Vietnam – a beautiful country in Southeast Asia – is a famous global tourist destination. This S-shaped country has excellent landscapes, friendly people, unique culture, and irresistible delicacies recognized by Gordon Ramsay. But for the tourists who have been here, there is something so impressive that they can never forget. That is the crazy traffic here. This is a scary yet somehow exciting thing for visitors. With the following 7 useful tips, you will feel more courageous when riding a motorbike in Vietnam.

Never Choose a Low-cost Motorbike

What is the first thing you need if you want your experience riding in Vietnam completely safe and satisfying? You guess it right; you will need a proper motorbike. However, a lot of foreign tourists decide to purchase cheap motorcycles to save the trip cost. As a result, these vehicles break down after only a few weeks (even several days). After all, what can you expect from a motorbike which costs only $200? Using such a vehicle is costly and full of serious risks.

Therefore, instead of buying cheap Chinese motorbikes, you can choose to rent a motorbike with better quality at an affordable price. In addition, you can also purchase a motorcycle from big brands like Yamaha, Suzuki, or Honda. After the journey, you can sell it for a reasonable price. To avoid being fooled by tricky scammers, you had better go to a prestigious company such as BM Travel Adventure. There they will give you advice on suitable types of vehicles as well as specific instructions on paperwork.

Buy a High-quality Helmet

Observing people going on the streets, you can quickly realize that they are using awful helmets. These helmets usually cost around $2-3. In fact, they are just fragile pieces of plastic with a strap attached. When the accident happened, these hats could not protect your hair, not to mention your head. There are even cases in which the debris of these injuring the wearer. You can find lots of real helmets which often cost less than $50. You are new to Vietnamese traffic, so safety is never redundant, is it?

Be Ready for Any Situation

Riding a motorbike in Vietnam means two things: follow the rules and be ready for any situation. Of course, you have to know and follow basic traffic regulations, such as stopping at the red light, going in the right lane, using turn signals when needed, etc. You also need a valid international driving license if you don’t want the traffic police to pull over. However, you should also know that there are many people in Vietnam violating traffic accidentally or intentionally. Although this is really dangerous, people have to accept it as a part of the traffic here. You will see collisions in which both vehicles are at fault, those who turn without turn signals, those who honk repeatedly. Just be careful, attentive, and try to resolve problems with calmness.

Go With the Flow

If you participate in a Vietnam motorcycle trip, your tour guide will show you what to do. Riding a motorbike in Vietnam on your own means that you will have to decide everything yourself. On the streets in Vietnam, everything may happen extremely fast. Just a moment not paying enough attention, you may find yourself the only motorcyclist on the road full of trucks. Therefore, a crucial tip for you is to move with the flow. More specifically, watch those people around you and look for motorcyclists in the same direction and do what they do. They have sufficient experience to handle the mess you witness on the road, so let them help you out.

Dong-Van-motorbike-tour-to-Meo-Vac-VIETNAM MOTORCYCLE TRIP

Keep Distance from Buses, Vans, and Coaches

For both tourists and local people, the moment when a bus appears from behind with deafening honking is a terrifying moment. For many people, the appearance of trucks, buses, or coaches is the biggest threat on the road. When motorbikes and bicycles accompany these large vehicles, the drivers find it more difficult to handle things because of the blind spots. In many cases, trucks hit motorcyclists because they were moving too close to the trucks. The buses sometimes often rush into the bus stop, and this causes trouble for other vehicles running on its right side. The coaches often speed up and stop suddenly to take passengers along the way. The best thing you can do is keep a distance from those vehicles, as well as use signals and horns effectively.

Never Move too Fast

This is probably the advice that you have heard too many times when participating in traffic anywhere. However, riding a motorbike in Vietnam will make the statement above much more critical. There are plenty of reasons for you not to exceed the allowed speed in Vietnam. Firstly, many people cross the road anywhere they want rather than find a zebra. Imagine, when you are moving at high speed, a person suddenly runs across the road. Not only people but also pets and domestic animals here often appear on the track. 

The second reason is that a lot of roads in Vietnam are rugged and full of potholes. Encountering obstacles, you will brake quickly on reflex. You know what happens next, don’t you? Lastly, the people going on the road can also pose an immeasurable danger when they turn or brake suddenly. In short, please don’t go too fast.

Have Travel Insurance

Last but not least, travel insurance is absolutely necessary when you come to Vietnam. No one wants the unfortunate thing to happen, but you always need to have yourself prepared. With travel insurance, you can get better health care at international hospitals. Of course, you will reduce the cost of hospitalization. Just don’t forget that the insurance policy takes effect only if you have a driving license.

Riding a motorbike in Vietnam is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience. You will discover great things that you can never know if you just go by car. 7 tips above will help you have a safe and enjoyable trip. Don’t worry too much; everything will be fine and extremely fun.

Vietnam Embassy Singapore