Your guide renting a Motorbike in Ninh Binh

October 9, 2019 admin 0

Whether you are in Ninh Binh for a few days, weeks, or months, the first thing you are going to notice is that life is so much easier on a motorbike. Renting a motorbike will definitely add value to your trip as you’ll enjoy the autonomy, be able to visit remote places, have flexibility in the city, and save some time and money on taxis and private cars. However, finding reliable motorbike rental shops in Ninh Binh might feel similar to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Motorbikes are the mode of transport of choice in Vietnam. Used for everything from transporting entire families to carrying pigs, furniture, and bicycles! It’s no surprise that you can rent one just about anywhere. We really do mean anywhere: homestays, hotels, street sites, travel agencies, and specialised stores… you name it!

But don’t worry, Motorbike Nguyen Tu has done all the hard work. Sorted through dozens of options and narrowed it down to the most reliable motorbike rental shops in Hoi An. So, if you’ve made up your mind on renting a motorbike, then read this guide to find your ideal dealer and rent one as fast and hassle-free as possible.

Should you rent a motorbike in Ninh Binh

Table of contents

The cost of motorbike taxis or even regular taxis are quite cheap so maybe you are better off letting someone else do the driving.

In the event of an accident your insurance may not cover you unless you are licensed to ride in Vietnam, some insurance companies consider motorbike riding an adventure sport and don’t cover it.

Don’t take this question too lightly. If you are not an experienced rider and want to ride around just for fun then be very careful. Exhaust pipe burns, scraped skin and hospital visits are not fun.

Yes, the traffic in Ninh Binh province is not as busy as in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi but riding here is still a challenge. It is even more challenging when it is wet, windy or when the roads are extra busy during national holidays.

How to rent a motorbike in Ninh Binh

The automatic scooters motorbike is the easiest to handle, better to ride in metropolitan areas, and suitable for beginner drivers. The manual requires hand and feet coordination. And big engine bikes are for experienced riders only and suitable for the rugged roads in the countryside.

When you rent a bike in Ninh Binh you will need to provide your passport or for longer term rentals a copy of your passport. Most rental places will accept payment when you return the bike after your ride.

In most cases the rental place will not provide you with any paperwork, no contract / agreement and no registration for the bike. This could be a problem if you are stopped by the police which is very unlikely unless you have an accident.

Also note that most places will not ask for a driving licence, most foreigners in Vietnam are unlicensed but this is changing as getting a license is getting easier. If you plan to be here for more than a few months, get a licence.

What Are Ninh Binh Motorbikes Rental Requirements?

It you want to rent a motorbike in Ninh Binh, some rental companies ask for your passport while others don’t. We’ve noticed that shops located along the main touristy roads seem adamant about handing over your passport. It seems as though the smaller businesses on the less traveled side streets are more accepting to a passport photocopy or a cash deposit instead. To rent a motorbike in Ninh Binh, you need two things:

Passport
Cash

For motorbike rental, there are different procedures depending on the rental shop and the length of the rental. If you stay in a hotel and rent a motorbike from the hotel for a few days, the hotel will not require a deposit. If you rent directly from a rental shop, you need to give your passport to the owner until you return the motorbike or deposit an amount of money (from 1.5 million VND to 3 million VND). Leaving a passport with a shop while you travel the whole country is not ideal, so an alternative can be suggested. Often rental shops will accept a different form of valid identification or even a copy of the passport.

In some cases, an additional requirement could be the number of your hotel room if you’re renting a scooter from the hotel.

Or sometimes a rental company could ask for the hotel that you are staying in.

Regarding payments, you almost always pay in cash and upfront. Most motorcycle companies don’t ask to see proof of a driver’s license. You can drive away from their shop without toppling over or crashing into something or someone.

Some places for Ninh Binh Motorbike Rental

It is not difficult to rent a motorbike in Ninh Binh or any other Vietnam city. There are several variants:

small hotels and hotels.

specialized points.

other variants.

You can hardly walk around any (especially central) street without noticing a dozen rental places where you’ll be gladly helped to hire a scooter.

If you are staying at a small hotel you’ll probably be told about such nearest places at the reception. They even can bring you a bike or something to the hotel as hotel owners often have contracts with the owners of motor transport.

If they don’t provide such a service, it’s enough to walk along the second and the third lines of Ninh Binh.

One more method of hiring motor transport in Ninh Binh is getting in touch with the foreigners living there a long time and running some bike rental business. We’d advise you to turn to our good acquaintances – guys from the Moto Vietnam and they not only will help you to choose a good and suitable bike but will also give you some recommendations and several bike riding lessons.

Some address and phone motorbike rental Ninh Binh:

Address: 800 Tran Hung dao street, Tan Thanh, Ninh Binh.

Phone: 085 205 0015 – 0943 551 799

Address: No21/10 Trang An Lane, Ninh Binh.

Tel: 0972.036.929

Address: 454 Ngo gia tu street, Nam Binh, Ninh Binh city.

Phone: 0976 499 223

How to ride a motorbike in Ninh Binh?

All you need to know before you start to ride a motorbike or car in Vietnam.

But carefully! Regardless of how experienced you are, riding in Ninh Binh takes a bit of getting used to. Use some common sense and learn how the locals use the road.

There are SO many motorbikes zipping around that you have to walk slowly but surely, allowing the motorbikers to (hopefully) dodge around you. If you stand around waiting for them to stop for pedestrians to cross, you’ll be waiting a long time.

