One correction first: we could not find any provision in current Vietnamese law that specifically penalises riding a motorbike in sandals. The figure doing the rounds — a fine of over 150 million dong and 9 licence points — is the British penalty (up to £5,000), not a Vietnamese one. So the reason to wear closed shoes here is safety, not avoiding a ticket.
Why flip-flops are a bad idea
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Riding in sandals is completely normal in Vietnam, so this is not a lecture — just three specific risks:
- Your foot slipping off the peg on wet roads. Plastic sandals get markedly slippery in rain, and a foot sliding off at the moment you need to put it down is exactly when a bike goes over.
- Exposed toes. In dense traffic, a clip from the bike beside you or anything on the road surface goes straight into your toes.
- The hot exhaust. An exhaust burn on the ankle is one of the most common injuries to a passenger, and sandals cover none of it.
For a few hundred metres down the lane, that is your call. For a full day on the road it is a different question.
If you are coming from Europe: Spain now requires closed footwear
Worth knowing for comparison: in Spain the rules changed. Under Real Decreto 518/2026, which amends the Reglamento General de Circulación, from 1 October 2026 closed footwear covering the whole foot is mandatory for both rider and passenger on motorcycles and mopeds, on every type of road including in town. Gloves are mandatory on interurban roads.
None of that applies in Vietnam, but it shows how European road authorities now assess the risk of riding a two-wheeler in sandals.
Reading a motorcycle boot label: the four digits
Motorcycle footwear is tested to EN 13634:2017. The label carries a rider pictogram, and underneath it four digits, each either 1 or 2 — 2 being the higher level. In order:
| Position | Criterion | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boot height | Ankle boots score 1, taller boots score 2 |
| 2 | Impact abrasion resistance | How it holds up sliding on tarmac |
| 3 | Impact cut resistance | Resistance to being cut through |
| 4 | Transverse rigidity | Resistance to crushing if trapped under the bike |
Alongside those four there are optional markings worth looking for: IPA and IPS (ankle and shin protection), WR (water resistance), FO (sole resistant to fuel), SRA / SRB / SRC (slip resistance).
Comparing two pairs comes down to comparing those four digits — far simpler than reading marketing copy.
Riding boots, short boots and riding shoes
- Tall boots score 2 for height and protect the shin as well. The trade-off: hot, heavy, awkward for walking around sights, and they eat luggage space.
- Short riding boots are the best-balanced choice for Hanoi: they look like ordinary shoes, you can walk in them all day, but they have a stiff sole, a reinforced toe and usually ankle protection.
- Certified riding sneakers meet the minimum level across the four criteria; fine around town, clearly weaker in a higher-speed fall.
When ordinary shoes are good enough
Realistically, most people renting for a few days are not going to buy motorcycle footwear. So what does the pair you already own need?
Sole, toe box and ankle
- A grippy, reasonably stiff sole. A smooth sole slides off a wet peg; a very soft one leaves the arch of your foot aching after a few hours.
- A closed toe box. This is the minimum — nothing with exposed toes.
- Ankle coverage where possible. A high-top is usually enough for town riding.
- Laced on, not slip-on. Loafers and clogs come off at exactly the wrong moment.
A laced trainer with a rubber sole and a collar over the ankle is already far better than sandals — and that is the single biggest gap in this whole article.
Manual bikes: gear levers wear your shoes
If you rent a manual bike, the left toe works all day: every gear change rubs the lever across the top of your foot. After a few days a suede or thin-canvas shoe will have a visible scuff line there.
Motorcycle footwear has a pad built into that spot. On ordinary shoes, the simple fix is a strip of cloth tape over the left instep. If you have not yet decided between manual and automatic, manual motorbike rental in Hanoi goes into it.
Rain: wet shoes and overshoes
This is the most practical problem in northern Vietnam. Summer downpours plus flooded stretches soak your shoes through, and in high humidity a wet pair may not dry by the next morning.
What actually helps:
- Waterproof overshoes — light, cheap, fit under the seat. Pound for pound the most effective item in this article.
- Carry two or more pairs of socks and keep a dry pair in a plastic bag.
- Stuff wet shoes with newspaper overnight, changing it once before bed. Markedly better than leaving them as they are.
- Do not dry them with a hot hair dryer if the sole is glued.
The full list of what to prepare for renting in the wet season is in renting a motorbike during rainy weather.
Choosing footwear for a multi-day trip
One pair has to do two jobs: riding and walking around on foot. That is why tall motorcycle boots are usually the wrong call for this kind of travel, unless you are doing long mountain days.
The tidiest formula for a 3–7 day trip: one laced high-top with a grippy sole, plus a set of waterproof overshoes. If you already own short riding boots, bring those — they are light enough to fly with.
Not sure what footwear to pack? Ask Mr Tú – Old Quarter Motorbike Rental whether your bike is a manual or a scooter — that answer decides whether you need to worry about your left toe at all.
FAQ
Can you be fined for riding in sandals in Vietnam?
We could not find any provision in the current legislation penalising this specifically for motorbike riders. The 150-million-dong and 9-point figure circulating online is the British penalty, not a Vietnamese one. Pending Verification: penalty decrees get amended, so check the version in force.
Are ordinary trainers enough?
For town riding at low speed, the big gap is between sandals and closed shoes, not between ordinary shoes and motorcycle shoes. Pick a laced pair with a grippy sole that covers the ankle.
What do the four digits on a boot label mean?
In order: boot height, impact abrasion resistance, impact cut resistance, transverse rigidity. Each is 1 or 2, with 2 the higher level for that criterion.
Do I need waterproof boots?
WR on the label means water resistance. But waterproof boots also hold water in once it comes over the top while you ride through a flooded stretch. For Hanoi rain, overshoes are usually more practical.
Does the passenger need closed shoes too?
Yes, arguably more so: exhaust burns are a very common passenger injury, particularly getting on and off.
Is it worth flying with motorcycle boots?
Tall boots are heavy and bulky. For a short trip around the city and its surroundings, short riding boots or a laced high-top make more sense.
Read next: after footwear, the jacket is the next layer — and its CE label is far easier to misread. See leather vs textile vs mesh, and how to read the EN 17092 class.
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