FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Below are the most common FAQs about our Vietnam motorbike tours, rentals, and services. We have collected the questions we receive most often to help you find useful information before planning your motorcycle adventure. Please click on the links below to read the answers to each question.

In fact, our Vietnam motorbike tours FAQ page is one of the first pages we recommend checking before you move forward with a booking or send us a request. You may find the information you need about motorbike rentals, guided tours, self-guided trips, riding gear, tour arrangements, and other services right here.

Clickable FAQs

Just click on any question below, and you will be taken directly to the relevant answer. We try to keep our FAQs about motorbiking in Vietnam as accurate and up to date as possible. However, regulations, road conditions, services, and travel information can sometimes change.

If you have more up-to-date information, notice something that needs correcting, or have a question that is not covered here, please let us know by filling out the form at the bottom of this page. Your feedback helps us keep this Vietnam motorcycle tour FAQ useful for future riders.

Thank you for taking the time to check our frequently asked questions before your trip, and we hope you find the information helpful when planning your adventure on two wheels in Vietnam.

01. What should I bring with me for the trip?
02. I am travelling from the South up to the North; do you organize a trip from HCM City to Hanoi?
03. How is the traffic in Vietnam?
04. I’m travelling alone; is it possible to join another group?
05. How long do we ride each day?

06. Do I need a deposit, and if so, how much?
07. How do I pay you? Do you accept credit card payment?
08. When is the best time for riding a motorbike in Vietnam?
09. Where is the best riding trip in Vietnam?
10. How many days is a good trip?

11. I am very interested in motorbiking trips in Vietnam, but I don’t have experience riding a motorbike ..?
12. Do I need to have my country’s or an international driving license to ride a motorbike/motorcycle in Vietnam?
13. Do I need to have insurance for motorbiking in Vietnam?
14. What gift should I bring with me?
15. Can I bring my motorcycle with me to Vietnam?

1. What should I bring with me for the trip?

All departures start from the Motorbike Vietnam office in Hanoi, where you can rent essential motorcycle riding gear, including protective riding clothing, helmets, gloves, raincoats, and other equipment. However, we recommend bringing your own helmet and gloves whenever possible, as finding the right size in Vietnam can sometimes be difficult. Riding suits and helmets are available in various sizes, but availability is limited. Last but not least, bring a strong and comfortable pair of riding shoes or motorcycle boots.

You don’t need to bring all of your travel luggage on the motorcycle. You can safely leave your extra bags with us at our company office in Hanoi while you are on the road.

Here are some items we suggest for motorcycle touring in Vietnam. Please choose what you really need based on the season and your personal preferences:

• Clothing: helmet, rain gloves, wellington boots (rubber boots are especially useful during the rainy season from June to October), summer gloves, balaclava, T-shirts, socks and underwear, long-sleeved shirt, turtleneck shirt, extra jeans, light jacket, leather chaps, zip-lock bags, riding boots, bandannas, sunglasses, and goggles. Some hotels along the route offer express overnight laundry service, so you don’t need to pack too many clothes.
• Personal items: basic toiletries, emergency cash, sunscreen, earplugs, and any other personal essentials you normally need while traveling.
• Emergency items: basic first-aid kit, emergency contact numbers, a list of medical conditions and medications, flashlight, phone chargers, and duct tape.
• Miscellaneous: small towel, bath towel, trash bags, duffel bags, bungee cords, camera, and cargo net. We also provide rubber straps, including the locally recycled type made from truck tires, which are surprisingly strong and very useful for securing luggage.

2. I am travelling from the South up to the North; do you organize a trip from HCM City to Hanoi?

Our company office is based in Hanoi, and all of our regular Vietnam motorbike tours start from here. However, if you are traveling from the South to the North, we can arrange for your trip to end anywhere in Vietnam for an additional charge.

At present, we do not provide standard tours that start in Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City) or another destination outside Hanoi. If you have a specific route in mind, however, please contact us, and we can discuss the available options for a custom motorcycle tour in Vietnam.

