I still haven’t braved the streets of Ho Chi Minh yet, but I did pluck up the courage to get riding in Vietnam’s capital, and boy am I glad I risked it. The Old Quarter is chaos but once you get out of the city it’s heaven on two wheels. That’s why I created this complete guide to Hanoi scooter rental in 2024. Whether you want to rent a bike for a day or a once-in-a-lifetime road trip down south, this guide is for you. Start your engines.

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The World’s Shortest Guide to Scooter Rental in Hanoi

If you haven’t got the time, or attention span, to read a whole post about Hanoi scooter rental and just want the juicy bits, this super short guide is just for you.

How much it costs

The cost to rent a scooter in Hanoi is similar to what you’ll find all over Vietnam. You can rent a bog standard 125cc bike from a reputable store for as little as 100,000 VND for 24 hours, but you’re more likely to pay around 130,000 VND from most reputable rental companies.

If you want weekly or monthly scooter rental in Hanoi you can expect to get a much better daily rate. You need to pay a deposit too, which can be anywhere between $50 to $300 depending on the motorbike you choose.

Where to get a motorbike

I go into much more detail later on in the post but here are, in my opinion, these two offer the best scooter rental in Hanoi.

• Best Near Tay Ho Lake: Mr Good Bikes.

• Hanoi Motorbikes – Best in the Old Quarter.

How to ride legally

You do need a licence to ride a scooter in Vietnam. That licence is called an International Driving Permit, or IDP for short. You won’t need it to rent the scooter but if the local police pull you over it’s the only document they’ll probably ask to see. You can get one emailed to you from the International Driver’s Association.

As well as getting an IDP, you should check that your travel insurance policy covers you for riding a motorbike on your travels. World Nomads has different options available. Use who you want but just ensure you’re covered

That’s your super-short guide to Hanoi scooter rental. If you’re hungry for more info, why not put your feet up and keep reading?

Ultimate Guide to Hanoi Scooter Rental in 2024

Let’s start this ultimate guide with the best places to rent a scooter in Hanoi. I’ll separate it into two areas. The best near Tay Ho Lake and the best in the Old Quarter. Let’s go.

Best Scooter Rental Near Tay Ho Lake

If you’d prefer to start your motorbike hire away from the chaos of the Old Quarter, why not wander up to Tay Ho Lake and rent from one of these guys?

Mr Good Bikes – My go-to Place in Hanoi

Let’s start with my favourite scooter rental store in Hanoi, Mr Good Bikes. The main reason I like this bike hire store the most is the combination of price and service. 

It’s one of the only established places in Hanoi where you can rent a scooter for as little as 100,000 VND per day. You can even get a trusty Honda Click for 110,000 VND per day. I rented a Click for a week and got a discounted rate of 600,000 VND.

Another beauty of this rental store is that the prices are clear and set out on their website. That’s not to say there’s no room for haggling, especially if you want weekly or monthly rental.

Website: https://thuexemayhanoigiare.com/ 

WhatsApp: +84343506996

Address: 48 P. Võng Thị, Bưởi, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

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HaiBanh Garage – Best for Monthly Motorbike Rental

Another great option near Tay Ho Lake is HaiBanh Garage. This scooter hire store is one of the best in Hanoi for monthly rental. 

Daily rental is available here too but the focus is on those who wish to rent a motorbike for a month or more either because they’re living in Hanoi or they plan to head out and adventure northern Vietnam for a while.

There’s a huge range of scooters and motorbikes available and some of the best prices you’ll find in the city for monthly rental.

The owners are friendly and speak perfect English. They know their bikes and their country, so if you tell them what you’re planning they can advise you on the best bike for your needs. They’re not trying to upsell you to something more expensive, they just know that if you’re trying to visit Sapa on a 110cc scooter with a passenger on the back you’re doomed.

WhatsApp: +84988559398

Address: 118A Tu Hoa Cong Chua Hanoi Hanoi City, Vietnam

Opening times: 09:00 – 18:00

Best Scooter Rental in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

If you’re planning on renting a bike from the Old Quarter you’re either experienced, brave or stupid. That’s because the Old Quarter is the craziest part of town. 

One time a scooter crashed into me when I was walking along the pavement. Luckily my huge backpack cushioned the blow. But don’t let me put you off, because the truth is, if you’re confident on two wheels, zipping around this area is a lot of fun. So here’s where to rent a scooter in the Old Quarter.

Hanoi Motorbikes – Very Popular with Travellers

First up in the Old Quarter, we have Hanoi Motorbikes. This scooter rental store is in the heart of town and is very popular with travellers and ex-pats. 

Prices aren’t as good as Mr Good Bikes up near the lake but they are still competitive. You can check out what scooters and motorbikes are available and see all of the daily and monthly rates on their website. 

If you want more reasons why this is the best option for Hanoi scooter rental, I’ll let them tell you in their own words:

Why choose us?

• 1 – Free good helmet
• 2 – Free bike lock
• 3 – Free luggage rack
• 4 – Free driver lessons
• 5 – Free service check
• 6 – Drop off in Ho Chi Minh City
• 7 – 24 hour helpline (English speaking)

Yes, you read right, you can drop it off 1,700km away in Ho Chi Minh. Now if that doesn’t sound like an adventure I don’t know what does! 

Hanoi Motorbikes also sell motorbikes, at very tempting prices. So if you fancy owning your own two-wheeled steed this is the place to buy it.

WhatsApp: +84866569998 

Viber: +84911806139

Address: 13 Ng. Gạch, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Opening times: 08:00 – 18:00

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Rental Motorbike Hanoi – Best for Serious Motorbikes

This next option is for you proper motorcyclists looking for a serious motorbike. Yes, you can still get a 110cc Honda Click but this isn’t the place to get one of those. Firstly, basic scooters aren’t as cheap here, and secondly, you’d feel like a loser. It’s like walking into a German beer festival and asking for a shandy. 

