Riding a motorcycle the length of Vietnam on a one-way motorbike rental is arguably one of the greatest road trips on Earth. It’s a bucket-list adventure that traces over 2,000 kilometers of incredible coastline, soaring limestone mountains, and historic trails. Since the famous Top Gear Vietnam Special, the dream of starting in Hanoi and finishing in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) has captivated travelers worldwide.
But once you decide to do the trip, you face a massive logistical hurdle: How do you get a bike that won’t kill you, without having to ride it all the way back to the start?
In the past, the only option was to buy a cheap, often unreliable “Chinese copy” motorbike and hope it survived the journey. Fortunately, times have changed. One-way motorbike rental has become the preferred choice for smart travelers who value safety over saving a few dollars.
Here is everything you need to know about one-way rentals in Vietnam and why, after 20 years in the business, Rentabike Vietnam remains the most trusted service for this epic journey.
For years, backpacker lore suggested that the best way to see Vietnam was to buy a $300 “Honda Win” in Hanoi and sell it in Saigon. While romantic, the reality is often much grimmer.
Before committing to buying, look at the real numbers. Buying a cheap bike is rarely cheaper once you factor in the inevitable repairs and the stress of selling it.
| Feature | Buying a ‘Honda Win’ ($300) | Renting a Genuine Honda |
|---|---|---|
| Bike Model | Fake “Honda Win” (Chinese) | Real Honda Blade, Future or XR |
| Reliability | Low (Breakdowns common) | High (Bulletproof engine) |
| Maintenance Cost | High (Expect $50-$100+ repairs) | $0 (We cover normal wear) |
| Ride Quality | Vibrates, loose steering | Smooth, stable, safe |
| Resale Stress | High (Panic selling for pennies) | None (Drop keys & fly) |
| Total Cost | $300 + Repairs + Loss on Sale | Competitive Daily Rate |
Imagine finishing an exhausting 3-week trip in chaotic Ho Chi Minh City. Your flight leaves tomorrow. Instead of celebrating with a cold beer, you have to spend your final precious hours trying to hawk a tired, broken motorbike to a stranger just to get rid of it. It’s stressful and rarely worth the financial “saving.”
Renting one-way solves the safety and reliability issues of buying, while still giving you the freedom to travel linearly through the country. You pick up a fully serviced motorbike at one of our offices (e.g., Hanoi), ride your chosen route, and drop the keys off at another office (e.g., Ho Chi Minh City or Danang).
We know managing money on the road can be tricky. We offer two transparent deposit options for one-way trips:
You leave a cash deposit at the start. This is preferred as it allows you to keep your passport for hotels.
If you prefer not to tie up your travel cash, you can leave your physical passport with us.
We know every rider has a different style and budget. That’s why we offer three distinct categories of genuine Honda motorcycles for one-way trips. No fakes. No compromises.
Ready for ultimate freedom? Our one-way rentals let you blaze your own trail across Vietnam — no need to loop back!
✅ Pick up/drop off in Hanoi, Danang, or Ho Chi Minh City
✅ Explore Vietnam at your pace
✅ No backtracking—just pure, open-road freedom
A North-to-South trip isn’t just about the bike; it’s about timing and strategy. That timing and strategy will depend on which route you take. Choosing the right route is just as important as choosing the bike. We have lots of Route Maps on our site that you can check out.
Here are the three most legendary itineraries our customers ride.
Route: Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City (via Ho Chi Minh Road West) This is the big one. The “Top Gear” dream. To do this properly, we highly recommend taking the inland Ho Chi Minh Road (West) rather than the busy coastal Highway 1.
The Vibe: Incredible isolation. You will ride for days through soaring limestone mountains, deep jungles, and coffee plantations with almost no other traffic.
See our detailed North/South Route Map
Route: Hanoi → Danang / Hoi An Perfect for riders who want a mix of history, culture, and karst scenery without committing to the full cross-country haul.
The Vibe: History and Heritage. You pass through the “neck” of Vietnam, hitting the biggest UNESCO sites.
Key Stops:
See our detailed Hanoi to Danang Route Map
Route: Danang → Ho Chi Minh City (via Dalat & Mui Ne) This route offers the most dramatic change in scenery, taking you from the cool air of the mountains down to the burning sands of the desert coast.
The Vibe: Fire and Ice. You’ll switch from pine forests and sweaters to white sand dunes and swimwear in a single day.
See our detailed North/South Route Map
Vietnam is long, covering three climate zones.
Link to our Guide to Vietnam’s Weather to find out more.
To ensure your trip remains a dream and not a legal headache, here is the essential info.
For more information on Traffic Violations and Fines
Since you aren’t returning to the start, you need to pack smart.
Yes. To be fully legal and covered by insurance, you usually need a valid motorcycle license from your home country AND a 1968 Convention International Driving Permit
endorsed for motorcycles. Many shops ignore this to get your money, but if you have an accident, your travel insurance may deny your claim without an IDP. We value honesty — please check your documents before you fly.
Since you are not returning to the starting point, you cannot leave excess luggage at our office. We recommend traveling with a backpack or soft duffel bag (40-60L) that straps to the bike. If you have a large hard-shell suitcase, you will need to arrange a courier service to ship it to your final destination (we can advise on reputable companies).
We guarantee a refund in the exact currency you deposited. If you give us $500 USD cash in Hanoi, we give you $500 USD cash in Ho Chi Minh City. If you prefer not to carry cash, you can leave your passport, which we will securely ship to the destination office for you.
Our one-way rental packages are comprehensive. They include a high-quality safety helmet, third-party insurance (required by Vietnamese law), a sturdy rear luggage rack, and heavy-duty bungee cords.
One-way rentals are our most popular service. Our manual bikes (XR150/CB500X) often sell out weeks in advance during peak season (Oct-April). We strongly recommend booking at least 4-6 weeks out. Semi-automatics generally have better availability but booking ahead is still advisable.
Riding Vietnam is an experience you will cherish forever. Don’t waste your holiday sitting in mechanic shops by the side of the road with a cheap “lemon.”
A one-way motorbike rental with Rentabike Vietnam offers the perfect balance of adventure, freedom, and peace of mind. You get a genuine, well-maintained machine, transparent deposit options, and the support of the most experienced team in the country.
High-quality touring bikes like the Honda XR150L are in high demand, especially during peak season.
Get In Touch to check availability for your One-Way Trip now
Engine Type
air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement
411 cc
Bore X Stroke
78 mm x 86 mm
Ignition
TCI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm
Rear Suspension
linkage-type monoshock
Front Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
90/90 – 21
Rear Tyres
120/90 – 17
Wheelbase
1465 mm
Seat Height
800 mm
Ground Clearance
220 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
15 litres
Dimensions
2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)
Daily
Total
Rider (CRF 300)
$220
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Rider (XR 150)
Rider (CRF 300)
Rider (CB 500X)
Rider (Himalayan 400)
$220
Rider (GS 1250)
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Jeep (1 PAX)
$210
Jeep (2 PAX)
$120
Jeep (3 PAX)
$90
Jeep (4+ PAX)
$80
Rider (Easy Rider)
$115
Rider (Self-Drive)
$105
Private Room
$15
* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)
