How to rent a motorbike on Phu Quoc: licence, where to rent and what to check
Which licence you need for a bike on Phu Quoc, three rentals from the directory with addresses and contacts, what to check at pickup, and the island's roads in the rainy season.
To rent a motorbike on Phu Quoc you need your home licence with a motorcycle category plus an International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention, and you carry both. Bikes are rented in Duong Dong and An Thoi. 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.
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Which licence do I need on Phu Quoc, 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). On Phu Quoc this isn't theory. In May 2025 the city's traffic police dealt with a Russian tourist who was riding without a helmet and without a Vietnamese licence on Highway 973: the rented bike was held for ten days and the rental owner was summoned to explain why she handed it over. Police also urged rental shops to check renters' licences (Vietnam News, 8 May 2025).
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. Ask the rental for helmets when you pick up the bike.
Where can I rent a bike on Phu Quoc?
Three rentals from our directory: two around Duong Dong and one in the south, in An Thoi.
| Rental | Where | Contact | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anh Phát | Cua Lap (Cửa Lấp), on the road south from Duong Dong | phone 0985 465 555, site anhphatphuquoc247.com | rents bikes and cars, opens at 6:00; guidebooks give a different address, so call before you go and ask where to come |
| Hồng Phát | An Thoi, Tổ 4, khu phố 6 | phone 0385 822 222, WhatsApp is listed on Maps | bikes and e-bikes; handy if you stay in the south near Sunset Town or the Hon Thom cable car; ask about hours in advance |
| Nhà xe Tho Nguyễn | Duong Dong, Trần Phú street; other sources say Trần Hưng Đạo, Cua Lap | phone 0908 955 387 | closes at 22:30 on Google Maps; a Maps review mentions 50 cc scooters, electric and petrol |
The other rentals 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. In the rainy season this matters most.
- Headlight, indicators, brake light, horn.
- Fuel: there are fewer petrol stations in the north of the island than in Duong Dong, so set off with a full tank.
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.
What are the roads and weather like on Phu Quoc?
The main roads in the north are paved, but in the rainy season, May to October, some stretches get slippery and downpours cut visibility. For a ride north, pick the dry months, November to April. Rainy days per month are in our guide to weather and seasons by month: by the Phu Quoc weather station's norms it rains 19 to 24 days a month from May to October.
From central Duong Dong to Gành Dầu is 25–30 km, 40–50 minutes by bike on tarmac, with no long dirt sections (Sun Paradise Land). To the fishing village of Rạch Vẹm it's about 21 km, 30–40 minutes, but nearer the village the road narrows and there are stretches of red dirt. In the rain they can be muddy and pitted (Sun Paradise Land, 19 August 2026). Ride at a steady speed and keep away from the edge.
A heavy downpour can flood Duong Dong itself. On 17 September 2024 water stood on Trần Phú, Cách Mạng Tháng 8 and Nguyễn Trung Trực streets, and ferries and express boats to the island were suspended (Tuoi Tre). On days like that, leave the bike at the hotel. For ferries and boats, see how to get to Phu Quoc.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a bike on Phu Quoc 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. In May 2025 a tourist's rented bike was held for ten days on Phu Quoc, and the rental owner was summoned by the police.
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). Ask for two helmets when you pick up the bike.
When should I ride north on a bike? In the dry months, November to April. From May to October dirt stretches such as the road to Rạch Vẹm get slippery.
How long does it take to ride to Gành Dầu and Rạch Vẹm? From central Duong Dong, Gành Dầu is 25–30 km, 40–50 minutes; Rạch Vẹm is about 21 km, 30–40 minutes.
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. The Highway 973 case is from Vietnam News, 8 May 2025. Passport as a deposit: VnExpress, 3 December 2024. Anh Phát, Hồng Phát and Nhà xe Tho Nguyễn come from our vehicle rental section: addresses and phone numbers were checked against independent sources on 23 October 2026; for Anh Phát and Tho Nguyễn the sources give different addresses, so the table shows both. Roads and distances come from Sun Paradise Land (commercial travel guides, not official road data). The 17 September 2024 downpour is from Tuoi Tre. Province: since 1 July 2025 Phu Quoc has been a special zone of An Giang province, after Kiên Giang merged into An Giang (SGGP, Hoatieu). What your insurance covers is in your own policy. Updated 26 October 2026.