Top 5 best scooter rentals in Hanoi

If someday you will be in Hanoi, Vietnam, do not think that your only options for getting around are walking and public transport. You can always rent a scooter in Hanoi on our website and explore the capital at your own pace. Hanoi wraps a thousand years of history around Hoan Kiem Lake, packs it into the narrow lanes of the Old Quarter, and then opens out into wide boulevards and the calm villages beyond West Lake — a scooter is the one vehicle that can handle all of it, from a tangled alley to a fast ring road. On this page you will find a full guide to scooter rental in Hanoi.

Hanoi is a big, busy capital, and its traffic has a reputation for being intense — rivers of scooters flowing through roundabouts with few obvious rules. It sounds daunting from the outside, but the flow is actually fairly forgiving if you ride calmly, move predictably and avoid the worst of rush hour. First-timers often feel more at ease starting in the quieter, leafier streets around West Lake or Ba Dinh before tackling the Old Quarter, and once you find the rhythm, a scooter opens up day trips to the countryside that a taxi never could.

Top 10 things to see in Hanoi by scooter

1. Hoan Kiem Lake — the green heart of the city, with the red Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple; park nearby and walk a lap at sunset.
2. Old Quarter — a maze of thirty-six trading streets, each once named for its craft; ride slowly and let yourself get pleasantly lost.
3. West Lake (Ho Tay) — the city’s largest lake, circled by a long, breezy road perfect for an easy evening ride and a lakeside coffee.
4. Temple of Literature — Vietnam’s first national university, a peaceful complex of courtyards and stone stelae.
5. Long Bien Bridge — a century-old steel bridge over the Red River, dramatic at sunrise with trains still rattling across it.
6. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda — the solemn centre of Ba Dinh Square, with the tiny lotus-shaped pagoda just behind it.
7. Tran Quoc Pagoda — Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, on a small peninsula jutting into West Lake, especially pretty at dusk.
8. Ba Vi National Park — a cool, forested mountain about an hour’s ride west, with winding roads and views over the Red River delta.
9. Duong Lam Ancient Village — a well-preserved laterite-brick village outside the city, an easy half-day scooter trip back in time.
10. Train Street — the narrow residential lane the trains squeeze through just metres from front doors, best seen briefly on foot after parking nearby.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Hanoi?

Required documents vary between rental companies, but common rules are as follows: you should be at least 18 years old, though some scooters are available from 16; 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 in Hanoi?

Scooter rental in Hanoi starts from around 130,000 VND per day for a small automatic and runs up to about 350,000 VND per day for a larger or newer model. Most riders choose a 110–125cc automatic Honda or Yamaha, and what you pay depends mainly on engine size, age of the bike and how far ahead you book. Prices in Hanoi move with the seasons:

• October–April (high season) — cool, dry and comfortable for riding, so demand and prices peak: expect roughly 180,000–350,000 VND per day.
• May–September (low season) — hot, humid and the wettest stretch of the year, with fewer visitors and softer rates: from about 130,000–200,000 VND per day.
• Around Tet (Lunar New Year, usually late January or February) many shops close and remaining scooters can be pricier and harder to find, so book ahead if you are travelling then.

In short, you will pay the least in the sticky summer months and the most through the pleasant winter and spring, especially around holidays. Booking a few days ahead helps secure the best price and availability.

When to book a rental scooter in Hanoi?

The most comfortable season to ride is roughly October to April, when the weather is cool and dry, skies are often grey but rain is rare, and the surrounding countryside is at its greenest. Summer, from May to September, brings heat, humidity and sudden downpours, plus the occasional typhoon reaching the north; riding is still possible but less pleasant, and you should watch the forecast before longer trips out to Ba Vi or Duong Lam. If you want the easiest riding conditions, aim for autumn or spring; if you want the lowest price, summer is kinder to your wallet.

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, especially in the capital. Speed limits in built-up areas are typically 40–50 km/h, rising on open roads. There is effectively zero tolerance for drink-driving. Hanoi traffic flows in its own rhythm: stay calm, move predictably, use your horn lightly to signal your presence rather than in anger, and give way to buses and trucks. Ride defensively, keep your lights on, and take roundabouts and the busiest junctions gently until you feel comfortable — if the Old Quarter feels overwhelming at first, practise in a quieter district before diving in.

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 sea port, delivery to the Noi Bai airport.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire in Hanoi;
• 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 in Hanoi 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 in Hanoi, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!