If just one experience could define Southeast Asian adventures, it would be motorbiking across Vietnam. Whether north-to-south or south-to-north, a 2000 km traverse of Vietnam’s hyperkinetic highways and twisting country roads on your own two wheels is a journey that will leave you with stories to tell for years to come. Like many travelers, a friend and I started our …
Ha Giang Loop – North Vietnam
If you’re in Northern Vietnam and looking for adventure far from the well-worn trails, there is one place that deserves to be right at the top of your travel list: the Ha Giang Loop. Here, deep in the Dong Van Karst Plateau, you’ll find jaw-dropping mountain vistas, vibrant ethnic traditions, all the open roads you could ever hope for, and more. Almost unknown until a few …
Vinasun Taxi – HCMC/Hanoi
There are around 30,000 taxis in Ho Chi Minh City so, if you’re looking for a ride, a cab is never far away. One of the most well-known brands is Vinasun taxi. You can easily spot their white or white, Vinasun-branded cars darting through the city streets or lined up outside the airport when you arrive. Vinasun also operates out of other cities in Vietnam, such as Da Nang …
Mai Linh Taxi – HCMC/Hanoi
If you’re looking for a taxi in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, but you aren’t sure which company to choose, Mai Linh Taxi is one of the biggest names in the business. Established in 1993, Mai Linh has built up a strong track record, and their cars a regular sight on the streets of Saigon. If you have seen bright green cars with branding stickers among the city’s hectic traffic, …
Ride-sharing in Vietnam: Be
Despite Uber exiting the Vietnamese market in 2018, the ride-sharing industry is booming. One of the most prominent players, alongside market leaders Grab and Gojek, is Be. Be has a fleet of over 100,000 drivers, and you can easily spot their distinctive yellow jackets, reminiscent of an actual bee, nipping through the city traffic. Until recently, Be was held back by a …
Ride-sharing in Vietnam: Gojek
If you’re looking for an Uber in Vietnam, you might be surprised to hear that the ride-hailing giant exited southeast Asia in 2018. But thankfully, some excellent ride-sharing alternatives have sprung up in their place, with one of the biggest and best known being Gojek, formerly called GoViet. Gojek has already made significant strides against their main competitor, Grab. …
Ride-sharing in Vietnam: Grab
If you’re in Vietnam and looking for an easy way to get around, your first question will probably be, “Is there Uber in Vietnam?!” Well, you can’t get an Uber, but don’t worry, there are some excellent ride-sharing alternatives, such as Grab. Based on the Uber business model, Grab has taken the Asian market by storm. The Singapore-based company was launched in 2012 and has …
Ma Pi Leng Pass – Ha Giang
Far from the crowds of Hanoi, tucked into a mountainside in Vietnam’s Northern frontier, there’s a little-known paradise for any road-trip junkie. One of the region’s “Four Great Passes,” and arguably the most spectacular, the Ma Pi Leng Pass is a place of extremes… Gorges plunge away from the roadside, jagged mountaintops skim the clouds, and the locals’ rugged culture is a …
Renting a Motorbike in Hanoi
While renting a motorbike often consists of getting a second-hand machine from a small store, there are plenty of reliable and professional shops to pick from, especially in Hanoi. And when traveling out onto the open roads, you're going to want a dependable machine to make sure you reach your final destination. Without doing ample research, you could end up with a fake …
Renting a Motorbike in Ho Chi Minh
Motorbike rentals in Vietnam have come a long way in recent years and when venturing out onto Saigon's open roads, you're going to want a trustworthy machine to get you around. While there are still plenty of second-hand shops where you can snag a motorcycle for a few days, there are a few highly professional and reliable rental companies, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. To …
Buying or Renting a Motorbike in Vietnam
Cruising down the roads on a motorbike and taking in Vietnam's rich culture along the way is truly an unforgettable experience. However, obtaining a bike requires you to either rent or buy, and coming to a decision on your own can be a daunting task. To make planning your motorbike trip a little easier, we've broken down everything you need to know about renting or buying a …
The Essential Vietnam Motorbike Trip Packing List
Before we start, let’s address the elephant in the room: Motorbiking in Vietnam, also referred to as motorcycling, is risky. And due to this, we can only recommend that experienced, fully kitted-out bikers attempt to ride here. But, let’s also be realistic. Not everyone who wants to ride Vietnam has prior experience on a bike, and even fewer are dressed to the nines in the …
Hai Van Pass – Da Nang to Hue
The saying goes: “It’s not about where you’re going. It’s about how you get there.” In central Vietnam, draped across the hillsides and clifftops, is a road that could define this well-worn motto. Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most inspiring roads you will ever travel: The Hai Van Pass. It connects Da Nang to the south with Hue to the north. And there …
