Riding from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is a heck of a long way. 1682km if you took the most direct route, which let’s face it, you wouldn’t because the AH1 highway sucks.
The distance increases to over 2000km if you follow my epic Vietnam motorbike itinerary, switching back and forth between the western mountain ranges and the coast.
So naturally, you’d start wondering… is it possible to do a one way motorbike rental in Vietnam?
Fortunately, the answer is yes.
Here’s a summary of what we will cover:
- One way motorbike rentals save you loads of time as you don’t need to backtrack
- Motorbike rental shops charge a $75 relocation fee to arrange this by train
- Over 90% of travelers motorbiking across Vietnam are on a one way route
- You can request a motorbike with one way drop off here
Why Choose One Way Motorbike Rental in Vietnam?
Riding from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi will typically take you 4 weeks. Potentially 2-3 weeks if you’re going full throttle in a rush.
You get to the end, you’ve conquered, you celebrate. The last thing you want to do is turn around and ride all the way back to the beginning.
That’s where one way rentals come in handy. It simply offers you the flexibility to enjoy your ride, drop the bike off, and be on your way.
Handling the bike after your trip becomes someone else’s problem.
So, What’s the Catch?
If the rental shops let everyone take motorbikes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, they’d end up with too many bikes at HCMC, and none at Hanoi.
If you’ve ever been to Paris and seen all the shared bicycles parked at the bottom of the hill, and none available at the top of the hill, you can pretty well visualize what I mean.
This is why the rental shops charge a motorbike relocation fee of about $75. This covers the cost of sending the motorbike back to the start on a train, plus a little bit of a coordination fee.
Is a One Way Motorbike Rental Worth It?
My opinion. Yes, it is definitely worth the fee.
Let’s consider $75. You probably spend that on a bender of a night back home, and all you really get in return is a hangover.
Here you’re spending $75 to save yourself weeks of backtracking roads you’ve already ridden.
Or you’re saving yourself the hassle of trying to figure out how to load a motorbike on a train in Vietnam, then confirm it gets unloaded correctly at the other end and transport it back to the shop without actually being there.
So, worth it, right?
When would you use a one way rental?
Vietnam has loads of different riding routes. There are some amazing loops in the north and the south where you would not use a one way rental. However, for any north-south trip you would certainly consider it.
Here are some popular one way motorbiking routes in Vietnam:
- Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (North to South): The classic long-haul ride. This covers about 2000km and takes 3-4 weeks to complete.
- Hanoi to Danang: Explore just the northern half of the county. This route covers about 800km, taking you from the coastal towns of Danang and Hoi An, west via Phong Nha, and finally into Hanoi.
- Ho Chi Minh City to Danang: Explore just the southern half of the country. This route covers about 1200km, taking you from the coastal towns of Danang and Hoi An, south through the central highlands of Kon Tum and Dalat, coastal to Nha Trang, then into Ho Chi Minh City.
How to arrange a one way motorbike rental for Vietnam?
The easiest way is to let the motorbike rental shop handle all the arrangements for a one way drop off. For the relocation fee they will arrange trains, paperwork, collections, local transport, etc.
I’ve partnered with some of the best motorbike shops in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Min City to get you direct access to affordable, reliable motorbikes, at great prices.
These motorbike rentals include:
- convenient one-way drop off options (HCMC to Hanoi, Danang, or the other way around)
- complementary roadside assistance (wherever you break down or crash)
- free riding gear (helmet, gloves, luggage rack, bungee cords)
Click here to arrange your one way rental with an exclusive discount now!
Due to high demand, please enquire at least one month before your trip.
Final Thoughts
Riding Vietnam north to south can take you on a journey of well over 2000km one way. Once you get to the end, it’s unlikely you want to turn around and ride it all over again just to return the motorbike.
One way motorbike rentals are common in Vietnam. However, they come at a bit of an added cost of about $75.
When you consider the hassle that you avoid by paying this extra cost (arranging trains, paperwork, remote unloading, local transport) you can see it is certainly worthwhile.
I have used the one way rental option in Vietnam multiple times and always find it worthwhile. I’m sure you will find it a worthwhile option too.