3. How is the traffic in Vietnam?

Within major cities, Vietnam traffic can be some of the craziest and busiest you will experience anywhere in the world. However, our guided motorbike tours in Vietnam are carefully planned to avoid spending unnecessary time riding through large cities. Whenever possible, we prefer smaller countryside roads, backroads, and mountain routes, which are much more enjoyable and scenic than busy main roads.

Riding these quieter roads also gives you a much better opportunity to experience local life. You will pass through villages, rice fields, markets, and remote communities, often receiving plenty of friendly waves and enthusiastic “HELLO!” greetings from local people along the way.

If you don’t feel comfortable with the traffic, your guide will assist you throughout the trip and help you become more confident on the road. Our experienced guides act like a “chicken mother”, carefully watching over the group and leading everyone safely through difficult sections. Traffic in Vietnam is often described as a river: once you learn how to flow with it, the experience becomes much easier and more natural.

4. I’m travelling alone; is it possible to join with another group?

Our Vietnam motorbike tours are private and customized, with no fixed or pre-set departures. Many customers choose a strictly private, closed-door tour, while others prefer to have additional riders join them for more fun and to help reduce the cost of the trip.

The maximum group size is generally just five or six riders, allowing everyone to enjoy a more personal experience while making communication with the guide easier. Please keep in mind that an open-door trip may include riders with different levels of motorcycle experience, riding abilities, and expectations. If you prefer to know exactly who you will be traveling with, a strictly private motorbike tour is the better choice.

Ideally, traveling with a group of friends is the best option because everyone already understands each other’s riding style and expectations. If you are traveling alone and would like to join other riders, check our Tour Update page for trips with available spaces.

5. How long do we ride each day?

This is not an easy question to answer because the daily riding time depends on the road conditions, weather, riding experience, route, and number of stops we make along the way. As a general guideline, we aim for no more than 6 hours of riding per day, with regular breaks every one or two hours.

We don’t believe in sticking to a rigid schedule while riding through Vietnam. Sometimes we stop for a drink or coffee, take photographs, visit a local market, explore a village, or simply enjoy an unexpected viewpoint. These spontaneous moments are an important part of the experience.

Ideally, we recommend riding an average of less than 200 km per day, particularly on our mountain and off-road routes. The distance may look short on a map, but winding mountain roads, dirt tracks, frequent stops, and changing road conditions can make a day’s ride much longer than expected. Our priority is to enjoy the journey rather than rush from one destination to another.

6. Do I need a deposit and if so how much?

Yes, we require a US$ 100-500 per person deposit to confirm your Vietnam motorbike tour and cover the necessary arrangements and expenses before your trip begins. The exact deposit amount depends on the type, duration, and details of your booking.

We will provide our bank account details if you prefer to transfer the deposit rather than carry cash. Before making an international bank transfer, we strongly recommend asking your bank about all applicable fees and whether the payment needs to pass through an intermediary or third bank before reaching Vietcombank. International transfers can sometimes involve additional charges that are not immediately obvious.

7. How do I pay you? Do you accept credit card payment?

Fortunately, we started accepting online credit card payments in March 2017. You can also pay by bank transfer or Western Union Cash Transfer, depending on which option is most convenient for you. Normally, we ask you to transfer the required deposit to confirm your booking and then pay the final balance in cash before the motorcycle adventure begins. As the saying goes, cash is king in Vietnam.

We also accept credit card payments at our Hanoi office when you are already in Vietnam. A fixed bank charge applies: 3% for Visa and MasterCard and 4% for American Express. From time to time, an additional surcharge may apply because banks often use exchange rates that are lower than the prevailing market or free-market rates.

PayPal has historically offered unfavorable conditions for Vietnamese account holders, so we do not currently offer PayPal as a payment option.

8. When is the best time for riding a motorbike in Vietnam?

There is no single best time to ride a motorbike in Vietnam because the country stretches a long distance from north to south and has several different climatic regions. Vietnam also experiences four distinct seasons in the North. Winter is generally cool rather than extremely cold, while summer can be hot and humid. Weather conditions can vary considerably depending on where you ride.

