Car rental in Hanoi

Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, knows how to impress. This metropolis features dense traffic, rich culture, and deep history. The city offers countless attractions and tourist destinations, distinctive character, and original cuisine. Renting a car in Hanoi is the ideal solution for those who want to see and experience everything, enjoy Asian hospitality, and take in incredible landscapes.

A car provides extensive opportunities for those visiting Hanoi for business or leisure. Car rental saves time and ensures complete independence from guided tours, seasons, time of day, weather, and other external factors. Discover Hanoi as it truly is—vibrant, charismatic, majestic, yet simultaneously welcoming.

Advantages of Localrent Service

The service partners with local rental companies and offers high comfort levels. Localrent advantages include:

1. Best price guarantee. No hidden fees or charges. You always know exactly what renting a specific car costs for your desired period.
2. Low deposit for most vehicles. Some cars are available without any deposit at all.
3. Online booking payment—a down payment not exceeding 15-20% of the total rental cost.
4. Wide vehicle selection—from affordable, compact, economical cars to luxury crossovers and SUVs.
5. Intuitive interface and convenient filters for quickly finding the right vehicle.
6. Information and service support throughout the entire rental period. Managers are always ready to help and answer questions about the rental.

Now you know where to rent a car profitably and without risks. With Localrent, your trip becomes maximally productive, eventful, and enjoyable.

Requirements for Renting a Car

With Localrent, renting in Hanoi is always fast, simple, and reliable. Required documents for rental include:

• Valid driver's license (Category B)
• Passport
• Voucher sent to your email after completing the booking
• Bank card for down payment (15-20% of total amount); the balance can be paid when collecting the vehicle

Present your voucher, passport, and driver's license when collecting the car in Hanoi. Pay the balance with a bank card or cash—check the conditions in the car details when booking.

Vietnam Traffic Regulations: What to Know

Hanoi experiences heavy traffic with right-side driving. Motorcycles, bikes, scooters, and other two-wheeled vehicles constitute a significant portion of road traffic. Use your horn to draw other drivers' attention. A short honk helps prevent accidents and collisions.

Nationwide speed limits:

• Within city limits: up to 50 km/h
• Public roads outside populated areas: 60-80 km/h
• Express highways: 90-120 km/h
• Mountainous terrain: 30-40 km/h depending on section and weather conditions
• Near educational institutions and popular tourist sites: up to 30 km/h

Traffic signs take priority over road markings, which are sometimes faded and difficult to recognize. Both driver and front passenger must wear seatbelts. Child seats or boosters aren't mandatory, but we recommend transporting children under 12 years old and shorter than 150 cm only in restraint devices.

Fuel Stations

Refuel at major chain stations such as Petrolimex, PV Oil, Comeco, or Saigon Petro. Besides quality fuel, they offer excellent service levels.

Hanoi city has numerous fuel stations, but rural and mountainous areas have far fewer. For extended trips, fill up the tank completely beforehand.

Before returning your vehicle, refuel to the level it had when collected. Compensating the rental company for fuel shortage costs significantly more than refueling yourself.

Parking

Free parking in the center or near attractions is virtually impossible—all parking zones are paid. They're typically crowded with vehicles. However, a short distance from popular tourist locations, you'll easily find spots to leave your car for 1-2 hours at low cost.

Shopping centers and large supermarkets usually offer free parking for visitors for the first 1-2 hours, then charge hourly. Official designated parking zones are marked with a "P" sign on blue background. Pay either at nearby parking meters or to a uniformed attendant with appropriate identification.

Parking is strictly prohibited on sidewalks, in pedestrian and disabled zones, at loading/unloading areas, and under signs showing a crossed-out red line "P" on blue background.

How to Book a Car in Hanoi

With Localrent, you can rent a car affordably, quickly, and risk-free. Booking instructions:

1. Specify convenient pickup and return location—airport, rental company office, or city delivery. Select rental dates in the calendar. The site will show all available options.
2. Choose your vehicle. Use filters to set desired brand, engine type, drive system, transmission, insurance option, payment method, etc.
3. Carefully review the selected car's details before booking. They indicate main rental conditions, final cost, age/experience/mileage requirements and restrictions, and other parameters.
4. Add additional options, such as a second driver to the contract.
5. Enter passport and contact details for the main driver. The manager will add the second driver's information to the contract during vehicle handover.
6. Review the final price and pay the 15-20% down payment by card (the system calculates this automatically).

A voucher confirming your car rental booking will arrive at your email. Print it or save it on your phone to present to the rental company manager.

What to See with Your Rental Car

Have you already visited Ba Dinh Square, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre? Seen the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple, and Vietnamese Women's Museum? Been to the Flag Tower and even the Landmark 72 observation deck? Then it's time to venture beyond Hanoi. In the surrounding areas, you'll discover equally impressive attractions.

Recommended locations:

1. Le Mat Snake Village. Just 10 km from Vietnam's capital, this ancient trade continues. Local residents catch snakes and prepare traditional dishes from them.
2. Halong Bay. Located on the eastern coast, 150-170 km from the capital. Besides incredible natural beauty, engage in active sports, fishing, underwater hunting, or take a boat cruise.
3. Bat Trang Village. A completely unique place guaranteed to amaze even the most discerning tourists with its original architecture. Everyone can try their hand at pottery or purchase an unusual souvenir.
4. Ninh Binh Province. Located approximately 90 km from Hanoi city. Home to the ancient capital Hoa Lu, Mua Caves, the grand Bich Dong temple complex, and Trang An landscape complex. Take a boat tour along majestic cliffs and endless rice fields.
5. Sapa Town. See a completely different Vietnam here. Incredible scenery and natural landscapes, authenticity and character of local settlements. Traditional clothing, customs, and gastronomy will definitely delight you.

This represents just a small portion of what truly deserves attention in Vietnam. Car rental in Hanoi opens the widest possibilities for travelers.

Where to Collect Your Rental Car

Many tourists choose Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) to drive to their hotel or apartment. Some rental companies only issue cars at their offices or deliver around the city. Check this information when booking.

For convenience, specify pickup time and location when arranging your rental. Use the "Specify location" filter to select the most comfortable location for yourself.

Practical Tips

Hanoi surprises foreign tourists with chaotic road traffic. Additionally, not all roads meet satisfactory quality standards, especially outside the city. Here are practical tips to help you adapt more quickly.

Use Your Horn to Signal Your Presence

Honking in Hanoi isn't for expressing emotions but for drawing other drivers' attention. A short signal indicates practically every maneuver—lane changes, turns, U-turns, parking entries and exits.

Stay Alert and Attentive

Pay particular attention to two-wheeled vehicles. Before changing lanes or turning, always check rear and side mirrors to ensure the maneuver is safe. Bicycles, motorcycles, bikes, and scooters appear suddenly and from nowhere.

Exercise Caution on Unfamiliar Roads

During rainy season, puddles present serious hazards. Large potholes often hide beneath them, so bypass them when possible. In poor visibility conditions, always use headlights to avoid hitting pedestrians or animals.

Keep Small Change Available

Small bills are useful for parking payments, fuel stations, and roadside cafes. Locals often lack change for large bills, and card payment may be impossible. Even small purchases can become unexpectedly expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions