Motorbike Rental Vietnam
Motorbike Rental Vinh Phuc & Tam Dao (2026): 8 Shops, Prices & the Pass
NORTHERN VIETNAM · TAM DAO · UPDATED AUGUST 2026
Before anything else, one fact that will save you real confusion on the ground: Vinh Phuc province no longer exists. Since 1 July 2025 it has been merged with Phu Tho and Hoa Binh into an enlarged Phu Tho province, and Tam Dao — the misty hill station everyone actually comes for — is now administratively part of Phu Tho. Nobody has updated the English-language travel pages, so you will still see “Vinh Phuc” everywhere. This guide to Vinh Phuc motorbike rental lists eight shops in Vinh Yen with addresses, phone numbers and 2026 prices, explains what the name change does and does not change for you, and covers the one road that makes renting worthwhile: the 13 km climb up to Tam Dao.
- Vinh Phuc is now Phu Tho — what that changes
- Quick pick: which rental shop to call
- Eight rental shops in Vinh Yen
- What you should pay, model by model
- The Tam Dao pass: 13 km you should respect
- Where else to ride
- Licence and IDP: the honest version
- Getting here from Hanoi
- Where to stay and when to come
- FAQ
№ 01Vinh Phuc is now Phu Tho — what that changes
Vietnam carried out a sweeping provincial merger in 2025. Under Resolution 202/2025/QH15, effective 1 July 2025, the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh were merged into a single enlarged province keeping the name Phu Tho, with its administrative centre at Viet Tri.
What actually changes for a traveller:
Official paperwork and new signage say Phu Tho. Rental contracts, police checkpoints and newer road signs use the new name. Do not be alarmed when the address on your rental agreement does not say Vinh Phuc.
Everything else still says Vinh Phuc. Google Maps, hotel listings, older signs, and every travel blog written before mid-2025. Locals overwhelmingly still say Vinh Phuc and Vinh Yen. Using the old name will not confuse anyone.
Vinh Yen is still the city you rent in, and Tam Dao is still 25 km up the hill from it. No road, distance or shop has moved — only the label on the map.
Practical tip: search Google Maps for “Vinh Yen” or “Tam Dao” rather than the province name. City-level searches are unaffected by the merger and will get you there reliably.
№ 02Quick pick: which Vinh Phuc motorbike rental to call
| If you want… | Call | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery to Tam Dao itself | Nguyen Chien | ask — see below |
| Test-ride before you commit | Thue xe may Vinh Yen | 0211 384 5077 |
| No cash deposit, clear contract | An Du | 0211 372 0888 |
| Helmet and poncho included | Ngoc Lan | 0211 386 1470 |
| Roadside help if you break down | Hoang Duy | 0211 384 0884 |
| Simplest paperwork | Vinh Phuc Chat Luong | 0211 386 1250 |
| Used to foreign customers | Thai Duong | 0211 376 6688 |
| Cheapest of the reliable ones | Phuong Hoa | 0211 384 5999 |
Note the phone format. These are landlines with the 0211 area code, not mobiles — most shops here are small family businesses that have used the same number for years. That is a good sign, but it also means they may not answer in English. Ask your hotel to call, or message on Zalo if the shop gives a mobile.
№ 03Eight Vinh Phuc motorbike rental shops in Vinh Yen
Almost every Vinh Phuc motorbike rental is based in Vinh Yen, the provincial city on the plain. Tam Dao town itself has very few rental options — the usual pattern is to rent in Vinh Yen and ride up.
Ngoc Lan — 1 Tran Phu, Vinh Yen · 0211 386 1470
One of the better-regarded names locally. Manual, automatic and semi-automatic bikes. Manual 90,000–120,000₫/day, automatic 140,000–150,000₫/day. Helmet and rain poncho included as standard, both in usable condition — worth more than it sounds when the pass clouds over.
Nguyen Chien — Vinh Yen · ask your hotel for the current mobile
The largest fleet in the area, close to 100 bikes, and the one shop that reliably delivers up to Tam Dao free of charge. If you are staying in Tam Dao town rather than Vinh Yen, this is the call to make. Also known for not demanding a cash deposit.
