Job Discussion Forums

[sarafate]

Hello everyone!

My name is Sira, and I will be relocating to HCMC in 2.5 weeks. I just got my motorcycle license and am psyched to ride in Vietnam. I have a few questions, and would really appreciate it if any experienced riders could take the time to reply:

1. Can I buy gear in HCMC? If so, where? I will need a textile jacket w/ elbow & shoulder protectors and a full-face helmet.

2. As I'm still very new to riding, I'd like to do some one-on-one lessons, preferably with an expat, any ideas?

3. Do people get together to do long distance rides together?

4. Also, before I convert my motorcycle/driver license I want to take a few moped lessons, as I have never ridden a moped before: Where do you suggest?

Finally, like I previously mentioned, I'll be new in town, and would love to make friends. I'm into the cinema and other arts, the beach, and of course riding motorcycles. Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Take care,

Sira

[Bold As Love]

1. Can I buy gear in HCMC? If so, where? I will need a textile jacket w/ elbow & shoulder protectors and a full-face helmet.

2. As I'm still very new to riding, I'd like to do some one-on-one lessons, preferably with an expat, any ideas?

3. Do people get together to do long distance rides together?

4. Also, before I convert my motorcycle/driver license I want to take a few moped lessons, as I have never ridden a moped before: Where do you suggest?

I'll start off with a couple of newbie impressions. I moved to HCMC a couple of months ago and took taxi everywhere. I have minimal motorbike experience (but lots of bicycling) and was too intimidated by the chaotic Saigon traffic. Rented a motorbike for a month from a local, and last week bought a new Honda (in my GF's name). Went from white-knuckle terror to moderate competence in about a week. You are way ahead of the game with an actual moto license from the real world. Riding a moto in this town is no big deal, old grannies do it. No need for lessons, just go slow, stay aware, and drive like the locals (wrong way, sidewalks, red light is only a suggestion, etc. ....). Always wear a helmet and face mask so you blend into the crowd. I drive by police all the time and think there is minimal chance of a traffic stop (I don't have a license).

You are probably better off bringing a high quality helmet (most of the stuff here is junk) and riding clothes than trying to find something here, but if you get connected you might find something. Best riding tool I own is a high quality hand phone with GPS so I can find my way home.

[sarafate]

Dear Bold As Love,

Thanks for the reply, and for the advice. I realize I could probably ride a motorcycle and a moped without further instruction, but I would really prefer not to go this route:

1. Any suggestions on where I could look for one-on-one motorcycles with an expat? Or where I can take a few moped lessons, with an expat or with a local? (BTW, The grannies def. have one up on me, if only because they have been riding mopeds for longer than I've been alive ) I will probably stick to the motorcycle riding on my days off, and ride a moped around town.

2. Congrats on the Honda, is it a motorcycle or a moped? Did you bring your helmet with you? I'll def. look for a jacket before I leave, but it's going to be pretty impossible to bring a helmet--excess baggage charges are ridiculous! Have you ever heard of Saigon Scooter Centre, 25/7 Cuu Long, Ward 2, Tan Binh District. I found them online and they have Vemar helmets, which are DOT and SNELL certified--marks of good quality--and I'm trying to find out what other options there are out there.

Thanks again, have a nice weekend.

Best,

Sira

[snollygoster]

From the perspective of a MOTORCYCLE driver- There are precious few MOTORCYCLES in Vietnam. Most of the locals ride little scooters, and a "real" motorcycle (Over 150cc) is cumbersome to come by, very expensive, and you need a special licence to have one.
So if you have dreams of getting out on the higway on a real motorcycle, better lower your sights. Sorry to burst your bubble, but thats reality.

[sarafate]

Thank you for your reply, snollygoster. Do you have any suggestions about the questions I asked? Much appreciated.

Best,

Sira

[deadlift]

As snollygoster said, you need to reconsider what you mean by the words "motorbike". 99% of the two wheeled motor vehicles here are 125cc or less, many of them are automatic. There are bigger bikes, mostly of the cruising variety (imitation Harleys) rather than racing variety, but these are expensive and require special licenses.

I do see guys in full gear riding real motorbikes. Ducattis seem to be very popular. In the city, they look like fools roaring off from the green light only to brake hard again before even getting out of first gear.

1. Anything is available in Saigon, the main concern is how much you will pay. Personally, I'd bring this stuff myself. Especially the helmet, as quality standards here are hardly enforced.

2. Can't help you there. I don't know a single person who rides anything more than 125cc.

3. What do you mean by moped? In my vocab, that refers to a pedal powered electric bicycle, or a very low powered scooter. I certainly wouldn't call my 4 gear, 110cc, 100+ kg Honda a moped.

4. It's easy to get a local license for 125cc or under. I've heard it's more difficult for anything above that.

I suggest you come here, ride as a passenger for a few weeks, then hire a scooter yourself. You may well find yourself reconsidering the necessity or desirability of riding a powerful bike in VNese traffic on Vnese roads.

[sarafate]

Dear deadlift,

Thank you for your post. I will def. bring my gear with me, since you and Bold As Love have mentioned that finding quality gear will be problematic. I'm new to the world of motorcycles, so my terminology is obviously off. I'm looking to ride whatever people ride in Vietnam, so 125cc and under, but how does one refer to such bikes?

I will certainly follow your advice on point #4, but could recommend a person/place where I could take one-on-one lessons with, for a bike under 125cc? Thanks again.

