Top 5 best scooter rentals in Cat Ba

If someday you will be in Cat Ba, Vietnam, do not think that your only options for getting around are walking and public transport. You can always rent a scooter on Cat Ba on our website and explore this rugged limestone island at your own pace. Cat Ba is the largest island in Ha Long Bay, ringed by karst cliffs and the turquoise waters of Lan Ha Bay, with a national park covering much of its interior, and a scooter is by far the easiest way to cover the whole island in a single day. On this page you will find a full guide to scooter rental on Cat Ba.

The island suits a scooter perfectly: the main road winds along the coast and up through forested hills, distances are short enough to circle much of the island in a day, and a scooter lets you stop at every viewpoint, beach and cave along the way. On two wheels you can climb to Cannon Fort for a sweeping view over the bay, dip into the clear water at Cat Co beaches, and disappear into the jungle roads of the national park, all before sunset.

Top 10 things to see on Cat Ba by scooter

1. Cannon Fort — a French-era hilltop fortress with panoramic views over Cat Ba town, the harbour and the bay, best reached by the winding road up from town.
2. Cat Co Beaches (1, 2 and 3) — three sandy coves linked by a short cliffside path, an easy ride from town for a swim.
3. Cat Ba National Park — dense limestone jungle with hiking trails, rare langurs and a network of forest roads perfect for a scooter ride.
4. Hospital Cave — a former wartime hospital carved deep into the rock, hidden in the jungle and fascinating to explore.
5. Lan Ha Bay viewpoints — several roadside spots along the coast give sweeping views over the limestone islets of Lan Ha Bay.
6. Cai Beo Fishing Village — one of Vietnam’s oldest floating fishing villages, a short ride and boat hop from the harbour.
7. Cat Ba Town harbour — the lively waterfront with seafood restaurants, best enjoyed at sunset after a day on two wheels.
8. Trung Trang Cave — a large limestone cave inside the national park, reached along a scenic forest road.
9. Viet Hai Village — a remote farming village on the far side of the island, reached by a quiet road through the national park.
10. Hoang Van Thu Boulder Field — a striking landscape of limestone boulders and cliffs, an easy detour on the ring road.

What do you need to rent a scooter on Cat Ba?

Required documents vary between rental companies, but common rules are as follows: you should be at least 18 years old; for a 125cc machine an A1 licence is usually expected, while larger scooters call for a full A-class motorcycle licence. Foreign visitors should carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) together with their home licence — strictly, a Vietnamese-recognised motorcycle licence is required to ride legally, so check the terms of the specific provider on the booking page. Most companies also ask for a deposit, paid in cash or by card and refunded when you return the scooter in good condition.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter on Cat Ba?

Scooter rental on Cat Ba starts from around 140,000 VND per day and runs up to about 330,000 VND per day for a larger, newer model. What you pay depends on the engine size and, importantly, on the time of year:

• June–August (peak summer season) — warm, mostly dry weather and the busiest months for domestic tourism, with prices at the top of the range.
• March–May and September–October (shoulder season) — pleasant weather with lighter crowds, and prices usually settling in the middle of the range.
• November–February (cooler, low season) — the quietest and cheapest months, with cooler temperatures and the occasional foggy or drizzly day.

In short, you will pay the most in July and August and save the most between November and February. Because everything on the island, including scooters, arrives by ferry, availability can tighten on the busiest summer weekends, so we advise booking a few days ahead.

When to book a rental scooter on Cat Ba?

The best weather generally runs from March to October, with June to August being the hottest and busiest, drawing crowds from Hanoi and beyond. Spring (March–May) and early autumn (September–October) offer a pleasant balance of good weather and quieter roads. November to February is cooler and can bring damp, misty spells, but it is also the quietest time to explore the island at your own pace. Typhoons can occasionally affect the coast between July and October, so check the forecast if you are travelling in that window.

Local traffic rules

In Vietnam you ride on the right-hand side of the road. A helmet is compulsory for both rider and passenger, and the police do enforce it. Speed limits in built-up areas are typically 40–50 km/h, and the winding hill roads through the national park call for extra caution. There is effectively zero tolerance for drink-driving. Roads can be steep and narrow with sharp bends in the hills, so ride defensively, keep your lights on, and watch for local traffic, livestock and pedestrians on the quieter village roads.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to the ferry terminal, delivery to Haiphong Airport.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire on Cat Ba;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our moped rentals on Cat Ba have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter on Cat Ba, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!