
At Rentabike, we’ve spent years exploring, and supplying people with practical information for their adventures in Vietnam. We’ve got loads of motorbike tour itineraries, guides to the country’s best destinations and national parks and much more! Here, though, we just wanted to tell you a bit about Vietnam Coracle. It’s another fantastic online resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Vietnam or is preparing to travel the country.
The site is run by Tom Divers, an English guy who has lived and worked in Vietnam since 2005. He loves travelling and began documenting his trips. This turned into his personal blog and as it grew he realised just how many people there are out there with the same desire to explore this awesome country. Vietnam Coracle is a really useful source of information and inspiration and, pretty much since it was first set up, we’ve been following along with interest to see where he’ll go next. You can learn more about Tom in an interview with Vietnam Coracle or in this podcast.
The content is Tom’s opinion based on his experience travelling as so many of us do: on a bike (Tom’s named his Stavros) without a fixed itinerary. He publishes his notes on places of interest, sites to stop at, locations of food, mechanics and accommodation and he’s got loads of articles on the local culture, too. We love his content so much that we’ve asked him to guest blog for us on multiple occasions—his trip expense guide remains one of our favourite posts. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re coming to visit or already living here!
Articles on the site cover the North and the South of the country, but Tom is based in Saigon so we don’t see him up here as much as we would like. Whenever he does come this way, we try to get in touch and talk routes because it is great to share tales and knowledge with like-minded individuals. If you would like to find out more and have some help with route planning, get in touch.
Nothing! The site is a free resource for travellers to Vietnam without any sponsored content. I remember the discussion Tom and I had many years ago when I thought he should monetize and he was dead against it. Chapeau. You can support him on Patreon or he outlines several ways in which you can help on Vietnam Coracle Support Page. He does earn income through some paid advertising, but this is only enough to keep the site running and updated.
So, we support Vietnam Coracle and refer as many people as we can to the site. I have followed Tom since I can’t remember when, actually, but I do know that we began to advertise with him in around 2015 or so. I’ve always wanted him to get something back for all the work he has put in and to be able to continue doing what he does so well. Hopefully, Coracle will get a few more hits coming from us and this will be an advantage.
You should visit the site and see what it has to offer. Personally, it is the route maps that I suggest you view as they IMHO are the most useful content. You can find them on the ‘Motorbike Guides‘ page. We also have route maps on our ‘RentABike Tours‘ pages, which are a lot simpler versions (they are purely route maps). Or, it might interest you to find out more about the flora and fauna, get book recommendations, learn more about food and drink. Just be careful—it’s easy to get sucked in.
86B Đ. Trần Phú, Phường 4, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam (appointment only)
Tax Code: 0105306316
International Tour Operator License: 01-2010/2022/TCDL-GP LHQT
15a Ng. 12 Đ. Đặng Thai Mai, Quảng An, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
© 2025 Rentabike Vietnam. This site is subject to copyright. No unauthorised reproduction is permitted.
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)
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)
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)
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
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)