Motorcycle Travel Guide: Vietnam
Why motorcycle travel in Vietnam?
Vietnam is an incredible country to explore – especially on two wheels. Here’s five solid reasons why you’ll fall in love with the place
The people
The people are friendly and inquisitive. You are unlikely to have any real difficulty or disagreement with the locals as they are keen to present the good side of Vietnam bike tours.
The food
The food is varied and delicious. Each region, Southern, Central, Northern has its own speciality and these are often quite new for most visitors.
The geography has something for everyone – if you are a fan of beaches, mountains or drier plains, you can find what you want.
Range of activities to take part in: trekking, visiting ancient ruins, war relics and battle sites, fantastic open roads with little traffic winding through old growth rainforest, waterfall climbing, paragliding, deep water soloing.
It is possible to bike tours Vietnam on a low budget. You only need to eat locally and stay in smaller hotels/hostels a little out of the tourist centres.
If you prefer a little more comfort and quality, it is available and usually with a welcome and a smile.
When you go greatly depends on the region because Vietnam spans several latitudes. Here’s a handy regional weather guide to plan your North Vietnam motorcycle tour.
Generally good for riding but can get cold and wet. Dress accordingly
Cooler sometimes cold, some rain, drizzle for days, often cloudy and misty
Warmer clothing, good boots, good waterproofs, particularly gloves.
There are a range of guesthouses throughout Vietnam now, particularly in the tourist spots. You can find:
Shared dorm rooms in hostels and stilt houses for around 4-5 USD per night, shared bathroom / toilet. Meals provided are usually limited and a not too cheap. There are usually also private rooms and bungalow options too.
Cheap motel rooms are around 10USD per night for a room for two with an en-suite bathroom/toilet and aircon. Meals are not usually provided here.
Chain hotels 3 or 4 star in the larger towns and cities. These can range between 30-60USD per night with breakfast included, depending on location.
Boutique resorts include all manner of resorts from hot springs to, modern stilt houses, bungalow villages and even mountain top hideaways. These can cost similar to the larger hotels at between 50-80USD per night with breakfast included.
Accommodation availability
There is plenty of available accommodation and if you turn up at a place without a booking there will be another nearby. There really is no need to book more than 24 hours in advance unless you wish to stay at one of the high-end boutique resorts such as Topaz Eco Lodge in Sa Pa.
That said, if you plan to stay somewhere that is off the beaten track, like Kiou Leou Ti Mountain, then you should book 24 hrs in advance so that the host can stock up on food and prepare.
Rent A Bike Vietnam
Firstly, you need a valid passport and visa to enter and stay in Vietnam. When you rent a motorcycle, some companies may want to keep your passport. If you leave it with them, make sure they give you a photocopy of your passport page because you will 100% need this to check into any hotel. You can not check into hotels or even guest houses without at least a photocopy of your passport page. We carry a laminated photocopy of our passport’s main page for such situations.
Driver’s licence
To ride a Bike tours in Vietnam you need a valid driver’s licence and an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). There are two IDPs: 1968 and 1949. For Vietnam you need the 1968 version.
The IDP is issued in your home country and is a small booklet with translations of your licence. If you’re from the UK, you can get your IDP at the Post Office for around £5 and it takes five minutes.
When you rent a motorcycle, you will also be given paperwork that shows who the owner is, keep this safe and with the bike.
Permits
You may need a permit when travelling to certain regions in Vietnam such as Ha Giang in the extreme north as it borders China. For more info on this visit our Ha Giang Guide.
Safety and security in Vietnam
Vietnam is a relatively safe country for motorcycle travel. The locals tend to leave tourists alone in terms of violent crime. If you ask for trouble you will get it, but most tourists don’t have any issues. Be streetwise and careful late at night like anywhere in the world.
However, many locals are happy to overcharge and you need to beware of this behaviour. It is also difficult to get a definitive answer on something and no comeback when what has been promised is not delivered.
Men: be careful of young ladies fawning over you and taking your belongings.
Women: be careful as some taxi or rickshaw drivers may become aggressive when they are rebuked. Both men and women may be followed by these drivers touting their business. They are certainly very persistent and annoying; I have been followed all the way back to my hotel on many occasions. I think this may spook some people so beware.
These situations (except the stalker like behaviour, which happens any time) tend to occur later in the evening, perhaps when one is a tad tipsy and are unlikely to happen at other times.
Laws and police
The police do not seem obliged to help and will often see dealing with foreigners as a hassle. They can often be reluctant to get involved and will refer you to your embassy, who will in turn refer you to the police.
Do not expect much effective action from police unless it is to get some sort of ‘fine’ out of you.
The police are often unwilling to stop foreigners as the language barrier causes them delays and wastes time that they could be spending on collecting ‘fines’ from local motorists. This is NOT an excuse to flout the law. They will stop you and this will cost you time and money.
It can be better to pay an on the spot ‘fine’ if possible as this can speed things up considerably.
If you are on one of our rental bikes, you should call us and let us discuss things with the police. We can often help to come to a win win agreement (no promises mind).
Motorcycle riding conditions in Vietnam
Throughout Vietnam, if you are motorcycle touring, you will predominantly be on tarmac or concrete roads. Perhaps, 90% or more. It is rare to find a route that is not well used and, therefore, sealed in some way.
To find dirt you will need to look carefully and take routes that are rarely used by locals. In fact, if you ask, they will always route you on the sealed road as they cannot understand why you would want to take the dirt route.
So, without a guide it is hard to find dirt tracks that you can be guaranteed will get you to your destination.
This means you would choose a road bike, right? Wrong. We find that the condition of many of these sealed roads is not great and the extra travel in the suspension allows for more comfortable touring.
Road rules and other drivers
Driving here is not like many other countries as it is much more of a free for all.
Space is of a premium and other drivers will do anything to fill a gap. You are best off letting them get ahead, rather than risking any bumps or bruises.
Traffic lights, right of way, signalling before manoeuvring and even looking before manoeuvring are all alien concepts. Cars and trucks will bully you into the gutter if you let them but sometimes it is better to yield than prove you are right.
For more info, check out this cheat sheet on Driving Tips in Vietnam
And here’s a guide on 10 Tips for Motorcycle Security While Abroad
Ha Giang Loop
This is considered to be the best that Vietnam has to offer motorbike tourists. There are great roads through the mountains and good places to stay, often run by the local ethnic people. The landscape is stunning and there are a variety of road surfaces to be found: tarmac to dirt.
Central North Loop
This is an epic adventure that could take anything from 10 to 25 days. You can head out west to the Dien Bien Phu military site and then loop round to Sa Pa, one of vietnam’s premium tourist destinations. After this, you head to the northernmost point, Ha Giang and then on to the quieter area of Cao Bang. All the time skirting the border with China to the North.
Hanoi to HCMC (Sai Gon)
Another epic journey made famous by the Top Gear Crew. You will pass through the Northern, Central and Southern regions of Vietnam with their differing culture weather and food. This how to truly get to know the country.
Central Loop (Danang/Hue)
This is a short loop that will get you out into the countryside amongst the relics of the American War. A trip along the HCM Highway and then back to the ancient capital of Hue before taking the stunning Hai Van Pass over the mountain
Website: https://mtbvietnam.com/
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