Rental Motorbikes Hanoi also sells motorbike accessories like helmets, gloves and jackets. As I said, it’s a proper motorbike store for serious riders. 

If you’re after tips and advice about where to ride or to scrub up on the rules of the road, their website has loads of info to guide you. They’ve even got pre-planned tours for you to follow.

So, just to reiterate, when it comes to Hanoi scooter rental, these guys are the big boys offering the biggest bikes to rent or buy.

Address: 17 P. Bát Đàn, Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

WhatsApp: +84865874740 / +84942757141

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Tang – Hanoi Motorbike – A Good Back-up Option

Last on the list of Hanoi’s best scooter rental companies is Tang – Hanoi Motorbike. They’re nothing extra special about them, but it’s good to have a few recommended scooter rental companies up your sleeve. That’s because there’s no guarantee that your chosen hire shop will have exactly what you want in stock on that day. They’ll always have something, but if you’re picky about what you want it’s good to have options.

I used Tang – Hanoi Motorbike a few years ago when staying in the Old Quarter and I couldn’t fault the service or the bike. And from checking out their recent reviews it is clear that they’re still a great option when it comes to scooter rental in Hanoi.

Address: 7 P. Hàng Bút, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

WhatsApp: +84983182368

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Hanoi Scooter Rental – The Rules & Regulations

There are a few basic rules that you should follow when hiring a motorbike in Hanoi and all over Vietnam. I won’t bore you with all the details but I’ll link to the people who can give you all the info and legalities that you need.

Get the right licence

The main thing you need to legally ride a scooter in Vietnam is an International Driving Permit, or IDP for short. It’s a little paper booklet, or a pdf on your phone, that local police will want to see if you get pulled over.

You can get one before you set off or while you’re travelling from the friendly folk at the International Drivers Association. Use the code IDPSketchy10 at the checkout stage to get 10% off.

I know it’s tempting to risk it without one, especially as you can normally rent a scooter in Hanoi, and all over Asia, without one, but if you arm yourself with one you’ll know you’ve got what police are likely to ask to see, and take it from someone who’s been stopped a few times, it’s a great feeling.

Check your insurance policy

If you’re going to be riding a scooter on your travels I hope you have, or plan to have travel insurance. I recommend that you double-check the wording to see if it covers you to ride a moped, scooter or motorbike. If it does, check what size engine you’re covered for as many don’t cover you for anything over 125 or 150cc.

World Nomads has different options available. You can get a quick quote on their site to see if it’s a good option for you too. Remember, if the scooter rental company offers insurance that’s only likely to cover damage to the bike. If you want to protect yourself you need your own policy.

Don’t drink and ride

A self-explanatory rule, don’t drink alcohol and ride a scooter in Hanoi. The police are on the lookout for you if you do, your chance of having an accident is way higher, and taxis are cheap. So just don’t bother.

Wear a Helmet

Last but by no means least, wear a helmet. Again, many travellers won’t but why does that mean you should follow their bad example? Yes it’s hot, and I’m sure it ruins your hair, but accidents are common and helmets save lives. So it’s a pretty simple equation.

What Does it Cost to Rent a Scooter in Hanoi?

The cost to rent a scooter in Hanoi is similar to what you’ll find all over Vietnam. You can rent a bog standard 125cc bike from a reputable store for as little as 100,000 VND for 24 hours. You might be able to get one cheaper from a random guy on the street but I’d never recommend you do that for a small saving.

I know some of you travel on a crazy tight budget, but getting a quality bike for a couple of dollars more is worth it in my opinion. Not only are some cheap bikes dangerous when it comes to tyres and overall condition, but also it’s these sellers where the horror stories of fake damage claims and the like usually come from. So avoid those bad eggs by following honest recommendations.

If you’re going to rent your scooter in Hanoi for longer than a week you can usually negotiate a better daily rate. And as you’d expect for monthly scooter rental you can really start to get a good saving, sometimes as good as 50% off the 24-hour rate.

The other common cost of renting a scooter in Vietnam is the deposit. You usually have two options, cash or your passport. I always go for the cash option, because as I see it no deposit amount is higher than the convenience of having my passport. 

When renting a scooter in Hanoi expect to pay between 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 VND as a cash deposit. Those numbers seem scary I know, it’s about $60 – $120 U.S.

Where to Ride Around Hanoi

If you’re wondering where to go on your little scooter or massive motorbike and would like a little guidance, Rental Motorbike Hanoi have created loads of guides just for you. 

Whether you just want inspiration for a simple day trip around Hanoi or the sound of a 15-day northern Vietnam Motorcycle Loop is more up your street, they have you covered, with loads of other tour options in between. Their blog is a great resource if you’re planning to get out and about once you’ve rented your scooter.

But if you’re just after a cheap thrill, get on your bike and zip around the city for a few hours. It’s great fun. My favourite way to spend an hour was rolling around Tay Ho Lake, great times!

So there you have it, that was my ultimate guide to Hanoi scooter rental in 2024. Enjoy.

Looking for More Things to do in Hanoi?

If you’re looking for more inspiration on what to do in Hanoi you should check out Get Your Guide’s full list of trips, tours and tickets. They offer tickets to everything that’s going on in and around Hanoi. You can check the trips out, pay securely online and even cancel for a refund if you change your mind. And that includes the hottest tickets in town – skip-the-line tickets to the water puppet show.

If like me you’re a lover of sports bars on your travels, check out my guide to the best ones in Hanoi.

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