There are amazing options for guided motorbike tours to experience Vietnam by bike in safe way. Ho Chi Minh Midnight tour Explore Ho Chi Minhs streets at night and go beyond district 1 seeing different areas cultures and lifestyles. 2019 Saigon Kiss Tours. There are some speedways where bikes are not allowed. Please try again. April to June period is also perfect to visit beaches and islands. The only problem with buying on the street is you can buy a lot of problems, there are people that can fix bikes everywhere, but it is still a pain to sit with technical issues. Those who purchase bikes from shops or fellow travelers often buy manual Honda Wins or fully automatic Yamaha Nouvos. Unreal scenic drive from Nha Trang to Dalat. Singing born to be wild on my little motorbike and almost getting run over by huge buses made some memories I will always cherish. Renting is more hassles with insurance and returning the bike. Rental shops, which also sell used bikes, are easily found as are flyers posted in hostel windows by travelers at the end of their adventures looking to sell their bikes back. Picked up from your hotel, learn about historical landmark and events in Ho Chi Minh City, view unique architecture. 4 hour urban scooter adventure Highly rated tour with many reviews. A recipe for an interesting adventure, not for road safety. The rainfall is short enough to clean the air putting the hustle and bustle of the city at ease. Hello Greyson, you should have a motorcycle license at home and have it registered on the International Drivers Permit. While North Vietnam charm travelers with its four seasons, the South Vietnam experiences warm and pleasant all year round. Northern Vietnam weather is distinct than the South. It can rain a lot in Vietnam and helps if you and your luggage is waterproof. Explored DMZ zone and Vin Moc tunnels for 2 days Unreal, the tunnels were built to shelter people from the intense bombing by the Americans. Dalat Full day Easy rider motorbike tour I did this one day tour in Dalat and it was fantastic! 100% Vietnamese, my passion is traveling and running projects related to tourism. depends on how much time you have, you will get a better price selling it yourself. They seemed ok with this? Halong Bay and the North will be the wettest. Its a unique experience and with a little planning and not much money it can easily be done. Whether exploring the whole country by bike or just doing a motorbike day tour, a motorbike adventure is something you have to experience when traveling in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh Trail, was a system of mountain and jungle paths and trails that ran from theDemocratic Republic of Vietnam(North Vietnam) to theRepublic of Vietnam(South Vietnam) through the kingdoms ofLaosandCambodia. Campbell is responsible for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. Sapa also experiences heavy rain between May and August so any outdoor activities during this period would not be advised. Vietnam is divided into three different climatic zones and the weather can very greatly depending on the time of year and location. Pack a good, light, waterproof jacket, this. Many of the bikes for sale on the backpacker market is more than 20 years old and probably did this trip 100s of times. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Being listed among the cheapest countries to visit in Asia makes Vietnam sounds like the must-go destination. What to Expect: April to June in Vietnam comes with fine weather and fewer tourists. In a country that the dominated religion is Buddhism, the chances to find the eggs or bunny chocolates for your kids is minimal. For that reason, the best time to visit Vietnam in the North including Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong and Mai Chau when expecting the lovely weather with warmth and sunshineis during its spring (March to April) and autumn (September to November). Safe travels. Drove on the AH1, was not to worried about scenery in this weather. It is great to always know essentials are safe and you get used to pouch, even in super hot climates. I loved buying my bike, spray painting it and the freedom of the whole experience. Tyres; good condition, still plenty of tread, no cracks. January to March is the dry season of Vietnam and close to winter, especially in the North like Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa. Buying from Tigit you have a better chance of buying a quality bike. We only got about 50% of what we paid, since we had some technical issues and we were in a hurry to sell. Those months have the best time in Vietnam with the spring in the North and dry season in the South. If you wear long pants, shoes and a helmet chances of getting pulled over is very small. (Hue, Hoi An, Danang, Dalat, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon), When is the best time to visit Vietnam in the South Typical tour, you do not get to experience the real culture. