People often say “Safe better than sorry” and hereinafter, we are delighted to introduce some useful tips to keep you safe & alive while riding motorbikes in Vietnam. Because with many people, motorcycle trip along Vietnam is not an easy journey and full of pressures. As being from the western countries, there exist lots of things which seem unfamiliar with travelers . Flying to an Asian country brings them various differences and particularly, motorbike tours northern Vietnam is much more peculiar and burdening than any experiences ever.
Hence, it is required that all motorcyclists must follow some disciplines and regulations before the trip. Also, there are some specific stuffs, as well as intangible things of which travelers should be mindful to bring. Let’s take a look at what could we prepare prior to this wonderful motorbike tours in Vietnam.
1. Understanding thoroughly Vietnam Traffic Rules
You wouldn’t be alone if you thought there weren’t any traffic laws in Vietnam. Everywhere you look, people are driving down the wrong side of the street, flying through red lights, and using the sidewalk like an overflow lane. And the police? They’re waiting for easier money. As a foreigner, you’re dollar signs on wheels to the police, so don’t give them an easy excuse to pull you over.
1.1. No more than two people per motorbike
Like most of the laws in this list, here’s one that you’ll see disobeyed every single day. Construction workers often pile four onto an old Honda Win, chugging along with legs splayed out wide. They’re the ones you’ll see making wild U-turns in the middle of the road the second they notice traffic police up ahead. It’s a minor offence, but it’s also one of the easiest for the police to spot.
1.2. There actually are speed limits
For motorbikes, the speed limit is 40km/h in urban areas and 60km/h on highways and rural roads — unless the signs tell you otherwise. Police set up checkpoints with radar guns and cameras these days, so you won’t have much choice but to pay. Your best bet is to go with the flow, since they can’t pull over everyone.
1.3. Try not to forget your kickstand
It’s scary as hell when you try to make a left-hand turn and your kickstand grinds into the pavement, especially when something as big as a dump truck is coming at you. It’s a common mistake, but it’s actually illegal and can result in significant fines if you come across a cop who goes by the book.
1.4. Don’t drink and drive
Drinking and driving is a huge problem in Vietnam, and police have stepped up efforts to curb it. The lower limit is 0.25mg/l of air, or 50mg/100ml of blood. If you blow over, the fines are steep, and don’t expect to be able to bribe your way out of it every time.
1.5. No horns at night
Even after living here for years, we didn’t know about this one. It turns out you aren’t allowed to use your horn between 10 pm and 5 am. We’ve never heard of anyone ever getting pulled over for this, but maybe hold off on using your horn at night when police are around.
1.6. You’re not allowed to weave
One of most annoying kinds of drivers you’ll see on the roads in Vietnam is the guy doing wild zig-zags in heavy traffic. Not surprisingly, it’s illegal to do this. The problem for everyone else is that the law simply says that swaying is prohibited. It’s a vague term, but to be safe, try to avoid driving like you’re a slalom racer.
1.7. Don’t run away after an accident
Some people advise foreigners to get away from accidents as quickly as possible, because — even if they weren’t at fault — they’re often the targets of extortion. Heed this advice at your own risk, though. The fines for ‘absconding‘ from the scene of an accident, no matter how minor, can easily add up to more than what you would’ve paid just to settle it on the spot.
1.8. Don’t use your cellphone
But everyone else does, right? This is yet another one of those laws in Vietnam that everyone breaks, because they know the odds of getting pulled over are minuscule. There’s simply too many people yammering away on their mobile phones for the police to have much effect. Just don’t do it right in front of a cop. Don’t force them to do their jobs.
1.9. Helmets are mandatory
Foreigners in touristy spots like Phu Quoc Island and Nha Trang ride around without helmets all the time. It’s dangerous, but it’s also begging for the police to pull you over. The fine for not wearing a helmet is only 30,000vnd (~$1.50USD), but most of the people doing this also don’t have a licence or insurance, so they end up paying much more to get out of the situation.
1.10. You cannot ride side-by-side with somebody
Groups of friends often drive together like a moving wall, so nobody can pass them. It’s frustrating for everyone else on the road, and it’s also illegal. Don’t be those people.
1.11. You can’t give your friend a push
This one is kind of sad, actually. You see a friend on the side of the road, and their bike is out of gas, or something else is wrong with it. Like the decent human being you are, you offer to push them to the nearest repair shop. Then the police roll up. You’ll just have to hope the police officer who drives by doesn’t have a heart of coal.
