If you are considering motorbiking through Vietnam, there are some financial decisions you will need to make about your motorbike - primarily if you want to buy one new or used! In this post I share my experience buying new from Style Motorbikes, the costs of bike upkeep in Vietnam, and what to expect in terms of parking and toll roads. I also share some advice regarding law enforcemen, which is particularly relevant if you choose to motorbike Vietnam without a valid international license.
WHY WE BOUGHT NEW MOTORBIKES
Up until the border of Cambodia and Vietnam, my traveling partner and I had every intention of buying used motorbikes, probably from another backpacker in Ho Chi Minh city. It would cost approximately $250, and we would find mechanics along the way as it inevitably broke down. This research turned out to be accurate and many backpackers biking Vietnam bought used bikes in this fashion - however, some of those travelers ended up with really bad used bikes. We heard endless stories about these bikes breaking down daily, long hours spent at the mechanic, and repairs that totaled hundreds of dollars. Some bikers are lucky, and have excellent used bikes! But even a backpacker who spent $500 on a large, gold painted sports bike faced the same fatiguing mechanical issues.
In Cambodia, while waiting for our Vietnamese visa to process, my friends and I met backpackers who recommended buying brand new bikes instead. We liked what they had to say!
STYLE MOTORBIKES
For $700, we bought brand new 127cc Espero Detech motorbikes from the company Style Motorbikes. Espero Detech is a Vietnamese knockoff of the classic Honda Win driven by backpackers, and is the most dependable knockoff bike on the market. Every mechanic in Vietnam knows how to repair a Honda Win, so every mechanic knows how to repair an Espero Detech.
127cc engines made us one of the fastest bikes on the road, and gave us plenty of power for climbing mountains in the north. Motor power higher than this is not necessary, we passed people all day. The new bikes can be purchased in one city (Ho Chi Minh) and Style guarantees buy-back on the other end of Vietnam (Hanoi). After one month, they will buy the bike back for 70% of the purchase price, 65% after two months, 60% after three months. Therefore, driving on a brand new bike for two months should ideally cost us exactly $250. This bike could also be sold to another backpacker in Hanoi - it is your bike.
In the two months of biking Vietnam, I did not experience a single mechanical issue.
When I sold my bike back to Style in Hanoi, they paid me $450 cash in USD. They charged me $2 for damages I caused to the bike, including a broken mirror, two broken lights, a cracked headlight, and a bent foot peg. The sale process took five minutes.
Before we bought the bikes in Ho Chi Minh, Style took us out to practice driving. (I now realize they probably saved our life given the chaos of Ho Chi Minh traffic). Style also offers a map of the country with route advice, a Whatsapp number so you can call for mechanic/police situational advice (they speak Vietnamese and can negotiate for you), and sell helmets on-site. Bikes are all equipped with a phone holder, USB charger, bike lock, and extended luggage rack with bungee cords.
MAINTENANCE COSTS
Every 500-700 kilometers the bikes need an oil change ($4, available everywhere) and every 200 kilometers the bikes need a gas fill up ($3.50, available everywhere). Chains and tires should be checked and cared for regularly.
Pictured is a mechanic cleaning my carburetor for $2.50.
PARKING
Parking is easy to find and usually free. All of the hostels and hotels (except Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi) have offered free motorbike parking, and malls, grocery stores, and restaurants have cheap parking available.
TOLL ROADS
There are toll roads in Vietnam, but motorbikes are exempt and pass through a free motorbike lane on the right.
Some roads in Vietnam forbid Motorbikes - beware! These roads are named CT and clearly marked on Google maps. Make sure you do not accidentally plan your route on these roads.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
We have seen two police cars in three weeks of traveling Vietnam. Speed limits are not enforced, and every city (except for Mui Ne) doesn't want to harass the tourists with tickets. If you do get pulled over, Style offers bribe advice (2 mil dong, $90USD) or you can call them for help. This has not been a problem at all, and we are driving completely illegally (like most backpackers).
If you are engaged in an accident with another driver, most likely the police will be called and you will be taken to the police station for five hours of paperwork. You will be asked about a valid driver’s license, and can expect a 2 million dong fine if you don’t have one.
As the foreigner, the accident will be considered your fault regardless of the other driver’s actions. Expect to pay settlement money to the other driver; in our accident we payed 4 million dong ($200 USD) to cover medical expenses and a ruined motorbike for a local who was at fault in the accident.
Experiencing Vietnam on motorbike was absolutely incredible, and I highly recommend it to anyone who feels confident in their driving abilities and prepared to take on these risks!
Comments