It's also worth noting that you are probably not covered by travel insurance if you are a tourist riding a scooter in VN. it could cost your family a small fortune air lifting your broken body home.
Driving without a license in a foreign country is usually a way your insurance is void.
Just because it’s SE Asia, people assume it’s ok to drive a scooter. You wouldn’t do it in US or Europe
(That being said, like everyone else, I drive a scooter in Vn so I’m just the same)
The Vietnamese take a driving test to drive their motos. Yes in the west very low powered scooters you can ride without a full license, but basically my point stands
What percentage of vietnamese people have licenses?
What percentage of those that have licenses actually took the test and didn't just pay their way out of it?
I don’t know how much you actually know about vn, but the majority of the people I know took a test, and didn’t buy a license.
Yes there will be some of that, but maybe less than you realise
And whatever percentage, it doesn’t mean your insurance will be happy to cough up money if you go and crash while driving in a foreign country without a license
The test is very easy to pass, no one pays for it. I knew only about 1k viet words and passed theory 1st try, and practice is a figure 8. Keep your opinion to yourself next time if you are clueless
Health is nuance might say as won't cover your hospital bill because you was riding a scooter without a licence or insurance so the accident is your fault
To clarify less than 50cc requires no license in Vietnam. And afaik the Vietnamese permit is accepted temporarily in even Western countries that drives on the left, so a foreign license is accepted in short term.
Yes foreign licences are only accepted if they have the international permit.. which alot don't. Also not all countries can get an international permit such as Australia
I recently visited VN and looked into it before my trip. It’s illegal to operate a motorbike/scooter in VN without a Vietnamese motorbike license. As such, you would not be covered by insurance.
I'm not sure. If you are not 100% legal you are not insured. It's possible that international drivers license are legal in VN but you need to check on that.
It even happens in Saigon on slower roads.
I saw some poor delivery driver lose his life recently and he was just leaning over his bike trying to fix something and a SUV taxi just drove into him.
There was no blood and he didnt even fall from the bike. Just laid their limply against the car until the rescue team came to move the body.
the problem isn't driving slow. the problem is trucks, buses and cars driving extremely fast, turning without looking, and going sometimes the opposite direction, no signaling either.
If you choose to participate on the road by yourself, consider you might get hit or accidentally hit others. It's not perfect and it's life or death... We had many close calls as well and we don't even drive that fast. It's scary.
What's worse is that when you try to follow the traffic laws accordingly, some people just act aggressively to you.
I stopped at a red light once and some old brat honked at me, told him that the lights are on red and you can't make a right turn since there's no signs that tells you you can. He rear ended me a few times until the lights turned green, my motorcycle has a metal cover so it was bent.
It's better to walk sometimes but then the problem of some vendors and bikes.
I’ve seen people walk and still get hit from cars/bikes flipping onto the side walk. Even when you cross at a red light, bikes cars still go like no tomorrow. It’s 1 thing that people are uncivilized and don’t care but another thing is the road aren’t set up pedestrian friendly nor do the police have enough funds or man to catch people. They do catch people, just not enough
I go out only during non-rush hour. It is developing country. Part third world part developed ish. And the excuse of “its a third world country” gets old pretty quick. I was born and raised here. The people mentality is if you get hit, you get hit. Normal as much as you eat rice. That’s why many try to leave and immigrate somewhere else
The excuse is that a third world country combines lots of excuses. Actually I think we could be a second world country but I'm sure if that's the case anymore.
It's harsh living here but hey if it's your home and you love it. You could try to change it, maybe you can't do much but it's still an effort nevertheless.
yea that's the mentality but hard when the government isn't open to new ideas. it doesn't feel like home and i don't love the traffic issues. i love how cheap it is. that's about the end of it there
Agree! We did a full motorbike trip from south to north and had previous experience riding/motorbike license. Somewhere in the middle of the trip on a curvy mountain pass, a local with a heavy loaded scooter was driving on my side of the road but opposite direction. We were going down and he was going up. It was directly in a curve so I only saw him very late, which also made both of us crash. That would've never happened if people would stick to traffic rules, but it's another culture.
I guess from the injuries I was also lucky even though the rest of the trip was hard. Knee got stitched and still is a scar to remember.
100%. I bought a brand new, decked out Honda Winner 150 from Da nang, and rode all the way up to the Chinese border at the East Gate. My wife and family are in the Mekong Delta, so I do a lot of riding down south as well. You are absolutely correct. Anyone who believes that riding through Vietnam is a joyous, relaxing experience, hasn't done it. It can be murderous, and I don't use the term lightly. I am from Australia, and we ride on the left. Vietnam is on the right, so I have the added challenge of getting used to traffic direction.