Best,

Sira

[deadlift]

125cc bikes: where I'm from, they'd be called a scooter. In Vietnam, it's a motorbike if it's a bike and has a petrol driven motor.

[Bold As Love]

I shopped around for new motorbikes here a bit, looking at Honda, SYM, and Yamaha. There are other brands around, including Vespa, but I'd estimate that at least 90% of the bikes I see in HCMC traffic are one of these three brands. There are some crude-looking Chinese brands (Daelim) and some Japanese imports. The top selling Honda, SYM, and Yamaha are all about 110cc and sell for 20-35 Million, as soon as you step up to 150cc or greater (SYM Shark, or Honda SH150) you are looking at about 50 million.

A teacher friend who is a more serious rider has a Honda Joker (?) which is about 250 cc and kind of a Harley knock-off. But it is usually broken down, and he says too hot to ride in traffic. Someone above nailed the HCMC experience when he talked about that 30 second window of open road before the mob scene at the next roundabout or stop light.

Having said that, a few brave souls ride from one end of the country to the other on 50cc SuperCubs. I might take a ride up north during Christmas holidays, but I would probably plan on only riding about 200 km a day and enjoying the experience.

To the OP there is a group of more serious riders in northern Thailand, in the Chiang Mai area. You can google them for trip information around the Golden Triangle.

[DNK]

1) I'm not sure how much gear you need to drive 15MPH with a scooter/moped/motobike. Honda helmets are available at the dealerships and go for about $15. Other than that, you'd have to find a specialty store since I haven't seen anything else about. I would not leave those helmets with the moto like everyone else does when you leave it.

A) Not the place to be for the cinema, arts, beach, or motorcycles imo.

B) There's no need to wear a facemask to blend in. I think people are going to be aware that you're foreign unless you are genetically Asian. A full-face helmet is a much better idea.

C) I'd like a discussion on this: how much should the average "ticket" cost? I am under the impression it's 200K under the license.

D) Don't trust any "brand names" unless you have a good reason to. I could buy you an OEM Ducati helmet for $5... I assume those are well-certified.

E) Long-distance, you're going maybe 25-30MPH on the highways. Traffic there doesn't move that much faster than in the open stretches in the cities (well, relative to US speeds). A proper motorcycle is quite useless indeed. Also, remember that the highways here are not closed off, but rather they are just big, bemedianed streets with far fewer intersections. Not that you'd want to go much faster on one of them given their typical condition...

F) There is no point in having anything over 125cc, as stated many times. And, yes, people who drive proper motorcycles look like idiots in heavy city traffic. They make more sense on the open roads and highways, but unless you want to do a ton of that sort of driving, finding a comfortable <125cc bike is a better idea. They're not comfortable after a few hours, yes, but if you're only going cross-country once a month, it's not really worth it to get something larger.

G) The name of the vehicle: you will know it all too well within one day of being here. Many locals will voluntarily help you learn it, too, without you even having to ask for the help. They are so friendly here!

H) 25,000,000D for a 125cc bike? Double typo, I hope.

[Bold As Love]

I firmly believe in the value of a face mask as camouflage. I ride past traffic cops all the time and feel that it makes a foreigner almost indistinguishable from the hoi polloi. When I see a cop I just look away and avoid eye contact. Makes me feel like a tasty salmon trying to get into the middle of the school before the orca sweeps through. But I am of the pale skin and modest stature variety. If you are extra large or extra colorful, maybe they could more readily pick you out of the mob.

I haven't been stopped yet but I make sure that I carry at least 200,000 just in case. A friend got popped recently for 500,000 but he made an illegal turn and didn't have a license. The big hammer is that they can confiscate your bike, and friends have told me that is a good reason not to have an particularly exotic or attractive bike. Registered owner can go to the station and get it back.

Prices above (20-35 million) are accurate for brand new 110cc Honda, SYM, or Yamaha motorbikes from the showroom. Easy to confirm.

To the OP, the Yamaha Nuovo (135 cc) for about 35 Million is a really attractive bike for this town.

[DNK]

Isn't the norm that foreigners get way less police attention than locals here? At least in the south? That is what I have heard from locals and foreigners alike...

There are "illegal turns" here I know, they actually do give out tickets, but it's a bit humorous.

Bah, my math was off on the 25M. Long day, that's fine for new. I was thinking, "25,000,000 / 20,000 = 25,000, wowee."

The newest Nuovos do look really nice.

[deadlift]

[sarafate]

Deadlift: Thank you for the clarification on scooters/motorbikes.

Bold A Love: Thanks for sharing the bit about buying a bike. I'll keep this in mind for the future. I understand the traffic in HCMC is too crazy to pick up any real speed, but I in terms of long distance I was thinking out of town, so thank you for the info on the group in Northern Thailand.

DNK: Thanks for the note. In terms of gear for getting around the city, I think a helmet is key, and I will def. not leave mine with my scooter, thanks for the tip. I'm interested in doing some longer rides out of town, and for me a jacket and gloves are essential. I will def. look into a good 125cc as you mentioned, for these longer treks. Thanks for the helmet offer, but I am planning on bringing my own. Also, in response to your point A, I have heard otherwise, but to each his/her own. Many thanks again.

Best,

Sira

[deadlift]

Speaking of facemasks, I wear a neomask that I got from the basement supermarket in Vincom plaza. I feel much better about wearing a real mask, with a real filter, over a swatch of cotton.

http://anbaoco.com.vn/images/upload/Khau-trang-Neo-Mask-90k.jpg_1244126170.jpg