renting a bike in Vietnam
 

Hi

I have done a search on this, because i know it has been done before and have emailed a few companies trying to get quotes, a couple have responded and state that they only do tours now.

So does anybody have any upto date information on bike hire

I am trying to rent a bike for a 3 week trip around the north of Vietnam.

Could anyone please point me in the right direction of a company that rents out bikes (any size, model not bothered) for reasonable money, It was my understanding you could rent a bike for a few dollars a day and not the $20/30 as some comanies quote.

Thanks in advance

Simon

I am not sure about north Vietnam but in the south you can hire a Honda 125 for about $5 a day, they do require your passport as security but I am sure something else can be arranged. take your own helmet and other riding gear, what you get out there is crap.

Hello Simon,

I went to Hanoi last April.
It is very easy to find Honda Wave to rent for 50 us$ a month, but at this price they don't allow you to travel around north Vietnam (Sapa...) because the bikes are in poor condition. Finally, after one day of research we found a motorbike rental who accept the idea of riding motorbike in the mountain. We paid to change two tires and a complete checking (oil, brake...)(and it was very cheap 15 us$) and we paid 5us$ a day. We rode 2000 km in 3 weeks with absolutely no problems.. The road between Dien Bien Phu and Sapa is under construction so....it is not very pleasant. I Will try to find the name of the rental...Take it easy.
Roberto

no problem
 

Hi Simon,

the two main Minsk-Shops on Luong Ngoc Quyen rent out for around 10 $ a day. You could also ask Indochina Travel, met a guy who was able to rent a big bike there. As for the small ones, don't worry, they are everywhere.

EDIT:
Just saw that Cuong's has a new fancy sie witha ll bikes on there complete with prices and bla: : : Cuong's Motorbike Adventure Hanoi Vietnam: :

Thanks very much for the replies. I would like to try and firm some options up before i fly out so a few different companies are great.

Roberto, that would be fantastic if you can find the name of the company

Cheers

Simon

Hello,

Back in 2005 or 2006, Cuong was only renting Minsk 125 cc or SYM 50 cc scooters. Not surprised choice is wider now as it has been a good place to rent from. I did rent a Minsk then and had a trouble free 10 days ride in Northern Viet Nam. Meet a guy who did a 3 month tour of South East Asia on the VN registed bike with no problem either. Price was 5 USD a day back then plus 1 USD a day for the local helmet.
Enjoy Viet Nam. Luc

Simon, I have just arranged to rent 2 bikes from flamingo travel in Hanoi: (www.flamingotravel.com.vn)
for september:
2 YBR 125cc for 20USD per day each. They respond to emails quickly and seem very helpful.

I think they also have an office in HCMC.
When are you getting there? We will do the north too!

Cheers,

Simon, I have suggestion you can contact Mr. Tuan in Hanoi: Voyage Vietnam MOTOTOURS ASIA; Motorcycle Tours and Offroad Adventure Travels in Vietnam, China, Laos...

He can help you about everythings, don't worry ok.

Cheers,

I rented 2 x Honda 110cc bikes in Hanoi.
They were some thing like $35 each for the WHOLE MONTH !!!

We rode from Hanoi, to Cat Ba, (via ferry) then back to the mainland, then all the way to Saigon.

Perfect, not one jot of problem for the bikes.

I will find the renters details if any one interested or asks.

vette

Oh yes, please ;)
Don't tell me this included the drop-off charges in Saigon!
tx
vic

Here is the place we hired from.

Rent a Bike Hanoi

The guy's name is Danny, but it's his wonderful Vietnamese wife Thu who does all the work.


Their address is

[From them] Our address is 21 Yen Thai street. It's in the old quarter and there're many hotels or hostels around. all within walking distance. You can check out this hotel which is almost next to us.l

The Hanoi Charming Hotel, hanoi Hotel, Instant Secure Online Reservations

Their confirmation to us.

[From them] This is to confirm that we will have 2 Honda Wave Alpha for your trip. This bike is US$45 a month. 2 bikes will be US$90. We will keep (01) original passport OR US$500 in cash as the deposit; which is 100% refundable at the end of the rental.

We actually left £300 in cash, and kept our 2 passports.
They are great to deal with, very flexible
Getting out of Hanoi city centre will be a nightmare, so we opted for this.


[From them] We have a service where we will guide you out of town to the highway but we charge US$10 for that. If not, my staff can always show you on the map how to get there. It's a bit zig zag when you're in town but once you hit the highway to Hai Phong, the road is just straight and it's an easy drive.

Best regards,
Thu

So to get out of Hanoi city centre, we just gave the $10
We rode out to Hai Phong, and took the ferry to Cat Ba island, where we stayed a few days, also taking in the awesome monoliths sticking up from the water.
After 3-4 days on Cat Ba, we took the ferry back to Hai Phong, and continued our southward riding,
Ho Long,
Thanh Hao,
Vinh,
Hue,
then over the stunning Hai Van Pass,
Da Nang,
Quang Ngai,
Nha Trang,
Phan Thiet,
then finally Saigon.

