After researching flights, accommodations, visas, transport options inside the country, activities, etc., basically everything, I came to the conclusion that it’s too overwhelming for me. I’m taking a retired family friend with me, as he’s not bound by any schedule, so I don’t have to compromise on the length of the trip. Plus, he can drive, so we can rent a car and make the trip smoother. I’ve decided on Vietnam, by the way.
I would strongly advise against renting a car in Vietnam. There will be hundreds of motorbikes swarming around you, and you’ll have to constantly be aware of them inches from your car while watching for cows, farm equipment, construction vehicles, 2 old folks sharing 1 mobility scooter, the guy with a washer+dryer+refrigerator on the back of his bike who can barely turn or stop, motorickshaws, etc, where traffic rules are largely vibes-based.
Technically even with an IDP, foreigners cannot legally drive in vietnam so if there is an accident, you are paying.
I would recommend taking a Grab for a few days to get a feel for traffic, then renting or buying a motorbike. You can rent a Honda Wave for 1 month for ~1-1.5 million VND (40-60USD). You can buy for 150-300USD, but you’ll need a Vietnamese friend to pick out a bike that can be resold for nearly the same price when you leave.
Everyone rides slow so even if you have a few beginner accidents, you’ll be fine.
What kinda itinerary are you thinking of?
Itinerary-wise, I’m thinking of doing the Hanoi-Hue-Da Nang-Nha Trang-Da Lat-Ho Chi Minh route, plus Ha Long and Phu Quoc, but I want to go with the flow once I’m there, so nothing too fixed.
8 cities is a lot, how much time do you have?
I loved Hanoi, Da Lat (also Sa Pa) up in the mountains are beautiful. Vietnam actually cools off up there. It’s kinda otherworldly when you descend from a foggy 60F mountain top to a 100F, sunny valley.
A lot of foreigners buy a motorbike from HCMC/Hanoi, ride to the other, stopping all the way, and sell the bike.
OK, so it’s legal under the 1968, not the 1948 convention. But if you’re pulled over on a tourist route, cops don’t really care about documents, they just want a bribe. Ask around to find out what routes are shaking down tourists. Don’t keep all your money in your wallet, just about 2-475Td in case you get pulled over by a cop.
Well, my Swiss passport gives me 45 days visa-free, and I’m planning to max it out. That’s why I need an “unanchored” travel partner.
Yeah, that’s true.
Those are more general considerations rather than location-specific ones.
From what I’ve read, it’s legal for foreigners to drive in Vietnam with an IDP, but in practice most rental agencies won’t rent a car to foreigners unless you also hire a local chauffeur.
Just get a driver. I never drive in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. It’s a pain and drivers aren’t that expensive.