Vietnam hits you hard the moment you arrive – crazy traffic everywhere, amazing food smells from street stalls, and landscapes that make you stop every five minutes for photos. Now picture seeing all this from your motorcycle, with the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. That’s what big bike touring in Vietnam is all about – real adventure without the tourist bullshit.
Why Vietnam Should Be Your Next Riding Destination
Vietnam gives you riding experiences you just can’t get anywhere else. The country runs about 1,000 miles from north to south, skinny in the middle and wider at the ends, with every type of terrain packed into this strip of land. You can ride from mountains so steep they don’t seem real, cruise along coastal roads with beaches right beside you, or cut through jungles where it feels like you’ve gone back in time.
What makes Vietnam perfect for big bike touring is this crazy mix of landscapes plus roads that have gotten way better in recent years. A decade ago, riding here meant dealing with potholes that could swallow your front wheel. These days, while you’ll still hit rough patches, the main routes have decent asphalt that lets you enjoy the ride instead of just surviving it.
The culture makes the riding even better. Vietnam’s wild history has created this unique mix of influences – Chinese, French, American – all layered on top of Vietnam’s own thing. You’ll ride through areas where hill tribe people still dress in traditional clothes every day, not just for tourists. You’ll cruise through old war zones now covered in peaceful rice fields. You’ll stop at roadside places where a dollar gets you the best soup you’ve ever had, made the same way for generations.
The shape of Vietnam creates a natural riding progression. The northern mountains give you technical riding that tests your skills, the middle highlands offer sweeping curves through coffee farms, and the south gives you faster runs through the lush delta. This natural variety means you never get bored – each day feels completely different from the last.
When to Ride Vietnam
Getting the timing right for your Vietnam ride matters more than in other Southeast Asian countries because the weather changes dramatically as you move from north to south.
Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Ha Giang, Sapa) has real seasons. October to April is mostly dry, with December-February being seriously cold in the mountains – sometimes below freezing at higher spots. The upside? Crystal clear views and empty roads. The hot season (May-August) brings brutal humidity but makes everything super green. The real challenge is rainy season (June-September) when mountain roads can turn into dangerous mud slides and flash floods happen regularly. Most experienced riders aim for October-November and March-April as the sweet spots – decent temperatures, mostly dry roads, and amazing scenery as seasons change.
Central Vietnam follows a different pattern. The best riding months are February to August, when it doesn’t rain much. September through January brings heavy rains and possible typhoons, especially around Hue and Hoi An. The good thing about riding during shoulder season is seeing places like the Hai Van Pass with dramatic clouds rolling in from the ocean – the kind of stuff photographers love.
Southern Vietnam keeps it simple with just wet (May to November) and dry (December to April) seasons. The wet season isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker – storms usually hit hard for an hour in the afternoon rather than raining all day. Everything turns incredibly green, and fewer tourists mean emptier roads and cheaper hotels. The dry season brings reliable sunshine but can be brutally hot, especially from March through May when temperatures regularly hit 35°C+.
If you’re planning to ride the whole country, aim for October-November or March-April, when you’ll hit decent weather in the north while dealing with manageable conditions elsewhere. These times also help you avoid Tet (Vietnamese New Year, usually in January or February), when hotels in popular spots can be completely booked and prices double or triple.
The Ha Giang Loop: Northern Vietnam’s Epic Ride
If there’s a must-ride route for motorcycle nuts in Vietnam, it’s the Ha Giang Loop in the far north. This roughly 350km circuit has become famous among riders worldwide – and for good reason. The loop takes you through the Dong Van Karst Plateau, a landscape of crazy limestone mountains, terraced rice fields, and valleys so deep they disappear into fog. This is Vietnam at its wildest and most impressive.
