Where a Beginner Can Practise Riding a Motorbike in Hanoi: Ask About the Area and the Instructor First

If you are new to motorbikes, or have not ridden for a long time, look for a qualified instructor and a properly organised place to practise before you think about renting a bike to ride in Hanoi traffic. A lot that looks wide and empty has not been confirmed as a place you may use. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s basic course is an example of instructor-led training; it is not a licence and does not replace Vietnamese law.

Questions about the practice area and the instructor

Let the instructor judge the site; do not certify a lot yourself by pacing out the space. These questions are for the conversation before a lesson, not a legal checklist for a training venue:

• Who manages the site, and has that person agreed to its use for practice?
• Is the surface level and firm, and is the area closed to through traffic and pedestrians during the session?
• Who is the instructor, and what will the first session cover?
• Which legal conditions must the learner meet before riding?

Confirm the session before bringing a bike

Contact the instructor or training provider first. Say whether you have never ridden or are returning after a break, and which type of bike you expect to use. Ask where the session takes place and who is responsible for the area.

Prepare yourself and the bike

• A helmet that fits, with the strap fastened.
• Closed-toe shoes with the laces tied.
• Close-fitting clothes with nothing long enough to reach the rear wheel.

For the fit check, see helmet fit at motorbike pickup.

First steps under direct instruction

Before the engine starts, the instructor checks the area, your gear and how the bike fits you, and explains how to cut the power, brake and stop. Do not hold the brake and twist the throttle while standing still to see what happens: the bike can lurch when the brake is released, and the drive can overheat. Balance, braking, slow riding and turning round are practised in the order the instructor sets.

What not to do

• Do not practise where the site manager has not given permission.
• Do not carry a passenger while you are practising.

If the bike tips over, someone walks into the area or you feel afraid

If the bike falls while stationary or at walking pace, switch it off and check people before lifting it. Then look at the handlebar, mirrors and brake levers for anything bent, take photographs and tell the shop if the bike is damaged; the steps are in rental motorbike falls over while parked. If someone enters the area or you feel afraid, stop, and let the instructor decide what happens next.

Questions to ask the shop before you practise

Which bike suits a beginner’s height and hand strength, and where are the throttle and brake levers on it? If the bike tips over or is scratched during practice, what should you photograph and how should you report it? Licence and document rules are on rental requirements, and riders choosing between gears and automatic can compare semi-automatic motorbike rental in Hanoi with Hanoi scooter rental. Nguyen Ha’s phone number is 0334 699 969.