What to Bring and Wear in Vietnam

Author
Jonathan Pepper
Jul 15, 2025
Vietnam Travel Tips
200
views

When traveling on a motorbike, you should be traveling as lightly as possible. Small 100+cc motorbikes can and will carry you and a mountain of luggage across any road in Vietnam. However, the motorbike will become increasingly shaky and unstable with every kilogram added to your load. This reduces performance and therefore reduces enjoyment while also reducing safety.

What people don’t know about motorbikes

Many people don’t realize how much weight affects a motorbike’s performance. Manufacturers design bikes for a specific weight range, and exceeding it—by loading hard boxes or heavy camping gear—can make the bike handle poorly. While adventure photos often show overloaded bikes, experienced riders know that keeping weight low is key. They prefer soft luggage and lightweight, minimal gear, valuing better handling and a more enjoyable ride over carrying unnecessary items.

What can a Tigit motorbike carry

Overall: We Recommend A MAXIMUM 15kg of luggage Choosing the correct motorbike is important for enjoying the journey across Vietnam. Your luggage load is likely to impact your decision on the motorbike model. Larger capacity motorbikes such as the Honda CB 500x can cater to heavier loads without massively impacting performance. The small 110cc motorbike can carry anything, but the performance shift in handling will be noticeable. If you must carry a load of luggage, then it is still possible to travel on a 110cc motorbike. It's just not technically specified for it. Tigit has a service where it is possible to send a bag from one office to another for $15-20 per bag.

Shameless sales pitch of what to buy

At this point in the article, I will link to products I think are very useful and practical for a motorbike journey. Add them all to your cart now. Below this section, I list what I actually use on my own journeys.
I will choose the items that are already very popular in this shop, or what I consider to be the best products, even if no one is buying them!

Example gear for a long journey

A holiday from one week to an unlimited amount of time should have similar setups in terms of gear. Use hotel cleaning services as you go and keep recycling your clothes. Below is an example of Tigit Jon on a 14 day trip to the Himalayas in India . The Himalayas has far more volatile weather fluctuations than Vietnam, and the gear below could be considered overkill for Vietnam. Take a look, and consider how small and simple this is.

Tigit Jon on a 14 day trip in the Himalayas

1 x head torch
3 x socks (two for driving, one for evening)
1 x ADV boots
1 x trainers (evening wear)
4 x boxers
1 x shorts (evening wear)
1 x thermal pants
1 x Fleeced trousers (backup cold wear/evening wear)
1 x thermal shirt
1 x rain pants
1 x ADV pants
3 x Motorbike shirts
1 x t-shirt (evening wear)
1 x Fleece (hoody) (evening wear)
1 x Gore-Tex jacket
1 x Knee pads
1 x Elbow pads
2 x Motocross gloves

The above will weigh less than 15KG and easily fit into 2 small bags that can attach to any motorbike. The bags Jon uses are 12L in total. Fully suited up this will be 4 layers.

Bottom half: Thermal pants, fleeced trousers, rain pants, Adv pants

T op half : Thermal shirt, Motocross shirt, Fleeced hoody, Gore-Tex jacket.

Tigit Jon on a one week drive or less in Vietnam

1 x head torch
3 x socks (two for driving, one for the evening)
1 x ADV boots
1 x trainers (evening wear)
4 x boxers
1 x shorts (evening wear)
1 x rain pants
1 x ADV pants
2 x Motorbike shirts
1 x t-shirt (evening wear)
1 x lightweight rain jacket
1 x Knee pads
1 x Elbow pads
1 x Motocross gloves

Things to consider The two setups are similar despite the significant journey length differences. The Himalayan kit Tigit Jon is using could easily be used for any 3-month journey. Also, note the use of under-armor safety gear in the form of kneepads and elbow pads. Traditional ADV gear, such as ADV jackets, are heavy, expensive, and not flexible to weather fluctuations. Under armor (used by motocross and Enduro riders) is much cheaper, much safer, and allows you to use any normal clothing over the top. Tigit Jon will wear the same 1 x Trousers and 1 x Motocross shirt for the entire journey regardless of length. The reason for 3 x Motocross shirts is the risk of one getting wet. T-shirts can also be layered to provide warmth when it gets cold.

What backpackers normally wear

Most travelers will drive Vietnam in sandals, shorts, and a t-shirt. If you’re riding 3 minutes from your hostel to the beach, OK, this riding attire will suffice. Anything else, and you should not consider bare skin as ample protection. An experienced motorcycle rider will occasionally bring all the safety gear from home. Gore-Tex riding pants, kevlar jackets with armor, knee-high riding boots, you get the picture. This attire is extreme for safety gear in Vietnam, just like a bikini is the extreme opposite. That heavy gear is going to be hot, sweaty, and overkill. You’ll find your riding here much more subdued than back home. Forget carrying all that gear around. Find some middle ground on safety and protection.

Typical riding gear in Vietnam used by most backpackers.

Deciding on the style of holiday you are going for

Choosing the Right Safety Gear for Your Motorbike

The motorbike you choose will largely determine how much safety gear you’ll need and what quality level is appropriate. Many travelers arrive in Vietnam claiming they’ll “take it slow” and “ride safely,” but once the mountain roads and open stretches call, plans often change (you know who you are).

Before your trip, take an honest look at your riding style . Will you cruise calmly at local speeds, or will the thrill of the road take over once you’re in the saddle?

Small Bikes: Honda Blade 110cc

Small scooters like the Honda Blade are light, easy to handle, and encourage a slower, more relaxed pace—perfect for short daily rides up to around 200 km .

