Vietnam is one of the most thrilling destinations I’ve been to in all of Southeast Asia.

I remember when I first landed in Hanoi from Bangkok – I just couldn’t believe the busyness of the city and the vast amounts of motorcycle traffic everywhere on the road.

The last time I visited Vietnam, I was only there for 2 weeks (because at the time I was still teaching English in Thailand), but it was enough to wet my appetite and acknowledge just how interesting the country is.

Touring Vietnam on a Motorcycle

One of the most popular ways to see Vietnam these days is to either rent or buy a motorcycle. With so many locals using motorcycles on a daily basis, why not join them on the road!

When I was in Vietnam I remember thinking how convenient and how much fun it would be to hop on the back of a motorcycle and be able to go wherever I pleased, and especially stop wherever I wanted.

Driving past glorious looking Vietnamese street food stalls, I could just stop and eat anywhere (if I was touring on a motorcycle).

Have you ever thought about touring Vietnam on a motorcycle?

For sure it’s not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a thrilling adventure that will be the experience of a lifetime, you may want to consider it.

So the problem is, there are lots of things to arrange and lots to think about when you decide to tour Vietnam on a motorcycle. The great news is, you can do it, even if you have very little experience riding a motorcycle!

Two Wheels and Rice Fields

After completing their motorcycle journey and taking accurate notes throughout the entire process Ant and Elise (travel blogger friends of mine), wrote an eBook called Two Wheels and Rice Fields*.

I recently got a copy of their guide and after going through it, it got me so excited  about Vietnam and all the possibilities of adventure that come with independently touring on a motorcycle!

Here are some of the highlights in 120-page guide:

• Introduction: Useful information about Vietnamese culture and things you’ll need to get used to.
• Choosing a Motorcycle: Awesome tips on ways to find motorcycles and how to really check them over before you make a purchase
• Legal Issues, Licensing, Permits, Registration: This stuff is not the most interesting… but it’s just about the most important information you need – and it’s nicely laid out in the guide.
• Riding Tips and Suggestions – Riding motorcycles in Vietnam is quite a bit different than in other parts of the world – use your horn excessively, focus your attention forward and don’t hesitate are just a few tips so you ride better in Vietnam!
• Motorcycle Gear Recommendations: The guide includes an entire checklist of recommended gear (there are some things you may not have thought of)
• Where to Go: Information on places to ride and tips about some of their fondest rides while in Vietnam – a nice personal touch!

Another really useful part of Two Wheels and Rice Fields is the resources section which is stocked with money-saving coupons for great discounts on hostel rooms and motorcycle specific deals.

I would have liked to see:

• Pricing: More of a pricing breakdown about how much bikes cost and how much to budget for while touring Vietnam on a motorcycle. There are probably a lot of unforeseeable costs.
• Selling Your Bike: When you finish riding you’ll need to sell your bike. While the guide did provide a little information, this section could have been developed a little stronger.

Overall, it’s a really valuable guide filled with lots of useful information if you’re considering a motorcycle trip in Vietnam.

Deciding to motorcycle through Vietnam is not a small decision.

It takes some money, responsibility and lots of planning, and Two Wheels and Rice Fields is a perfect resource to begin with.

I think the best part about the guide is that it really made me think through what it all involves and the most important logistics of a motorcycle trip.

There are so many things I would have never thought through before reading the guide.

It’s on sale for just 17 dollars right now. If you’re thinking about motorcycling through Vietnam make sure you grab a copy of the guide by clicking here* (it will be extremely useful for your trip).

* The links on this review are affiliate links, meaning if you get the guide, I’ll get a percentage of the price. This is my honest review – if you are interested in motorbiking in Vietnam, this is a great guide for you!