Complete guide on how to rent a bike in Hanoi
Renting a motorbike is a good way to get off the beaten track and discover Hanoi on your own. That is if you are able to deal with the manic traffic and less than stringent road rules.
There are many places in tourist areas such as the Old Quarter in Hanoi city or Ho Chi Minh city that available rent bikes to traveler and foreigners who travel Vietnam.
You will need to fill out a form to rent the bike along with leaving your passport / valuable papers as a deposit.
Most motorcycle rental shops to offer a selection of semi automatic (Honda Wave), manual shift (Honda Win) and automatic motorbikes (Nouvo, Lead, Attila…) The motorbike rentals will also come with a helmet or two and remember that helmet use is mandatory in Vietnam.
Top 5 tips to rent a bike in Hanoi
The following is a list of 5 helpful tips for you if having motorbike tours:
1. Check your bike
Test the turn signals and lights and take a quick test drive around the block. Finding out that your front brakes are a bit dodgy a mile down the road is not ideal so check it out first.
- Watch the video: How to drive an automatic shift motorbike
2. Keep important papers
When parking in a public lot, do not lose the keeping service ticket. If you lose it, you will need to verify the ownership of the bike, which means contacting the place you rented the bike.
3. Get the rental shop contact details
This could be a lifesaver if your bike breaks down or in an emergency.
4. Make sure your helmet is in good order
If you feel it’s a bit musty, request a new one. If they refuse, head down to the next shop.
5. Anticipate your surroundings
Vietnamese drivers do not really use their wing mirrors so watch out for the traffic ahead of you. Also, slow down through intersections as stopping at a red is more like a guideline as opposed to a rule.
Local insight: While manual shift motorbikes go for VND 100,000 / day (~$5/day), automatic bikes will run you a bit more at around VND 120,000 / day (~$6/day).
Above are 5 tips for rent a bike in Hanoi. If you need some tips on roads motorbike and advice of guided tours for your long term vacation please contact us. We will help you choose a good Vietnam motorbike.
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