Thue xe may Vinh Yen — Khu Hanh chinh 9, Dong Da ward · 0211 384 5077
A regulars’ favourite among Vietnamese riders heading for Tam Dao. The distinguishing habit: they let you test-ride before you sign. Take them up on it — on a mountain road, an unfamiliar clutch or spongy brake is worth discovering in the car park.
Vinh Phuc Chat Luong — 69 Ly Bon, Dong Da ward · 0211 386 1250
The simplest paperwork of the group: ID card, passport or licence and you are away. Manual 80,000–120,000₫, automatic 120,000–160,000₫. Small fleet, but well maintained and regularly serviced.
Hoang Duy — 7 Ha Huy Lap, Tich Son ward · 0211 384 0884
Honda and Yamaha only, so you will get a machine you recognise. Manual 80,000–100,000₫, automatic 130,000–140,000₫. The owner has a reputation for answering the phone and helping with breakdowns wherever you are — the single most valuable thing a rental shop can offer on a mountain route.
Phuong Hoa — 47 Chua Ha street, Dinh Trung · 0211 384 5999
Cheapest of the reliable options: manual 80,000–100,000₫, automatic 130,000–140,000₫. Bikes serviced on a schedule, and the owner will happily talk through where to go.
Thai Duong — 36 Dam Vac, Dong Da ward · 0211 376 6688
Handles a steady flow of foreign customers, so the process is a little more familiar to them than at some neighbours. Manual 80,000–100,000₫, automatic 130,000–140,000₫, helmet and poncho supplied.
An Du — 339 Me Linh, Lien Bao ward · 0211 372 0888
Right on the main road and easy to find. No cash deposit required, and the rental contract spells out duration, price, bike model and existing condition in writing — the most transparent paperwork on this list. Manual 80,000–100,000₫, automatic 130,000–140,000₫.
About this list: prices and numbers come from Vietnamese rental listings published in 2025–2026, several of them run by rental companies themselves. Treat the rankings there sceptically and confirm the rate by phone before you commit — especially since the provincial merger means some listings now carry outdated addresses.
№ 04Vinh Phuc motorbike rental prices, model by model
| Bike | Type | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Wave S / RS | manual | 80,000₫ |
| Yamaha Jupiter | manual | 80,000₫ |
| Honda Wave RSX Fi | manual | 90,000₫ |
| Yamaha Sirius Fi | manual | 90,000₫ |
| Yamaha Nouvo LX | automatic | 100,000₫ |
| Honda Vision · Lead | automatic | 120,000₫ |
| Honda Air Blade (older) | automatic | 120,000₫ |
| Honda Air Blade (2016+) | automatic | 160,000₫ |
- Ask how the day is counted. This is the single biggest money question here. Some shops charge a fresh day if you keep the bike overnight; better shops use a rolling 24-hour window, so 8am to 8am counts as one day. Always pick the 24-hour shops — same price, far more riding.
- Never leave your passport. Offer cash or a photocopy. Several shops here (An Du, Nguyen Chien) advertise no deposit at all, so there is no reason to hand over your original.
- Read the contract. The good shops write down duration, price, model and existing damage. If nothing is written, take photos instead.
- Ask for the notarised registration copy to carry — normal and legal in Vietnam, useful at a checkpoint.
- Check the tyres properly. You are about to ride a steep, often wet pass. If the tread pattern is worn smooth, ask for another bike — this is not a road for bald tyres.
- Test both brakes before leaving. Too soft or too hard, ask them to adjust. Reputable shops here expect this and will let you test-ride.
№ 05The Tam Dao pass: 13 km you should respect
This is the reason to book a Vinh Phuc motorbike rental at all. From the plain around Vinh Yen, the road climbs roughly 13 kilometres of continuous switchbacks to Tam Dao town at about 900 metres. The temperature drops noticeably as you go, and the town sits in cloud often enough to have earned the nickname “the town in the mist”.
