Flooding in Vietnam – Ride Safe (7 Tips)

road construction combined with rain equals hard driving

Table of Contents

Vietnam Can Get Wet!

Every motorcyclist knows the adventures of an open road include sudden changes in weather along the way. Flooding in Vietnam is one of the country’s biggest hazards, and that dry clean stretch of road can change to a stormy wet surface which can last for hours. If you’ve packed your rain suit or even if you’ve forgotten to, there’s no reason you can’t ride on!

Storms, rain, and heavy winds can pose quite some danger for motorbike riders who are caught without the right preparation or experience. Every rider needs to be capable of handling themselves when the weather takes a turn for the worse. This is especially the case for monsoon season. Flash flooding in Vietnam can happen at any moment. 

So, when driving through flooded streets becomes unavoidable, what can motorcycle owners do to ensure they make it safely through flooding in Vietnam, and with a bike that still works?

two locals riding with an umbrella
two locals riding with an umbrella

7 Steps to Successfully Take your Motorbike for a Swim

1. Assess and Observe

Can you find another route? Can you wait it out? If there’s no turning back and you have little choice but to push on through, pause to study other vehicles first. Guess the depth by noting how far up their wheels the water is rising; try to guess where submerged obstacles may lie ( sidewalks or manholes). Consider what routes might offer the highest ground (often the middle of the road is highest), and decide whether it’s possible to get through the flooded streets safely at all. Also, don’t just assume that because the guy in front made it, that you can.

Anything deeper than your knees simply isn’t worth attempting, and if the water is flowing rapidly, you can easily be swept over (and away).

Don’t take any unnecessary risks.

2. Open the Throttle

In order to keep water from flowing into the exhaust (should it end up underwater), keep your engine speed high. This means riding in first gear while slipping the clutch. If you’re riding an automatic, “drag” the back brake by applying mild but constant pressure on the lever to achieve the same effect.

3. Fast, But Not Too Fast

Remember how hard it is to wade through water? Your bike is feeling the same thing. In order to counter the resistance, maintain a brisk speed and try not to let your feet drag in the water. This means you’ll get to drier ground faster, but also will prevent your bike from stopping altogether, which is the last thing you want.

In the right conditions, a moderate “jogging” speed will help push water away from your precious air intake, though be sure your wake won’t affect other drivers nearby.

When it comes to speed, try to find a balance. Too fast and you won’t be able to steer, and you (and your bike) may end up in the wet stuff. Too slow and you won’t benefit from the decrease in water depth that results from pushing water away in front of you.

4. Pause if You Can

If you can get out of the flooded streets and find a patch of high ground halfway through, perhaps on a sloped driveway or sidewalk, take a few moments to let your bike recover before continuing. Some storms in Vietnam pass through quickly.

5. Don’t Drop It!

While your average scooter can handle 30 centimeters or so of water, if you drop the bike, or if the water is too deep, and the entire engine ends up underwater, you’re done. It’s time to find a mechanic. Switch it off (ideally, before it drowns and cuts out on its own), put it in neutral and start walking. If water has entered the engine, you may need a full disassembly. 

flooding in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City
flooding in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City

6. Get Indoors

Once you’re safely through, get the bike out of the rain and let it recover overnight. It’s been quite an ordeal for the poor thing. If it still sounds sick the next day, a brief (and affordable) trip to the mechanic for an oil change and check over is a wise move.

Rust may have formed on your brakes overnight, and therefore they may not work so well immediately. Before you actually need to use them, ride with the brakes lightly applied for ten seconds or so to remove any corrosion.

7. Time for a Shower (Not Another Bath)

Flood water is filthy. Really filthy. Be extremely careful if you are wearing sandals and clean any cuts thoroughly with sanitizer and Iodine liquid. In addition to giving yourself a good scrub down, get your bike to the nearest car wash.

There is no real reason that you would HAVE TO drive through flooded streets. Get things in perspective, wait it out, call work and say you will be later (others will, too). Don’t be a hero or martyr; enjoy Vietnam storm from a dry cafe and live to ride another day. 

Quick Connect

BMW 1250 GS

Engine Type

air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine

Displacement

1255 cc

Bore X Stroke

102.5 mm x 76 mm

Ignition

FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

12.5:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm

Rear Suspension

single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever

Front Brakes

dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers

Rear Brakes

single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper

Front Tyres

120/70 R19

Rear Tyres

170/60 R17

Wheelbase

1514 mm

Seat Height

850 mm

Ground Clearance

790 mm

Kerb Weight

249 kg

Fuel Capacity

20 litres

Dimensions

2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)

Honda XR 150 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

air cooled, OHC, single cylinder

Displacement

149 cc

Bore X Stroke

57.3 mm x 57.8 mm

Ignition

CDI

Fuel System

20 mm piston valve carburettor

Compression Ratio

9.5:1

Starter

electric with kick starter backup

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel

Rear Suspension

single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel

Front Brakes

dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc

Rear Brakes

mechanical drum

Front Tyres

90/90 19

Rear Tyres

110/90 17

Wheelbase

1362 mm

Seat Height

825 mm

Ground Clearance

243 mm

Kerb Weight

129 kg

Fuel Capacity

12 litres

Dimensions

2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)

Honda CB 500X motorcycle rental

Engine Type

liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke

Displacement

470 cc

Bore X Stroke

67 mm x 66.8 mm

Ignition

PGMI – FI

Fuel System

fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

6-speed

Front Suspension

41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS

Rear Brakes

240 mm disc; ABS

Front Tyres

110/80R19M/C (59H)

Rear Tyres

160/60R17M/C

Wheelbase

1445 mm

Seat Height

830 mm

Ground Clearance

180 mm

Kerb Weight

199 kg

Fuel Capacity

17.7 litres

Dimensions

2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)

Honda CRF 300 motorcycle rental

Engine Type

single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled

Displacement

286 cc

Bore X Stroke

76 mm x 63 mm

Ignition

Full Transistor Digital

Fuel System

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Starter

electric

Gearbox

5-speed

Front Suspension

43 mm telescopic upside down

Rear Suspension

Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster

Front Brakes

256 mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

220 mm disc, single piston caliper

Front Tyres

80/100 21

Rear Tyres

120/80 18

Wheelbase

1455 mm

Seat Height

880 mm

Ground Clearance

285 mm

Kerb Weight

142 kg

Fuel Capacity

7.8 litres

Dimensions

2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)

Tourist

One-Way

Expat

Pricing

N/A

N/A

Damage Waiver

$0/day

N/A

N/A

Security Deposit

N/A

N/A

Required Docs

passport

N/A

N/A

Mileage Limit

unlimited

N/A

N/A

Touring

N/A

N/A