The standard route starts in Ha Giang city and runs counter-clockwise through Tam Son, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac, and back to Ha Giang. The road quality varies a lot – some sections are smooth new asphalt while others challenge you with broken concrete and occasional gravel. The famous Ma Pi Leng Pass is the highlight, a narrow road carved into almost vertical cliffs with the bright green Nho Que River flowing hundreds of meters below. It’s both terrifying and amazing, demanding your complete attention while rewarding you with views you’ll never forget.
What makes the Ha Giang Loop perfect for big bike touring is the mix of challenging riding and raw, authentic culture. The region is home to lots of ethnic minorities like the Hmong, Tay, and Dao, each with their own traditions, building styles, and clothing. Unlike touristy areas, these communities still live traditional lives, with tourism as a side hustle rather than their main income. Staying in traditional stilt houses gives you cultural experiences you can’t get anywhere else.
Most riders take 3-4 days to complete the basic loop, but if you have more time, add extensions to Ba Be Lake, Cao Bang, and the Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Chinese border. These side trips take you through even more remote areas where you might not see another foreign rider all day.
The Ha Giang Loop demands respect. Weather changes fast in these mountains, turning dry roads slick within minutes. Livestock and kids appear around blind corners. Trucks take racing lines through curves with little concern for oncoming traffic. But for riders with decent skills and good awareness, it delivers an experience that matches any motorcycle route in the world.
Coastal Riding: The Hai Van Pass and Beyond
Vietnam’s coastline stretches over 2,000 miles, creating a natural riding route that connects major cities while offering great ocean views and access to beaches that somehow haven’t been overrun by development.
The highlight of coastal riding is definitely the Hai Van Pass between Da Nang and Hue. Made famous by Top Gear, this relatively short 21km mountain pass gives you hairpin turns with panoramic views of the coastline below. On clear days, you can see forever where blue sea meets blue sky. On misty mornings, you ride through clouds that occasionally open up to show fishing boats in the distance. The pass itself is well-maintained with good asphalt, making it doable for riders of all skill levels despite the twisty road.
North of Hai Van, the coast road to Hue offers a more relaxed ride with gentle curves following bays and fishing villages. South of Da Nang, the coastal route through Hoi An to Nha Trang mixes beach sections with mountain detours. The stretch between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang deserves special mention – this newly improved coastal highway matches California’s Pacific Coast Highway for beauty but has a fraction of the traffic.
What makes coastal riding in Vietnam special is the access to local life that motorcycle travel gives you. You can stop at fishing villages as the boats return with the morning catch, watching as they sort fish right on the beach. You’ll pass through small towns where seafood restaurants serve whatever was caught that morning, often at prices that seem like mistakes. The ability to cool off with a quick swim during lunch breaks adds another dimension that inland routes can’t match.
The coastal route also connects several of Vietnam’s most historically significant cities. Hue’s imperial citadel, Hoi An’s ancient trading port, and Nha Trang’s Cham temples all provide cultural stops between riding sections. Accommodations along the coast range from basic guesthouses to fancy resorts, letting you mix authentic local experiences with comfort as your budget allows.
The Central Highlands: Vietnam’s Secret Riding Paradise
While the northern mountains and coastal routes get most of the attention, many experienced riders think the Central Highlands is Vietnam’s best-kept secret. This high plateau stretching from Kon Tum to Da Lat offers a completely different Vietnam: cooler temperatures, pine forests, endless coffee plantations, and some of the country’s best riding roads.
The highlands were historically isolated, both geographically and culturally. Various ethnic minority groups including the Ede, M’nong, and K’ho maintained traditional lifestyles with limited outside influence until recently. This cultural heritage remains visible in village architecture, farming methods, and local festivals, creating interesting stops between riding segments.
From a pure riding perspective, the highlands deliver the goods with well-maintained highways cutting through rolling terrain. Unlike the extreme elevation changes of the north, these roads flow more naturally, with sweeping curves that let you get into a rhythm. The famous QL27 and QL28 routes between Da Lat and Nha Trang are particularly good, offering hour after hour of perfect bends through pine forests and flower farms.
