July 2022
Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi
3 weeks | 2,000+ km
Inspired by a YouTube video I watched in high school, my first solo adventure was a drive across Vietnam on a Motorbike. The tourist visa was for 30 days, so I booked a flight to Ho Chi Minh and a flight home from Hanoi and went with no real plan.
How to Buy a Motorbike in Vietnam
I bought a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh in 2022 and 2024. Both times I bought a fake 110cc Honda Winn, the cheapest and easiest-to-find motorbike around for backpackers. These bikes are made in Vietnam using cheap parts, but spare parts are sold everywhere, and repair work is cheap. The Winns are also light and can take a beating, making it the ideal bike for a trip where off-roading is a possibility. Both times, the bike came with a phone holder, helmet, and a bag rack.
In 2022, I paid $375 for a motorbike from Bo. I connected with Bo through the front desk girl at the Hostel, and he took me to his storage space with two bikes. I did not know much about motorbikes, so after test-driving both, I paid and left with what felt like the better bike. I was too excited and didn’t even think of negotiating.
In 2024, I paid $225 for a motorbike from Bao at Saigon Happy Biker, a motorbike rental shop right off Bui Vien Street. This time I was ready to negotiate and knew what to look out for on the bike. Even so, $225 was an insane deal and I couldn’t have been happier with the bike. Bao is probably the nicest and fairest bike seller in Ho Chi Minh, so I can’t recommend Saigon Happy Bikers enough.
Cheap motorbikes can also be found on Facebook Groups, such as Vietnam Backpacker Motobike Market, where backpackers who are finishing their trip try to sell their bikes. Here you may find a great deal from someone desperate to sell before leaving for their next destination.
