How to rent a motorbike in Mui Ne: licence, rentals and the ride to the dunes
Which licence you need for a bike in Mui Ne, three rentals from the directory with addresses and contacts, what to check at pickup and the ride to the white and red dunes.
To rent a motorbike in Mui Ne you need your home licence with a motorcycle category plus an International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention, and you carry both. Our directory has three rentals: two at the start of the resort strip on Nguyễn Đình Chiểu street and one in Phan Thiet. Before you ride off, check the brakes, film the bike and don't leave your original passport. A helmet is required for rider and passenger.
Vehicle rental: addresses and contacts Open in Telegram
Which licence do I need in Mui Ne, and what happens without one?
The 2024 Road Traffic Law (No. 36/2024/QH15, Article 57) recognises an International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention, and only together with a national licence of the same category. A bike up to 125 cc is category A1, anything bigger is A. The law doesn't name the 1949 Geneva Convention, so don't count on that kind of permit.
Riding without the right licence costs 2–4 million dong on a bike up to 125 cc and 6–8 million on a bigger one (Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP, Article 18). Riding here unprepared is risky: Saigon Giai Phong (SGGP, 28 December 2024) reports several crashes involving foreigners on bikes in Phan Thiet. In mid-November 2024 two bikes collided on Nguyễn Thông street, both ridden by Russian citizens, and both died. Residents quoted by the paper say rental oversight is weak and renters are rarely asked for a licence.
Do I need a helmet?
Yes, rider and passenger alike. That's Article 33 of Law No. 36/2024/QH15, and Article 12 of Decree 168/2024 covers the fine for a passenger without one. SGGP also notes foreigners riding without helmets on the roads to the Hàm Tiến–Mũi Né resort area. Ask the rental for two helmets when you pick up the bike.
Where can I rent a bike in Mui Ne?
Three rentals from our directory. Two are at the start of the resort strip, the third is in Phan Thiet itself.
| Rental | Where | Contact | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Dư | 02 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, the very start of the street on the Phan Thiet side, before the main resort strip | phone 0974 815 078 | closes at 22:00 on Google Maps; rents bikes; one guidebook puts the area in Hàm Tiến, so check the map on your way |
| Ms. Trân | alley off Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, 69/8, at the start of the resort strip | phone 0979 793 906 | Maps says open 24 hours; a 2023 guidebook lists two more addresses for this rental that haven't been confirmed in a long time, so call before you go |
| Tâm Chung | Phan Thiet, 280 Thủ Khoa Huân, in the city rather than on the resort strip | phones 0964 955 407 and 0969 371 347 | bikes rented by the day; closes at 19:00 on Maps; if one number doesn't answer, try the other |
The other options are in the vehicle rental section. Ask each one directly about the deposit, the state of the bikes and the return time; that changes faster than any directory.
What should I check when I pick up the bike?
Inspect the bike before any money changes hands, and take your time.
- Both brakes: the bike should stop firmly on the front and the rear.
- Tyres: tread not worn down, no cracks or bulges on the sidewalls.
- Headlight, indicators, brake light, horn.
- Fuel: head to the dunes with a full tank and extra water.
Film the bike from every side with the rental staff present. A scratch that isn't on your video is hard to argue about later.
Should I leave my passport as a deposit?
Don't leave the original. VnExpress's guide for bike renters advises against it (3 December 2024). Without a passport you can't check into a hotel, and at a roadside check you have nothing to prove who you are. Offer a cash deposit or a photocopy and agree on it before you get the bike. If a rental insists on the original and won't budge, go to another.
How do I ride to the white and red dunes?
The white dunes and Bàu Trắng lake are in Hòa Thắng commune, Bắc Bình district; the tourism portal Vietnam Tourism puts them about 30 km from Mui Ne and about 65 km from Phan Thiet. Start early. There is no food or drink on site, so bring water and a snack. The red dunes, per VOV, are about 20 km from central Phan Thiet; from the resort strip they are closer.
On wind: VOV writes that sandstorms are frequent at the white dunes and that the wind keeps reshaping the sand. We found no official data on sand drifting over the road, so just watch the surface and slow down if sand lies across it in a band. For when the wind is strongest, see our guide to season and wind in Mui Ne by month. What else to see nearby is in what to see in Mui Ne, and how to reach Mui Ne from other cities is in how to get to Mui Ne.
Which province is Mui Ne in now?
Since 1 July 2025 Mui Ne has been part of Lâm Đồng province: under National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15 Bình Thuận, Đắk Nông and Lâm Đồng were merged into one province. The old name "Bình Thuận" still turns up in addresses on Maps and in guidebooks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a bike in Mui Ne without a licence if the rental doesn't ask? You may get the keys, but you can't ride: the fine is 2–4 million dong on a bike up to 125 cc and 6–8 million on a bigger one. SGGP says renters in Phan Thiet are rarely asked for a licence, but that doesn't cancel the fine.
Is a 1949 Geneva Convention permit accepted? Don't count on it. Law No. 36/2024/QH15 (Article 57) names only the 1968 Vienna Convention permit, valid together with a national licence of the right category.
Does the passenger need a helmet? Yes. A helmet is required for rider and passenger (Article 33 of the law, Article 12 of Decree 168/2024).
How far is it to the white dunes? Vietnam Tourism says Bàu Trắng is about 30 km from Mui Ne. Leave in the morning.
Is there food at the white dunes? Vietnam Tourism says there is nowhere to eat or drink at Bàu Trắng lake, so take water and a snack.
Which rental stays open late in Mui Ne? On Maps Mr. Dư closes at 22:00 and Tâm Chung at 19:00, while Ms. Trân is listed as open 24 hours. Confirm hours by phone.
Sources and checks
Licence, helmet and fines: Law No. 36/2024/QH15 (Articles 57 and 33) and Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP (Articles 18 and 12), checked 26 October 2026; the Vienna Convention point comes from VOV and Vietnam Government News. Passport as a deposit: VnExpress, 3 December 2024. Crashes in Phan Thiet and weak rental oversight: SGGP, 28 December 2024. Distance to Bàu Trắng and no food on site: Vietnam Tourism; red and white dunes and sandstorms: VOV, 17 May 2018 (an old article, not official road data). Mr. Dư, Ms. Trân and Tâm Chung come from our vehicle rental section: addresses and phone numbers were checked against independent sources on 23 October 2026; a guidebook lists extra addresses for Ms. Trân and the Tâm Chung phone numbers differ between Maps and guidebooks, so the table shows both. Province: Resolution 202/2025/QH15 (Hoatieu.vn). What your insurance covers is in your own policy. Updated 26 October 2026.