Da Lat itself deserves special mention as the perfect base for highland exploration. This former French hill station maintains a European feel with its mild climate, colonial buildings, and flower gardens. The surrounding area offers day-trip loops through strawberry farms, coffee plantations, and waterfalls, all accessible on excellent roads with relatively little traffic.
The Central Highlands also show you Vietnam’s modern farming economy. Huge coffee plantations stretch as far as you can see – Vietnam is now the world’s second-largest coffee producer, which surprises most visitors. During harvest season (November-January), you’ll see coffee cherries being dried by roadsides and can stop to watch the processing. Similarly, rubber plantations, pepper farms, and tea estates create distinctive landscapes that change with the seasons.
For riders planning a north-to-south Vietnam trip, the highlands offer a welcome break from coastal heat and traffic. The QL14 (Ho Chi Minh Highway) runs through the heart of the region, providing a less crowded alternative to the coastal QL1. This inland route connects Kon Tum, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, and Da Lat before dropping back toward the coast, creating a natural corridor through some of Vietnam’s best riding territory.
The Mekong Delta: A Different Kind of Riding
The Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam offers a completely different riding experience from the rest of the country. Here, the landscape flattens into a huge maze of waterways, rice fields, and fruit orchards. While it lacks the dramatic scenery of the north, the delta makes up for it with cultural richness and a complex network of rural roads that let you explore areas rarely visited by foreign tourists.
What makes delta riding special is the constant interaction with water. You’ll cross countless bridges spanning everything from major Mekong branches to tiny irrigation canals. Ferry crossings become regular features of your journey, each one a chance to observe river life and chat with locals. The smaller ferries – some barely big enough for a few motorcycles – access islands and peninsulas where traditional village life continues largely unchanged despite the region’s growing prosperity.
The riding itself tends toward the relaxed end of the spectrum, with flat, straight roads connecting the major towns. But the real adventure comes when you venture onto the smaller rural routes that follow canal banks and dike walls. These narrow concrete paths – sometimes barely wider than your handlebars – require precise control but reward you with close-up views of farming activities and village life that remain invisible from larger roads.
Can Tho serves as the natural hub for delta exploration, with its famous floating markets offering a spectacular dawn experience. The ride west toward Chau Doc near the Cambodian border takes you through increasingly diverse landscapes, including sections of the Tra Su flooded forest. Heading south toward Ca Mau and Nam Can brings you to Vietnam’s southernmost point, where the Mekong finally meets the sea in a labyrinth of mangrove forests.
The delta’s climate stays hot year-round, but the wet season (May-October) transforms the landscape as rice fields flood and canals overflow their banks. While this creates challenges – occasional flooded road sections and regular afternoon downpours – it also shows the region at its most productive and visually striking. The dry season (November-April) offers more reliable riding conditions but can become extremely hot, particularly from March onward.
For riders completing a north-to-south journey through Vietnam, the delta provides a gentle conclusion – a few days of easy riding through agricultural abundance before reaching the urban chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. The contrast between the delta’s traditional farming communities and the hypermodern skyline of Vietnam’s largest city perfectly sums up the country’s rapid transformation.
Choosing Your Bike for Vietnam
Motorcycle options in Vietnam have gotten way better in recent years, especially for riders wanting larger bikes suitable for long-distance touring. While the country was once dominated by small Chinese knockoffs (mostly unreliable Honda Win copies), today’s riders can get everything from mid-sized adventure bikes to full touring machines.
Companies like Big Bike Tours have changed the motorcycle scene by bringing in properly maintained, high-quality motorcycles that can handle Vietnam’s diverse roads. Their fleet typically includes:
Honda CRF300L: These nimble dual-sports have become favorites for northern mountain routes, offering enough power for highway sections while staying light enough to handle on rougher roads. Their higher ground clearance is super valuable on routes like the Ha Giang Loop where road quality can go from good to terrible in seconds.
