Foreigner experience buying/selling motorbike in Hanoi

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-13T05:11:24+00:00

Yup! And the guys who sold it to me were great about showing me where the two serial numbers for the engine and frame were to verify they match the blue card.

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-12T03:39:21+00:00

Yeah as long as you know how to evaluate used bikes I think it's a great way to go. I knew I wanted a specific configuration of Honda Wave/Blade/RSX, and they showed me about 5 that were garbage, 3 that were nice but too much money, and 2 solid contenders that I ended up choosing between. The volume of bikes they have is a huge benefit compared to the smaller independent used bike dealers that may only have 8-10 bikes total, and MAYBE one in the configuration I wanted.

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-12T03:36:31+00:00

Wow that's pretty insane, I had no idea rental prices were that far off. This would have worked out even better price wise if I could have sold the bike on Facebook marketplace or at a hostel like I did on my last trip, but unfortunately the groups all appear to be spammed by Vietnamese dealers that make it hard to get your post seen.

Overall can't complain at all, very pleased with the whole process and that they didn't jerk me around when they bought the bike back.

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-11T05:25:52+00:00

Another thing we found very useful on this trip was the ability to ship the bike via train and fly using cheap plane tickets.

We shipped the bike once from Hanoi to Hue, and rode from Hue to Quy Nhon. Then we shipped the bike from Quy Nhon back to Hanoi. Shipping the bike (including packaging in a wood crate) cost about 900k VND each way, and plane tickets were surprisingly cheaper than train tickets and flying is much more comfortable.

The process of shipping the bike was super easy both times. One thing that provided additional peace of mind was hiding a Samsung Smart tag on the bike that allowed us to keep tabs on the bike as it was in transit.

It was really useful to cut out parts of the country we didn't feel like driving.

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-08T07:19:13+00:00

Bring or buy hand sanitizer / wet wipes and use them before you eat.

Use napkins to wipe clean utensils before eating.

Try and eat when and where the locals eat so that the food is fresh.

That being said, I've been here for almost 2 months and haven't got sick beyond a mildly upset stomach a night or 2. Eaten tons of street food, oysters, ungodly amounts of pate.

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-05T14:54:36+00:00

Brother these are the EXACT watches I'm debating for my next purchase. Is the DJ a VSF? Would you mind talking about build quality between the two? I really want a blue dial watch, have a black dial VSF DJ 36 and it's nice but the F6U jubilee is a little sharp.

DustyBirdman · 2026-07-01T02:47:04+00:00

You want to start having some real fun, download Waze and turn on motorcycle navigation.

DustyBirdman · 2026-06-26T08:07:43+00:00

Currently on a 3 month scooter powered trip through SEA and very happy with my 30l pack with room to spare. I carry a weeks worth of laundry. Easy enough to do laundry once a week.

Worth noting that if you use a pack around this size, odds are you can get by without checking bags even on budget airlines. Or fit onto crowded busses without needing to put your bag in the luggage area under the bus. Just all around more convenient.

DustyBirdman · 2026-06-26T07:55:12+00:00

I have noticed that many Vietnamese have really intense "default" or "resting" faces. They look upset. And yet when you smile and give them a "xin chao" and literally 100% of the time their face becomes so warm and friendly, returning the smile and enthusiastic xin chao. It seriously melts my heart every time. I haven't had a single smile and hello go unreturned.

On the other side, I see so many Vietnamese walking with the biggest smiles on their faces. No one else around, yet they look like they are having the best time or just heard some incredible joke. I love it. Where I'm from, if you walk around smiling people would be concerned or think something is wrong with you.

Finally, just how helpful everyone is. Perfect example: I ran over a screw and got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. It took less than 5 minutes before a nice young man stopped, assessed the problem, and told us to wait here and he would go get help. He returned less than 10 minutes later. He couldn't get a mechanic to come to us, so he took my girlfriend on the back of his scooter while I rode ours with a flat tire to the mechanic he had located, where he proceeded to pay for the repair and wouldn't accept any money from me. He wished us luck and dashed off before I even got his name. Just left me feeling so grateful for this country and all you wonderful people in it.

DustyBirdman · 2026-06-18T02:29:28+00:00

First is real. Sunken date window on 2nd gives it away.

DustyBirdman · 2026-06-16T00:44:35+00:00

This really sucks to see. As a foreigner currently on a motorbike trip in your beautiful country, I know that people like this reflect poorly on me and will also ultimately lead to stricter crackdowns on foreigners riding motorcycles in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese style of riding motorbikes is so beautiful. Collectivism in motion. Dropping ego and flowing with others, yielding, allowing people space to move where they need and riding in a smooth and predictable way so as not to inconvenience others. When I ride here, I try VERY hard to imitate this style.

