Top 5 best scooter rentals in Hanoi

Hanoi rewards anyone willing to ride into it rather than tiptoe around its edges. Slip out of your hotel on two wheels and the city stops being a wall of horns and becomes a place you can actually read — the trading streets of the Old Quarter unfold block by block, the trains rattle across Long Bien Bridge above the Red River farms, and the loop road around Tay Ho catches the sunset over pagodas and lakeside cafes. None of that opens up the same way on foot.

Traffic here is the reason a scooter, not a car or a bicycle, is the right call. The Old Quarter's streets are narrow, one-way in ways that shift block to block, and packed with motorbikes moving as one fluid current — a car is too wide to join it and a bicycle too slow to keep up. A scooter lets you thread through at the same pace as everyone else, then peel off toward Bat Trang or Duong Lam whenever the city gets too dense, distances a rental bike or a taxi budget can't cover nearly as comfortably.

Top 10 things to see in Hanoi by scooter

1. Hoan Kiem Lake & Old Quarter (36 Streets) — the natural starting point for any ride, ringed by the maze of Old Quarter trading streets.
2. Long Bien Bridge — a French-colonial steel bridge over the Red River, best for photos of trains and riverbank farming.
3. Tay Ho (West Lake) — Hanoi's largest lake, with a loop road past pagodas, cafes and sunset viewpoints.
4. Thang Long Imperial Citadel — a UNESCO-listed former royal citadel and an easy in-city ride for history.
5. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Ba Dinh Square — a major national monument and open square, a standard short city ride.
6. Bat Trang Ceramic Village — a riverside pottery village about 13km from the center, a popular half-day trip.
7. Duong Lam Ancient Village — a laterite-brick village near Son Tay, about 50km out, a classic countryside day ride.
8. Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong) — a famous pilgrimage temple complex around 60km southwest, combining a scenic ride with a boat leg.
9. Ba Vi National Park — a mountain park about 50km west with winding forest roads and hilltop viewpoints.
10. Duong Lam to Son Tay countryside route — rice-paddy back roads west of the city, favored by riders who want scenery over highway.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Hanoi?

For the standard tourist rental — anything under 50cc, including most low-speed electric scooters — Vietnam doesn't require a driving licence at all. Go above 50cc and you'll need a motorcycle licence, plus a 1968-convention International Driving Permit if you're riding on a foreign licence (the US-style 1949 Geneva IDP won't be accepted). Shops generally set their own minimum age, usually 18 even where the law allows younger riders on smaller machines. Expect to leave a deposit, either cash or your passport held as security, with the amount varying by shop and bike.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Hanoi?

A basic automatic scooter runs around 120,000–150,000 VND per day in low season, rising to roughly 180,000–250,000 VND in high season. Step up to a larger or newer automatic model and you're looking at 300,000–450,000+ VND per day.

• Prices climb from December through February, when dry-season tourists flood in and Tet pushes rates and demand to their peak.
• May through August is cheapest, as the heat and afternoon downpours keep visitor numbers down.

When to book a rental scooter in Hanoi?

November to April is high season for international visitors, with Tet — the Lunar New Year, usually late January into February — the tightest squeeze of all: bikes get scarce, prices rise, and some shops close outright, so book well ahead if you're arriving then. May to September is low season, hot and rainy but easy on both your wallet and availability. If you want the best riding weather without the winter chill or the summer downpours, aim for October to November or March to April.

Local traffic rules in Hanoi

Vietnam drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for both rider and passenger on any scooter, no exceptions, and police check regularly. There's a zero blood-alcohol limit for riders, enforced through roadside breath tests, especially at night. Speed limits are lower in built-up areas than on open roads and lower for motorbikes than cars, so read the signage rather than guessing. Scooters are barred from expressways and some bridges and tunnels, and headlights are required after dark. Most of our scooter rentals in Hanoi come from operators with years of experience, handing over a well-maintained bike, a helmet and honest advice on where to ride. If you're ready to rent a scooter in Hanoi, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!

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!