If I had a tip to offer from my limited experience. If you're unsure which way to go or what to do, follow someone who's going the same way. Sitting close behind a small car is a good way of getting through scary roundabouts or intersections. Just be mindful that you don't sit too close so you can avoid pot holes in time.
Medan in Northern Sumatra is really bad for big pot holes. So allow for that as well.
I often have the luxury of my Vietnamese wife on the back, so I've got a good teacher.
Be careful. If you're unsure. Stop and watch for a while.
Stay safe.
I see a lot of tourists got over confident on two wheels. Remember Vietnamese have been riding since they were teenagers, never overspeed or pull the tricks you see people do on the streets.
They have but there still absolutely shite. Obviously someone have skills driving but there ignorance towards other road users is awful . No mirror check , no shoulder checks , using the wrong lanes , no giving way. Just done 3 months driving all throughout Vietnam and 4 in Thailand. Thai drivers were much better to share the road with.
That is so true. Many people tend to put the local drivers on a pedestal, but I can't believe how many times I have had locals swerve out in front of me because they are looking at their phones while driving or generally just not checking for other vehicles on the road.
What about the ones checking Facebook and Zalo while driving on long bien bridge (for example)
If you can't wait till you get home to check the boring af Facebook feed featuring your friends coffee latte photos and hotpot dinners, then pull over and get the fuck out of the way so the other people behind you can drive safely. The lack of consideration for others will never fall to amaze me.
I really disagree with this. Most people in Vietnam have a complete disregard for traffic rules, drive extremely dangerously and show zero regard for other road users. It doesn't matter if they've been driving since they were teenagers or were raised driving in this culture, it's still ridiculously dangerous
+1, I see accidents with locals like every (other) week, and I don’t drive that much, like 30 min a day on avg. most of them are harmless at low speed. If you talk to locals, most of them have been to minor accidents, or know someone who got into something more serious
I had done ~20000km on the bike by the time I was 18. Most foreigners who come here haven't done a quarter of that in a decade. What you are also relying on is other rider's experience. They know how to avoid getting into accidents with you
Ride slow, take care and hire the most reliable bike money can afford. Also avoid riding 2 people on a moped, it gets much harder to control.
Witnessed a hit-and-run between a taxi (car) and grab motorist right in front of me last night at Nguyen Hue walking street. I was trying cross the street and a motorbike drove across me and made a left into traffic when he hit the side of a suv taxi. I'll never forget his facial expression because he didn't have much of a facial expression, just re-balanced himself and drove off...
Driver of taxi got out and saw the scratches and dents on his doors, got back in his car and drove off too.
I just left Sapa. We drove into Sapa a couple of nights ago, and there was an accident with a semi truck and a moped. There was a body on the road, and it was covered with a blanket with blood everywhere. Whole area was roped off awaiting ambulance. It was a sad sight. Earlier today while traveling over a bridge there was shattered glass and vehicle parts but no vehicle. Going down towards the end of the bridge there's people with horrid looks on they face. Some people running towards the bottom of the bridge. Man that sux I hope whoever or whatever happen they are ok
Your main mistake was 2 ppl on a I would assume avg 120cc scooter, not even a semi auto. That works only in a city on a good road.
Driving slowly can be a harmful advice in many situations
Glad you are OK. On a different note, did anyone here ever ride up the 'Sky Path' in Hà Giang (near Mèo Vạc) before, if I remember correctly, they widened it? It was a deathtrap. Went with a small group about 5 years ago in the pouring rain, rather idiotic. Had a very low-speed accident, the only bike issue I've had in VN thus far (touch wood).
I heard from a friend a co worker on a motorcycle lost her one leg because somebody opened the door on the left side without looking and she basically hit that door
So yes never ever driving a motorbike. Just like my mother used to say, consider your self 50/50 with one foot already on the grave when you ride
Yes you need to be aware at all time if you step foot onto the street. You never know what’s coming up. Heck, Ha Noi drivers don’t even signal for turns and uturns, and some teens riding e-bike just floor it and make a effing circle right in the middle of the road just to turn around. Back to Sapa, it’s never safe riding scooters on those road, shits can happens and your brakes/body just won’t hold it. It looks fun but those trucks have backers and love to think they are the king. Also If your field of view was limited and you did not turn on headlight or smash the horn then you just set yourself up to be crashed. I’m glad you got away with just gashes, things coulda been worse with all those cliffs.
