If you have read through our previous guides on the mandatory yellow CTPL paper, the 1968 IDP catch-22, the lack of comprehensive damage coverage, and the realities of crash protocols, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed.
For experienced, fully licensed riders from 1968 Vienna Convention countries, self-riding is the ultimate adventure.
But what if you only have a standard car license? What if you have a 1949 IDP from the US, Canada, Singapore, or Australia? Or what if you simply want to look at the towering limestone karsts instead of constantly dodging potholes, stray dogs, and oncoming trucks?
There is a completely legal, fully insurable, and deeply rewarding alternative: Riding Pillion.
As we covered in ******Spoke #2******, if you crash a motorbike while riding illegally (without a valid home country motorcycle license and a 1968 IDP), your travel medical insurance WILL deny your claim.
However, almost every major travel medical insurance policy, including premium providers like World Nomads, contains what we call the “Pillion Loophole.” If you are riding as a passenger (pillion) behind a fully licensed rider, your medical insurance covers you unconditionally.
By shifting from the handlebars to the passenger seat, you completely bypass the legal liability of riding in Vietnam.
Self-riding requires 100% of your focus, 100% of the time. The roads in the northern mountains are breathtaking, but they are also unforgiving. When you are on the throttle, you cannot safely look up to admire the sweeping terraced valleys or the jagged peaks. This is due to the high cognitive load that even seasoned riders take some time to get used to.
In our videos you can see the camera captures the stunning landscapes, but the rider’s eyes have to stay glued to the tarmac. Riding pillion means you actually get to see Vietnam. You can safely take photos, record videos, and absorb the scale of the scenery while a local expert navigates the hairpin turns.
This exact legal and safety reality is why we developed Easy Rider Tours. After outfitting self-riders for decades, it became clear that there was a massive demand for travelers who wanted the raw, wind-in-your-face motorcycle experience without the crushing legal anxiety.
Opting for a guided pillion loop through a province like Ha Giang or Cao Bang solves every problem we’ve outlined in this entire insurance series:
No. Because you are not operating the vehicle, you do not need a home-country motorcycle license, a 1968 IDP, or a Vietnamese driving license to ride pillion. As long as you are sitting on the back, your legal licensing requirements drop to zero.
But make sure to wear a helmet as it is a legal requirement.
Generally, no. While legitimate tour operators carry Vietnamese commercial and third-party liability insurance, the medical payout limits on these local policies are incredibly low (often capping out around $1,800 USD).
You must purchase and carry your own comprehensive travel medical insurance from your home country to cover major hospital bills or medical evacuation.
This is one of the most dangerous insurance traps in Vietnam. While the “pillion loophole” covers you as a passenger, the fine print of most travel insurance policies states that you must be riding behind a legally licensed operator. If your friend is driving illegally (e.g., holding a US 1949 IDP) and crashes the bike, your insurance company can completely deny your medical claim because you (they will assume knowingly) rode with an unlicensed driver.
Remember to wear a helmet also.
No. One of the greatest financial advantages of booking a guided passenger trip, like our Ha Giang Loop Tours, is that the local guide owns and operates the motorcycle. If the bike is dropped, scratched, or damaged, the financial liability falls entirely on the guide or the tour company. You never need to purchase a damage waiver or leave a passport as a deposit.
No. While you will undoubtedly see local families riding with three or four people on a single scooter, Vietnamese traffic law strictly limits motorcycles to a maximum of two people (one driver and one passenger), with very narrow exceptions for transporting small children or emergency medical cases.
If you ride “three-up” as tourists and get into an accident, you may be fined and your insurance will be voided for engaging in illegal activity.
There is no wrong way to see Vietnam on two wheels, as long as you know the rules of the game. If you have the correct 1968 IDP, the right insurance, and the skills to handle the chaos, grabbing the keys to a rental bike is an unmatched thrill.
But if the paperwork doesn’t align, or if you want to trade liability for pure exploration, strapping your bag to the back of a guide’s bike is the smartest insurance strategy you can make.
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)
