Motorbiking Vietnam

Motorbiking across Vietnam was one the first Adventure that I began documenting and it is one of the best! This 5 part series shows all the different struggles that I faced while trying to make it over 3,000km across the country. One of the main reasons it was so difficult was totally my own fault. I had wanted to try to cross the country on the cheapest bike that I could find. That resulted in me making the long journey on one of the most infamous bikes in all of Vietnam. 

The Honda Win.

FAQ:

Q: How much did the motorbike cost? 

A: The motorbike cost me $340USD which I learned later on was a bit over priced for what I got. (typical range is from $150-$300). 

Q: How much did the total trip cost?

A: The trip in total cost me just over $700 all included for 30 days. I managed to sell the bike at the end for $315 and I only spent about $50 on repairs throughout the full month. Cost of food and living was very cheap. I ate a lot of street food/local food especially Pho ($1-3/meal). Accommodation was very cheap as well, I stayed in hotels and hostels and the average price was anywhere from $5-10/night. I didn’t drink or party on the trip until the very end so that saved a ton of money. 

Q: Did you need a license or insurance for this trip?

A: The only license I had was my drivers license from the US. I purchased basic travelers insurance for my own safety but the bike and everything else was uninsured. It’s not very common for cheaper vehicles to have insurance in Vietnam and it might technically be illegal but no one really cares. (This is not legal advice so do this at your own risk). 

Q: How much motorbiking experience did you have before the trip?

A: Almost none. But I was very confident on two wheels and I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who isn’t at least experienced in extreme riding. It is not safe the majority of the time so experience really helps in sticky situations (chaotic drivers and streets).