How to Ride a Motorbike in Vietnam – Rules are No Rules!

For a country with pristine natural beauty and colorful culture like Vietnam, there will be no means to give you a more enjoyable experience than a motorbike.

Many first-time visitors to Vietnam are still afraid of this way of transfer because the country is famous for the chaos in traffic. Roads are always crowded with crossing roads, making traffic here challenging for them.

However, if you understand the essential rules about the Vietnam motorbike ride, you will have unforgettable experiences on your trip. Rest assured that all will be covered in this article.

Let’s dive into it!

Image source: https://www.itourvn.com/blog/the-different-types-of-transportations-in-vietnam

The first and foremost rule

Trust me. You don’t need to keep an eye on the drivers behind you but the ones ahead. It is very simple to ride a motorbike in Vietnam. You just need to look straight ahead. Notice the surrounding vehicles only when you need to turn or pull over the road. In general, don’t let anything take your eyes off the road ahead. It is called the Cone of Awareness, which explains what drivers in Vietnam do. They can be confusing and complicated, but you don’t need to learn how to control them. Just notice the means in front of you.

Go with the flow of the crowd

Every driver in Vietnam obeys the rule of following the crowd, so do the same, and you’ll be safe on the go. You may find that some of the things they do are quite confusing and sometimes ridiculous, keep in mind that in Vietnam, numbers will determine strength and safety as well. After getting used to it, you will no longer be afraid to ride in this country. Following the crowd will help keep your direction safer.

Take time for other drivers to react

Whether you are traveling on a busy or sparse road, do not rush to turn left or stop. Do everything slowly so that other drivers can see the signs and react by giving way, reducing, or increasing speed. As such, riding in Vietnam will become a lot easier, and you can avoid dangerous collisions.

Don’t worry too much about traffic laws

Image source: https://www.govietnam.tours/vietnam-traffic-reality-survive/

It is true that obeying traffic laws will help you avoid the sight and attention of traffic police, but in Vietnam, you may not need to worry too much about this. Do what Vietnamese drivers often do, meaning that you can drive at your own pace in the absence of traffic police. Sometimes, you will see people running red lights, in the opposite direction, in the wrong lane, or even on the sidewalk, etc. These things are not really important here, so paying attention to your safety is enough. Keep some cash in your pocket just in case the traffic police whistle you.

Use your horn when necessary

Sometimes it can be noisy, but you should get used to the motorbike horn. It is not just things the drivers behind are trying to tell you, but also a way for you to communicate with the people ahead of when you need to pass them. Therefore, practice honking when necessary, and no one will complain when you do so on the road.

Do not try to occupy the space of big vehicles

Even if you ride in front of them, if you hear the honking of big vehicles behind you, you should slowly give way to them. In Vietnam, Buses and trucks are very dangerous compared to other types of cars. They do not just cause you to bleed because of scrapes or break your bones but they can take your life, so be careful and give them plenty of space along the way. And do not forget to choose a helmet that guarantees safety when you rent a motorbike in Vietnam.

Pull into the shoulder in rural areas

If riding in rural areas, you should be careful with some drivers because they can drive straight at each other without fear and only veer wildly back into their lanes when only a few seconds apart. It is best to hug the shoulder, and you will be safer.

Firmly defense

No one wants the accident to happen, but there will be some Vietnamese drivers who are too confident in their ability to control their cars. Therefore, be sure to defend while driving by predicting what surrounding drivers may cause you to avoid accidents.

Hopefully, with our guides, you will have an exciting trip and, more importantly, feel that the Vietnam motorbike ride is not as scary as it looks. If you want to know more in-depth about how to stay safe on Vietnam’s hectic roads, we would be happy to provide more information.

If you comply with the above regulations, you will unquestionably have safe trips on Vietnamese roads on your 2-wheel vehicle. What you need to do now is equip yourself with a quality motorcycle. If starting your journey from Hanoi, you have two options. You can either choose to rent a motorbike at prestigious businesses or take Vietnam motorbike tours from a prestigious travel agent in Vietnam.