Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [20]
By car and jeep
Self-drive in Vietnam is not yet an option for tourists and other short-term visitors. However, it’s easy to rent a car, jeep or minibus with driver from the same companies, agencies and tourist offices that arrange tours. This can be quite an economical means of transport if you are travelling in a group. Moreover, it means you can plan a trip to your own tastes, rather than having to follow a tour company’s itinerary.
Prices vary wildly so it pays to shop around, but expect to pay in the region of $35–50 per day for a car, and $60–100 per day for a jeep or other 4WD, depending on the vehicle’s size, age and level of comfort. When negotiating the price, it’s important to clarify exactly who is liable for what. Things to check include who pays for the driver’s accommodation and meals, fuel, road and ferry tolls, parking fees and repairs and what happens in the case of a major breakdown. There should then be some sort of contract to sign showing all the details, including an agreed itinerary, especially if you are renting for more than a day; make sure the driver is given a copy in Vietnamese. In some cases you’ll have to settle up in advance, though, if possible, it’s best if you can arrange to pay roughly half before and the balance at the end.
Getting around |
Hitching
Although not really comparable to hitching in the Western sense, there is a tradition of drivers (especially truck drivers) picking up passengers from the roadside, in exchange for a small payment – and this system has been used to great effect by some travellers. However, in addition to the risks associated with hitching anywhere, you’re also quite likely to be overcharged, due to the prevailing (and not unreasonable) assumption that all foreigners are wealthy. Set against the relatively low cost of other forms of transport, hitching is an ill-advised and unattractive proposition.
Getting around |
By motorbike
Motorbike rental is possible in most towns and cities regularly frequented by tourists, and pottering around on one can be a most enjoyable and time-efficient method of sightseeing. Lured by the prospect of independent travel at relatively low cost, some tourists cruise the countryside on motorbikes, but inexperienced bikers would do well to think very hard before undertaking any long-distance biking since Vietnam’s roads can be distinctly dangerous (see "Rules of the road").
The appalling road discipline of most Vietnamese drivers means that the risk of an accident is very real, with potentially dire consequences should it happen in a remote area. Well-equipped hospitals are few and far between outside the major centres, and there’ll probably be no ambulance service.
On the other hand, many people ride around with no problems and thoroughly recommend it for both day-trips and touring. The best biking is to be found in the northern mountains, the central highlands and around the Mekong Delta, while the Ho Chi Minh Highway offers pristine tarmac plus wonderful scenery. Some also do the long haul up Highway 1 from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi (or vice versa), a journey of around two weeks, averaging a leisurely 150km per day.
There’s no shortage of motorbikes for rent in Vietnam’s major tourist centres; the average rate is around US$7 per day, with discounts for longer periods. You’ll sometimes be asked to pay in advance, sign a rental contract and/or leave some form of ID (a photocopy of your passport should suffice). If you’re renting for a week or so, you may be asked to leave a deposit, often the bike’s value in dollars though it might also be your air ticket or departure card. In the vast majority of cases, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Although it’s technically illegal for non-residents to own a vehicle, there’s a small trade in secondhand motorbikes in the two main cities – look at the noticeboards in hotels, travellers’ cafés and tour agents for adverts. So far the police have ignored the practice, but check the latest situation before committing yourself. The bike of choice is usually a Minsk 125cc, particularly