Motorcycle Rentals in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City looks intimidating from the sidewalk — that endless, humming river of scooters swirling around Ben Thanh Market can make first-time visitors want to stay on foot. But step into the flow on two wheels and the city opens up completely. You can duck down side streets near the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, cross the Saigon River for skyline views from Landmark 81, or simply ride until you find a bowl of pho nobody wrote about online. Renting a scooter here is not a compromise for travellers without a car; it is genuinely the best way to experience Saigon the way locals do.

This city was practically built for a scooter. The downtown grid is compact but permanently jammed, so a small automatic slips through gaps that leave taxis and cars stuck at a standstill. The best day trips — the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Can Gio mangroves — sit well outside the range of a reasonable taxi fare, and having your own bike means leaving early, stopping when you want, and coming back on your own schedule. Everything is flat, from the city centre out into the delta, so there is no need for anything more powerful than a light automatic scooter.

Top 10 things to see in Ho Chi Minh City by scooter

1. Cu Chi Tunnels — a classic day ride out of the city, roughly 1.5–2 hours each way, to the famous Vietnam War tunnel network.
2. Bui Vien Walking Street — the backpacker nightlife strip in District 1, with easy scooter parking to start or end an evening out.
3. Landmark 81 (Saigon Skyview) — Vietnam's tallest tower; cross the Saigon River for skyline views from the observation deck.
4. Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck — a central District 1 landmark with a rooftop "helipad" viewpoint over downtown Saigon.
5. Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) — the historic 1975 landmark, an easy stop on any downtown loop.
6. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon — the French-colonial centerpiece next to the Central Post Office, a natural photo stop.
7. Ben Thanh Market — the iconic market and traffic circle, a good orientation point and street-food stop.
8. Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve — a longer coastal ride of about 1.5–2 hours through mangrove forest to a monkey sanctuary and a modest beach.
9. Jade Emperor Pagoda (Phuoc Hai Tu) — an atmospheric early-1900s Taoist and Buddhist temple, a quick detour off the District 1/3 core.
10. War Remnants Museum — a major District 3 museum, easily combined with a downtown riding loop.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Ho Chi Minh City?

For the standard tourist rental — a scooter under 50cc, or most low-speed electric models — you don't need a driving licence at all in Vietnam. Go above 50cc and you'll need a motorcycle licence, plus an International Driving Permit endorsed for motorcycles if you're a foreign visitor. Rental shops set their own minimum age, usually 18 even where the law allows younger riders on smaller machines. Expect to leave a deposit, either in cash or as your passport held as security; the amount varies by shop, bike value and how long you're renting.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Ho Chi Minh City?

A well-maintained automatic scooter runs 650,000–700,000 VND per day in low season, rising to 800,000–950,000 VND per day when dry-season demand peaks.

• Prices climb from December through February, when dry, cool weather and the Tet holiday travel spike push demand up.
• Prices ease off from June through September, during the rainy season when tourist numbers drop.
• A newer, insured, better-maintained bike like the ones on our website will always cost more than a bare-bones street-side rental — that's what you're paying for.

When to book a rental scooter in Ho Chi Minh City?

December to April is HCMC's reliably dry stretch and its high season, with December through February the priciest window of all thanks to good weather and the Tet rush — book ahead if you're travelling then. May to September brings the rainy season and thinner crowds, which usually means better rates and bikes sitting ready without a long wait.

Local traffic rules in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for both rider and passenger on any scooter or motorcycle, and it's enforced with on-the-spot fines. There's a zero blood-alcohol limit for riders, checked routinely at roadside stops, especially at night. Speed limits are lower in built-up areas than on the open road and lower for motorcycles than for cars, so follow the signs rather than guessing. Headlights are required after dark, and scooters are barred from expressways and a handful of major bridges and tunnels, so watch for the exclusion signs as you plan a route.

Most of our scooter rentals in Ho Chi Minh City come from operators with years of experience, offering a well-kept bike, a helmet, insurance and friendly service. If you want to rent a scooter in Ho Chi Minh City, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike 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, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!