Motorbike rental Vietnam prices run 120,000 to 500,000 VND a day. What licence you actually need, what to check before signing, and where the ride gets harder.
Motorbike rental Vietnam price runs from about 120,000 VND for a basic automatic scooter up to 500,000 VND or more for a manual dirt bike built for mountain roads, with most travellers in cities paying somewhere in the middle for a reliable automatic or semi-automatic model. Renting is the fastest way to get around almost anywhere in the country, but the shop you choose and the paperwork you carry matter more than the bike itself.
The short version
Motorbike rental Vietnam price depends mainly on the bike type: a twist-and-go automatic scooter sits at the cheap end, while a manual dirt bike built for mountain trails costs several times more per day. Fuel, helmet, and basic insurance are rarely included in the quoted price.
| Bike type | Example models | Daily rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic scooter | Honda Vision, Yamaha Janus | 120,000-200,000 VND (~5-8 USD) | City riding, first-timers |
| Semi-automatic | Honda Wave, Honda Win clone | 120,000-220,000 VND (~5-9 USD) | Light touring, rural roads |
| Manual touring bike | Honda XR150 | 350,000-500,000 VND (~14-20 USD) | Mountain passes, multi-day trips |
| Manual dirt bike | Honda CRF250/300 | 700,000-1,200,000 VND (~28-48 USD) | Experienced off-road riders |
Sources: rates aggregated from Vietnam-based rental listings, checked October 2026. Prices are per day, drop for longer rentals, and rarely include fuel or a damage waiver.
Automatic or manual motorbike Vietnam comes down to experience: a twist-and-go automatic needs no clutch skill and suits flat city riding, a semi-automatic needs gear changes but no clutch lever, and a manual dirt bike demands real riding experience for the mountain passes in the north.
Stick to an automatic for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, or Da Nang, where traffic is heavy but the roads are flat and distances short. Step up to a manual only if you already ride one at home and plan a multi-day mountain route, since handling gear changes on steep switchbacks takes real practice, not something to learn for the first time on the road. For a wider look at getting ready before you fly, beyond just the bike, our first-timer checklist for Vietnam covers the rest.
International driving permit Vietnam motorbike rules say yes: you need your home country licence plus an IDP issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention with category A or A1 checked and stamped, since Vietnam does not require tourists to hold a Vietnamese licence at all.
A 1949 Geneva Convention IDP is not accepted, and an ASEAN driving licence does not exempt you either, even though the 1985 ASEAN mutual recognition arrangement covers driving between member countries. Riding without the right IDP risks a fine of 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND (roughly 80 to 160 USD) and the bike being held at the station, and enforcement is real: in May 2026, traffic police in Nha Trang stopped and fined two foreign riders, a Russian and a Canadian tourist, on the same street within an hour of each other. Getting the IDP before you fly costs about 20 to 30 USD through a motoring body back home, and it is also what keeps your travel insurance valid if a claim comes up. For planning trips elsewhere in the country, our other Vietnam guides cover the transport side of each region.
Motorbike rental deposit Vietnam practice is usually a cash deposit of 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 VND (about 40 to 120 USD) rather than your passport, which is technically against Vietnamese law for a shop to hold even though plenty of shops still ask for it.
Photograph and film a full walk-around of the bike before you ride off: brakes front and rear, tyre tread, lights, indicators, horn, mirrors, and the odometer reading, so an existing scratch or a worn tyre never ends up on your bill later. Read the contract's damage clause before signing, since some shops charge full replacement value plus lost rental income if the bike is stolen or impounded, not just the repair cost. Our own rule in Hanoi: never skip the video walk-around, even for a two-hour loan to a nearby pagoda, since a shop with nothing to hide never minds the camera.
Monthly motorbike rental Vietnam rates are rarely published outright, but renting for a week or longer typically cuts the daily price by roughly 30 to 50 percent, so always ask for a weekly or monthly quote upfront instead of paying the daily rate for an extended stay.
A short trip through Hanoi or Hoi An rarely needs more than the daily rate, but a long-stay visitor renting for a month should negotiate the price and ask to see the bike's registration, not just the shop's business card, before paying anything upfront. A written agreement, even a one-page one in English, protects both sides better than a verbal deal, and it is worth weighing against your overall Vietnam travel budget before committing to a month at once.
Motorbike rental Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Da Nang mostly means flat streets, heavy traffic, and an automatic scooter doing everything you need, while a rental in Sa Pa, Da Lat, or along a mountain loop usually calls for a semi-automatic or manual bike instead.
Riders most often step up from a city scooter to something with more power for a multi-day loop through Ha Giang, where the route climbs through switchbacks that a small automatic struggles to hold speed on. If you are touring rather than staying in one city, rent from a shop where you start and ask whether they allow a one-way drop-off at a partner shop elsewhere, since a one-way fee can erase any savings from a longer rental.
Do you need a license to rent a motorbike in Vietnam?
Yes. You need your home country driving licence plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, with category A or A1 for motorcycles. A Vietnamese licence is not required for tourists.
How much does it cost to rent a motorbike in Hanoi?
Motorbike rental Hanoi prices follow the national range: 120,000 to 200,000 VND a day for an automatic scooter, more for a semi-automatic or manual bike, with better rates for rentals of a week or longer.
Is it legal for a rental shop to hold my passport as a deposit?
No. Holding a renter's passport is technically against Vietnamese law, even though some shops still ask for it. A cash deposit or a photocopy of your passport is the standard, acceptable alternative.
What happens if the motorbike is stolen or breaks down?
Check the rental contract before you sign: some shops charge the full replacement value plus lost rental income for theft, while a mechanical breakdown with no rider fault is usually the shop's responsibility to fix or replace.
Do I need a helmet by law in Vietnam?
Yes, a helmet is required for every rider and passenger on any motorbike in Vietnam, with a fine for riding without one. Reputable rental shops provide a proper helmet, not just a thin shell, as part of the rental.
Would rather skip the licence paperwork entirely?
Our fixed-price private car service covers the days where you would rather have an English-speaking driver than deal with an IDP and a rental contract.
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