Kawasaki Versys 650: A perfect middle-ground option, these bikes give you adequate power for riding two-up with luggage while remaining more manageable than the biggest adventure bikes. Their comfortable riding position and reliable performance make them ideal for riders tackling the full north-to-south journey.
BMW F750GS and F850GS: For riders wanting premium equipment, these adventure bikes offer sophisticated electronics, excellent weather protection, and the power to handle any road condition Vietnam throws at them. Their only downside comes on the narrowest village paths where their width can become a problem.
For those going into the most remote areas, bike selection involves important tradeoffs. The largest machines offer comfort and power but can be unwieldy on extremely narrow roads or during stream crossings. Mid-sized bikes balance capability with manageability. Experienced tour operators can help match your riding experience and planned routes with the right motorcycle.
No matter which bike you choose, Vietnam’s riding conditions demand certain features. Good suspension travel helps absorb the unexpected potholes and road damage that appears even on major highways. Weather protection becomes crucial during the frequent rain showers in certain seasons. Fuel range matters in remote regions where gas stations may be basic or hard to find. Reputable rental and tour companies outfit their machines with appropriate accessories including crash protection, secured luggage options, and often GPS navigation.
DIY vs. Guided Tours: Finding Your Vietnam Adventure Style
Vietnam offers motorcycle experiences for every preference, from completely independent adventures to fully supported luxury tours. Understanding the options helps match the experience to your comfort level, riding skills, and desire for cultural immersion.
The DIY approach gives you complete freedom and the lowest cost. Renting directly from local shops in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City typically costs $25-70 per day depending on motorcycle type. This option works best for experienced riders comfortable with navigating foreign traffic systems, handling roadside repairs, and overcoming language barriers. The rewards include spontaneous discoveries, complete scheduling flexibility, and deeper cultural immersion as you solve problems and make decisions independently. The challenges shouldn’t be underestimated – Vietnamese traffic follows its own chaotic logic, police checkpoints can be complicated for foreigners, and breakdowns in remote areas test your troubleshooting skills.
Semi-guided experiences offer a middle ground. These typically provide motorcycle rental, a suggested route with GPS tracks, pre-booked accommodations, and emergency support without a guide actually riding with you daily. This format preserves independence while eliminating logistical headaches. Prices typically range from $100-200 per day depending on motorcycle quality and accommodation level. This option works well for confident riders who want some structure without being tied to a group’s pace.
Fully guided tours from companies like Big Bike Tours deliver comprehensive experiences with quality motorcycles, experienced guides, support vehicles, premium accommodations, and most meals included. These tours handle everything from border crossings to restaurant recommendations, allowing you to focus entirely on the riding experience and cultural immersion. The best tours include experiences inaccessible to independent travelers – private visits to ethnic minority villages, meals in family homes, or access to historical sites with knowledgeable local explanation. Premium tours typically start around $250-350 per day, with longer journeys like the 20-day Vietnam-Laos-Thailand expedition reaching $7,000-7,500 total.
Several factors should guide your choice. Riding experience in developing countries matters enormously – Vietnam’s traffic requires confident skills and quick decision-making, particularly in urban areas. Language considerations affect everything from ordering food to explaining mechanical issues. Time constraints might make guided tours more efficient as they optimize routes based on decades of experience. Budget obviously impacts options, though many riders find that mid-tier guided tours represent good value by maximizing experiences while minimizing frustrations.
For first-time visitors to Vietnam, even experienced riders often choose guided tours for the initial visit, then return for independent exploration once they understand the country’s rhythms and challenges. The ideal approach depends entirely on your personal travel style, riding confidence, and tolerance for uncertainty.
What to Expect on Vietnamese Roads
Vietnam’s roads throw unique challenges at you that demand respect even from experienced riders. Knowing what you’ll face helps prepare for a safe and enjoyable experience.
