Self-Guided Tours – Your Ride, Your Rules

FLAMINGO TRAVEL’s Self-Guided Tours are expertly crafted itineraries built on over 25 years of experience and passion for adventure. They are made for those riders who prefer to explore on their own while still having structure to their journey.
Each package includes a motorcycle rental, hotel/homestay accommodations with Breakfast and Dinner, pre-planned routes, and access to our Mobile Tour Guide App.

Start your ride any day of the week, for as long as you like — our Self-Guided Tours are flexible with no fixed departure dates.

All FLAMINGO TRAVEL Self Guided Motorbike Tours come equipped with a rear luggage rack and elastic bungee cords for securing your bags. The amount of luggage you can carry depends on whether you're riding solo or with a passenger, as well as on the bike model:

• Up to 25kg backpack — if you’re riding solo, for all standard bike models.
• Up to 10kg backpack — if you have a passenger, for all standard bike models
• Up to 35kg backpack — if you have a passenger and ride a manual touring bike such as the Kawasaki Versys 300 or Honda CBX/NX 500, which can come equipped with side panniers per customer request.

Note: Groups over 3 riders can add a support vehicle if carrying extra luggage.

Vietnamese cuisine is a highlight of the journey! Expect fresh, flavorful dishes made with local ingredients. From famous street foods like pho, banh mi, and spring rolls to hearty home-cooked meals in the mountains, you’ll get a true taste of the culture.
We cater to most dietary preferences — vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies — just let us know in advance.

To confirm your reservation, we require:

• ✅ Rental Payment

  A 20% deposit of the total rental cost (including any add-on services) is paid online via our secure payment system at the time of booking

  The remaining 80% is paid upon arrival at our office when you pick up the motorcycle.

  You can pay the balance in:

  • Cash (VND / USD / EUR / GBP)
  • Credit card (subject to a 4% bank processing fee)

• ✅ Security Deposit

  A security deposit for the motorcycle is required before you’re off on your adventure. You may choose one of the following options:

  One original passport per rental (for one or multiple bikes)

  OR

  Cash deposit:

  • $500 / €500 / £500 for bikes 110cc–155cc
  • $1,000 / €1,000 / £1,000 for bikes above 155cc

  OR

  PayPal transfer of the same amount as above

  Your security deposit will be returned after the rental ends and the motorbike has been checked for any damage.

We guarantee that all your deposit documents will be safely transferred to your selected Flamingo Travel drop-off location before your scheduled return date.
We use a dedicated and reliable internal delivery system to ensure everything arrives securely and on time.

If you deposit a Cash or PayPal deposit, your refund will be processed as follows:

• Cash: You will receive the refund directly at Flamingo location
• PayPal: The refund will be sent to your PayPal account within 3–5 business days after the motorbike is inspected.

If you decide to finish your Self-Guided Tour earlier than planned, please notify us at least 72 hours in advance so we can arrange the transfer accordingly.

Technically yes, but it’s risky and not recommended.

In Vietnam, you're required to hold either:

• A valid Vietnamese motorbike license, or an International Driving Permit (IDP) based on the 1968 Vienna Convention, with motorbike (A1 or A2) endorsement.

Most IDPs based on the 1949 Geneva Convention (common from countries like the U.S., Australia, Japan) are not valid in Vietnam—even if they include motorbike endorsements.

However, we also understand that if we refuse to rent you a motorbike due to the lack of a valid license, you can still easily rent one elsewhere in Vietnam. Therefore, we encourage you to consider carefully and make the decision that’s most appropriate for you.

- Police fines: You can expect to be fined around US $20 – US $50 if you’re stopped at random police checkpoints, but up to US $200 if you’re stopped at checkpoint in Ha Giang area.

- Insurance issues: Most insurance policies (including travel insurance) are void if you don’t hold a valid license recognized in Vietnam.

- Legal responsibility: In case of an accident, even if it’s not your fault, you might be held fully liable if you don’t have a legal license.

In addition to our main locations, Flamingo Travel has a wide network of trusted repair partners across Vietnam, ready to assist you in case of mechanical issues during your trip.

If you're renting a motorbike from us, approved repairs will be covered – Read Damage policy here, as long as you:

• - Call us first before any repair work begins
• - Send 1–2 photos of the damaged part
• - Keep the original repair receipt for reimbursement.

🚫 Not covered: flat tires, Burn out clutch, accidents, or damage caused by rider negligence.

With support available nationwide, you can ride worry-free – we’ve got your back! Your safety and trip continuity are our top priorities. We recommend staying in touch with us during your journey so we can support you as quickly as possible.

We ask for a deposit 20% of total tour cost in order to confirm to secure your booking(s).
The balance will be paid when you come Flamingo Travel office.

If you need to cancel your self - guided tour, the following terms apply:

• More than 44 days before departure: Full refund deposit paid issued as store credit (minus any bank or transaction fees).
• 31 – 44 days before departure: 50% cancellation fee of deposit paid (minus any bank or transaction fees); the remaining 50% refunded as store credit.
• Within 30 days of departure: No refund deposit paid.

Please note: Any balances remaining after all cancellation fees have been applied will be issued as a store credit that may be redeemed within one year.

Weather conditions can be unpredictable, and as such, FLAMINGO TRAVEL cannot guarantee ideal weather during your Self-Guided Tour. We are not responsible for any inconvenience caused by unfavorable weather, and unfortunately, no refunds will be issued in such cases.
There are times of the year in which weather is more stable and we can advice you upon request so you can plan accordingly.

We will arrange a pre-departure briefing session at our office or garage to introduce to you the route (with maps) and the minority people with whom you will come into contact.
Here, we will also provide you with all the equipment you will need, and go over any questions you may have.

Please print our office map here.