Model examples explain vehicle categories. Confirm the actual vehicle, price, deposit, documents, insurance and handover conditions with Mr Tú for your particular request before booking.
Mr Tú rents two kinds of bike near Hanoi’s Old Quarter (Phố Cổ): automatic scooters, the easiest choice for city riding, and semi-automatic motorbikes for riders who are happy to change gear. The list below shows the models on offer, and Mr Tú confirms availability for your dates when you contact us.
Contact Mr Tú to confirm which vehicles are available for your dates.
For the deposit on each model and a side-by-side price table, see Hanoi motorbike rental prices.
Automatic scooter or semi-automatic?
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Both are everyday transport in Vietnam. The real difference is whether you change gear yourself, and that matters most in heavy traffic.
Automatic scooters
Twist the throttle and go. With no gears and no clutch, you can keep your attention on the traffic, which makes an automatic the natural choice for Hanoi’s stop-start streets and your first days on Vietnamese roads. Models such as the Honda Vision, Honda Air Blade, Honda Click and Yamaha Mio are automatics; the list above shows which ones Mr Tú currently offers. Most have a compartment under the seat, handy for a raincoat.
An automatic suits you if:
- you’ll mostly ride in the city and around the Old Quarter
- you’re an experienced rider but new to traffic in Vietnam
- you’ll often carry a passenger around town
Semi-automatic motorbikes
A semi-automatic such as the Honda Wave has gears you change with your foot, but no clutch lever. It takes a little practice, and in return gives you more control: you can hold a low gear on a climb and let the engine slow the bike on the way down. It is the everyday workhorse for many people in Hanoi.
A semi-automatic suits you if:
- you already know how to ride with gears
- you like having more control over the engine
- you’ll be commuting every day for a month or more and are used to geared bikes
New to motorbikes?
Be honest with yourself here. Hanoi’s traffic is dense and unpredictable, and it is not the place to learn to ride. You’ll also need a licence that covers motorcycles. If you have ridden scooters at home and hold the right licence, an automatic is the gentlest way to start.
Engine size and your licence
In Vietnam, licence class A1 covers two-wheel motorcycles up to 125 cc, and class A covers anything larger. Some models come in more than one engine size, so ask Mr Tú which version you’re getting and make sure your licence covers it.
Visitors can ride on a Vietnamese licence, or on their national motorcycle licence backed by an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our guide to renting a motorbike in Hanoi explains the rules in full.
Helmets for rider and passenger
Helmets are compulsory in Vietnam for everyone on the bike. They must meet the national standard and be worn with the strap fastened, even for a five-minute ride. Tell us how many people will ride, and Mr Tú will confirm a helmet for each of you before you book.
At hand-over, check that each helmet fits:
- it sits level on your head and covers your forehead
- it feels snug and doesn’t move when you shake your head
- the strap closes firmly under your chin, with room for about two fingers
The condition check at hand-over
Before you ride away, you and Mr Tú check the bike together and photograph its condition. What you find goes into the written rental agreement, so you both have the same record when the bike comes back.
- brakes, front and rear
- tyres: tread, pressure and any damage
- lights: headlight, brake light and indicators
- horn and mirrors
- fuel level, noted in the agreement
- existing scratches or dents, photographed from every side
For a step-by-step version, with what to look for and what to ask, read our checklist for picking up a rental motorbike.
Fuel and filling up
The scooters and semi-automatics run on petrol. At hand-over, ask which grade to use and where the fuel cap is, and make sure the fuel level is noted in the agreement. Petrol stations in Hanoi are staffed: pull up at the pump, open the cap and tell the attendant how much you’d like, or ask for a full tank. Fuel costs during the rental are yours.
Checking availability
The list above shows the models Mr Tú offers; whether a particular bike is free depends on your dates. When you get in touch, mention the model you’d like, or say if any automatic or semi-automatic will do; that makes it easier to find you a bike. Mr Tú confirms availability, price and deposit before you book.
New to renting with Mr Tú? Start with our overview of motorbike rental in Hanoi.
Choosing a bike: common questions
Which bike is easiest for a first ride in Hanoi?
