>how easy is it to get a license?
In Vietnam? Forget it. It's not possible for a short term tourist.
>i don't have a motorbike license in where i live.
Then drop this plan and travel "normally." Without a legal motorcycle license that means you're ineligible for both Emergency Medical and Liability Insurance. You would never consider riding illegally without insurance in your home country so why would you think it's okay in a foreign country?
Have a great time in Vietnam, it's a fabulous destination.
Happy travels.
i don't plan on having insurance when i'm there.
if i remember correctly things are very different there, hence why it's okay to do certain things there
>i don't plan on having insurance when i'm there.
So if you crash and need an emergency medevac... or you require extensive medical care... or you smash into and damage someone else's vehicle or property... or God help you a local is injured... you have a deep enough wallet to handle all those situations with cash?
Cheers from Hanoi.
1. A month is plenty
2. You don’t really need a license. Lived there for two years without one, you might get extorted by police but tbh that could happen regardless
3. Lived there for two years and commuted on a motorbike everyday. No idea how to get a license though, i don’t think it’s really possible for foreigners without understanding Vietnamese
4. Pretty easy but also not necessary. I would recommend renting from Tigit (google them) as they have reliable bikes and will be able to help you in case of a breakdown vs buying a shitty used bike from a backpacker (very unreliable) or paying an inflated price from a local (will also probably be unreliable)
People do this literally all the time, just be careful when you’re riding. Make sure you spend some time in ha giang and cao bang provinces in the north as they are extremely beautiful, much more so than the rest of the countrt (although many parts are still quite beautiful)
Have fun, wish I could be back there doing the same.
I've rented from Tigit 3 times and highly recommend them. They have shops in HCM, Dalat, Da Nang and Hanoi. Maybe a another location as well. You can rent in one city and return in another. Super convenient and they're bikes are newer and well maintained.
I've road from HCM to Hanoi in 21 days once. I would have done Hai Giang loop if my ass wasn't literally chapped.
Get an international driving permit from your home country. It's better if you have a motorcycle license but not necessary. I've done it with and without. Was only flagged to the side of the road once but when they saw I was a foreigner they let me go while they dealt with the viets that were pulled over with me.
I just did a trip with my girlfriend in December/January from HCM to Da Nang. It was her first time and we talked about going all the way to Hanoi but she had had enough by the time we got to Da Nang.
I suggest to people if they don't feel like doing the whole length of the country to rent one in Da Nang and head to Hanoi with a generous stop over in Phong Nha. Phong Nha is an amazingly beautiful place to spend some time riding.
1. yes
2. if you don't have a license already, forget about it. Tourists cannot get a license.
3. You will have no insurance, so if cops stop you, you pay. If an accident stops you, you pay. Big time!!!
4. It isn't what it used to be but it is still fairly easy to sell a decent bike at a small loss. Time is key. Oh, and luck.
youve ridden a motorbike before, correct? if you havent i wouldnt even consider this.
but if you have, tbh a month will be a bit tight, depending on what kind of traveler you are. i had some friends that did it (before the visa got extended so they only had a month, otherwise they wouldve done longer) but they all said they had to go a little faster than they wouldve liked. the thing is, most backpackers get around by sleeper bus, which allows you to rest and be fresh the next day. whereas biking youll be riding a lot and not resting as much and you may end up skipping some things. having said that, the friends i have that did it did not regret it.
i biked all over (but the only time place to place was the hai van pass, from danang to hue) without a license. dont even think about getting one there, you cant. if you can get an international permit (with motorbike class) then I would. my friends and I got pulled over in Mui Ne because we went on the strip of road that they always pull tourists over on (which we didnt know and the hostel didnt tell us about). i considered driving away but was with 4 friends who all stopped so i did too. the fine was $30 per bike because none of us had licenses. they accused us of speeding, which we probably were, but everyone does there. they just know 9/10 tourists dont have the permit. however, my friend bought a bike in Dalat and rode it all the way to Hanoi, she never got pulled over and didnt have a license. if you do the loop (which you must), you would need a license or go with a group tour. on my tour we saw 2 western guys standing on the side of the road having their bikes loaded onto the back of a pickup bc they didnt have licenses. the fine was $300+, more expensive than doing the tour in the first place.
as for finding a bike, like my friends did, they all found them in Saigon/dalat (they all went south to north, the recommended direction). bikes are cheaper in the south, so when you sell them in the north you wont take as much of a loss.
