Motorbike rental
Every card says why to go, what to know before you do, and what catches people out.
Nguyen Khuyen street, Cam Ly
1.8M₫
$68
Air Blade, per month · checked
Where we rent ourselves: a recent Air Blade for 1.8M₫ a month on a monthly deal. When the battery died, they came out the same day and sorted it on the spot.
Automatic scooter
Rental shops city-wide
120–160k₫
$4.70–6.25
per day · checked
The default way to get around. A month works out at about 1,800,000 ₫, and most rentals deliver the bike to your hotel for free.
Worth knowing. Da Lat is steep, foggy and often wet. Check the brakes before you take the bike, not after.
Careful. Film a 60-second walkaround of the bike before you touch it. Da Lat is a national hotspot for fake damage claims. Never hand over your passport — offer a cash deposit or a photocopy.
Semi-automatic (Wave, Sirius) value
Rental shops city-wide
70–130k₫
$2.75–5
per day · checked
Cheapest option and better on Da Lat's hills than a small automatic, because you can hold a gear on a long climb.
Licence rules for foreigners must
Nationwide
2–8M₫
$78–313
fine for riding unlicensed · checked
Vietnam recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP, with an A or A1 motorcycle endorsement, carried together with your home licence.
Worth knowing. The fine depends on the engine: up to 125cc — 2–4M₫, above that — 6–8M₫ (Decree 168/2024, in force since 1 January 2025). From that same January an A1 endorsement covers up to 125cc. Helmets are compulsory for rider and passenger: 400–600k₫ fine. Enforcement has visibly tightened.
Careful. IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are NOT valid here — that covers the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and China. Riding unlicensed voids your travel insurance, which costs far more than the fine.