2. Warm and suitable clothes
It is clear that everyone should prepare enough clothes for your motorbike trips in Vietnam, based on the destinations they would visit. And motorcycle tours North to South Vietnam is not exceptional. Along the journey, the riding crew is supposed to pass by many famous beaches, when you certainly take use of the swimming suit or trekking clothes when our team take a stroll around the mountainous village, instead of roaming on motorbike.
Especially, with the motorcycle trips up North Vietnam, you are likely to face with serious and harsh weather condition. Therefore, preparing a variety of clothes is a must! Try to bring some warm-but-light jackets when ascending to Vietnam’s northern mountainous areas. In the daytime, it would be pretty comfortable with the breeze, but at night, the temperature can drop dramatically and without warm jackets, it is easy to get cough or flu.
3. Body-protecting equipment
No one expects to get injured in motorbike tours northern Vietnam but sometimes, the light injures and pains are inevitable. With motorcyclists who are not experienced with motorbike operation, you can be crashed or get fallen with potholes on the way or other vehicles. Our expert always tries to limit it, but you’d better to equip yourself with necessary equipment. At shop, we provide some protection like Knee pads, elbow pads…
Firstly, helmet is provided by company so you should be no longer worried about it. There are other things like rough-palm leather gloves for you to easily drive when raining; knee and arm-protecting stuffs; medical facemasks or plastic bags to wrap your shoes and bag when bucket rains come.
4. Motorbike-riding skills
Motorcycle tours north Vietnam with our company is welcomed to all the riders, with limitation in age and physical situation. However, it impossible for the joiner to control their top-gear motorcycle if they don’t know how to operate engine-based vehicles. Therefore, we ask for the basic and fundamental skills for motorbikers to follow.
For example, you are required to have the driving license; you have to prove that you have used or been familiar with motorcycle before so that riding is not a big problem to you. Before the trip, our expert also carries the small session to help you get used to riding motorbike.
5. Weather forecast
It seems simple but weather is the most and widely concerned thing when traveling Vietnam on motorbike, no matter where you go. Especially, the tropical-region countries are really changeable, in terms of weather. You can ride under the sun in the morning or get stuck in a bucket rain right after that.
Check the weather forecast in advance so you would be more proactive and ready for any changes. Bringing your raincoat along in any cases is a must in the North Vietnam motorbike tours.
6. Basic knowledge about destination
Normally, you could know the itinerary of mountainous area motorbike tour long before the trip and all the destinations we are going through will be publicly shown. Beside the well-known places many tourists have been aware of when it comes to Vietnam, there could be more attractions you could hear for the 1st time, you should also learn basic mechanic if you book self guided Vietnam motorbike tours.
If getting known in advance, motorcyclists could experience it thoroughly; such as recording video clips about the destination or writing their travelling blog afterward. In this case, we suggest you to book fully guided Vietnam motorcycle tours.
7. Traditional norms and local customs
One of the most important things you have to prepare is being fully aware of the local customs and traditional rules of indigenous people. In the journey with Vietnam Motorbike Tour Asia team, we will drop into some rustic villages of local residents. Some are really essential because a small misunderstanding could lead to serious problems.
For example, the ethnic people are really hospitable and warm-welcoming. When you are invited to the party of a local man, it will be so impolite or so-called “rude” if you refuse to accept their drinking invitation. If you show your disagreement or unwillingness to take a dip of wine. Besides it, there are more and more customs which seems strange to you but they are the “musts” to ethnic people.
8. Strong-will spirit and a willing-to-experience courage
Frankly speaking, it is believed that the most important thing to every riders is their courage to overcome challenges and willing-to-experience spirit. Don’t be scared of everything. Challenge yourself and get immersed in pool of fantastic things in motorcycle tours Vietnam.
9. Pre-tour meeting with Indochina Motorbike Tour
As an unwritten regulation on our operation process, we often organize a meeting with our fellow customers at a nicest coffee shop elsewhere in the heart of Hanoi 1 or 2 days before starting the trip to summarize all details relating to the trip as well as providing you more information / useful tips about Vietnam which would be unknown to many foreigners. This pre-tour meeting in between the operators of Indochina Motorbike Tour and riders is truly important and needed to keep you safe throughout the trip as well as enjoy an exciting flawless journey without troubles.