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A tour can be nice, especially if you do not feel confident driving and can sit on the back you obviously do not have the freedom you have cruising with your own bike. The amount of clothing is obviously dependent on the length of the journey and how often you think youll need to change. A week later my travel buddy Ryan and I were exploring the Ho Chi Min way on our customized Honda motorbikes. An organised group tour by bus is definitely safer. In June and July, floods can happenin Ho Chi Minh and poor weather for Phu Quoc island. Tigit Motorbikes do sales and rentals for long distance travel and have centers in Ho Chi Minh, Danang and Hanoi. Businesses are normally off 2 days before Tet and back after 5 days. This tour has hotel pick up and drop off services. Pigs, chickens, building material or any other cargo are often tied to motorbikes in ingenious ways. Obviously the quality is going to be inferior. Welcome to the country which has more than 200 miles of coastline and three different weather patterns! First mechanical problems, took a while to get a mechanic, cheap to fix. We followed them to the hostel area. Was it easy to do so in Hanoi? Trekking in the Sapa Valley and meeting some of the locals staying in a homestay was one of the highlights traveling through Vietnam. I will strongly advise you to invest in insuranceWorld NomadsVietnam insurance is an excellent option and you can get insured with them even if you are already on route. Visit different districts from the modern developing city to old towns, aged apartments, local midnight markets, and an old Mafia area, make a stop at the Haunted House of Saigon! But from 7 to 3 days before Tet, the cities changed themselves into an energetic and beautiful Tet-themed decorated which bring the happiness and joy around. A little crotch pot cooking. Private motorbike explore the Ho Chi Min food scene, Ha Long Bay, 2 night boat and island trip, Luxtude 13400mAh Waterproof Portable Charger, our 2 week itinerary driving across Vietnam, our route itinerary and plenty of other useful tips. The mountainous regions like Sapa is still a bit chilly. You can get an immediate quote here. If you are in the area definitely worth diving. Since everybody owns a motorbike there are many very cheap bikes on the second hand market. See the best of Saigons markets in the morning, interesting fresh produce, flowers & animals market experience the most wonderful and weird sides of Saigon. Colder winter months can be mysterious and empty, yet chilly to ride. Our daughter was born and Stingy Nomads became a team of 3! Read more about us. - did you go into Laos or Cambodia on moto? Good helmet, Luggage rack and straps (make sure you can strap on all your stuff on to the bike), Bike lock. A poncho, or better yet, rain pants and a good jacket, is a necessity as heavy rains pop up sporadically across the country. April to June is an unpredictable time when witnessing a transition from spring to summer. I was happy with my fake Honda Win and so were many other people that I met. You will need a licence to be covered. Some days we drove on Highway one, many trucks and thousands of motorbikes everywhere. In southern Vietnam, the temperatures hover in the low 30s for most of the year. Twelve year old kids driving scooters everywhere (how scary can it be if twelve year olds do it?). One of the highest rate tours in Ho Chi Min. Do you need a motorcycle drivers license in Vietnam? When we wearing flip flops and board shorts we stood out as tourists and were stopped. But When is the best time to visit Vietnam and you start doing some search. Each and every province in Vietnam offers something special. I checked with Tigit and the bike I wanted was like $400. We bought for $250 and sold for $125 each. It took about an hour to get out of the city, followed by an 85km drive to Ninh Binh. Stop at a silk factory. Any additional documents needed? Hello! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Expect the gorgeous harvest season in this mountainous area of Vietnam.Hoi An in July is suitable for off-the-beaten-path experiences. The main problem will be if you are involved in an accident driving illegally and someone gets hurt. A family of four on a scooter on the highway is a common occurrence. At the same time, the climate in Sapa and the mountainous regions in the North is good with 10-15 degrees (50-59 Fahrenheit). In Cambodia we dived at Koh Rong island, it was monsoon and pouring, I was actually stuck on the island for a couple of days, viz was terrible (2-3m) so difficult to judge diving there. When going on a motorbike trip through Vietnam you have three options to get a bike; buy a bike, rent a bike or go on a guided tour. