Two new-generation 125 cc city scooters, two very different philosophies: Honda’s Vario 125 is the modern equipment-first machine, while Yamaha’s Latte trades hardware for lightness and cargo space. All figures come from the official Honda Vietnam and Yamaha Vietnam product pages (retrieved 23 September 2026).

Engine and cooling

The Vario 125 uses a liquid-cooled 125 cc eSP engine with PGM-FI, producing 8.48 kW at 8,500 rpm and 11.9 Nm at 5,000 rpm, plus an idling stop system. The Latte uses an air-cooled (forced-air) 124.9 cc Blue Core engine with two valves, producing 6.05 kW at 6,500 rpm and 9.77 Nm at 5,000 rpm. The Honda is clearly the stronger engine; the Yamaha counters with exceptional economy - see our air-cooled vs liquid-cooled explainer for what the cooling difference means in Hanoi heat.

Fuel economy

Yamaha publishes 1.80 litres/100 km for the Latte - the best figure in the current 125 class. Honda publishes 2.11 litres/100 km for the Vario 125 and claims around 260 km per 5.5-litre tank under normal conditions. Both vary with traffic and riding style; the Latte is the cheaper bike to run.

Weight and handling

Latte: 100 kg, 790 mm seat, small 12/10-inch wheels. Vario 125: 111 kg, 769 mm seat, 14-inch wheels. The Latte is the lighter, more flickable machine at walking pace; the Vario’s 14-inch wheels and extra 11 kg give it more stability on broken arterial roads - a classic small-wheel versus big-wheel trade-off.

Brakes

The Vario 125 uses a front disc with CBS; the Latte uses a front disc and rear drum without CBS or ABS. If combined braking matters in your daily riding, the Honda has it - see which scooters have ABS in Vietnam for the wider safety picture.

Storage and features

Latte: 37 litres of underseat storage with a flat floor (A4 folders, 13-inch laptop), smart key, LCD, external fuel cap. Vario 125: 18 litres (a half helmet plus daily items), smart key, LCD, USB-C, full LED lighting, idling stop. The Latte is the cargo and style choice; the Vario is the equipment choice.

Price

Honda lists the Vario 125 at 41,913,818 VND; Yamaha lists the Latte at 39,077,000 VND for the 2025 limited colour version. Nearly 3 million VND apart.

Verdict

Choose the Latte for lightness, economy, storage and style at the lower price. Choose the Vario 125 for the stronger liquid-cooled engine, CBS, USB-C and bigger wheels. Neither is a Nguyen Tu price-published rental model - contact us to confirm current availability.