Welcome to Hanoi Easy Rider
Ride exhilarating routes or off-road through stunning scenery, see all postcard panoramas and enjoy an unforgettable guided tour that has to be experienced to be believed.
FAQ's
How do I pay you? Do you accept credit card payment?
Yes, we do accept credit card payment in our office. There is a fixed bank charge of 3% for Visa and MasterCard holders (4% for American Express card holders). At certain times, we may apply surcharge as banks may offer low or very low rates comparing to black/free market rates. Deposit is made via a bank transfer or Western Union Cash Transfer. We ask that you transfer to our bank account a deposit and then final balance (cash is king in Vietnam) before the commencement of a ride. Unfortunately, PayPal applies very bad conditions to Vietnamese account holders and we don’t like their conditions. What other expenses should we expect? How much cash do we need to take with us? In terms of costs, we cover everything except telephone calls, tips, souvenirs, alcoholic drink and personal medical insurance. As there are often some impressive minority crafts to be found in the markets or some more bizarre products of Chinese origin bank on US$150-200 extra.
How will I meet you in Viet Nam?
We will arrange a pre-departure briefing session to introduce to you the route (with maps) and the minority peoples with whom we’ll come into contact, provide you with all the equipment, and cover any other outstanding issues. Please print our office map here.
Is an international licence valid in Vietnam?
Despite some press reports to the contrary Vietnam does recognize the validity of international licenses. Whilst some authorities in remote regions may not be able to comprehend a document written in a foreign language they go a long way in smoothing out any potential difficulties should an issue arise. They also take care of any license requirements that you might have in your insurance polices. Formally, no license is fully valid in Vietnam, even an international driving licence, as it needs to be officially translated (at Vietnamese Embassies or in Vietnam). The question of having or not a motorbiking driving licence mainly concerns your insurance. On the other hand, if you are working in Vietnam under contract for at least 6 months you could easily get a local driving licence. Traffic police generally don’t stop Westerners in Vietnam to check licences simply because they don’t speak good English or feel confident to deal with it. In addition, in the same time, they can deal with many other Vietnamese people. Mui Ne in Southern Vietnam has been the only exception where they started checking licences. Informally, many recent international driving licenses which include Vietnam in the country list are accepted by the traffic police on the road.
How do I get an international licence?
International licences can be provided on the spot at the motoring authority in your country (e.g. The AA in the UK or the NRMA in Australia). Take your existing national licence and passport photo to their office and for a small fee they will provide a licence along the same lines as your existing licence, valid for one year.
I’m concerned about the footwear situation; thinking about leaving walking boots at home to lighten the load, what do you recommend?
It’s essential to have strong footwear for the tour to protect your feet whilst driving. Trekking shoes or leather boots are perfect. No driving in open-toed shoes. It is possible to buy a pair of boots (including big sizes) in Hanoi for about $15.
Do I need to have insurance for motorbiking/motorcycling in Vietnam?
Yes, you need to have a personal medical insurance, even if you are a pillion passenger so that insurance will cover any accident. If you don’t have insurance, we can help you purchase a policy from Gras Savoye Willis Vietnam (www.grassavoyewillis-vn.com) – a French insurance broker or BaoViet – the largest national insurance company. However, they don’t cover if you have no Vietnamese motorcycle driving license which is impossible with a tourist visa. To get a Vietnamese driving license you need to have at least a three months business visa, your country motorcycle driving license, a work permit or a sponsor. All papers need to be translated into Vietnamese at a notary office and it takes 7-10 days to have a converted license. On our trips, you ride about five hours per day on average. It means you still get insured about 19 hours per day while not riding the bike with just a normal travel insurance policy.
I’m filling out the Vietnam visa application and they ask for the name, address of my contact in Vietnam. What should I enter?
It’s not actually necessary to enter anything in this field. If you wish you may write the details of any hotel in Hanoi. To save money and time, try our pre-approved visa letter service (you pay from $45 in total).