Traffic in major cities works by entirely different rules than Western riders might expect. The flow resembles a river more than organized lanes, with smaller vehicles filling every available space. Horns serve as constant communication rather than expressions of anger. Locals expect you to maintain a steady speed and direction so they can calculate how to flow around you – sudden movements or hesitation creates confusion and potential danger. Most experienced riders avoid rush hours in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, or hire guides specifically for navigating the urban sections.
Road conditions vary dramatically, sometimes within a single kilometer. Main highways generally feature good asphalt, but construction zones appear with little warning. Secondary roads range from perfect to punishing, while the smallest rural routes might alternate between concrete, dirt, and gravel. Heavy rains can trigger landslides in mountainous regions, sometimes blocking roads entirely. River crossings range from modern bridges to sketchy ferries to actual water fording in the most remote areas. Good suspension and proper tires become your best friends in these conditions.
Local driving habits create another layer of challenge. Buses and trucks often claim the center of the road regardless of lane markings, pushing smaller vehicles to the edges. Passing on blind corners is common practice. Livestock appears on roads without warning, particularly in highland regions. Slow-moving agricultural vehicles share highways with high-speed traffic. Successful riders develop a sixth sense for anticipating these situations and maintain wide safety margins.
Weather impacts riding conditions dramatically. Northern mountain fog can reduce visibility to meters, requiring extreme caution on winding roads with steep dropoffs. Coastal regions face powerful crosswinds during certain seasons. Sudden tropical downpours turn roads into temporary rivers and reduce traction to nearly nothing. Checking weather forecasts becomes part of the daily routine, with scheduling flexibility to wait out the worst conditions.
Police checkpoints occur regularly, particularly near provincial borders. While most officers wave tourists through, some regions (particularly in the north) require special permits for foreigners. Rental or tour documentation should be carried at all times, along with your passport, international driver’s license, and Vietnam entry documents. Professional tour companies handle these requirements seamlessly, while independent riders sometimes face complex situations requiring patience and respect.
Despite these challenges, thousands of riders successfully navigate Vietnam each year. The key lies in adjusting expectations, respecting local conditions, and making conservative decisions. The reward for managing these challenges is access to experiences that remain impossible by other means of transportation.
Experiencing Vietnamese Culture on Two Wheels
Vietnam’s diverse cultural landscape creates amazing opportunities for real connections during motorcycle journeys. The flexibility of motorcycle travel lets you experience aspects of Vietnamese life that regular tourists never see.
Rural markets serve as the commercial and social hubs for their regions, each operating on a specific day of the week or lunar calendar. Arriving by motorcycle lets you join the stream of locals coming from surrounding villages, often being the only foreigners present. Northern markets like Bac Ha (Sunday), Coc Ly (Tuesday), and Lung Khau Nhin (Thursday) showcase the traditional dress and trading practices of various ethnic minorities. Central highland markets feature products specific to the region’s farming specialties – coffee, pepper, or silkworms. Delta markets often operate partially on water, with boats serving as mobile stalls. These authentic commercial gatherings provide windows into local economy and social structure impossible to observe in tourist-oriented settings.
Religious practices vary dramatically across Vietnam’s regions. Buddhist pagodas dominate in most areas, but northern mountains feature Dao shamanic ceremonies, central regions maintain Cham Hindu temples, and the south includes significant Cao Dai and Hoa Hao communities with their syncretic practices. Motorcycle travel allows you to stop at both major religious sites and small village shrines, observing practices as they occur naturally. During major festivals like Tet (lunar new year) or regional harvest celebrations, entire communities engage in ceremonies that welcome respectful visitors.
Food exploration becomes a highlight of motorcycle touring, with each region offering distinctive specialties reflecting local agriculture and historical influences. Northern cuisine features subtle flavors with Chinese influences, central regions offer spicier dishes with complex imperial heritage, while southern cooking incorporates more tropical ingredients and sweeter profiles. The freedom to stop at roadside stalls serving single specialties – from bánh cuốn rice rolls in the north to cao lầu noodles in Hoi An – creates a culinary journey impossible to replicate in tourist restaurants. Morning stops at local coffee shops provide opportunities to experience Vietnam’s unique coffee culture while chatting with curious locals.
