What to pack for a motorbike trip in Vietnam

Packing for a motorbike trip in Vietnam is about carrying less than you think and keeping three things safe: your documents, your skin and your electronics. Here is what actually earns its place in your bag, for a day ride or a multi-day one-way trip.

Documents: the part you cannot improvise

• Passport — a copy is usually fine for the road; keep the original at your accommodation.
• Home driving licence and a 1968 International Driving Permit with the motorcycle category. No IDP, no self-ride rental — see our guide to the IDP.

Riding gear

• A helmet — included with our rentals, two for couples. It is compulsory, fastened, every time you ride.
• Eye protection — a visor on the helmet, or sunglasses for the slow stuff.
• Closed shoes — never sandals. The footpegs are hot, the roads are dirty, and your toes are the first thing to touch the ground in a wobble.
• A rain layer — we include a rain poncho, but a light packable jacket is warmer and easier to ride in. Afternoon rain is common from about May to October.

Clothes: layers, not volume

Dalat sits at about 1,500 m, so evenings are cool all year and cold from December to February — while the coast is hot and sticky. Pack one warm layer for the passes and the early mornings, quick-dry layers for the days, and leave the "just in case" pile at home. A small backpack or one soft bag is all a bike rack wants to carry.

Luggage and the bike

Our Honda XR150L and CB150X have racks and straps for a soft bag; a scooter has the under-seat box and a hook for a day bag. Pack soft, pack light, and strap everything down twice — a loose bag on a pass is a real hazard.

Electronics

• Phone holder and USB charger — fitted on most of our bikes.
• A power bank for long days away from a socket.
• Offline maps downloaded before you leave town — signal disappears in the passes.
• A waterproof pouch for the phone, documents and cash.

Health and comfort

Water, sunscreen, and a small first-aid kit with plasters and painkillers. If you ride pillion on a long tour, motion-sickness tablets help on the winding passes. Check the weather by season before you decide which layers to bring.

The rule of thumb

If you are not sure, leave it out. Everything you genuinely need for a motorbike trip in Vietnam fits in one small soft bag — and the lighter you pack, the better the bike handles the passes.