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The idea is to combine the motorbike phenomenon of the city with the beauty of Vietnamese women in our traditional outfit to international friends. Those mountainous areas of Vietnam are well-known for its charm with the ethnic minority communities and its seasonal flowers. Damn hot! The strong half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that would be happy to spend all his life in the water diving, surfing and spearfishing but often has to compromise with Alya and go hiking instead. This time is school vacations of the local kids, which means that there is a high record in domestic tourist volume, crowding in beaches and mountain retreat. Scuba Dive Nha Trang two dives, we loved the tropical diving in Nha Trang! Dont just pack shoes, a pair of flip-flops is good to walk in the rain. Hello Loek, thanks for reading. During holidays and festivals, the price for tourists will rise up a bit. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. It is possible to rent a motorcycle long term for a good price. best place? The overwhelming majority of travelers riding in Vietnam begin in either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and these are the best two places to find a bike. Theres no license thats guaranteed to get you out of trouble if youre pulled over. Hotel Pick up and Drop off. We paid a motorcycle taxi to lead us on to where the AH1 highway exits the city. Real vs Fake Bikes The real Honda Win 100cc motorbike is made in Japan and costs about $2000 new, most of the bikes driven by tourists are fake Honda Win copies made in China, they are a lot cheaper, I heard they cost about 25% of a real bike. Affected by the typhoons, the areas can have storms. The summer comes from May to October with hot temperature, high humidity and rain. Dalat, Easy rider 1 day bike trip, shit coffee, elephant falls, cricket farm etc, Diving, Nha Trang, triple Scuba day on coral reefs of Nha Trang, Vin Moc tunnels, tour to Vietnamese tunnels in US war, Dong Ha, My Son, Ruins of the champa temples close to Hanoi, Night life Saigon, Partying on the sidewalk bars of the crazy Ho Chi Min city, Pho Bo, vietnames beef noodle soup is cheap and delicious. Expect for the best trekking adventure in the far North. depends on you, do you need a lesson, will one lesson help if you do? The trip can be completed in two weeks (less if you rush) and could be a mix of white sand beaches, limestone ridges, and endless rice fields. This is also the harvesting season of Sapas terraced rice fields. Tet is the biggest festival of the country which takes place the same day with Chinese New Year. While Hanoi and Halong temperatures ranges 15-22 degrees (59-72 Fahrenheit), Hue and Hoian ranges 22-32 degrees (72-89 Fahrenheit), the beaches are enjoying hot weather with the clear skies and sunshine. There are a number of reliable companies that rent bikes for weeks or months on end. Some travelers opt to camp, so a tent or hammock and mosquito net would need to be added, plus a blanket depending on the route and time of year. Also more importantly, how did you guys sell the bike? General condition, is it clean, all rubber OK, paint job still good, no loose tape and wires. Hi Brad, thanks for words. To get the truly local experience and bond with the young generation of Vietnam, learn more about the motorbike food tour in Saigon. Good visibility, hard corals, nudibranches, variety of tropical reef fish. Visit pagodas, ethnic minority villages, vegetable farms, and a coffee plantation. For many backpackers riding a motorbike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa has become somewhat of a rite of passage. We did breakdown a couple of times, but that was amazing in Vietnam, we always got help relatively quickly and fixing our bikes was always cheap. costs? Try to plan to avoid as much as possible. But dont assume that Vietnam is a tropical country with hot climate and sunshine all year round. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You need bluecard for selling the bike, when transfering the bike on public transport (train) or when crossing the border to Laos or Cambodia. Its hot. Regarding the roads that motorcycles are not permitted to drive on , is this the case with highway one ? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If you decide to buy private check out Facebook groups. Hanoi Sightseeing Bike Tour Very popular bike tour in Hanoi. Thank You! I read in one of your comments that you had an international license and one from your home country for car and not motorcycle. Amazing read guys! The first week of September is the best time for photography. Why Vietnam is Perfect for a Long Distance Motorbike Tour, Best Bike for a Motorbike Tour in Vietnam, Important Things when Buying a Motorbike in Vietnam- checklist, Accommodation on a Vietnam Motorbike Trip. Tony is fun. Here is the holiday, here is the vacation that youre longing for. