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

Da Nang is a city that's easy to get around by motorbike: the roads are wide, there aren't many confusing little alleys, and the beach and the city center are only about ten minutes apart. That's why most visitors who stay here for a few days end up renting one.

Reference prices: manual motorcycles around 100–130 thousand per day, automatic scooters 130–180 thousand, and electric bikes are usually a bit cheaper than scooters. For rentals of 3 days or more, almost all shops offer discounts, and weekly rentals come with even bigger discounts.

Ask all of these questions before signing:

• How is the gasoline calculated at pickup and return — do we need to return it full if we received it full, or return it at the same level as we received it? • Does it come with a helmet, and are there two if two people are riding? • Who's responsible if it breaks down on the road — a flat tire, a dead battery, engine failure? A reputable business will make this clear. • Do we need to leave a passport behind? Many places accept a cash deposit or a photocopy instead of keeping the original — you should ask about this, since holding onto your passport is inconvenient and risky for you. • Whether the vehicle documents are kept in the trunk/storage compartment.

Take photos of the vehicle before you go. Walk around it once and take clear photos of any scratches, cracked fairings, or mirrors. It only takes two minutes and it avoids arguments when you return the vehicle.

A few things about legal matters and safety:

• Helmets are mandatory for passengers as well. • Bikes over 50cc require an appropriate driver's license; foreigners need a license recognized in Vietnam. Just ask the rental shop directly. • Never drink and drive — the penalties in Vietnam are very severe. • At night, the coastal road Vo Nguyen Giap has strong winds and is darker than in the city, so slow down.

The car rental places available on VietSpots are pinned below — check out the prices, photos, and locations there, then pick the one that suits you best.