Homestay accommodations offer the deepest cultural immersion, particularly in northern and central highland regions. Staying with families in traditional stilt houses or rural farmsteads provides insights into daily life, agricultural practices, and family structures. Many homestays involve guests in food preparation or farming activities, creating natural opportunities for cultural exchange despite language barriers. The best experiences often happen in places reached primarily by motorcycle, where tourism remains a supplement to rather than replacement for traditional livelihoods.
Planning Your Vietnam Motorcycle Trip
Successful motorcycle touring in Vietnam requires thoughtful preparation, particularly for international visitors facing unfamiliar conditions.
Documentation needs careful attention. Vietnam requires a valid motorcycle license from your home country plus an International Driving Permit specifically endorsing motorcycle operation. Insurance considerations are equally important – basic rental policies typically provide minimal coverage, so supplemental travel insurance specifically covering motorcycle riding in Vietnam is strongly recommended. Without such coverage, even minor incidents could result in significant expenses, as Vietnamese public hospitals provide only basic care while private facilities require payment guarantees before treatment.
Routing and scheduling should incorporate realistic daily distances. Vietnam’s diverse road conditions make average speeds much lower than Western riders might expect. Mountain routes might average just 30-40km/h including stops, while even good highways rarely support sustained speeds above 80km/h due to traffic, towns, and unexpected obstacles. Most experienced tour planners recommend 150-200km daily maximums for mountain routes and 200-250km for lowland routes, allowing time for meaningful stops, photographs, and managing unexpected delays.
Navigation combines modern technology with traditional methods. Smartphone apps like Maps.me and Google Maps work well in areas with data coverage, though downloading offline maps is essential for remote regions. Physical maps provide valuable context and backups when technology fails. Many riders find it useful to save accommodation information and key destinations in Vietnamese script to show locals when seeking directions. Professional tours often provide GPS devices preloaded with routes and points of interest.
Accommodation options span from basic guesthouses ($10-20) to luxury resorts, with the greatest variety in tourist centers and more limited options in remote regions. Booking ahead becomes crucial during peak tourist seasons and local festivals, particularly in popular destinations where quality options fill quickly. Larger cities offer international-standard hotels, while rural areas feature simpler guesthouses and homestays – often the most culturally rewarding options despite basic facilities.
Packing for Vietnam’s variable climate and road conditions requires careful consideration. Quality riding gear designed for tropical conditions balances protection with ventilation. A waterproof layer is essential year-round, as is sun protection for exposed areas. Technical clothing that dries quickly after rain or washing makes extended tours more comfortable. Basic first aid supplies, stomach remedies, and insect repellent should accompany any international rider. Most experienced Vietnam tourists pack minimally, knowing that laundry services are inexpensive and widely available.
Connecting with Vietnam’s Riding Community
Vietnam has a growing motorcycle community that welcomes visiting riders with open arms. Major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have regular meetups, riding groups, and events where travelers can connect with expatriate and local riders for advice, route suggestions, and sometimes companionship for day rides.
Online resources have expanded dramatically in recent years. The Vietnam Back Roads group on Facebook hosts thousands of members sharing current route conditions, GPS tracks, and advice. The Vietnam Coracle blog offers meticulously researched independent route guides with detailed maps and accommodation recommendations. GT Rider produces quality paper maps covering northern Vietnam’s most popular riding regions.
Mechanical support networks have improved alongside tourism development. Major cities now host professional shops capable of servicing most Japanese and European motorcycles, though parts availability varies significantly by brand. In remote areas, local mechanics can work miracles with basic tools but may struggle with modern electronic systems. Riders venturing into isolated regions should understand basic maintenance and carry essential spares. Tour companies typically provide support vehicles with tools and parts for their routes.