When we arrived at Saigon, the next day, we went to the train station "Ga Saigon" and handed our bikes in to the freighters there.
They siphoned out the petrol, and took the mirrors off, putting them in the under seat storage.

The bikes were $35 each, to freight back to Hanoi, and takes 4 days.
So we had a few days in Saigon, to check the place out, before we took the train, also back to Hanoi.

A day after we arrived, we went back to the train station in Hanoi, to pick our two bikes up.
They were well protected, with toilet tissue on the mudguards, and the rest wrapped in cardboard, before being put in a wooden frame.

The bikes don't go back on the passenger train.

Any one want pictures?




Gra

Great! Thanks a lot. Looking forward to see the pics :scooter:

Not photo's of Hanoi downtown, as it was to hectic.

On the way out of Hanoi, we passed the Hanoi Opera House
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Phong/3.jpg
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The roads once out of Hanoi, and on the road to Hai Phong, were very easy.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Phong/8.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...20Ferry/17.jpg
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When we arrived at the Hai Phong to Cat Ba ferry terminal, we bought 2 x bike and person tickets, I seem to remember they were about $6 for each rider plus bike.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Ferry/1.jpg
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Simply just ride onto the ferry.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Ferry/6.jpg
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The ferry took about 1 hour.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...20Ferry/12.jpg
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Hai Long Bay
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/20308cc4.jpg
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Hai Long Bay
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/546f80bb.jpg
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Honda power is every where
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...e/98768afe.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...e/0c473cc5.jpg
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Some good views, but it does rain and drizzle the higher up you go.

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Hai Van Pass
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Pass/13.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/0a362aff.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Pass/29.jpg
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Miles of empty road over the mountain, as there is a new tunnel which takes 90% of the traffic.

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Some of the roads, weren't actually roads any more.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...g/20ee03ff.jpg
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Just so many beaches, and not a soul on them.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...g/95d4af0b.jpg
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We stayed here a couple of days, at just $10 a night it was just so cheap with internet, right on the beach.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...a/a448a431.jpg
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Beaches are all the way down, and the more south one gets, the warmer the water.

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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/b97eb6b6.jpg
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Empty
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/fb13c2d9.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/616f7afb.jpg
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A few old Jeeps knocking about, but this one looks like it had been fully fixed up again.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/76e823a0.jpg
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As you might expect, fish is a very popular food, with thousands of fishing boats.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...t/b994b88d.jpg
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Arrived at Ga Saigon, and giving our bikes to the freighters, who do all the wrapping etc.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...n/66b7e885.jpg
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Our tickets back from Saigon to Hanoi.

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Now without our bikes, we took in some tours.
This is down the Mekong.
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...g/f1f7deb7.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...g/1ae0ca9c.jpg
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Fruit markets on the Mekong
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...g/f3a9c505.jpg
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Making rice noodles
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...g/78eb9da7.jpg
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Bamboo bridge over a small tributary of the Mekong

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More Mekong

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Ga Saigon (Train station)
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...n/ff55bac9.jpg
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Sleeper berths
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...n/0c80478b.jpg
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Train trip back to Hanoi, 2 nights and 1 day
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...n/eafadec4.jpg
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http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/...n/8478d294.jpg
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Recommend it to every one.
We took a month, and didn't ride every day.
Generally we found hotels easy to get at the end of our riding day, and we set ourselves a target of no more than $10 for the night.

Gra.

I'm in Vietnam right now.

We bought a copy of a honda wave 110 and a beat up 125 yamaha Nouvo for $500 from 2 other backpackers. Oil changes and a few things on the way.

The Nouvo made it the whole way from Hanoi to HCMC only needing a new battery. The Wave blew up on me 2 times in one day. I let it cool then rode 400 km the next day... and another 2oo before it finally froze for the last time. $140 and 4 hours got me an amazing rebuilt motor. this guy honed the piston, redid the clutch, split the cases to replace the bearing. He even had the crank apart to put in the new rod/piston. Then balanced the crank to make sure it was straight after he pressed it back together. We were quite impressed.

Unfortunately, My friend only had 2 weeks and a flight out of HCMC. So We didn't have much time in the north. All I know, is VN is amazing. Its crazy and you will almost die many times from buses passing trucks in the mountains. Don't ride the coast rode if you decide to go south. You will make better time in the Ho Chi Minh Highway or paralel roads.

I'll return to do the north some time soon. :thumbup1:

Also, sitting on a scooter for 400 km in one day is horrible. Take a month. See the whole country. Try and buy a bike from an expat if you end up buying.

I fail to understand why anyone touring Vietnam would want to buy and own a bike, when they are so cheap to rent.
You've got me on that one.

But why buy one and have all the hassle of repairing it yourself?
Why shell out all that money to buy it in the first place?
All the hassle with looking for a buyer when you have finished with it, and you might end up almost giving it away when you run out of time there.doh

For $55 you can rent a reliable bike for the WHOLE MONTH, :scooter: buying is in my opinion working out far more expensive.