An automatic scooter, provided you’re already a confident, licensed rider. With no gears to think about, you can focus on the traffic around you.
Can I reserve a specific model?
You can ask for one. Mr Tú confirms whether that model is free for your dates when you contact us, and if it isn’t, you can choose another bike from the list.
Which licence do I need for these bikes?
One that covers motorcycles of the right engine size: class A1 up to 125 cc, class A above that. If you’re visiting, your home motorcycle licence counts only when you also carry an IDP issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Choose the actual vehicle rather than a model name alone
A model name can cover several years, engine sizes and versions. Examples used to explain scooter and motorbike categories do not confirm current Mr Tú inventory. Ask what is available for your dates, which engine size appears on its documents and how that individual vehicle is operated. Do not infer licence requirements from body shape, a photograph or a familiar badge. If a detail affects your eligibility or confidence, have it clarified before agreeing. A different vehicle in the same broad category may still feel quite different when you move it, stop or turn.
Check your fit while the bike is stationary
In a suitable safe location, sit on the vehicle, hold the handlebars straight and assess whether you can support and maneuver it comfortably. Consider moving it out of a parking space as well as riding once underway. Riders of the same height can have different reach and confidence because leg length and experience vary. A larger storage compartment is not a good reason to select a machine you struggle to balance. If the stationary checks already feel difficult, discuss a different option. There is no obligation to ride simply because you have reached the handover stage.
Plan for luggage before choosing a scooter
Explain whether you will carry a passenger and ask about the permitted load and agreed use. Do not plan to carry a large suitcase on the footboard or hang a heavy bag from the handlebars. Luggage can interfere with steering, visibility and balance. Arranging separate transport for arrival luggage and collecting a bike afterwards can be easier. Check the actual under-seat space rather than assuming a particular helmet or laptop will fit. Storage is not automatically waterproof or secure for valuable items. Keep documents and items needed during the ride accessible without having to search while moving.
Locate every control before setting off
Ask the person handing over the vehicle to explain the ignition, seat release, fuel opening, indicators, lights, horn and stands. On a semi-automatic motorbike, confirm the gear pattern on that particular vehicle. On an automatic scooter, ask about starting steps and any side-stand engine cut-out fitted to it. Controls and safety features vary between versions. A video about a different model is not a substitute for understanding the one in front of you. Practice the controls while stationary where appropriate, and avoid experimenting with unfamiliar switches in moving traffic.
Make a short check ride only when appropriate
If you are legally entitled and competent to ride, and a lawful safe area is available, begin at low speed to understand throttle and brake response. Stop and raise any unusual pulling, warning light, noise or weak braking before continuing. Do not make sudden brake tests in busy traffic or use public streets for a first-ever riding lesson. A short check ride can reveal an immediate concern; it is not a technical inspection or a guarantee about future mechanical condition. You should be able to ask questions and decline an unsuitable vehicle before the rental is finalized.
Confirm documents, fuel and support for that bike
Before agreeing, ask which vehicle documents and insurance information are handed over, which fuel the vehicle requires, how the starting fuel level is recorded and whom to contact if something goes wrong. This website does not assert a verified replacement-bike service, rescue response time or free repair coverage for Mr Tú. Those points need a specific agreement. Mention any proposed travel outside Hanoi before booking. An article describing a destination does not mean that a rental vehicle is authorized, equipped or supported for that journey. A clear permitted-use agreement matters more than a general travel suggestion.
Decide whether riding suits this visit
A motorbike can be useful when you have appropriate experience, valid documents and a route that suits your ability. For a short walkable visit, heavy rain, a late arrival or a day involving alcohol, another mode of transport may be more appropriate. Compare the whole journey, including parking, luggage and the return appointment. Choosing not to ride is a practical decision when the conditions are unsuitable. If you are uncertain about your documents or the vehicle’s controls, resolve that uncertainty before collection rather than hoping to work it out on the road.
Check your own licence: older Vietnamese licences and recognition under international agreements may have different scopes from the newer class labels. Check the actual document, issue date and vehicle against the 2026 consolidated Vietnamese road traffic law. A class name alone does not settle every case.
