The rain stops and the road still tries to kill you for an hour. The most slippery moment on a Vietnamese road is often the first minutes after rain eases: surface oil rises, mud runs onto corners from construction sites, and drivers switch their brains back to dry-road mode while the surface is still wet.
The first ten minutes are the worst
Light rain lifting moisture out of the asphalt brings a film of old oil and rubber dust to the top. Assume black, shiny asphalt is greasy until you have felt real grip through a couple of corners. Brake earlier, lean less, and let the extra distance do the work.
Mud and sand wash onto the road
After real downpours, red mud slides from building sites and hillsides onto the road, usually at corners and the bottom of slopes. A strip of fresh mud is as slick as ice: ride through it upright, off the brakes and off the throttle, exactly like riding on gravel: upright, off the brakes, off the throttle — gravel-roads-motorbike-vietnam covers the technique.
Leaves and debris
Storms and wind leave leaves, branches and fruit on the road. Leaves are treacherous in two ways: they hide what is under them and they slide like grease when wet. Treat any leaf-carpeted corner as unpaved.
Wet paint and metal stay wet longest
Road markings, manhole covers, steel plates and tiled pavements hold a film of water long after asphalt looks dry. Cross them upright and off the brakes — emergency-braking-motorbike-vietnam explains why painted lines cause lock-ups.
Once you arrive home
Check the bike too: water in places it should not be shows up after a soaking. check-motorbike-after-heavy-rain runs through the post-soak inspection, and for riding through the rain itself, riding-motorbike-heavy-rain-vietnam is the guide.