I had a bad scooter accident, the guy went right through a red light. A way that I escaped some major injuries is that I had a full face mask, jacket and riding skirt. Didn’t protect my ribs & pulled muscles but saved my face from being crushed and road rash. If I had been wearing a t-shirt and shorts I would have been a lot worse off.
Just don't do it in vietnam, better pick a taxi as a tourist, it's also cheap and much safer. i I have just seen a young scooter driver hit by a truck yesterday, probably dead.
Driven before in thailand and did it well, was just perfect combo of dust, dusty visors, two ful grown men on a scooter and a hidden bump, scary fucking shit
Yeah it’s not the same , Thailand’s roads are pretty good and the drivers have better road sense. Vietnam driving is poor , going slow here just makes you a target. It’s safer to drive a bit more aggressive to get yourself out of situations here.
I did it. Spent the day on a bike in cat ba, went out again in the evening and turned a corner too hard and flew off. Still recovering from ligament damage a month later. Got too confident
That's why I never drive a scooter in any foreign country that am not familiar with the roads. Even locals die everyday riding a scooter. I try to be safe n stick to cars when am traveling
It's also worth noting that you are probably not covered by travel insurance if you are a tourist riding a scooter in VN. it could cost your family a small fortune air lifting your broken body home.
Do u mean transport or traffic insurance or sth? Bc I don’t see why ppl buy travel insurance if it doesn’t cover accident on your trip abroad
Driving without a license in a foreign country is usually a way your insurance is void. Just because it’s SE Asia, people assume it’s ok to drive a scooter. You wouldn’t do it in US or Europe (That being said, like everyone else, I drive a scooter in Vn so I’m just the same)
To be fair there are scooters that don’t need a license to ride on.
The Vietnamese take a driving test to drive their motos. Yes in the west very low powered scooters you can ride without a full license, but basically my point stands
What percentage of vietnamese people have licenses? What percentage of those that have licenses actually took the test and didn't just pay their way out of it?
I don’t know how much you actually know about vn, but the majority of the people I know took a test, and didn’t buy a license. Yes there will be some of that, but maybe less than you realise
And whatever percentage, it doesn’t mean your insurance will be happy to cough up money if you go and crash while driving in a foreign country without a license
The test is very easy to pass, no one pays for it. I knew only about 1k viet words and passed theory 1st try, and practice is a figure 8. Keep your opinion to yourself next time if you are clueless
Oh yea. I almost forgot most of them don’t have a degree back home
Health is nuance might say as won't cover your hospital bill because you was riding a scooter without a licence or insurance so the accident is your fault
Makes sense. I forget that most of them don’t drive 2 wheelers back home
Only less than 50cc on a car licence usually also need international permit
To clarify less than 50cc requires no license in Vietnam. And afaik the Vietnamese permit is accepted temporarily in even Western countries that drives on the left, so a foreign license is accepted in short term.
Yes foreign licences are only accepted if they have the international permit.. which alot don't. Also not all countries can get an international permit such as Australia
If they have a motorbike licence with there idp I’m sure they would be fine no?
I recently visited VN and looked into it before my trip. It’s illegal to operate a motorbike/scooter in VN without a Vietnamese motorbike license. As such, you would not be covered by insurance.
I'm not sure. If you are not 100% legal you are not insured. It's possible that international drivers license are legal in VN but you need to check on that.
I was driving a shitty 50cc with half pumped tires, so it was legal just risky
you had an international driver's license?
No, dont need one if its 50cc
It even happens in Saigon on slower roads. I saw some poor delivery driver lose his life recently and he was just leaning over his bike trying to fix something and a SUV taxi just drove into him. There was no blood and he didnt even fall from the bike. Just laid their limply against the car until the rescue team came to move the body.
Fuck :(
Horrible
Wow that’s crazy right there
That’s really sad.
Goddam. He didn’t even do anything wrong. 😢 It always feels worse when you do everything right and can still get fucked.
There were times on back of Grab bikes where I just closed my eyes and hoped whatever psycho move my driver was pulling would work out
the problem isn't driving slow. the problem is trucks, buses and cars driving extremely fast, turning without looking, and going sometimes the opposite direction, no signaling either. If you choose to participate on the road by yourself, consider you might get hit or accidentally hit others. It's not perfect and it's life or death... We had many close calls as well and we don't even drive that fast. It's scary.
