If you've ever dreamed of motorcycling in Vietnam, Laura shares her diary of an American Girl Motorcycling in Vietnam
Motorcycling in Vietnam
I'm sitting here, comfy and dry with a beer in my hand. It's the perfect end to a long day of epic motorcycling through the central highlands of Vietnam. My hostel for the night is a little stone building tucked away on a quiet side street of Da Lat, Vietnam… well away from the main thoroughfare that hosts all of the large resort hotels and party hostels.
My new French friends, Korantin and Romain, are sitting outside, slowly working their way through a pack of Marlboro Lights, trying to recover from the enormous family-style dinner we just ate. The biggest decision left for the day is which bar to hit first.
It’s a Monday, but everyone here is on some sort of motorcycle voyage through Vietnam. Nobody has work in the morning.
On riding days, we wake up when the sun rises and ride until the rain starts. Then we get a hotel room, a hot shower, some noodle soup, and a beer.
This is someone’s backyard. I would never move!
As a female traveling alone in Southeast Asia, I was initially pretty worried about safety… I carried pepper spray around wherever I went. But as I wound my way down Highway 1 from Hanoi towards Ho Chi Minh City, I quickly realized that the people in Vietnam are among the kindest and most generous I’ve ever met.
The other travelers I’ve met on the incredible ride through lush forests, treacherous-but-beautiful mountains, and impossibly pristine coastline all share similar stories of how folks here spring into action to help with bike breakdowns, flat tires, and leaky gas tanks and expect nothing but a smile and a handshake in return.
Breakdown number five of the trip happened just before this kind gentleman’s house. He came over, ushered me off of my bike, wheeled it into his driveway, and proceeded to repair my broken chain with a wrench and a hammer. He then showed me the way to the best beach in the area, and refused any kind of payment.
In the last few weeks, I rode my unbelievably unreliable 100cc Honda Win from the North of Vietnam down to Nha Trang, a beach hub for Russian tourists in the South. As lovely as my beautiful red bike (I called her Red Betty) was, she couldn’t manage to keep a chain on her gear so I traded her in for a smooth-riding 110cc Black Honda Win that purrs like a cat every time I accelerate.
Red Betty (center) in all her glory on the day I bought her in Hanoi.
When I showed up in Hanoi, I was ready to dominate all other Vietnam motorbikes on the road. I had no idea how to use a manual motorcycle but for some reason, I was fully confident that I’d be able to figure it out in the middle of one of the busiest rush hours in the world and be totally fine.
Within minutes of leaving the practice space, I lost the three charming British boys I found to ride with. I pulled over to the side of the road to reevaluate my decision-making and maybe find some WiFi to book a flight home.
I’m alive to tell the tale, but ladies, don’t be stupid. If you don’t know how to ride a motorcycle and you’re thinking of getting into it, teach yourself the basics. Watch a YouTube tutorial. Use your common sense…and share some with me if you have any to spare!
To be fair, the views along AH1 in this country are totally worth the effort.
An hour of exciting riding along hairpin turns with huge tractor-trailers and tour buses speeding past led to this view on the Hai Van Pass.
But BE SAFE! Don’t do what I did. Get yourself fully kitted out in whatever city you chose to start in. Motorcycle safety gear should be a huge priority for you, as well as some solid adventurer’s travel insurance.
I spent the first two days riding in black flip-flops… don’t do that.
The best motorcycle boots you can find will be in shops around Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Usually the specs on the helmets, jackets, and padding in these places are closer to US and EU standards than the marketplaces and auto repair shops along the way.
While I still feel like I’m cheating on Red Betty, my new Vietnamese motorbike has gotten me through two days of some crazy mountain driving in the pouring rain with zero problems save for a slight brush-past with a pair of drunk Vietnamese construction workers.
Casual majestic views at this auto repair shop along the AH1.
So here I am, a city girl from the States, tearing up some asphalt (well…as much as you can on a tiny motorcycle) down the eastern coast of Vietnam.
Now, for those of you who plan on venturing over to Vietnam and buying a used Vietnam motorcycle here, let me give you some free advice:
1. Don’t wear cute clothes or get a manicure. The constant whipping of the wind, rain and pollution from passing trucks will ruin anything ladylike about your appearance.
2. Try to bring a helmet from wherever you call home. Finding helmets here is pretty much a shot in the dark in terms of quality.
3. Get massages everywhere. They’re cheap and make riding even more worth it.
4. Keep your eyes on the road. When you're motorcycling in Vietnam the views here are to die for…please don’t actually die for them.
Leaving some majestic mountains behind me
Motorcycling through Vietnam is pretty straightforward – there’s just one main highway that hugs the coastline from Hanoi down to Ho Chi Minh. The streets are well paved, well traveled, and there’s always an auto repair shop or a knowledgeable Vietnamese friend nearby to help with problems.
You will have breakdowns (lots of them)…but they’ll be in some of the most scenic places in the world. Take a look and happy riding!
Beautiful beaches in Qui Nhon – for less than the price of a beer back home, you can get a comfy bed at the Life’s A Beach Hostel and spend your day lazing around, recovering from all of the long hours sitting on your bike!
Renting a Motorbike in Vietnam
You do need a driving license if you're considering renting a bike here. Renting a motorbike here can cost between 100,000 to 250,000 Vietnam Dong a day. If you're planning in starting in the north of Vietnam and making your way down the country, good places in Hanoi for Vietnam motorcycle rental are 13535 Motorbike Rental Hanoi which has honda motorcycles in Vietnam from 130,000 a day. Style Motorbikes has other Vietnam bikes as well as Hondas such as Suzukis and Detech Win.
* This article has detailed information on motorbike hire.
Motorcycle Tours Vietnam
If you're not feeling confident about doing a Vietnam motorcycle trip on your own, you could take a motorcycle tour Vietnam instead. That way you get to experience riding a motorbike in Vietnam with the safety and company of others. Ride Expeditions offer a 9, 14 and 16 day motorbike tour Vietnam starting from £2095 including bike rental. For lesser journeys, Phong Nha Motorbike Tour offer tours from 2 days from Dong Hoi to Hue to a 5 day heritage trail from Dong Hoi to Hoi An.
About The Author
Over the past 10 years, Laura Knight has been a motorcycle rider. She has built up an incredible passion for travelling by motorbike and always wishes to contribute to motorcyclist and traveler communities. This is the reason why she created MotorManner.com where her passion is turned into useful and interesting information to the motorcyclists and travel lovers.
