Ask Lonely Planet: Stay safe when scooting in Vietnam

Although locals may zip around on their scooters without helmets on, tourists are advised not to follow their example. Helmets are essential as safety is of paramount importance on holidays. Photo / Thinkstock

Four 50-somethings want to do a tour in Vietnam on motor scooters. Please recommend a tour company, the best time to go weatherwise and what we should be aware of when travelling in this manner?
- Christine Williams

Lonely Planet's Asia-Pacific travel editor Shawn Low writes:

First, some words of caution. I would imagine that you've had experience riding motorcycles and scooters. Riders should only do it if they have a licence and are confident of handling such vehicles. Also, get a travel-insurance policy that covers motorcycle hire - and read the fine print.

While locals may jet around without helmets, we'd suggest that you don't follow their example. Safety comes first - no one is invincible on holidays.

Weatherwise, Vietnam is quite diverse. Avoid the monsoon - try November to February in the south and April, May or October for the north.

Some of the more reliable tour agencies include: Explore Indochina; Freewheelin Tours; Voyage Vietnam. Costs start from US$100 ($131) and upwards.

If you decide to rent vehicles on your own, you'll do fine with a moped/scooter if you're in a large city such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. If you're going into the mountains you should get a larger-capacity Russian Minsk. If you're renting privately, only sign an agreement in a language you understand. Finally, go slow and ride safe.

Tour by public transport

My husband and I would like to cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest. We know many companies do this well but is it possible to town/city hop using public ferries? We would like to have more time in most of the towns the rivers pass through.

Is it possible to hire bikes in order to ride along the riverbank? Could you give an idea of costs for public ferry and bike hire?
- Marie Goldthorpe

Lonely Planet's Shawn Low writes:

If you want to get along the Danube in comfort, and along the entire way from Amsterdam to Budapest, the tour ferries are the only real way to do it.

If you want to do the entire journey by public transport, you need to mix up train and ferries. The bulk of the journey would be done via trains.

Without knowing which countries you'd like to pass through, it's hard to suggest an itinerary.

However you can get some general information on ferries/boats in European countries along the Amsterdam-to-Budapest route at the Central Europe Experience website.

Your second-last stop should be Vienna. From there you can jump on a hydrofoil to Budapest. The service operates from April to October. Check dates and prices at DDSG/Mahart.

In Amsterdam, you can hire a bicycle to ride around town and along the canals that criss-cross the city. We list Bike City and Orangebike in our guides. These operations rent bikes by the hour, day and week. They also offer city tours.

* This week's winning question is from Marie Goldthorpe, who receives a copy of Lonely Planet Discover Germany ($55).

Win a Lonely Planet guide book

Email your questions to travel.info@lonelyplanet.com and they'll be answered by Lonely Planet's experts. In addition the best question each week will earn a Lonely Planet guide book. Add your postal address and the guide book you'd like to receive.

Not all questions are answered and Lonely Planet cannot correspond directly with readers.