm
Well done Simon, great story and indeed its no problem riding a motorbike in Vietnam, just as you said: drive slowly and keep your eyes open because the people here won’t do it for you. Just in case of an accident: you will have to pay a lot of money and normal tourists will not have that amount of money with them or in their bank account! Not to make anyone scared but that is the reality. I am living in Vietnam for 4 years now, driving my self-build Rebel Low-rider, and seen a lot of accidents and also seen former collegeaus behind bars because they couldn’t pay.
That is also a thing to keep in mind and one of the main reasons to drive slowly and keep your eyes open!
Wrote the following comment on Jun 4, 2021 at 5:03 am
Great experience, and very helpful for all, who want to rent or travel to Vietnam, you are more than an expert.
if you want to have more experiences in Motorcycle tours in North Vietnam and Indochina, may we Vietnam Motorbike Tours club can help you to have another vision in real Vietnamese life.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 4, 2021 at 10:03 am
It was an amazing trip, all without a map or a guide! However, now after working as a tour guide myself, I would consider hiring a guide or joining an organized tour. Though you know, despite being a gregarious person, I still love the idea of being solo.
Wrote the following comment on Jul 15, 2021 at 6:30 pm
Hi mate,
Thanks For great tip!Riders might get this Experience bcz visiting Vietnam shortly end of this year after Covid 19:)
Wrote the following comment on Mar 16, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Hi Simon, Steve from Dundledots here. So since my comment (2015) I am back on bikes and just got back from an epic two week adventure exploring Laos on mopeds with my wife and 10 other people!
I have also owned 5 different bikes since 2015 and we both own honda C90 mopeds for exploring byways.
Thank you for inspiring me to get off my arse and live a more exciting life!
Kind regards
Steve