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Go on a fun tour in the roads of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi or Hoi An exploring the cities with an experienced driver on a foodie, sightseeing, culture or shopping tour. Were Campbell and Alya, the creators of Stingy Nomads, water lovers and hiking addicts, traveling the world to bring you tips and tricks to experience some of the most thrilling adventures on the planet! We cant find a country that matches your search. Is it too risky? For that reason, its not advisable to visit there during those months. Left the AH1 riding on Ho Chi Min way, much less traffic, more scenic, stayed in a very strange, big hotel in the middle of nowhere, The Dai Lam Hotel. Start with a travelers backpack, 60-75 liters, and go from there. Temperatures during daytime is rarely below 20C and sometimes hit 40C during the hottest months from March to May. While this is undoubtedly a fantastic journey, the truth is that it bypasses the most spectacular riding the country has to offer. Hi, guys! Many trucks and buses on the road. Worth it? Try to avoid this as far as possible. The mountains, valleys, rice terraces, jungled limestone cliffs and winding roads are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Hue city in the Central Vietnam will have afestival in May. Temperatures in the dry season can soar into the mid to high 30s in the summer months so the ideal time to visit is February through May. What to Expect: Wet weather in the North Vietnam and thunderstorm in Ho Chi Minh city, crowded beaches.Remember to bring a light raincoat or you can buy one in Vietnam. Bike:250$Sold Bike: 125$Visas:65$ visa renewal 25$Petrol used:1 500 000 VD (75$),Repairs: Brakes, Stand 50 000, Back tyre 330 000, Mirror 50 000,light switch50 000, oil change 4x 100 000Total:Bike: 250$ Fuel: 75$; Oil: 20$, Repairs: 24$, Visas 70$450$-125$= 315$Driving time: 4 to 8 hours a dayAccidents:zero, one minor fallFood: mostly Pho Bo (noodle soup) or just coffee, plenty of water Vietnam=hot!Dangers:Ryan one bad infection, got robbed at gun point in Nha Trang. What to expect:Pleasant weather with less crowded tourist attractions. Get a taste of what the locals eat from Madam Phuong bread, Banh Beo/Water Fern Cake, Cao Lau Noodles, Banh It La Gai cake, and more! Hey guys! In general, the winter lasts from November to April with the average temperatures from 17-23 degrees (62-73 Fahrenheit) and the coldest months fall in January, February and March where it freezes with the overnight temperatures is down to 4 degrees (39 Fahrenheit). The South Vietnam tends to be warmer and more humid with a dry season and a rainy one. A towel is an essential thing to have for an adventure or budget traveler. Exploring cities, towns and villages will give you a basic understanding of the culture, but riding between them will make you feel part of it all. Nha Trang and Hue starts their rainy seasons in September. A rental for a month should be $200-$300 USD. Vietnam is a long, narrow country, perfect to cross without missing anything. Its so damn hot, I saw little guys, their orange robes burst into flames. Trying to understand about Vietnam weather? The rest of the year is usually dry, with December through March being chillier and often gray. Driving on the highway was easier than expected, traffic doesnt move very fast and consists mainly of thousands of scooters and a couple of trucks. Hi Max, we dived in Nha Trang in Vietnam with Scuba Dive Vietnam, diving was well priced and nice, but not amazing when compared to . Generally, summer in the North Vietnam is hot and sticky. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. I am planning to do a trip from HCM to Hanoi in April and have 15-20 days based on what my boss says (American here). This beautiful place in the highlands was one of the highlights of our 2 months in Vietnam. Get picked up from your hotel, explore interesting markets in Ho Chi Minh beyond the usual Ben Thanh Market. July to September may cause hash weather that may lead to the cancellation of Halong Bay cruises. Our trip started in Hanoi riding south, many do it in reverse. Book a day tour and experience a bit of the Vietnam motorbike adventure! You can easily pick up a bike for under $200 from another backpacker in hurry to sell. Exploring the area sitting on the back of a motorbike taking photos. Club scene kicks in late. You take turns with many other tourists to float on a little section of river. Your email address will not be published. High mountain passes. I only had two close calls having to swerve and brake for crazy drivers. I will adjust the sentences. Check out Facebook there are several Vietnam Motorbike groups on Facebook where travelers sell their bikes. Your email address will not be published. A Nouvo is easier to operate, particularly for a beginner, yet not guaranteed to break down any less, as those for sale by backpackers have racked up substantial miles. Local ladies wear red and white clothes to take photos in District 1. We drove about 2500km and did the trip in 5 weeks. It is definitely not the safest way to spend a couple of weeks. Private motorbike explore the Ho Chi Min food scene