Traffic law is practically non-existent. It’s not that scary once you get the hang of it, but you might want to get a feel for how it works before setting off on your own.

Follow closely behind someone who looks like they know what they’re doing

The Vietnamese will carry an entire house (plus their three children and dog) on the back of their bikes if they can. You will amaze at how they don’t tip over.

Safety Inspection and Checks

Before you set off, make sure you give a thorough check of the motorbike. The company will usually go over the bike and make a list of any dents, scratches and damage it might already have which you will be asked to witness. Pay attention when this is done as the contracts you are about to sign says that you hired the bike in prime condition. If it comes back with any additional marks you will be charged for this and be careful some companies motorbike rental Ninh Binh make alot of extra income this way.

Here are things you should check for.

1) Inspect the bike for existing damage and take photo’s on your phone.

2) Sit on the bike and bounce up and down – make sure the suspension is working.

3) See if the mirrors adjust and you can see behind you. Vietnamese drivers hardly ever use their mirrors – but you do!

4) Ride the bike and check for size comfort (your knees should not be forced to stick out)

5) Ride the bike and test the brakes (some bikes have rear and front, some combined – know what you have)

6) Check the acceleration – sometimes you will need to get out of the way of some idiot quickly

7) Opt for bikes with thicker tires – thin tires and gravel will be your No one reason for an accident

8) Helmet – Get as good as you can and wear it. Seriously wear it – I know some people don’t but think of your mother!

Best Things To Do In Ninh Binh (Vietnam)

Ninh Binh is a town which lies to the southeast of Hanoi and acts as a base for visitors to explore the surrounding area. Slightly confusingly, the state is also known as Ninh Binh, with Ninh Binh town also acting as the capital city, so often when people refer to this part of Vietnam they are talking about the whole Ninh Binh district which comprises several towns, villages and key attractions.

There are not many set ‘sights’ in the town on Ninh Binh itself, but this is a great place to visit if you want to get out and about and spend time in some of the prettiest and most unspoilt parts of Vietnam. Ninh Binh town is usually used as a jumping off point to Tam Coc, Van Long and Hoa Lu and although it is not as well known as other places in the country, it is a great spot for anyone with an interest in nature thanks to its craggy limestone scenery. As other parts of the country such as Halong Bay and Sapa become more popular, if you want to take the road less traveled then Ninh Binh is the ideal choice.

Here are the best things to do in Ninh Binh…

Visit Tam Coc

Located outside of Ninh Binh town, Tam Coc is one of the best nature destinations in Vietnam although it remains firmly off the tourist trail.

Tam Coc is known for its karst landscape which is similar to the better known Halong Bay, although here you will find some scenic limestone hills which are dotted amongst emerald green rice paddies.

Halong Bay has larger cliffs, although it is also more crowded, so Tam Coc is the place to come if you want to get off the beaten track and you can explore the area by boat which takes around two hours.

Bich Dong Pagoda

Just past Tam Coc you will find one of the most interesting pagodas in the region which dates from the 15th century.

The Bich Dong Pagoda is located on the side of a mountain and is made up of three levels called the Ha, Trung and Thuong Pagodas.

The temples are also built so that they back on to caves which you can also explore as part of a visit here.

As you would expect from pagodas built into a cliff, the path to the top is steep but the views are well worth it.

For that reason, it is well worth a trip here if you are in the region.

Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park is one of the main national parks in Vietnam and was established in 1962. This is part of a huge swathe of protected land in Ninh Binh and was set up in order to take care of the wildlife in the region which has been in decline for many years as a result of poaching.

The park now spans 222 square kilometers and is made up of tropical forest which is home to a plethora of wildlife.

On a visit here you will find some 307 species of birds as well as 133 species of mammals and 122 species of reptiles.

You will also find over 2,000 different kinds of plants here making it a must visit for nature lovers.

Admire Chua Bai Dinh

Chua Bai Dinh is a colorful Buddhist temple complex that is located on a scenic hill close to Ninh Binh town.

The temple was built in 2014 and has quickly become one of the top attractions in the area.

The entrance leads to walkways which are lined with 500 stone arhats (images of enlightened Buddhists) and inside you will find the Phap Chu Pagoda which extends over some three tiers.

There is also a bronze Buddha inside which weighs 100 tones and is 10 meters high as well as two smaller gilded Buddhas.

Explore Mua Cave

Located close to some scenic rice paddies is the Mua Cave which has gorgeous views over the surrounding peaks.

There is a stone staircase that takes you up to the mouth of the cave and past eerie karst formations.

Once you have climbed the 500 steps to the top, you will get to the altar of Quan Am who is the revered Goddess of Mercy and the vistas are spectacular as you can see all the way down to the Ngo Dong River.

Take a boat trip in Trang An

Neighboring Trang An is known for its scenic water ways and you can hire a boat here and float along the Sao Khe River.

This will take you through other-worldly caves and you can take in the scenery and also visit the caves and temples at the same time.

Boat trips usually last around 2 hours and Trang An is around 7 kilometers from Ninh Binh town so you can easily visit for the day.

Visit the Hoa Lu Temples

Nestled against Yen Ngua Mountain are two of Hoa Lu’s temples which are adorned with gorgeous pillars covered in dark red lacquer.

The most famous of these is called Dinh Tien Hoang which is dedicated to the time of the Dinh Dynasty and was restored in the 17th century At the front of the temple you will find a stone throne and the interior features a statue of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang with his children.

You will also find the usual bronze bells here that feature in all temples across Vietnam.