Gear & packing list

Short version: Bring from home the things that have to fit: helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and proper waterproofs. Buy the cheap, bulky and disposable things in Vietnam. For February, pack for 33°C and for 8°C in the same small bag; thin layers win. Then leave a third of it behind.

Helmet: bring or buy?

Helmets are compulsory for rider and passenger. The fine is 400,000–600,000 VND each (about US$15–23, 2026); the real cost of skipping one is rather higher.

• The local standard. Helmets sold in Vietnam must meet the national standard (QCVN 2:2021) and carry a "CR" conformity stamp. That is the legal minimum, and it includes the thin half-shell lids you'll see everywhere. A free rental helmet is often one of those, with an unknown history.
• Bring your own if you have one that fits: full-face or flip-front, certified to ECE 22.06 (the current European standard), DOT or similar. Most airlines accept one as cabin luggage; check yours.
• Or buy in Saigon or Hanoi. Specialist shops in both cities sell internationally certified full-face helmets (see the directory). Check the label inside and try before you buy; riders with large heads report visiting several shops.
• Take a clear visor. You'll ride in drizzle, dust and dusk. Add sunglasses for the south.

What to wear on the bike

• Jacket: a light mesh or textile riding jacket with shoulder, elbow and back armour (the padded inserts that take the knock). Leather is too hot for the south.
• Legs: riding jeans with knee armour, or strap-on knee guards over ordinary trousers.
• Gloves: a light summer pair, plus a warmer waterproof pair for the north.
• Footwear: sturdy boots that cover the ankle; light hiking boots are fine. Never sandals on the bike.
• Rain gear, which is essential: a two-piece rain suit (jacket and trousers) that fits over your riding kit. Roadside ponchos are sold in every town and make a fine backup, but they flap, leak at speed and leave your legs soaked.

Layers for February

In February Saigon averages 33°C by day. Sa Pa, in the far north, averages 14°C by day and 8°C at night, before cold snaps and wind chill. See When to go.

• Two or three quick-drying T-shirts
• A thin fleece or light down jacket that squashes small
• Thermal top and leggings for the northern mountains
• Neck tube and a thin hat that fits under your helmet
• Your rain suit, which doubles as a windproof

In the northern drizzle nothing dries overnight, so keep one set of clothes sealed in a dry bag for evenings.

Luggage

• One soft bag or dry bag of 30–40 litres strapped across the rear seat or rack. Keep the weight on the bike, not on your back.
• A small daypack or tank bag for passport, phone and wallet, which never leaves your side.
• Two good adjustable luggage straps from home; bungee cords and cargo nets are cheap in Vietnam.
• If your bag isn't waterproof, line it with a heavy bin liner. Rain covers alone soon give up.
• Ask for a bike with a rear rack; it makes strapping a bag on far easier.

Phone, power and maps

• A sturdy phone mount and a waterproof pouch
• A USB charger on the bike (ask your rental shop, or have a mechanic fit one) and a power bank
• Offline maps downloaded before you leave Wi-Fi: see Life on the road

Tools and spares

You're rarely far from a mechanic, so take little: a multi-tool, cable ties, duct tape, a head torch, a small lock, and a spare inner tube in your tyre size for remote days. For the longest fuel gap (the Ho Chi Minh Road West), experienced riders carry a spare 1.5 litres of petrol in a sealed bottle.

Documents

• Passport and a printout of your visa
• Home driving licence and International Driving Permit: check which kind is valid
• Travel insurance policy and its emergency number
• The bike's registration card (the "blue card") or the rental shop's copy, plus your rental contract
• Two bank cards kept in separate places, and photos of everything stored online

First-aid kit

Gravel rash is the likeliest injury, so pack for cleaning and covering grazes: saline or antiseptic wipes, non-stick dressings, gauze, tape and plasters. Add an elastic bandage, painkillers, antihistamines, rehydration salts, diarrhoea tablets, sunscreen, insect repellent and enough of any prescription medicine for the whole trip. Pharmacies (nhà thuốc) in every town sell the basics.

What not to bring

• A hard suitcase, or much over 12 kg in total
• Heavy leathers or full winter touring kit
• Camping gear: rooms are cheap and everywhere
• More than three changes of clothes; laundry is cheap
• A laptop, unless work insists

Buy there or bring from home?

Heads up: Sizes run small. Expats have long reported that clothes labelled XXL can be a snug fit and that larger or wider shoes are hard to find. Those reports are several years old and we couldn't confirm current stock, so don't count on buying big sizes on arrival.

Printable checklist

Riding gear

• Helmet with clear visor
• Armoured jacket
• Riding trousers or knee guards
• Summer gloves and warm waterproof gloves
• Ankle boots
• Two-piece rain suit
• Sunglasses, earplugs

Clothes

• 3 T-shirts, 1 long-sleeved shirt
• Fleece or light down jacket
• Thermal top and leggings
• Neck tube and thin hat
• Spare trousers and shorts
• Socks and underwear
• Sandals for evenings

Luggage and tech

• Dry bag or lined soft bag
• Daypack or tank bag
• Luggage straps and cargo net
• Phone mount and waterproof pouch
• Charger, cable, power bank, plug adapter
• Offline maps downloaded

Tools and spares

• Multi-tool, cable ties, duct tape
• Head torch and lock
• Spare inner tube
• Bottle for spare fuel

Documents and money

• Passport and visa printout
• Licence and International Driving Permit
• Insurance details
• Bike papers and rental contract
• Two bank cards and some cash

Health

• First-aid kit
• Prescription medicines
• Sunscreen and insect repellent