The motorcycle touring sector has matured significantly, with operations ranging from basic rental shops to sophisticated tour companies operating international-standard fleets with comprehensive support systems. Companies like Big Bike Tours have established high professional standards with properly maintained motorcycles, experienced guides, and carefully vetted accommodation partners. This maturing industry has made Vietnam accessible to riders of all experience levels, from novices joining guided groups to seasoned adventurers tackling remote border regions independently.
Beyond Vietnam: Cross-Border Adventures
Vietnam’s central location in mainland Southeast Asia creates natural opportunities for extended journeys connecting multiple countries. These cross-border adventures have become increasingly popular as border formalities have simplified and road networks improved throughout the region.
The Vietnam-Laos-Thailand circuit represents the most established multi-country route, typically running 20+ days and covering the highlights of all three nations. From northern Vietnam, routes typically cross into Laos near Dien Bien Phu, traverse the mountainous Laotian north through Oudomxay and Luang Prabang, then continue to Thailand’s northern provinces before returning to Vietnam. These journeys showcase the distinct cultures, cuisines, and landscapes of each country while highlighting their historical connections and influences. The contrast between Vietnam’s frenetic energy, Laos’ serene Buddhism, and Thailand’s developed infrastructure creates a fascinating progression.
Professional tour operators like Big Bike Tours specialize in managing the complexities of these cross-border expeditions, handling paperwork, border formalities, and the logistics of moving motorcycle fleets between countries. Their experience proves particularly valuable at border crossings, where regulations change frequently and unofficial “fees” sometimes appear. For independent riders, these crossings require thorough research, patience, and sometimes creative problem-solving.
Documentation for cross-border journeys becomes more complex. Beyond standard riding licenses and insurance, you’ll need visas for each country (sometimes requiring advance application), vehicle temporary import permits, and occasionally special border zone permissions. Motorcycle ownership documentation requires particular attention, as rental bikes often need specific authorization for border crossing. Insurance coverage must extend across all countries visited, often requiring supplemental policies.
Future opportunities continue expanding as previously restricted border crossings open to foreign travelers. The Vietnam-Cambodia route has developed rapidly, allowing riders to connect Ho Chi Minh City with Angkor Wat via the Mekong Delta. Northwestern routes into China remain more restricted but occasionally open for organized groups with advance permits. These evolving options continue expanding the potential for epic motorcycle journeys using Vietnam as either starting point or core component.
Why Vietnam Should Be on Your Riding Bucket List
Vietnam offers one of motorcycling’s great journeys – a perfect mix of challenging roads, cultural depth, stunning landscapes, and welcoming people. From the extreme mountain roads of Ha Giang to the sweeping coastal highways and the complex waterways of the Mekong Delta, the country packs incredible diversity into a manageable geography.
What makes Vietnam special isn’t just the riding itself but the window it provides into a culture changing rapidly while maintaining strong connections to its past. From your motorcycle saddle, you’ll see both ancient farming methods and gleaming new factories, traditional village markets and modern shopping centers, all existing side by side in a dynamic dance of development.
The growing infrastructure supporting motorcycle touring – from quality rental operations to professional guided experiences – has made the country accessible to riders with varying experience levels. Companies like Big Bike Tours have raised professional standards with well-maintained motorcycles, experienced guides, and carefully crafted itineraries that showcase the country’s highlights while avoiding common pitfalls.
For riders seeking the perfect combination of adventure, cultural immersion, and pure riding joy, Vietnam delivers experiences that will remain vivid long after the journey ends. Whether tackling the extreme mountain roads of the north, cruising the spectacular central coastline, exploring the coffee highlands, or navigating the waterways of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam rewards motorcyclists with moments impossible to experience through any other form of travel.
The roads of Vietnam are calling. Answer them with an open mind, a spirit of adventure, and proper preparation, and you’ll discover why this narrow strip of land has captured the hearts of motorcycle travelers from around the world.