Autumn can bring periods of heavy rain, but showers often pass quickly and may be followed by clear blue skies. In spring, mist can cover the mountain peaks, creating spectacular scenery. Although the weather can be cool and foggy, this is also a beautiful season for Northern Vietnam motorcycle tours, with fresh green landscapes, flowering trees, and colorful mountain scenery.

For riders interested in seeing the most beautiful mountain rice terraces and rice paddies, we generally recommend the period from September to December. January to April is normally cooler and can be foggy in the mountains, while May to August is hotter and more likely to experience rain. Every season has its own character, so the best time ultimately depends on the type of scenery and riding experience you want.

9. Where are the best riding areas in Vietnam?

There is no single answer to the question of the best motorcycle riding areas in Vietnam, because it depends entirely on what you want to see and how you want to ride. Northern Vietnam offers an incredible variety of landscapes, from high mountain passes and limestone peaks to rice terraces, remote villages, and winding backroads.

The Northwest Mountains are particularly spectacular, with dramatic scenery and colorful traditional clothing worn by local ethnic minority communities. The Central North offers impressive steep limestone mountains and dramatic landscapes that can feel almost otherworldly. However, some of these routes require extensive motorcycle riding experience because of steep, winding roads and challenging terrain.

The Northeast of Vietnam generally offers easier riding and is an excellent choice for travelers who want to experience local culture at a relaxed pace. You will often stay with local host families, enjoy traditional food, and learn more about the daily lives and cultures of ethnic minority communities.

The best proposal depends on you. Tell us what you would like to ride, see, experience, and discover, as well as your riding ability and available time. From there, we can recommend the most suitable Vietnam motorbike tour route for you.

10. How many days is a good trip of riding?

To experience a truly memorable Vietnam motorbike adventure, we recommend going deep into the countryside and spending several days exploring the mountainous regions. A good trip should ideally be at least 6 days, giving you enough time to get away from the busy tourist areas and experience Vietnam’s backroads, mountain passes, villages, and spectacular scenery.

For a more relaxed and rewarding experience, we suggest a 9-day or 12-day motorcycle tour. These longer trips allow you to ride at a comfortable pace, make spontaneous stops, explore remote areas, and spend more time with local communities without feeling rushed.

If you have less time, we also organize 3- to 4-day motorbike trips to Sapa, with the option of returning to Hanoi by overnight train. Even if you only have one day, a motorcycle adventure around Hanoi and the surrounding countryside can still be a great way to escape the city and experience rural Vietnam.

If you want to learn more about the Vietnam motorbike tours and motorcycle adventures our company provides, please watch the video below or visit our YouTube channel.

11. I am very interested in motorbiking trips in Vietnam but I don’t have experience of riding a motorbike?

Yes, you can still enjoy a Vietnam motorbike tour even if you don’t have previous motorcycle riding experience. One option is to travel as a pillion passenger on the motorcycle of one of our guides or your travel partner. This allows you to enjoy the scenery, local culture, mountain roads, and countryside without having to ride yourself.

Alternatively, we recommend taking a motorcycle riding lesson organized by us before your departure. The lesson costs US$ 30 per person and normally takes around 1-2 hours. We organize the training in a quiet area with little or no traffic, allowing beginners to learn the basics in a more comfortable environment.

The good news is that everyone who has taken our riding lesson has successfully learned to ride, and we have had no students fall during the lesson or subsequent trip. If you already know how to drive a manual car, you will usually understand the clutch and gear system quite quickly. However, riding a motorcycle in Vietnam requires concentration and practice, so we always recommend starting slowly and building confidence before tackling longer or more challenging routes.

12. Do I need to have my country or an international driving license to ride a motorbike/motorcycle in Vietnam?

You should make sure you have the correct driving documents for riding a motorcycle in Vietnam before starting your trip. The rules have changed over time, so older information found online can be confusing. Under Vietnam’s current road-traffic framework, an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a country participating in the 1968 Vienna Convention, together with the corresponding valid national driving licence, can be recognized in Vietnam for the appropriate vehicle category.

This is particularly important for motorcycle riders, because your licence and IDP must cover the motorcycle category you intend to ride. Simply having an IDP does not automatically authorize you to ride a motorcycle in Vietnam if your underlying national licence does not include the appropriate motorcycle entitlement.

