Vietnam Motorcycle Tour Companies: How to Choose
Hanoi alone has dozens of companies selling the Ha Giang Loop. Plenty were founded in the last few years, and plenty subcontract the actual riding to somebody else. The gap between the best Vietnamese operators and the worst is wider than anywhere else we cover, and the price gap is usually trivial.
Below are the companies with Vietnam tours listed on Moto Mass, plus a section on vetting an operator you found somewhere else.
Five checks that matter in Vietnam
- Who's riding at the front? Ask if the guide is employed or hired per trip. Long-standing operators run their own guides and mechanics. Resellers can't tell you who you'll meet at 7am.
- Is there a mechanic in the group? On northern routes that isn't a luxury. Good operators run a guide at the front and a mechanic at the back, with a second guide once the group grows.
- What bikes, and how old? The standard dual-sport fleet is Honda: XR150L, CRF250L, CRF300L Rally. A tired XR150 with 60,000 km on it is a completely different bike from a two-year-old CRF300L. Both get advertised the same way.
- What happens if you crash? Get the answer in writing. Vietnam's licensing rules make insurance genuinely conditional, and this is where cheap tours cost the most.
- Is there a support vehicle? On a multi-day northern tour, a truck carrying luggage, spares and a spare bike changes the character of the week, and lets a rider having a bad day sit one out.
The operators
Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert (Hanoi)
A Hanoi specialist running guided on-road and off-road tours across northern Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Trail and onward into Laos and Cambodia. Their model is the one to look for: a guide riding at the front and a mechanic riding sweep, plus a second guide once groups get bigger. Fleet is Honda dual-sport, so XR150L, CRF250L and CRF300L.
- Ha Giang Loop Motorbike Tour from Hanoi, 5 days, from $140. Accommodation, meals, bike, guide and fuel included.
- Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Tour, 12 days, Hanoi to Nha Trang via Phong Nha, Khe Sanh, Hue, Hoi An and Kon Tum.
Both sit on the Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert profile. If Ha Giang is why you're here, read the Ha Giang Loop guide first. It explains how the three, four and five-day versions differ.
RIDE Adventures (US-based, operating from Hanoi)
The premium end. RIDE Adventures is American, based in Bend, Oregon, and runs tours on five continents. Their northern Vietnam trip is the most heavily supported itinerary we list for this country: fourteen days, ten of them riding, roughly 2,120 km, a stated 70/30 split of unpaved to paved. Bilingual guide, support vehicle with a driver-mechanic, three to five star accommodation, plus a homestay night and a Ha Long Bay cruise.
- Northern Dual Sport Vietnam Tour with Guide and Support Truck, 14 days, from $2,850, on Honda XR150L, CRF250, CRF300 and CRF300L Rally machines.
A genuine grand tour of the north: Mai Chau, Son La, Moc Chau, Lai Chau, Sapa, Ha Giang, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Ba Be. Not a Ha Giang loop with extras bolted on. Profile: RIDE Adventures Vietnam.
Easy Rider (Dalat)
The Easy Rider model is a Vietnamese institution and works nothing like the tours above. You ride pillion behind an experienced local guide, or follow on your own machine. The value is in the commentary and the stops, not the mileage. Dalat is where the tradition started, and Central Highlands day tours are still the classic version.
- Dalat Countryside Easy Rider Tour, 1 day, $36, taking in Tuyen Lam Lake, Chicken Village and a mushroom farm.
At that price it's the cheapest way to find out whether Vietnamese roads suit you. Profile: Easy Rider.
Vietnam operators at a glance
| Operator | Base | Tours and duration | Listed price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert | Hanoi | 2 tours, 5 to 12 days | from $140 | Ha Giang and the Ho Chi Minh Trail, local guides |
| RIDE Adventures | Bend, Oregon (US) | 1 tour, 14 days | from $2,850 | Fully supported dual-sport grand tour |
| Easy Rider | Dalat | 1 tour, 1 day | $36 | A first taste, or a rest-day ride |
Vetting an operator you found somewhere else
Read the reviews for the failures, not the praise
Every Vietnamese tour company has glowing reviews. The negative ones show the difference. A company that answers a crash or a breakdown with specifics is telling you something useful. One that answers with a template is telling you something else.
Ask what happens on day three if it rains hard
Northern mountain roads slide. A serious operator has an answer ready, an alternative route or a truck or a rest day, because they've used it before. A vague answer means they haven't.
Check whether fuel and entrance fees are included
Small individually, they add up fast over two weeks. Vietnamese pricing is usually clear about accommodation and meals, much less so about the rest.
Be honest about your off-road level
The most common problem on Vietnamese tours is riders booking a dual-sport itinerary on the strength of road experience. Wet clay, loose rock and steep concrete village ramps are a specific skill set. Ask directly and operators will tell you the truth. Several run easier road-biased versions.
In Vietnam the cheap tour and the good tour are often within $50 of each other. Pay the $50.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to book a Vietnam tour in Hanoi or online in advance?
Walk-in prices in Hanoi's Old Quarter can be lower, but you're buying blind. In ten minutes at the counter you can't check the bike, the guide or the insurance position. Booking ahead with an operator who publishes an itinerary and inclusions costs a little more and removes most of the risk.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Vietnam recognises 1968 Vienna Convention IDPs, and your home licence has to cover the engine size you're riding. A car licence doesn't make a 150cc dual-sport legal for you. Insurance follows legality, which is why it matters. Detail, including how to get a Vietnamese licence for a longer stay, is in our Vietnam licence guide.
What size bike will I be given?
Expect 150cc to 300cc. The Honda XR150L is the workhorse of Vietnamese touring, and the CRF250L and CRF300L Rally turn up on dual-sport itineraries. Big adventure bikes are rare, and on narrow village roads and loose climbs they're actively worse. Not a compromise. The right tool.
Are easy-rider tours real motorcycle tours?
A different product, not a lesser one. You ride pillion or follow a guide, distances are short, and the point is the places and the conversation. For riders who want the country without the workload, or for a rest day inside a longer trip, they work well.
When should I go?
Northern Vietnam rides best from September to November and March to May. Summer brings heavy rain and landslide risk in the mountains, and deep winter can be cold and fogbound on the high passes. The south and Central Highlands run drier November to April. We compare the region's timing in Thailand vs Vietnam: best time to ride.
How much should a Ha Giang Loop tour cost?
The range is wide, from budget hostel-organised trips to fully supported multi-day tours. The five-day guided loop on Moto Mass starts at $140 with accommodation, meals, bike, guide and fuel included. Use that as your reference. If a quote lands dramatically below it, ask what's been removed.