Going up is the easy part. A 110cc scooter with one rider will manage it without drama. Two adults plus luggage on a small automatic will struggle on the steepest sections — take a manual if you are riding two-up, since you can hold a lower gear.
Coming down is where people get hurt. Scooters have almost no engine braking. Riding the rear brake for 13 km overheats it and it fades exactly when you need it. Go down slowly, use both brakes in short firm applications rather than dragging them, and stop once halfway to let everything cool.
Fog is the real hazard, not the gradient. Cloud can drop over the pass within minutes, most often in early morning and late afternoon, and visibility can fall to a few metres. Headlight on, speed down, stay well right, and never overtake in mist. If it closes in completely, pull into a wide spot and wait — it usually lifts.
Fill up in Vinh Yen. Petrol stations thin out as you climb, and you do not want to be searching for fuel in cloud.
Bring one warm layer. Tam Dao runs several degrees cooler than the plain, and riding wet in cloud at 900 m is genuinely cold even in summer — this catches out visitors who came up in a T-shirt on a 35°C day.
№ 06Where else to ride
- Tam Dao town and the viewpoints — the old French hill station, the stone church, the TV tower steps, and the Silver Waterfall. Compact enough to explore on foot once you are up there.
- Tam Dao National Park — the range runs some 24 km along a high ridge with forest trails leaving from near the town. Good for a morning walk after the ride up.
- Tay Thien — a major Buddhist pilgrimage complex on the south-western slopes, with pagodas up the hillside and a cable car if you would rather not climb. Roughly 25 km from Vinh Yen and a natural pairing with Tam Dao on a two-day trip.
- Dai Lai Lake — a large reservoir ringed by hills about 30 km east of Vinh Yen, quieter than Tam Dao and pleasant in the late afternoon.
- Back roads to Viet Tri — now the administrative capital of the merged province, about 30 km west, worth it if you want to see the Hung Kings temple complex.
If you would rather have the day organised, or want to reach Tam Dao without riding the pass yourself, day trips from the capital are listed here: tours and day trips from Hanoi.
№ 07Licence and IDP: the honest version
Most Vinh Phuc motorbike rental shops will hand you a bike without asking questions. That does not make it legal, and on a mountain pass the stakes are higher than a fine.
For anything over 50cc you legally need a Vietnamese licence, or your home licence plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Permits issued under the older 1949 Geneva Convention — still the default from many US, UK and Australian motoring bodies — are not valid in Vietnam.
The real risk is insurance, not police. Ride unlicensed, have an accident on the Tam Dao descent, and your travel insurer will almost certainly refuse the medical claim. That is the calculation worth making before you rent.
Full explainer on which permit counts and how to get one: our IDP guide for Vietnam.
No valid permit? Reasonable options: hire a car with driver for the day (common and affordable here), take a Grab, or join a guided day trip. Do not ride the pass on a legal technicality.
№ 08Getting here from Hanoi
Vinh Yen sits about 70 km north-west of Hanoi, roughly two hours by road, with Tam Dao a further 25 km up the hill. That makes it one of the easiest mountain escapes from the capital — and a genuine overnight rather than a rushed day trip.
- Limousine minibus — most comfortable, hotel pickup in the Old Quarter, drops in Vinh Yen or continues to Tam Dao. Book a day ahead at weekends.
- Regular coach — cheapest, frequent departures from My Dinh bus station to Vinh Yen.
- Train — the Hanoi–Lao Cai line stops at Vinh Yen, slower but scenic and very cheap.
- Riding your own bike from Hanoi — doable on the old highway, but motorbikes are banned from the expressway so you share heavy truck traffic for two hours. Most people take a bus and rent locally, which is what this guide assumes.
Live schedules, prices and booking for buses and trains: Hanoi to Vinh Yen transport options.
№ 09Where to stay and when to come
Tam Dao town — stay up here if you can. Cool air, mist at dawn, and you wake up already on the mountain instead of riding the pass twice in a day. Rooms range from simple guesthouses to a few resorts, and midweek is dramatically cheaper than weekends.