Vietnam became a party to the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, and Vietnamese regulations provide for the use of qualifying international driving permits issued by other participating countries.

If you are unsure whether your particular licence or IDP is valid for riding a motorcycle in Vietnam, please check with the relevant authority in your home country before traveling. We strongly recommend carrying both your national driving licence and your qualifying 1968 IDP while riding.

13. Do I need to have insurance for motorbiking/motorcycling in Vietnam?

Yes. Travel and medical insurance is extremely important when planning a Vietnam motorbike tour. We strongly recommend purchasing a policy that specifically covers motorcycle riding and motorcycle accidents in Vietnam, including the engine size and type of riding you intend to do.

This is important because some travel-insurance policies exclude motorcycle accidents or impose conditions relating to the rider’s licence, motorcycle engine size, protective equipment, or whether the rider was riding on-road or off-road. Before purchasing insurance, carefully read the policy conditions and confirm in writing that your planned motorcycle tour in Vietnam is covered.

We don’t require a driving licence to make a booking with us, but insurance requirements are separate from our booking requirements. If you are riding a motorcycle, you should make sure you meet the legal licensing requirements and all conditions of your insurance policy. A policy that does not cover you while riding could leave you responsible for medical, evacuation, or other costs following an accident.

If you are traveling as a pillion passenger, you should also have appropriate personal travel and medical insurance covering motorcycle-related accidents.

For more information about Vietnam motorcycle driving licences, please see this link. We recommend checking your insurance provider’s current terms before departure, as policies and requirements can change.

On our trips, we normally ride for around five hours per day on average, with the remaining time spent at accommodation, restaurants, villages, viewpoints, and other stops. However, your insurance should cover the entire period and all activities included in your trip rather than relying on the fact that riding occupies only part of each day.

14. What gift should I bring with me?

If you would like to bring a small gift for people you meet during your Vietnam motorbike adventure, useful or typical items from your home country are often the best choices. You don’t need to bring anything expensive or elaborate. Simple, practical items can be much more appreciated than costly souvenirs.

For example, a small flashlight, sewing kit, or other useful everyday item can make a thoughtful gift. Some travelers also bring photographs, postcards, or small items representing their home country. We have also helped redistribute certain medicines and other useful supplies where appropriate.

The most important thing is the thought behind the gift. When riding through remote villages and staying with local families, a small personal item from your home country can be a nice way to start a conversation and share a little of your own culture.

15. Can I bring my motorcycle with me to Vietnam? The last FAQs.

Bringing your own motorcycle to Vietnam involves customs, import, registration, and licensing requirements, so it is considerably more complicated than simply bringing personal luggage. Vietnamese regulations and procedures can also change, so you should confirm the current requirements directly with the relevant authorities before shipping a motorcycle.

In particular, don’t rely on older online information about motorcycle importation, engine-capacity limits, taxes, or registration. The exact requirements can depend on your nationality, immigration status, motorcycle specifications, whether the motorcycle is new or used, and whether it is being permanently imported or temporarily brought into Vietnam.

Foreigners who have the appropriate residency or work status may have options that are different from those available to short-term tourists. Import and registration procedures can involve customs declarations, duties and taxes, technical requirements, and documentation. Vietnamese customs maintains procedures covering the temporary import and export of certain motorcycles for eligible categories, so individual circumstances need to be checked carefully.

If you are considering bringing your own motorcycle, we recommend contacting Vietnam Customs for import procedures, the local vehicle registration authority for registration requirements, and the relevant labor or immigration authorities regarding your residency or work status. We are unfortunately unable to assist with importing and registering your motorcycle in Vietnam.

For most travelers, renting a suitable motorcycle locally is considerably simpler than shipping a personal bike into the country. Our Vietnam motorbike rental service offers a range of motorcycles for riders who want to explore Vietnam without dealing with international motorcycle shipping and import procedures.

Contact us if you still have questions about Vietnam motorbike tours, motorcycle rentals, riding licences, insurance, or trip planning, or if you have information that you believe should be added to this FAQ page.