Renting a motorbike in Da Nang — ask everything before you sign

Da Nang is a city that's easy to get around by motorbike: wide roads, few confusing alleys, and the beach and city center are only about ten minutes apart. That's why most visitors staying here for a few days rent one.

Reference pricing: standard motorbikes around 100–130 thousand/day, automatic scooters 130–180 thousand, electric scooters are usually slightly cheaper than automatic scooters. Rentals for 3 days or more get discounts at almost every place, and weekly rentals offer even deeper discounts.

Ask all these questions before signing:

• How is the gas calculated at pickup and return — return it full for full, or return the same level as received? • Do you include a helmet, and are there two if two people are riding? • If it breaks down along the road, who's responsible — a flat tire, dead battery, engine failure. A decent business will spell that out clearly. • Do we need to leave our passport as a deposit? Many places accept a cash deposit or a photocopy instead of keeping the original — you should ask, since holding onto your passport is inconvenient and risky for you. • Check whether the vehicle registration papers are kept in the trunk.

Take photos of the car before you go. Walk around it once, and photograph any scratches, cracks in the bumper, or mirror damage carefully. This only takes two minutes but avoids disputes when returning the car.

A few things about laws and safety:

• Helmets are mandatory for both the driver and passenger. • Motorcycles over 50cc require an appropriate license; foreigners need a permit recognized in Vietnam. Just ask the rental shop directly. • Absolutely never drink alcohol and then drive — the penalty in Vietnam is very severe. • At night, the Võ Nguyên Giáp coastal road has strong winds and is darker than in the city, so drive slowly.

Several car rental places featured on VietSpots are pinned below — check out their prices, photos, and locations there, and then choose the one that suits you best.