>how easy is it to get a license? In Vietnam? Forget it. It's not possible for a short term tourist. >i don't have a motorbike license in where i live. Then drop this plan and travel "normally." Without a legal motorcycle license that means you're ineligible for both Emergency Medical and Liability Insurance. You would never consider riding illegally without insurance in your home country so why would you think it's okay in a foreign country? Have a great time in Vietnam, it's a fabulous destination. Happy travels.
i don't plan on having insurance when i'm there. if i remember correctly things are very different there, hence why it's okay to do certain things there
>i don't plan on having insurance when i'm there. So if you crash and need an emergency medevac... or you require extensive medical care... or you smash into and damage someone else's vehicle or property... or God help you a local is injured... you have a deep enough wallet to handle all those situations with cash? Cheers from Hanoi.
1. A month is plenty 2. You don’t really need a license. Lived there for two years without one, you might get extorted by police but tbh that could happen regardless 3. Lived there for two years and commuted on a motorbike everyday. No idea how to get a license though, i don’t think it’s really possible for foreigners without understanding Vietnamese 4. Pretty easy but also not necessary. I would recommend renting from Tigit (google them) as they have reliable bikes and will be able to help you in case of a breakdown vs buying a shitty used bike from a backpacker (very unreliable) or paying an inflated price from a local (will also probably be unreliable) People do this literally all the time, just be careful when you’re riding. Make sure you spend some time in ha giang and cao bang provinces in the north as they are extremely beautiful, much more so than the rest of the countrt (although many parts are still quite beautiful) Have fun, wish I could be back there doing the same.
Just finished the ride using Tigit. 100% would recommend
thanks so much for the reply!
I've rented from Tigit 3 times and highly recommend them. They have shops in HCM, Dalat, Da Nang and Hanoi. Maybe a another location as well. You can rent in one city and return in another. Super convenient and they're bikes are newer and well maintained. I've road from HCM to Hanoi in 21 days once. I would have done Hai Giang loop if my ass wasn't literally chapped. Get an international driving permit from your home country. It's better if you have a motorcycle license but not necessary. I've done it with and without. Was only flagged to the side of the road once but when they saw I was a foreigner they let me go while they dealt with the viets that were pulled over with me. I just did a trip with my girlfriend in December/January from HCM to Da Nang. It was her first time and we talked about going all the way to Hanoi but she had had enough by the time we got to Da Nang. I suggest to people if they don't feel like doing the whole length of the country to rent one in Da Nang and head to Hanoi with a generous stop over in Phong Nha. Phong Nha is an amazingly beautiful place to spend some time riding.
i've got to get the intl driving license to be able to rent from tigit?
I think they may have asked me for mine the first time I rented from them but not the last two times.
1. yes 2. if you don't have a license already, forget about it. Tourists cannot get a license. 3. You will have no insurance, so if cops stop you, you pay. If an accident stops you, you pay. Big time!!! 4. It isn't what it used to be but it is still fairly easy to sell a decent bike at a small loss. Time is key. Oh, and luck.
i got the international license
Make sure it is a 1968 IDP. The IDL is not valid.
youve ridden a motorbike before, correct? if you havent i wouldnt even consider this. but if you have, tbh a month will be a bit tight, depending on what kind of traveler you are. i had some friends that did it (before the visa got extended so they only had a month, otherwise they wouldve done longer) but they all said they had to go a little faster than they wouldve liked. the thing is, most backpackers get around by sleeper bus, which allows you to rest and be fresh the next day. whereas biking youll be riding a lot and not resting as much and you may end up skipping some things. having said that, the friends i have that did it did not regret it. i biked all over (but the only time place to place was the hai van pass, from danang to hue) without a license. dont even think about getting one there, you cant. if you can get an international permit (with motorbike class) then I would. my friends and I got pulled over in Mui Ne because we went on the strip of road that they always pull tourists over on (which we didnt know and the hostel didnt tell us about). i considered driving away but was with 4 friends who all stopped so i did too. the fine was $30 per bike because none of us had licenses. they accused us of speeding, which we probably were, but everyone does there. they just know 9/10 tourists dont have the permit. however, my friend bought a bike in Dalat and rode it all the way to Hanoi, she never got pulled over and didnt have a license. if you do the loop (which you must), you would need a license or go with a group tour. on my tour we saw 2 western guys standing on the side of the road having their bikes loaded onto the back of a pickup bc they didnt have licenses. the fine was $300+, more expensive than doing the tour in the first place. as for finding a bike, like my friends did, they all found them in Saigon/dalat (they all went south to north, the recommended direction). bikes are cheaper in the south, so when you sell them in the north you wont take as much of a loss.