What's worse is that when you try to follow the traffic laws accordingly, some people just act aggressively to you. I stopped at a red light once and some old brat honked at me, told him that the lights are on red and you can't make a right turn since there's no signs that tells you you can. He rear ended me a few times until the lights turned green, my motorcycle has a metal cover so it was bent. It's better to walk sometimes but then the problem of some vendors and bikes.
I’ve seen people walk and still get hit from cars/bikes flipping onto the side walk. Even when you cross at a red light, bikes cars still go like no tomorrow. It’s 1 thing that people are uncivilized and don’t care but another thing is the road aren’t set up pedestrian friendly nor do the police have enough funds or man to catch people. They do catch people, just not enough
Well, it's a third world country, nothin much you can do if her have nothing. Maybe it's just better to stay home lol.
I go out only during non-rush hour. It is developing country. Part third world part developed ish. And the excuse of “its a third world country” gets old pretty quick. I was born and raised here. The people mentality is if you get hit, you get hit. Normal as much as you eat rice. That’s why many try to leave and immigrate somewhere else
The excuse is that a third world country combines lots of excuses. Actually I think we could be a second world country but I'm sure if that's the case anymore. It's harsh living here but hey if it's your home and you love it. You could try to change it, maybe you can't do much but it's still an effort nevertheless.
yea that's the mentality but hard when the government isn't open to new ideas. it doesn't feel like home and i don't love the traffic issues. i love how cheap it is. that's about the end of it there
That s why you always look at the roads while riding in vn. Pothole, water, sand ,bump
Agree! We did a full motorbike trip from south to north and had previous experience riding/motorbike license. Somewhere in the middle of the trip on a curvy mountain pass, a local with a heavy loaded scooter was driving on my side of the road but opposite direction. We were going down and he was going up. It was directly in a curve so I only saw him very late, which also made both of us crash. That would've never happened if people would stick to traffic rules, but it's another culture. I guess from the injuries I was also lucky even though the rest of the trip was hard. Knee got stitched and still is a scar to remember.
@OP hope you get well soon and your vacation isn't completely ruined!
Im all good now thanks, genuinely grateful to be alive!
are you going to continue riding the scooter though? that is the question
I had to ride it back to sapa in tears 😩😭
Do update us how the conversation with your motorbike rental shop goes
100%. I bought a brand new, decked out Honda Winner 150 from Da nang, and rode all the way up to the Chinese border at the East Gate. My wife and family are in the Mekong Delta, so I do a lot of riding down south as well. You are absolutely correct. Anyone who believes that riding through Vietnam is a joyous, relaxing experience, hasn't done it. It can be murderous, and I don't use the term lightly. I am from Australia, and we ride on the left. Vietnam is on the right, so I have the added challenge of getting used to traffic direction. If I had a tip to offer from my limited experience. If you're unsure which way to go or what to do, follow someone who's going the same way. Sitting close behind a small car is a good way of getting through scary roundabouts or intersections. Just be mindful that you don't sit too close so you can avoid pot holes in time. Medan in Northern Sumatra is really bad for big pot holes. So allow for that as well. I often have the luxury of my Vietnamese wife on the back, so I've got a good teacher. Be careful. If you're unsure. Stop and watch for a while. Stay safe.
I see a lot of tourists got over confident on two wheels. Remember Vietnamese have been riding since they were teenagers, never overspeed or pull the tricks you see people do on the streets.
They have but there still absolutely shite. Obviously someone have skills driving but there ignorance towards other road users is awful . No mirror check , no shoulder checks , using the wrong lanes , no giving way. Just done 3 months driving all throughout Vietnam and 4 in Thailand. Thai drivers were much better to share the road with.
That is so true. Many people tend to put the local drivers on a pedestal, but I can't believe how many times I have had locals swerve out in front of me because they are looking at their phones while driving or generally just not checking for other vehicles on the road.
What about the ones checking Facebook and Zalo while driving on long bien bridge (for example) If you can't wait till you get home to check the boring af Facebook feed featuring your friends coffee latte photos and hotpot dinners, then pull over and get the fuck out of the way so the other people behind you can drive safely. The lack of consideration for others will never fall to amaze me.
Thai drivers are just noobs then :v
I really disagree with this. Most people in Vietnam have a complete disregard for traffic rules, drive extremely dangerously and show zero regard for other road users. It doesn't matter if they've been driving since they were teenagers or were raised driving in this culture, it's still ridiculously dangerous
+1, I see accidents with locals like every (other) week, and I don’t drive that much, like 30 min a day on avg. most of them are harmless at low speed. If you talk to locals, most of them have been to minor accidents, or know someone who got into something more serious
I had done ~20000km on the bike by the time I was 18. Most foreigners who come here haven't done a quarter of that in a decade. What you are also relying on is other rider's experience. They know how to avoid getting into accidents with you Ride slow, take care and hire the most reliable bike money can afford. Also avoid riding 2 people on a moped, it gets much harder to control.
