Top 5 best scooter rentals in Cat Ba

Cat Ba Town looks small on a map, but it unpacks fast once you're on two wheels. A scooter gets you up the switchbacks to Cannon Fort for sunset over the bay, then down to the quiet coves of Cat Co Beach the next morning — distances a taxi makes slow and a pair of legs makes impossible in a single day. Ride the harbor road at dusk and you'll pass floating fishing houses backed by limestone karsts, the kind of view that never makes it into the postcard rack.

The island's roads suit a scooter better than almost any other transport. Outside the town center traffic thins out fast, leaving winding, hilly lanes that are made for stopping wherever the view demands it. The steep climb to Cannon Fort and the looping coastal road toward Lan Ha Bay are exactly the kind of terrain where a car feels clumsy and a scooter feels made for the job — and once you're out past the harbor, the beaches, jungle trailheads and viewpoints are spread too far apart to see on foot but easily strung together on a bike.

Top 10 things to see in Cat Ba Town by scooter

1. Cannon Fort (Pháo Đài Thần Công) — a steep 10–15 minute ride up from town to WWII-era gun emplacements with a 360° panorama over the harbor and islands, best at sunset.
2. Cat Ba National Park (Trung Trang trailhead) — the main inland ride, along a jungle road to the park headquarters where the Frog Lake and peak-viewpoint hikes begin.
3. Việt Hải Village — a longer, quieter ride through the national park to an isolated farming village on the far side of the island, often paired with a boat back.
4. Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 beaches — a short hop over the headland just outside town to three swimmable coves.
5. Lan Ha Bay viewpoints along the coastal road — pull-offs southeast of town overlooking limestone karsts, far quieter than Halong Bay proper.
6. Hospital Cave (Hang Quân Y) — a wartime hospital carved into a mountain, on the way to the national park road.
7. Cat Ba harbor and floating fishing village — the waterfront promenade at dusk, with boats and karsts as a backdrop.
8. Ngu Lam Peak viewpoint — a short walk from the Cannon Fort parking area for a second angle over the bay and mountains.
9. Rural back roads toward the island's east coast — quiet farmland and rice-paddy lanes for an unhurried loop away from the main strip.
10. Ben Beo pier — a short ride from town and the departure point for Lan Ha Bay boat trips, with a fine lookout over the karst-studded harbor.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Cat Ba Town?

For anything under 50cc — the standard tourist rental — you don't need a driving licence in Vietnam at all. Go above that and you'll need a motorcycle licence, plus an International Driving Permit if you're a foreigner, since Vietnam only recognises the 1968-convention IDP (the US-issued 1949 version won't work here). Rental shops usually set their own minimum age, generally higher than the legal minimum, and will ask for a deposit, either cash or your passport held as security — amounts vary by shop and bike.

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

A basic automatic scooter runs 100,000–150,000 VND per day in low season, and 150,000–250,000 VND in high season, climbing past 300,000 VND for newer or more powerful bikes when demand peaks. If you want a manual or a bigger-engine motorbike, expect 250,000–400,000+ VND per day.

• Prices rise sharpest in June–August, when domestic summer travel peaks, and again around Tết (late January–February).
• March–April and September–November are the cheapest, quietest months to rent.

When to book a rental scooter in Cat Ba Town?

High season for international visitors runs November to April, overlapping with a domestic summer surge in June–August — and Tết pushes prices up further still, with bikes sometimes scarce. If you'd rather pay less and skip the crowds, aim for the shoulder months of March–April or September–November, when scooters are easy to find and rates sit at their lowest. In peak weeks, especially around Tết, it's worth booking a few days ahead.

Local traffic rules in Cat Ba Town

Vietnam drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for both rider and passenger on any scooter or motorbike, and checks are routine. There's a zero blood-alcohol limit for anyone riding, enforced with roadside breath tests, particularly at night and around holidays. Speed limits are lower in town than on the open road and are posted on signs rather than fixed nationally, so read them as you go. 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.

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 your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

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

Most of our local moped rental companies 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, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!