Vientiane Motorbike and Bicycle Rental in Laos

Vientiane Motorcycle and Bicycle Rental in Laos

Vientiane - Scooter (Vespa) for rent

Motorcycle and bicycle rentals are easily found in Vientiane town as there are numerous companies offering bike rentals and most of them can be found in the popular area near the Mekong River. I would easily recommend renting a bike as it made my explorations around Vientiane hassle free and saving money on the tuk tuks especially that in December2009, it is the Laos SEA Games in Vientiane.

The writer and his rented motorbike in Vientiane

Renting a bike in Vientiane was suggested to me by another traveler whom I met in a guesthouse. I had been moving around with the local tuk tuks in Vientiane which every trip costing me US$2-$3 so I ended up getting my Suzuki Smash 125cc motorbike for US$7 rental a day from one of the local shops around Quai Fa Ngum Road. By the way, these are automatic bikes without a clutch.

Here's the catch - When you rent a bike, they will ask you to leave your passport with them during your rental period. If you think it is unsafe, you have an option of leaving a US$300 deposit with them. I was skeptical at first but when the owner went in and took out a bag of about 20 passports, I reluctantly gave him mine as I did not carry any USD with me. Overall, it is safe from my experience.

Vientiane Hello Kitty bicycles for rent

Another thing that you must be very careful about is that you should always carry your bike rental papers with you at all times. This is because the Lao police do make random checks and if you get caught without the papers, it could lead to trouble. You should also always wear your helmet when riding. Gas prices are pretty cheap in Vientiane so moving around is not a problem. I even rode over 4 hours on my rented bike out of Vientiane to the Buddha Park and also to the most popular tourist site, The Golden Stupa or That Lung Stupa.
 

Vientiane Jumbo, a larger version of a tuk tuk

Tuk Tuk / Jumbo ride around Vientiane Town video

Alternatively, everyone takes the local Tuk Tuk or Jumbo when in Vientiane town. They are similar to the Thailand Tuk Tuk and are found just about anywhere in town. Prices are reasonable and cost around US$1 to $3 per trip. They are also quite safe as I used them for my first two day in Vientiane until another traveler advised me to rent a bike instead.

Video of Jumbo (tuk Tuk) ride around Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane is easy to navigate as the town area is pretty small where most of the hotels and guesthouses are located around Quai Fa Ngum Road. Most of the time, you would be renting the bike to travel to various sites in and out of Vientiane like visiting temples and so on.

Motorbike and Car Rentals in Vientiane;

• Motorbike Rentals from GT-Rider in Vientiane
• Lao Yellow Pages Link

Requirements for renting a motorbike in Vientiane;

• Generally, you need to know how to ride a bike
• No driving license needed, just passport
• Alternative is to give a US$200-$300 deposit if you do not want to leave your passport
  
• Bike rentals cost from US$7 - $35 depending on the size of the bike
• Bicycles cost about KIP10,000 (US$2) a day

Map of Vientiane Town Area

View Vientiane Motor Bike Rentals in a larger map

My other Vientiane Postings;

• Lao Customs, Etiquette and Warnings - The Laos Culture
• Morning Market Talat Sao in Vientiane
• Payuxai / Patuxay Arch in Vientiane
• That Luang Stupa or The Golden Stupa Temple in Vientiane
• Buddha Park or Xieng Khuan Park in Vientiane
• Lao Food, Restaurants and Bakeries in Vientiane

When visiting Vientiane for long periods, you are much better off Renting a Motorbike in Vientiane there as it is much cheaper in costs and easier to get around. Have a great time in Laos.

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