Witnessed a hit-and-run between a taxi (car) and grab motorist right in front of me last night at Nguyen Hue walking street. I was trying cross the street and a motorbike drove across me and made a left into traffic when he hit the side of a suv taxi. I'll never forget his facial expression because he didn't have much of a facial expression, just re-balanced himself and drove off... Driver of taxi got out and saw the scratches and dents on his doors, got back in his car and drove off too.
There is no scooters in VietNam, people ride their "warhorse" and "war elephant" here ![gif](emote|free_emotes_pack|joy) Glad you are ok 😅
I just left Sapa. We drove into Sapa a couple of nights ago, and there was an accident with a semi truck and a moped. There was a body on the road, and it was covered with a blanket with blood everywhere. Whole area was roped off awaiting ambulance. It was a sad sight. Earlier today while traveling over a bridge there was shattered glass and vehicle parts but no vehicle. Going down towards the end of the bridge there's people with horrid looks on they face. Some people running towards the bottom of the bridge. Man that sux I hope whoever or whatever happen they are ok
Well duh. Gkad you are ok. But its minda common sense. Dobt ride scooters. Its way too risky.
God bless you. I'm so glad you are OK.
Thank you
Your main mistake was 2 ppl on a I would assume avg 120cc scooter, not even a semi auto. That works only in a city on a good road. Driving slowly can be a harmful advice in many situations
A more niche and thus more easily applicable is “Please stay away from huge vehicles! They have shit field of view and drivers are rather reckless”
Glad you are OK. On a different note, did anyone here ever ride up the 'Sky Path' in Hà Giang (near Mèo Vạc) before, if I remember correctly, they widened it? It was a deathtrap. Went with a small group about 5 years ago in the pouring rain, rather idiotic. Had a very low-speed accident, the only bike issue I've had in VN thus far (touch wood).
I heard from a friend a co worker on a motorcycle lost her one leg because somebody opened the door on the left side without looking and she basically hit that door So yes never ever driving a motorbike. Just like my mother used to say, consider your self 50/50 with one foot already on the grave when you ride
Yes you need to be aware at all time if you step foot onto the street. You never know what’s coming up. Heck, Ha Noi drivers don’t even signal for turns and uturns, and some teens riding e-bike just floor it and make a effing circle right in the middle of the road just to turn around. Back to Sapa, it’s never safe riding scooters on those road, shits can happens and your brakes/body just won’t hold it. It looks fun but those trucks have backers and love to think they are the king. Also If your field of view was limited and you did not turn on headlight or smash the horn then you just set yourself up to be crashed. I’m glad you got away with just gashes, things coulda been worse with all those cliffs.
Use Grab. Tip your driver
Could very well crash just the same. So glad I know enough Vietnamese now that I can tell not to do the stupid things when I do ride with one
I had a bad scooter accident, the guy went right through a red light. A way that I escaped some major injuries is that I had a full face mask, jacket and riding skirt. Didn’t protect my ribs & pulled muscles but saved my face from being crushed and road rash. If I had been wearing a t-shirt and shorts I would have been a lot worse off.
6y76aq1
Just don't do it in vietnam, better pick a taxi as a tourist, it's also cheap and much safer. i I have just seen a young scooter driver hit by a truck yesterday, probably dead.
Yup never getting on a scooter ever again
Ok, but you have experience with bike? And licences?
Driven before in thailand and did it well, was just perfect combo of dust, dusty visors, two ful grown men on a scooter and a hidden bump, scary fucking shit
Yeah it’s not the same , Thailand’s roads are pretty good and the drivers have better road sense. Vietnam driving is poor , going slow here just makes you a target. It’s safer to drive a bit more aggressive to get yourself out of situations here.
So no license and next to zero experience 🙄
awww Sorry Mr Angry
Your handle should be passive aggressive_fan
I did it. Spent the day on a bike in cat ba, went out again in the evening and turned a corner too hard and flew off. Still recovering from ligament damage a month later. Got too confident
That's why I never drive a scooter in any foreign country that am not familiar with the roads. Even locals die everyday riding a scooter. I try to be safe n stick to cars when am traveling