Scooter Rentals in Ho Chi Minh City

Picture Bến Thành Market at dawn, motorbikes streaming past its clock tower before the heat sets in, and you already have a feel for why so many visitors choose to rent a scooter in Ho Chi Minh City. From there it is a short, easy ride to the Reunification Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, and the old Central Post Office next door — and by evening you could be parked outside the War Remnants Museum or watching the skyline light up from the Bitexco Skydeck. A scooter turns these into one loose loop instead of a string of taxi rides.

Ho Chi Minh City is flat, low-lying delta terrain, and its sights are spread wide — the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cần Giờ's mangrove coast sit well outside downtown, and public transport barely reaches them. Traffic looks chaotic from the sidewalk, but it moves in a slow, predictable river of scooters, which makes it far more manageable once you are part of the flow rather than dodging it. A scooter hire in Ho Chi Minh City also gets you parking right at temple gates, market entrances and riverside cafés that cars and buses simply cannot reach.

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

1. Bến Thành Market — a central landmark and the easiest place to get your bearings before heading into traffic.
2. Independence Palace (Reunification Palace) — the iconic 1975 site, with palace grounds just minutes from District 1.
3. Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon — the French colonial-era centerpiece, right beside the old Saigon Central Post Office.
4. War Remnants Museum — one of the city's most visited sights, with easy scooter parking out front.
5. Bitexco Financial Tower Saigon Skydeck — rooftop views over the city, a natural way to close out a day of riding.
6. Jade Emperor Pagoda (Phước Hải Tự) — an atmospheric, incense-filled Taoist temple a short ride from the center.
7. Bui Vien Walking Street — the backpacker nightlife strip, simple to reach and park near for an evening out.
8. Cu Chi Tunnels — a classic day trip, roughly 1.5–2 hours each way through the outskirts and countryside.
9. Cần Giờ (Vàm Sát mangrove forest / Cần Giờ beach) — a long coastal ride through mangrove wetlands, best planned as a full day out.
10. Bình Quới Peninsula / Thanh Đa loop — a scenic riverside loop locals use to escape downtown traffic for an afternoon.

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

For scooters under 50cc — the standard tourist rental — no driving licence is required in Vietnam. Anything larger calls for a motorcycle licence, and as a foreigner you will need either a Vietnamese licence or a valid International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 convention and endorsed for motorcycles; note that 1949 Geneva-convention IDPs, the type issued in the USA and Japan, are not accepted here. Rental shops generally set their own minimum age, usually 18 even for the smaller machines. Expect to leave a deposit, either in cash or as your passport held as security, with the exact amount varying by shop and by bike.

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

A basic manual scooter runs around 130,000–160,000 VND per day in low season, rising to roughly 180,000–280,000 VND in high season. If you would rather ride a newer automatic or a larger-CC bike, budget from about 250,000 VND and up per day.

• Cheapest months: June to September, during the rainy season when tourist numbers drop.
• Priciest months: December to February, when dry-season crowds peak and Tết pushes demand — and prices — even higher for a week or two.

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

December through April is the reliably dry stretch in the south, and it is also when most international visitors arrive, so book a few days ahead if you are travelling in this window, especially around Tết in late January or early February when bikes can be genuinely scarce and some shops close. From May to September the city gets its rainy-season afternoon downpours, but they tend to be short, heavy bursts rather than all-day washouts, and with fewer tourists around this is when rentals are cheapest and easiest to arrange on short notice.

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 moped, and this is enforced routinely with on-the-spot fines. There is a zero blood-alcohol limit for anyone riding, checked at roadside breath-test points, particularly at night and around holidays. Headlights are required after dark, right-turn-on-red is not generally permitted unless a sign says otherwise, and scooters are barred from expressways and a handful of major bridges and tunnels. Speed limits are lower in built-up areas and lower again for motorcycles than for cars, so read the signposted limits as you go rather than assuming a fixed number.

Most of our scooter rental partners in Ho Chi Minh City have years of experience and hand over a well-maintained bike, a helmet, insurance and genuinely 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 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!