If you are planning to ride a motorbike in Vietnam this February, you need to prepare. The country transforms completely: chaotic cities become ghost towns, prices fluctuate, and finding a mechanic becomes a survival skill.
Here is everything you need to know to survive and thrive during Tet 2026.
Planning a trip? This article is part of our series on the Lunar New Year. Check out The Ultimate Guide to Riding Vietnam During Tet for the full breakdown of routes, food, and survival tips.
Tet follows the Lunar Calendar, meaning the dates change every year.
⚠️ Important for Travelers: Because the holiday connects with Valentine’s Day weekend (Feb 14), domestic travel will surge earlier than usual. Expect airports and highways to be gridlocked starting February 12th.
The Year of the Horse (2026)
We are saying goodbye to the Snake and welcoming the Horse. In Vietnamese culture, the Horse represents energy, freedom, and travel—arguably the perfect year to be on two wheels!
As you can see the holiday will start on Valentine’s Day, so for sure bikes, hotels and restaurants will be booked out early.
Most travel guides won’t tell you this, but riding a motorbike during Tet presents a unique set of challenges (and rewards).
1. The Traffic Paradox
2. The Mechanic Shortage
This is a serious warning: 99% of mechanic shops close for Tet. If you are riding a cheap, breakdown-prone bike you bought off a backpacker for $200, you are taking a massive risk. If you break down in the countryside between Feb 15 and Feb 20, you may be stranded for days.
3. Fuel Availability
State-run gas stations (Petrolimex) generally remain open throughout the holiday. However, small private pumps in remote villages will close.
Accommodation
Hotels do not close, but they do get expensive. Domestic tourism explodes during this week.
Food & Coffee
ATMs and Cash
Banks close for the entire holiday. ATMs often run out of cash by Day 3 because they aren’t being refilled.
You are a guest in Vietnam during its most sacred time. A little cultural knowledge goes a long way.
1. The “First Footer” (Xông Đất)
The first person to enter a house after midnight on New Year’s Eve determines the family’s luck for the year.
2. Don’t Sweep the Floor
Sweeping the house during the first three days of Tet symbolizes sweeping away good luck and money.
3. Tet Greetings
You can stop saying “Hello” and start saying:
4. Lucky Money (Lì Xì)
It is customary to give small red envelopes with new, crisp bank notes to children and the elderly. If you are staying at a homestay, giving a small envelope (50k or 100k VND) to the host’s children will make you a legend in their eyes.
Most of these decorations will be coloured red or gold to symbolise good luck or good finances and they will also have symbols of chinese characters that are words for good luck. A lot of decorations will have the animal of the zodiac for the forthcoming year. 2026 is the Year of the Horse in Vietnam.
Trees with flowering buds are symbolic of new life and new beginnings so every family will buy a tree to decorate their house. Traditionally, in the North this is usually a peach blossom tree or a kumquat tree (chosen as it is laden with fruit), whereas in the South it will be a Mai flower or Yellow Apricot Blossom. All of these trees have stories behind why they are chosen. Here we tell more about the Flowers and Trees of Tet.
Another interesting custom is that of giving lucky money which we talk about in this blog.
No, but expect a “survival mode” for the 3 main days of the holiday.
Detailed Answer:
While the rumor is that the “entire country closes,” the reality is nuanced. From Feb 16–19, 2026, most family-run businesses, wet markets, and private shops will close so owners can return to their hometowns.
It is the safest time for cities, but the riskiest time for highways.
Detailed Answer:
NO. This is the mistake many travelers make.
Detailed Answer:
The Vietnamese Immigration Department closes fully for the public holiday (Feb 14–22, 2026). No visas are processed during this time.
You could be stranded for days if you don’t plan ahead.
Detailed Answer:
Finding a mechanic (Sửa Xe) during Tet is nearly impossible because they are all closed for the family holiday.
Yes, expect to pay 30-50% more for accommodation and transport.
Detailed Answer:
Because Tet is the prime time for domestic tourism, demand skyrockets.
We know the roads beckon even during the holidays. Here is our schedule for Tet 2026:
Offices: We remain OPEN for pickups and drop-offs, but with reduced staff hours.
Bookings: Must be made in advance. We cannot guarantee availability for walk-ins from Feb 14–20.
Tours: No tours are available at this time.
>> Contact Us for Bike Availability for Tet 2026 HERE <<
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)