Recommended Gear:

A basic Vietnamese-style helmet is usually fine
A cheap rain poncho ($1–$5) will do the job
Jeans and a jacket provide enough protection for casual riding

Medium Bikes: Honda XR150cc | Honda Winner 150cc | Yamaha WR 155

Mid-range bikes such as the Honda XR150 strike a balance between local commuting and real adventure riding. They’re fast enough to demand respect and can handle varied terrain with ease. In capable hands, the XR150 can perform far beyond expectations.

Recommended Gear:

Decide early how you’ll ride — casual and slow, or spirited and adventurous
If you plan to push the limits, gear up properly with quality helmet, gloves, and protective clothing
Travel light to maintain handling and comfort

Large Bikes: Honda CB500X

For Vietnam’s standards, these are big, powerful machines . They can carry more luggage, handle rough terrain, and reach high speeds — but they require experience and caution. Many riders who handle large bikes easily at home find Vietnam’s traffic and conditions a whole new challenge.

Recommended Gear:

A full-face, certified helmet is essential for safety and comfort
Bring proper rain gear and full protective riding equipment
Treat the bike with respect — controlling a 500cc motorcycle in Vietnam is not the same as back home

In short: match your safety gear to your bike and your riding style.

Packing electronic gear and laptops

Laptops
Laptops and similar electronics are generally too heavy and fragile for motorbike travel. Modern smartphones and tablets are more than capable for most tasks, so unless you must use a laptop for technical work, it’s best to leave it at home. Laptops are hard to pack, hard to protect from rain or bumps, and simply add unnecessary weight.

Electrical Gear
Pick up any charger or cable—you’ll notice how surprisingly heavy these items can be. Keep things simple: bring one good charger and one high-quality cable . Avoid carrying a tangle of cables “just in case.” If something breaks, Vietnam has plenty of electrical shops where you can easily buy a replacement.

GoPros / Video Cameras
Many travelers bring GoPros to document their trips. It’s a great idea in theory, but in practice, few people know how to film effectively or edit their footage into a coherent story. Storing and managing video files can also be a hassle. Unless you already have experience with video production, it might be better to skip the camera and simply enjoy the journey—fully present and not distracted by recording everything.

Cameras
Cameras are heavy and awkward to use while riding. That said, passionate photographers will always find a way, and if that’s you, go for it—you already know the drill. For those less experienced, we recommend something compact and tough, like the Sony RX0 , which Tigit Jon personally uses. Since he started using it, our website photos have looked almost professional!

We love seeing our customers’ adventures—so if you capture amazing shots or stories from your Vietnam trip, share them with us. You might even be featured on the Tigit Blog !

Boots

Boots are the second most important piece of safety equipment after a helmet. They protect your feet and ankles if the bike falls, and from rocks and debris on the road.

Larger European bikes like the Honda CB500X weigh over 200 kg , while smaller Vietnamese bikes such as the Honda XR150 are around 130 kg —making the risk lower but still present.

For slow, casual touring (around 60 km/h) on tarmac, boots are optional. But if you’re riding faster, off-roading, or using anything above 150cc , proper motorbike boots are essential .

Note from Jon: On guided motorbike tours, the single biggest cause of holidays ending is broken ankles and legs. This is always with customers who have ADV boots. I personally believe you should be wearing Motocross boots, and you will see all our motorbike tours now provide these for free.

The Weather and How To Plan For It

Seasons

We have a full article explaining Vietnams weather . March and April are the best times to travel Vietnam. Across the country, the weather conditions are mostly stable.

The South is always hot. Think 30oC, riding your Honda XR150 to the beach in Vung Tau.
The North from November to February can be very cold.
From the South to central Vietnam, the rainy season is July to October.
Mid Vietnam cyclone season runs from around September to December. Not a regular occurrence, but it happens. Picture two days waiting out a storm.

Despite thinking you should only plan your trip around the hot areas during the dry times of the year. Each season can offer some benefits, and if you plan to ride the length of the country, you are likely to run into a myriad of weather differences. Ponchos Rain

The Vietnamese rain Poncho at $5, mostly does the job

Water & Staying Hydrated

When adventure riding with your motorbike rental , water bottles become loose and fall off. If they are strapped to your seat, they will eventually become hot, unrefreshing water that tastes like melted plastic. After years of running the roads of Vietnam, we've found that it's nearly impossible to stay hydrated without easy access to water while you're riding. You'll slowly sweat, become fatigued, and likely get a headache.

Solution A: If you are driving casually across the country you can stop and continually buy bottles of water.
Solution B: The hydration pack . This pack has become our single most important tool when riding across Vietnam. Fill it with water, strap it on, and enjoy easy-drinking pleasure while riding your motorcycle.

Things To Consider:

Decide on the holiday that you are going for and pack appropriately
Pack light. No one has ever complained about having a light load
Vietnam is slow, very slow. You'll be covering less ground than you think
If you are on an off-road mission or trying to cover as much ground as possible, then get the safety gear and throw away your luggage
Don't compare your ideas to those of typical backpackers. Motorbikes can move here with the right person wielding the beast
Under pack and use those washing services along the way.
Minimizing luggage improves the motorbike performance and is easier to load on and off the motorbike each day
Heavily loaded motorcycles will have reduced handling and increased braking distances
Vietnam is cheap for shopping, so if you are missing an item of clothing that should have been packed. Those missed items can be picked up easily and cheaply nearly anywhere in the country
A traveler is likely to experience all weather conditions on one holiday. It is not possible to predict the weather
Have fun. Vietnam is a giant playground unlike any other on earth