Buy or Rent a Motorbike in Da Nang as a Foreigner: Paperwork and Costs
Renting needs a passport or ID and a driving licence, and shops differ on deposits. Owning in your own name needs a permanent residence card or a temporary residence card with 6 months or more left. Daily, weekly and monthly rental prices are below.
On this page
Renting a bike needs a passport or ID plus a licence, and the shop is the registered owner. Owning a bike in your own name needs a residence card.
The rule for a foreign owner is in Circular 79/2024/TT-BCA.
Trường hợp chủ xe là người nước ngoài sinh sống và làm việc tại Việt Nam (trừ đối tượng quy định tại điểm a Khoản này): Xuất trình thẻ thường trú hoặc thẻ tạm trú (còn thời hạn cư trú tại Việt Nam từ 06 tháng trở lên).
A foreigner living and working in Vietnam, except the persons in point a of the same clause, must present a permanent residence card or a temporary residence card with 6 months or more of residence validity left. Circular 79/2024/TT-BCA, Điều 10 khoản 2 điểm b
Buying and renting are different paperwork, not just different prices. The sections below give both sets of facts.
What renting needs
Shops set their own rules, and they contradict each other.
- DanangBike says it does not keep the original passport and takes no cash security deposit for standard rentals.
- AZ Danang Motorbike Rental says a security deposit (passport) is required on pickup.
- Tuan Motorbike Rental requires a valid passport or ID and a refundable security deposit for all rentals, under terms last updated 1 June 2023.
- Gia Huy told the editor on 3 October 2026 that it does not take a cash deposit from most customers.
- Bao Tin Travel says it has a no-deposit policy, except for renters without an ID card or without a passport.
Ask each shop about the deposit before you book.
What renting costs
Prices below come from each shop’s own page or message and carry the date or year they were given.
DanangBike (price page, no date shown, site footer 2026) lists three groups of scooters.
| Bike | Daily from | 7 days from | 30 days from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50cc scooters | VND 195,000 | VND 1,250,000 | VND 4,500,000 |
| Honda Vision, Yamaha Grande | VND 260,000 | VND 1,650,000 | VND 5,500,000 |
| Vespa, Honda PCX | VND 450,000 | VND 2,850,000 | VND 9,500,000 |
Other shops quote lower numbers. Gia Huy told the editor on 3 October 2026 that manual bikes cost VND 90,000 to 110,000 a day and from VND 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 a month. It quoted automatic scooters at VND 100,000 to 150,000 a day and from VND 2,500,000 to 4,500,000 a month.
AZ Danang Motorbike Rental sent the editor its board on 3 October 2026. It lists the Vision, Lead, Air Blade, Janus and Grande at VND 120,000 for 1 to 3 days. For 1 month the same bikes are VND 80,000. Its Wave 110cc and Sirius 110cc manual bikes are VND 100,000 for 1 to 3 days and VND 60,000 for 1 month.
Tuan Motorbike Rental lists the Honda Wave at $8/day, the Yamaha NVX 155CC ABS at $15/day and the Honda PCX 160I ABS at $18/day.
For a longer rental, see the Da Nang motorbike rental price guide.
What buying a new bike costs
Yamaha Vietnam’s website listed the Janus 125 from VND 29,151,000 on 5 October 2026.
On top of the bike, the registration tax for a motorbike is 2% on first registration. A motorbike paying registration tax for the second time or later is charged 1%.
The plate and certificate fee for a first registration in Da Nang, which falls in Zone II, is a flat VND 105,000 whatever the bike’s value.
Who can register a bike in your name
A vehicle owner registers at the vehicle-registration agency of the locality where they have an office or residence, meaning registered permanent or temporary residence.
In Da Nang, the provincial traffic police register motorbikes for any organisation or individual with an office or residence in the city, with no domestic-only restriction.
The commune-level police clause covers only domestic owners, so it does not cover you.
If you hold a residence card
You can use the card to be recognised as the owner, provided the card is a permanent residence card or a temporary residence card with 6 months or more left.
If you hold only a visa
The rule names only the two card types. It does not say what happens to a visa holder, so ask the registration office before you buy.
Documents for a new registration
A first registration (cấp mới) needs 5 documents.
- The vehicle registration declaration.
- The owner’s papers.
- Proof of the vehicle’s origin.
- Proof of lawful ownership.
- Proof of completed financial obligations.
Proof of financial obligations is the registration-tax payment document, except for specialised-use motorcycles.
Buying a used bike
A used bike changes hands by a document of sale, exchange, gift or inheritance, together with the vehicle’s financial documents.
A buyer of a bike already registered in Vietnam goes through a change-of-ownership registration. Legally that is a re-issue of the certificate and plate, not a first-ever registration.
Used prices vary from bike to bike: compare several listings before you buy.
Licence and insurance
Riding without the licence the law requires is a prohibited act. Class A1 covers two-wheeled bikes up to 125 cm3. Class A covers bikes over 125 cm3 and everything class A1 covers.
The fine for riding without a licence is set by engine size.
| Bike | Fine without a licence |
|---|---|
| Up to 125 cm3 | VND 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 |
| Over 125 cm3 | VND 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 |
Read the full licence rules in Driving in Vietnam as a foreigner.
Compulsory civil-liability insurance costs VND 55,000 a year for a two-wheel motorcycle under 50 cc. For 50 cc or more it is VND 60,000 a year, both excluding VAT.
It pays up to VND 50 million in property damage per accident caused by a two-wheel motorcycle. It pays up to VND 150 million per person per accident for injury or death caused by a motor vehicle.
Before you decide
- Ask the shop whether it keeps your passport or takes a deposit.
- Check that your licence matches the bike class.
- Ask the registration office what applies to you if you hold less than a 6-month card.
- Compare rental prices by the week and the month, not only the day.
- Budget the 2% registration tax on a new bike.
- For a used bike, collect the document of sale and the financial documents.
See also how to register a motorbike in your own name for the full steps.
Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (AZ Danang Motorbike Rental on Google Maps) by @Cho Thuê Xe Máy Đà Nẵng - Motorbike Rental.
Not confirmed: Used-bike prices: check current listings. Honda scooter prices: not shown as text on the Honda site on 5 October 2026, ask a dealer. Visa holders and cardholders with under 6 months left: the rule names only residence cards. Ask the office. Deposit rules differ by shop.
Common questions
Can a tourist on a visa register a motorbike in their own name?
The rule says a foreigner living and working in Vietnam shows a permanent residence card or a temporary residence card with 6 months or more left. It does not name visa holders.
Do rental shops keep your passport?
It depends on the shop. DanangBike says it does not keep the original passport, while AZ Danang Motorbike Rental asks for a passport as a security deposit on pickup.
Which office registers a bike for a foreigner in Da Nang?
The provincial-level traffic police register motorbikes for any organisation or individual with an office or residence in the province or city, with no domestic-only limit.
What happens if you ride without a licence?
The fine is VND 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 on a bike up to 125 cm3. On a bike over 125 cm3 it is VND 6,000,000 to 8,000,000.
Is a Vietnamese licence required to ride a rented bike?
Tuan Motorbike Rental says renters must possess a valid driver's license or international driving permit. Gia Huy lists a valid A1 or A2 licence.
How much is compulsory insurance for a motorbike?
The annual premium is VND 55,000 under 50 cc and VND 60,000 from 50 cc up, both excluding VAT.
Next in Living in Da Nang
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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