Explore the food scene of Ho Chi Minh City from the back of a motorbike and sample typical Vietnamese foods on a night tour. He loves traveling, braai (BBQ in South Africa), red wine and spending the day in a wetsuit. Is it safe to ride a motorbike through Vietnam? XO Motorbike Tours offer something unique, a company with all women drivers that can take you on a variety of great tours in the cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An. Drink Kopi Luwak coffee and eating crickets. Its possible to trek or cycle all year round. what nonsense, you are going to be far away, probably with no phone, there are shops/people that can fix bikes everywhere. Amazing place, delux double room $30, great location, super comfortable beds, great hostJan Hostel. During September to December, the Central Vietnam including Hoi An, Danang and Hue have a considerable rainfall. When I got pulled over my drivers license and AA international license was accepted. - thanks for the info. If something is wrong discuss with the owner, might not be serious and easy to fix. Visiting Vietnam from October to December, Visiting during the Lunar New Year: Tet holiday, When is the best time to visit Vietnam in 2018 by location, When is the best time to visit Vietnam in the North Basically, there are two seasons in Ho Chi Minh and the Mekong Delta. Rain storms were insane, so much rain we had to stop and hide sometimes. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Warmer and dryer months are fantastic riding, but can be very busy. Dont go before reading this! If you are lucky you can even sell it at a profit! Some regions are better to ride in the winter months, others in the summer. Thus, early October is a good time to visit Nothern Vietnam as the rainy season is usually over the chance to get typhoons is minimal. Almost anything you need can be bought in HCMC or Hanoi, so if youve packed light and run into a snag its easy to straighten yourself out in the these hubs. HI Where did you go diving and was it good? More insight: If a public holiday falls on a weekend, workers have the following day off as compensation. From May through November heavy rains fall, although usually only in bursts of a couple hours in the afternoon. Cool party city, drinking beer and talking nonsense on little chairs on the sidewalks. Highly appreciated! Amazing article. Generally speaking, the Vietnamese prefer foreigners to call their holiday Tet than Chinese New Year. Motorbikes are a part of life in this country with 37 million of these vehicles registered. I'm here to share what I know about Vietnam for travelers. Vietnamese coffee is awesome, they drink it with loads of condense milk, sosay you want it black. The cost for either bike shouldnt be more than $250 USD. Learn how your comment data is processed. Buy back by a partner shop at the other end. If you are a flower lover or chase for the photography moments in those rich cultured and romantic mountainous regions of Vietnam. April is the beginning of the dry season with hot weather but you can expect that its pleasant. You think it is possible to do so bearing in mind my short itinerary and having not much time to do research for buying bikes? How much of a problem would this be with Vietnamese law enforcement? Explore the centuries-old streets by bike, through ancient alleyways, and secret sidestreets to discover the best street food in the city. They dug 30 metres deep, some people stayed here for 6 years. The rain season lasts from May to November when the transport will be a bit affected by the floods. However, the rain is often short bursts and pretty sudden. Big shout out to Mr Vu and Mr Ben - we absolutely had an amazing time driving from Dalat to Hoi An. Coming into Ho Chi Minisinsane, crazy traffic turned into super crazy traffic. Head west from Hanoi toward the Laos border and then work your way up and around. Thousands of motorbikes, no traffic rules and it doesnt look like local people need a licence. I wasn't too sure of getting my own bike (road safety, getting lost, the cops..), so decided to look out for a guide. There are a number of established routes making the trip easy and enjoyable. Receive our newsletter and latest post in your mailbox! When is the best time to visit Vietnam? We bought some spray paint and painted flags on our petrol tanks. For those reasons, the best time to visit the Central Vietnam is between February and August. I dont work for World Nomads, so go and check it out and read the fine print. Travelling in Vietnam I met a couple of backpackers in Hanoi selling bikes following a South to North bike trip. June is still a good month to visit Vietnam despite it being a pretty mixed bag in terms of weather. A med-kit is a smart choice, as is a water bottle and larger spare gas bottle. Dont feel like making such a big biking commitment? In central Vietnam, the rainy season runs from October through January and the rest of the year is mostly consistently dry.