Traveling Vietnam By Motorbike: A Practical Guide
If you are heading to Vietnam soon you will probably have given thought to traveling this beautiful country by motorbike. By having your own means of transport it gives you a freedom to travel the country that by taking other means of transport simply doesn’t provide. I will never in my life forget the drive up to Da Lat, as we zigzagged up the mountain roads one eye on the buses whizzing by us and another on the beautiful vistas of the countryside. Eventually getting so high we basically drove into a cloud. It’s unlike any other country in the world and traveling by motorbike allows you to enjoy it like nothing else. So now I have given you a taste of what to expect let's get into the nitty-gritty of getting a bike and taking to the roads in Vietnam!
License
The first thing you will want to make sure you have is a license to drive. That means having your drivers license from your home country plus an International Drivers Permit. These are valid in over 100 countries, are valid for a year and cost roughly $10. Some people will claim that you don’t need a license to ride a motorbike in Vietnam but you do so at your own pearl! You should follow the laws of any country that you are traveling in and a valid driver license is the law. If you find yourself in an accident your insurance will not cover you and trip to the hospital is not cheap in Vietnam.
Buying a bike or rent?
It really depends on how long you expect to stay in Vietnam. If you are moving here for an extended period, say 6+ months buying is, of course, the better option, and if this is the case I would buy new. If you are traveling for over a month what many people will do is buy a bike in HCMC or Hanoi from a fellow traveler or one of the many used motorbike dealers. They will then sell it when they reach their destination, buying a used bike can cost as little as $150, however you should road test any bike you buy no matter who it is you buy it from, ask to take it for a ride and for an independent mechanic to check it over. If they refuse, refuse to buy. If you are renting I would suggest renting for only a small part of the journey, for instance, the trip from Da Nang to Hue. You will be able to rent a bike in Da Nang and drop it off in Hue, this is a very convenient way to ride around the country without the hassle of buying the bike.
Safety
Roads in Vietnam can be chaotic to put it lightly! When you first arrive you will be amazed at what some of the drivers will attempt on the busy roads of HCMC or Hanoi. Don’t worry though, there is a rhythm to the madness. Once you understand the road rules of Vietnam and they do have rules. You will feel a lot safer and calmer on the roads. Essentially the right-hand side is reserved for the slowest vehicles, pedal bikes, motorbikes etc and as you go further left this is for the cars and for people looking to overtake. Don’t try and overtake someone on the right-hand side! They will not expect it and could lead to crashes. Always get your bike checked by a mechanic and get it serviced every 200 miles or so. You want the oil checked, the wheels and the brakes. This will cost $5 depending on the city you are in. Traveling at night can be dangerous especially once you get on to Highway 1 the main highway in the country. The buses and cargo that use the highway can be a terrifying prospect for a novice driver I would highly suggest not to travel at night on the highway.
Planning your trip
Which takes us to our next point. Planning your trip. Traveling from HCMC north to Hanoi or vice versa is a well-traveled path. It is relatively easy even for a novice to find your way around Vietnam. Street signs are abundant and generally, the flow of traffic will lead you to the next big city. One thing to note is to plan your journey ahead of time. Give yourself an extra hour over the Google Maps time to get there and book accommodation ahead of time. Make sure you regularly fill up with gas. And finally, travel with companions it provides extra safety and it’s going to be whole lot more fun!
Are you a UK citizen and heading to Vietnam?
If you are from the UK and heading to Vietnam there are a number of options for obtaining a visa. If your stay is under 15 days you are exempt from getting a visa, simply show up with your passport and a flight ticket showing that you will be leaving in under 15 days and on you go.
If you are staying for longer you can either get a tourist visa or you may be coming to work and thus your choices are different.