And neither of our 2 bikes gave us any trouble what-so-ever on the 2000km from Hanoi to Saigon, and all the running around in-between.:thumbup1:

Just my 2c worth.

vette

Great info Vette.....:thumbup1:

Do know if the Company you referred to have any 250 ccm's like Honda Crf or XR or Kawa Klx?

Or maybe a 100-125 ccm gives just enough speed the road and traffic conditions considered?

.
I don't know if they have any 250cc bikes, maybe they do.

But to be honest, I really don't think you need or want a 250cc.
In Europe etc, one wouldn't be seen dead on anything less than 250cc, but in Vietnam, it is totally different.

It really is a mind change.

I think in the month we were there, we didn't see any local bikes bigger than 125cc, just not needed.

Most of the time, outside the cities, which is most of your riding, you will be riding at about 50km/h to 80km/h.
The 110cc and 125cc do that with ease.

Plus, as mentioned above by some one, if you buy a bike, it would probably be a copy of a Honda, and as such, may run into more breakdowns on the longer stretches of road.
The copy bikes are no problem for around town, but on the open road, at 80km/h. I think that that becomes a bit much for them, when they are older, like the one's typically bought for touring by foreigners.

The vast 99,99% of bikes there are 100cc to 125cc

The 110cc bikes we had would more than easily keep up with the generally slow traffic.

vette

uk_vette,

My friend and I are about to take the same trip, although we're only going as far as Hoi An. How long did it take you to get from Cat Ba to Hue--do you remember?

Thanks!
Robb

One reason? Because I wanted to ride into Cambodia where my KTM is stored :thumbup1:

My Shit honda wave copy cost me $250. A plane ticket from HCMC to Phnom Penh was $130. No one asked any questions at the border and now I'm in PP with transportation while I get my KTM ready for the next leg of my trip.

So far on your RTW, how many times have you had to fly your bike to next destination? Any estimate as to what that's cost all up?

I did not know a foreigner (on a foreign plated bike) could pass all the borders
in Asia. If you've made Cambodia ... then you've done well. Did you ride it there or fly it in?

Flight Canada to Europe = $2000
Ferry Sakhalin Russia to Japan = $400
RORO shipping Japan to Thailand = $600 boat, $200 customs in Japan, $800 customs in Thailand = $1600.

I probably could have done the customs in Thailand cheaper but this company was recommended on GT rider. Whether or not they are taking advantage of this is debatable. I would not have been able to clear customs in 1 day in Thai with out their help.

As for Cambodia, they didn't know what the fook was going on at the border when I brought my KTM in. I showed them customs documents from Russia, Kazakh, Japan.. I said where are yours? They said "you had to get them before you come in". But I replied "your website does not say anything about it". Finally they photocoppied my registration and stamped it. I'm not sure what it accomplished. But here I am now.

When I came in with the scooter, no one even asked to see paparwork.

Flamingo Quote
 

Im planning this trip for April. Got a quote from Flamingo, they offered me a choice of 3 bikes,

Win Sunfat 110cc for $10 per day,
Honda XR 150cc for $28 per day,
Honda XR 250cc $40 per day,

Picking the bikes up in Ho Chi Minh and dropping them off in Hanoi, they are charging $50 per bike for dropping them back at a diff location plus 2 days rental fee per bike for the delivery of the bikes from Ho Chi Minh.

So for a 12 day rental it would be a charge of 14 days plus the $50 fee.

Does this sound like a lot to you guys?

Cheers

Colm.

Ho Chi Minh Trail
 

Quoting Snoah,
Don't ride the coast rode if you decide to go south. You will make better time in the Ho Chi Minh Highway or other inland roads.


I agree... riding Hyw 1 will not take you on any scenic routes and it is crammed with heavy traffic. Better the Ho Chi Minh trail or inner roads, which will allow you safer traveling and better scenery!
Then turn into the coast when you want to visit places.

Note, traveling in a southerly direction, the Ho Chi Minh trail splits into 2... West and East trails just after Phong Nha-Ka Bang National Park. The East takes you towards Hui.

We were advised that if we went the West route to make sure we carried fuel and a two rope. The guy that told us this was a biker who had been all over Vietnam. He said it is really a military road and you will come across road barriers and dogs that are trained to chase motorbikes. He actually said "Just keep on the same trajectory and speed up just before the dog gets to you"

How true this is I don't know...but it is true that fuel may be an issue on the Western route..so be prepared!

Enjoy riding in Vietnam :funmeteryes::funmeteryes:

Hiring a bike in Vietnam
 

It's about the same price I was quoted by Flamingo along with the drop off fee.
I think they also have a buy back service in place now.

Motorbike in Vietnam
 

You might like this description of a tour an Italian guy did using a bike from Flamingo
See it HERE

.
Hi can't remember to be perfectly honest.
Some days we ride longer, some days shorter, some days no riding at all.

On a riding day, we would do about 200km maximum.
Taking about 5-6 hours, we were in no rush.

Just take each day as it comes, and enjoy the cheapness on the holiday.

vette