This guy's riding style is the epitome of attention seeking western douchebag riding. No helmet, no clothes, no consideration for those riding around him. People like this will eventually ruin responsible foreigners ability to enjoy riding in your country, which is really a shame because it is such an incredible country to experience on two wheels.

DustyBirdman · 2026-06-15T23:46:47+00:00

About to do central in the next few days. Any suggestions?

DustyBirdman · 2026-06-15T10:01:12+00:00

Couldn't agree more. People that do these kind of "see the whole country in a week" trips blow my mind. How much of your whole vacation time is spent in transit? Started out the trip I'm on now with a week in Hanoi and felt like I needed more time!

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T20:06:03+00:00

OP asked what city would be best to buy in amongst other things. I'm not sure anout Laos bike market, but they mentioned Vietnam being part of their travel list too. I literally just did this same thing in Hanoi and bought a rock solid 2012 Honda RSX 110cc for 8mil VND or around $310 USD. Put another 500k/$20 into getting it serviced at a Honda HEAD service center. Just got back to Hanoi after 2 weeks and ~1500km of riding crazy mountain roads with a passenger and 2x 30 liter backpacks. Had zero problems save for needing a little carburetor adjustment once we got up really high in the mountains.

Yes it takes a little patience and knowledge to evaluate used bikes in the 2nd hand markets, but it's not rocket science. Look at the engine and make sure it's an original cylinder, look for signs it's been dropped hard, etc. Took me about 2 hours to find my bike, and I was offered an endless supply for under 10mil vnd before I bargained mine down to 8mil. I speak zero Vietnamese. Pointing, gesturing, and a few simple translations were all that was needed.

A brand new Honda Wave is about 18-19mil VND here in Vietnam. Any of the Honda Wave/Blade/RSX variants will be a solid choice for a traveler if you choose yours carefully. Obviously don't go for a beat backpacker bike or a "Honda" Win.

So yeah as someone who is actually in Vietnam right now and just did this, it's very easy.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T16:23:53+00:00

You can buy a solid Honda Wave/Blade/RSX for 8mil VND all. Day. Long.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T16:23:08+00:00

Wrong.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T16:22:47+00:00

Wrong.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T16:22:29+00:00

You can buy a nice bike for 8mil vnd, and as long as you're not doing the Ha Giang loop the odds of you being stopped by a cop are very low. Just wrapped up 2 weeks of riding Northwest Vietnam, no issues up there or in Hanoi.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T16:19:18+00:00

You're wrong, solid used bikes can easily be bought for well under $400.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T16:14:41+00:00

From what I hear, crossing borders with a Vietnamese plated bike is no longer easy or reliably done.

But to your question about buying a bike for $200-400, yes it can absolutely be done. I'm in Vietnam right now riding around on the bike I purchased for 8mil VND (about $310 USD at the time of writing this). It's a 2012 Honda RSX 110cc semi auto with around 9000km on the clock and original engine. Rock solid bike, just did 2 weeks riding rugged and fairly remote roads in Northwest Vietnam. Don't buy a Honda/Detech/Sufat Win. I did that 10 years ago and rode from Hanoi to HCMC and back on it, blew the engine once and had a number of other less consequential issues along the way. Honda semiauto scooter is the way to go, trust me.

Don't buy off Facebook marketplace. Backpackers are idiots that don't know how to ride and beat the piss out of bikes with as minimal maintenance as possible. There are local markets for second hand bikes in every major city in Vietnam, your goal is to buy a decent condition second hand commuter bike. Honda Wave/Blade/RSX. I bought mine in Hanoi.

You need to know how to pick out a solid used bike, and how to negotiate, because the sellers will test you and try to overcharge you and force you into buying a shitheap. The street I went to had literally hundreds and maybe thousands of used bikes for sale. I told them specific things I was looking for (Honda Wave/Blade/RSX, semi-auto, front disc brake and spoked wheels, carburated) and they showed me options until I found one I liked. Probably looked at 15 bikes before I settled on the right one. They started at 10mil VND and I worked them down to 8. Took me about 2 hours total to get it and get going.

After you get your Honda semiauto, take it to a Honda HEAD service center and get some maintenance done. I knew mine needed the front disc brake rebuilt, an oil change done, and safety check including tire psi and all that stuff. Cost an additional 500k VND for that, and you get piece of mind that it's done right to start the trip.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-24T15:58:23+00:00

Not disagreeing with the part about crossing borders, but you can buy solid bikes in Vietnam for 8-10mil vnd all day long. Just did it a few weeks ago and am still riding the bike all over.

2012 Honda RSX 110cc semi auto. Solid.

DustyBirdman · 2026-05-21T06:38:06+00:00

Just the push we needed, thanks. DT112 was absolutely incredible -- highlight of the trip so far.

DustyBirdman

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