Vinh Yen — cheaper, more choice, better everyday food, and where almost all rental shops are. Best if you plan to ride to several places rather than just Tam Dao.
When to come: April–June and September–November give the most reliable riding weather. November to January is when Tam Dao is at its foggiest and most atmospheric — beautiful to look at, harder to ride. Summer weekends are extremely busy with domestic visitors escaping Hanoi heat; go midweek if you can.
Compare rooms in Tam Dao and Vinh Yen: hotels in Tam Dao.
Renting is the same everywhere in Vietnam: the price is never the problem, the deposit is. Pay cash, keep your passport, photograph the bike. On a mountain road, add one more — test the brakes before you leave the shop.
Heading down the coast to Hoi An?
We are Anh Khoa Hoi An Motorbike Rental — 84 Phan Chau Trinh, about 800 km south. If northern Vietnam is the first leg of a longer trip, we rent scooters, electric bikes and bicycles in Hoi An with free hotel delivery, and we are happy to answer route questions even if you never rent from us.
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FAQRenting a motorbike in Vinh Phuc — your questions
Does Vinh Phuc province still exist?
No. Under Resolution 202/2025/QH15, effective 1 July 2025, Vinh Phuc was merged with Phu Tho and Hoa Binh into an enlarged Phu Tho province with its administrative centre at Viet Tri. Vinh Yen city and Tam Dao are now part of Phu Tho, though almost everyone locally still says Vinh Phuc and maps have not caught up.
How much does it cost to rent a motorbike in Vinh Phuc?
A manual bike costs roughly 80,000 to 120,000 VND per day and an automatic scooter 120,000 to 160,000 VND per day. A Honda Wave is around 80,000 VND, a Honda Vision or Lead around 120,000 VND, and a newer Honda Air Blade up to 160,000 VND.
Can I ride a scooter up the Tam Dao pass?
Yes. The climb is about 13 kilometres of switchbacks to roughly 900 metres and a 110cc scooter handles it fine with one rider. Two adults with luggage should take a manual bike instead. The descent is the dangerous part because scooters have weak engine braking, so go slowly and use both brakes in short applications rather than dragging them.
Do I need a licence to rent a motorbike in Vinh Phuc?
For a bike over 50cc you legally need a Vietnamese licence, or your home licence together with an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are not valid in Vietnam. Many shops rent without checking, but riding unlicensed usually voids your travel insurance if you have an accident.
Should I leave my passport as a deposit?
No. Offer a cash deposit or a photocopy instead. Several shops here, including An Du and Nguyen Chien, advertise no deposit at all, so there is no reason to hand over your original passport. Photograph all four sides of the bike and the odometer before riding away.
Can a shop deliver a bike to Tam Dao town?
Yes. Nguyen Chien has the largest fleet in the area and delivers to Tam Dao free of charge, which is the practical choice if you are staying up the mountain rather than in Vinh Yen. Most other shops are based in Vinh Yen on the plain.
How do I get to Vinh Yen from Hanoi?
Vinh Yen is about 70 kilometres north-west of Hanoi and takes around two hours by road. Limousine minibuses with hotel pickup are the most comfortable option, coaches from My Dinh station are cheapest, and the Hanoi to Lao Cai train also stops at Vinh Yen. Tam Dao is a further 25 kilometres up the pass.
What is the best time of year to ride to Tam Dao?
April to June and September to November give the most reliable riding weather. November to January is the foggiest and most atmospheric period but visibility on the pass can drop to a few metres. Summer weekends are very crowded with visitors from Hanoi, so travel midweek if you can.
Updated August 2026. Shop addresses, phone numbers and prices compiled from Vietnamese rental listings published in 2025 and 2026; several of those sites are operated by rental companies, so confirm the rate by phone before booking — and note that the 2025 provincial merger means some listings still carry the old province name. Photographs on this page are from our own rental fleet in Hoi An and illustrate the bike types described. Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links to booking partners — if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We are a motorbike rental business in Hoi An, not in northern Vietnam, and we have no commercial relationship with any shop listed above.
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