If you picture “a motorbike in Vietnam”, the machine in your head is probably something very close to a Wave Alpha. It is Honda Vietnam’s most affordable new model, the machine most people learn to ride on, and the bike that carries families, deliveries and market loads across every province. Every figure below comes from the official Honda Vietnam Wave Alpha product page (retrieved 23 September 2026); where Honda does not publish a figure, this review leaves it out rather than guessing.
What Honda actually publishes
The Wave Alpha 110 runs a 109.2 cc single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled engine producing a maximum of 6.12 kW at 7,500 rpm and 8.44 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. Power runs through a mechanical four-speed rotary gearbox - the classic Vietnamese semi-automatic layout where your left foot shifts and there is no clutch lever. Starting is electric. The compression ratio is 9.0:1 and the bore and stroke are 50.0 x 55.6 mm.
Running costs
Honda lists fuel consumption at 1.72 litres per 100 km from a small 3.7-litre tank, which works out to roughly 215 km per tank - real-world figures vary with load, traffic and riding style. At 96 kg kerb weight this is one of the lightest bikes in Honda’s Vietnamese line-up, which is exactly why it feels manageable for new riders at walking pace in Old Quarter traffic.
Chassis and practical details
The seat sits 770 mm from the ground, ground clearance is 134 mm, and both wheels are 17-inch (70/90-17 front, 80/90-17 rear). Honda also fits an always-on headlight that stays lit whenever the engine runs, plus a 3-in-1 combination key that operates the ignition, steering lock and fuel filler. The overall dimensions are 1,913 x 689 x 1,076 mm on a 1,224 mm wheelbase.
Who it suits
Beginners, students, commuters on a budget and anyone who wants the simplest possible machine: light, cheap to fill, easy to park and easy to find parts for. The trade-offs are basic brakes on this class of bike, minimal weather protection and a riding position that tall riders eventually outgrow - see our guide to motorbikes for tall riders if that is you.
Renting one in Hanoi
The Honda Wave class is one of our price-published rental models at 150,000 VND per day - contact us to confirm current availability. The Wave Alpha is also the natural first bike for visitors who have never ridden a semi-automatic before; our guide to renting a motorbike in Hanoi covers the documents you will need, and our semi-automatic versus scooter comparison explains the gearbox difference before you choose.