Nha Trang Motorbike Rental: Licenses, Prices and What to Check

Nha Trang spreads along the bay. Po Nagar (Tháp Bà) and the mud baths sit north of the Cai River (sông Cái), Hon Chong (Hòn Chồng) juts into the sea nearby, and many breakfast spots for banh can (bánh căn) and fish noodle soup are tucked into the streets behind Tran Phu (Trần Phú). With a motorbike, you can eat breakfast across town, reach the towers while it is still cool and be back at the hotel for a midday rest without waiting for a ride.

Visitors from abroad should look hardest at the paperwork. Vietnam does not accept every international driving permit, and your travel insurance may not cover you if your license is not valid here.

Which licenses work in Vietnam #

Vietnam's Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, in force since January 1, 2025, recognizes international driving permits issued by countries that are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. You must carry the IDP together with your national license for the same class of vehicle, both still valid. Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are not covered, unless Vietnam has a separate agreement with the country that issued them. A car license or a car-only IDP does not cover motorbikes.

On the United Nations treaty list, Russia and the United Kingdom (which ratified in 2018) are parties to the 1968 Convention; Australia and the United States are not listed. South Korea signed but never ratified it. Instead, a Vietnam - Korea agreement in force since July 23, 2023 lets Korean citizens drive in Vietnam for non-commercial purposes on a valid Korean-issued IDP; to ride a motorbike, the IDP must show class A. The Australian and US governments' travel advice also states that IDPs issued in those countries are not valid in Vietnam, and Smartraveller adds that your travel insurer will likely deny claims if you ride unlicensed.

Foreigners who live, work or study in Vietnam with a temporary or permanent residence card valid for at least three months can apply to convert their home license to a Vietnamese one; an IDP cannot be converted. If your licensing authority issues an IDP accepted in Vietnam, arrange it before you travel and check the motorcycle entitlement. Australian and US-issued IDPs do not qualify. If your country is not covered here, check with the authority that issued your license before you travel.

License classes for Vietnamese riders

If you hold a Vietnamese license, or are traveling with friends who do: class A1 covers bikes up to 125 cc (or electric motors up to 11 kW), and class A covers anything larger. The 110-125 cc step-throughs and scooters common in rental shops fall under A1. For Vietnamese licenses first issued from January 1, 2025, bikes above 125 cc require class A. An A1 issued before that date and not exchanged or reissued still covers bikes from 50 cc to under 175 cc. Riders must be at least 18 to hold either class. Mopeds up to 50 cc with a top design speed of 50 km/h need no license and can be ridden from age 16, though helmets still apply.

Fines to know before renting #

These are the penalties under Decree 168/2024/ND-CP for motorbike riders and owners. An amending decree, 238/2026/ND-CP, took effect on August 15, 2026, and left these provisions unchanged.

Rental shops are responsible for checking that you are qualified to ride before handing over a bike. Since mid-May 2026, Khanh Hoa (Khánh Hòa) police have stepped up checks on foreign riders and rental businesses, and a bike ridden without a valid license can be impounded on top of the fine. A shop that asks carefully about your license is a good sign.

Do not ride after drinking

Vietnam has a zero limit: riding with any alcohol in your blood or breath is prohibited. For motorbikes, Article 7 of Decree 168 sets three bands: up to 0.25 mg per liter of breath, VND2-3 million (clause 6(a)); above 0.25 and up to 0.4 mg, VND6-8 million (clause 8(b)); above 0.4 mg, VND8-10 million plus a 22-24 month suspension of the right to ride (clause 9(d)). If you are heading out for seafood and beer, leave the bike at the hotel and book a ride.

Prices, deposits and documents #

Renting a motorbike in Nha Trang typically costs about VND100,000-150,000 a day, and many hotels rent them out too (as reported in August 2026). For Vietnam as a whole, a motorbike tour operator quoted these reference rates in late 2024: VND80,000-150,000 a day for a semi-automatic step-through, VND120,000-200,000 for a scooter, with deposits usually between VND500,000 and VND2 million. Actual prices depend on the bike, the season and how many days you rent.

Before you pay, ask whether helmets and a rain poncho are included, what happens if you return late, who handles a breakdown and how scratches or theft are charged. Confirm the answers by text message so you have them in writing. Most rentals are paid in cash or by Vietnamese bank transfer, so check where you will need cash beforehand.

We suggest leaving a cash deposit rather than your original passport. You need your passport to check in at hotels, change money at a bank and board your flight, and the UK government's travel advice specifically tells travelers not to use a passport as a deposit for hiring vehicles. If a shop insists on holding a document, ask whether a copy plus a cash deposit will do.

Checking the bike: five minutes well spent #

Walk around the bike before you take the key. We suggest this order:

• Front and rear brakes both bite; squeeze them while you wheel the bike a few steps.
• Headlight, tail light, indicators and horn work; both mirrors adjust.
• Tires have tread and no bulges or cracks.
• Note the fuel level and how full it should be when you return it.
• Helmets fit and the straps fasten firmly; ask for a second one for your passenger.
• The steering lock and seat lock work; ask whether there is a spare key.

Then film a slow video around the bike, showing the license plate, odometer, fuel gauge and any existing scratches. Save the shop's phone number before you leave.

Photo: Dragfyre

Riding around town and further afield #

In town, use attended parking where you get a ticket, especially at the night market, Dam Market (chợ Đầm) or Po Nagar, and ask the fee before you park. At night, lock the steering, take the key and carry your helmet if there is nowhere to hang it. At the beachfront park, the rates set in May 2025 were VND4,000 per visit by day and VND6,000 at night. Fill up at a gas station rather than buying fuel in bottles at the roadside. On Tran Phu, motorbikes have their own lane, but in February 2026 the province agreed to let cars share it on some stretches, so check your mirror before pulling over to the curb.

Photo: Rayrayokocha

Nha Trang's rainy season is concentrated in October to December, and heavy downpours can flood some streets. If the water looks deep, turn back and find another route. When heavy rain or flood warnings are issued, leave the bike parked and follow the flood-season safety advice.

For day trips, Ba Ho (Ba Hồ), Doc Let (Dốc Lết) and Yang Bay are within reach if you are used to longer rides; the routes are in our day trips from Nha Trang. The road up Hon Ba (Hòn Bà) has no gas stations or repair shops, and local authorities advise a manual bike rather than a scooter. The Khanh Le (Khánh Lê) pass on Highway 27C is winding and has had landslides in the rainy season; we would not take a rented motorbike over it late in the year.

When to book a ride instead #

No valid license, the wrong kind of IDP, a few drinks or heavy rain: any one of these is reason enough to book a ride. Grab and Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) both run motorbike and car rides in Nha Trang, with the fare shown before you book.

From Cam Ranh Airport, about 35 km from town, take the bus or a taxi rather than picking up a motorbike on arrival. Bus 18 and VinBus electric route 16-2 both cost VND50,000, with 16-2 running roughly every 45 minutes. Routes and taxi fares are in getting from Cam Ranh into town. For a group of four on a long day trip, a car with a driver is usually less tiring than two motorbikes; the budget section of our travel guide lists the costs to add up.

Nha Trang motorbike rental FAQ #