For less than 50 million VND, you can buy a car, which is much more sun and rain-proof than riding a motorbike.

In the used car market, it is not difficult to find cars with prices as cheap as ordinary motorbikes. Usually, these are small car models in the A segment that have been discontinued for a long time and are 15-20 years old. Although the low price comes with many quality and utility issues, these old cars still have a special customer base. These are low-income families who need cars for commuting, shelter from the rain and sun; young people with a passion for mechanics who want to drive old cars for experience, or simply to practice driving.

Below are used car models priced under 50 million VND, compiled from used car trading floors and car user community groups on social networks.

Daewoo Matiz 2005-2008: Price 28-35 million VND

Topping the list of cheap used cars that are most well-known to Vietnamese people is Daewoo Matiz. This is the first A-segment car assembled in Vietnam since 1999, almost ten years before KIA Morning and Hyundai i10.

By 2018, the Chevrolet Spark model - the "sibling" that replaced the Daewoo Matiz - was discontinued, officially ending about 2 decades of the car model known as the cheapest in Vietnam.

Currently, the first generation Daewoo Matiz has almost disappeared from the used car market because most of them cannot be circulated due to quality. On the contrary, Daewoo Matiz from 2005-2008 are quite available and have extremely cheap prices, only around 30 million VND.

The advantage of this model is that although it was launched more than 20 years ago, Matiz is still not out of date compared to new A-class cars. However, over time, the car has many disadvantages. First, the chassis is easily damaged by termites, most of which will have to be repainted if they have not been overhauled. Next, the car's equipment is poor, safety is at a basic level (drum brakes, oil power steering, steering wheel airbags),... The car's engine is a rather weak 0.8L type, difficult to climb hills when fully loaded, especially with a car that has been around for 2 decades, the quality cannot be the same as at the beginning, often requiring a rather expensive overhaul.

Chery QQ 2009: Price 20-28 million VND

In 2009, the Chinese car company Chery officially sold cars in Vietnam with a single model called QQ3, assembled and distributed by Hoa Binh Automobile Joint Venture Company - VMC. This car has a similar design to Daewoo Matiz but is cheaper and has more equipment.

However, Chery QQ3 sales were not as expected, only a few hundred cars and disappeared in 2013.

Until now, a few Chery QQ3s have been bought and sold as temporary vehicles, to protect against the sun and rain, or to practice driving because the resale price is quite cheap. A few years ago, a 2009 Chery QQ3 cost 60-80 million VND, 1/3 of the price of a KIA Morning or Chevrolet Spark, but now many people will be surprised when the selling price of this car is only 20-28 million VND depending on the condition.

The common feature of cheap Chery QQ3 models like motorbikes is that the exterior paint has been "touched up" many times, easily noticeable through the light, the feeling of unevenness due to many layers of putty. The reason is that the quality of the chassis material of Chery QQ3 is poor, over time it is easy to rot.

In addition, the car engine is weak, is a 3-cylinder inline type, 812 cc capacity, 51 horsepower, maximum torque of 70 Nm, with a 5-speed manual transmission, if not used properly, it can easily be overloaded, leading to early maintenance. Therefore, when buying Chery QQ3 2009, users should also have a certain understanding of car mechanics.

Lifan 520 2008: Price 20-30 million VND

Lifan is a Chinese car brand that decided to assemble cars in Vietnam early. Since 2006, with a partnership with Bao Toan and Mekong Saigon companies, the company has launched the 520 model. This is considered a low-cost competitor compared to Toyota Vios, Daewoo Magnus... Up to now, after about 15 years, the selling price of this car on the market is only 20-30 million VND, equivalent to a common scooter.

On the outside, the Lifan 520 has an eye-catching design compared to Japanese and Korean models of the same period. Inside the passenger compartment there is a leather interior, DVD screen, driver's airbag...

The Lifan 520's engine is a 1.6L, 5-speed manual transmission, advertised to consume 5.64 liters of gasoline per 100km and reach a maximum speed of 220km/h. In terms of safety, the Lifan 520 is also equipped with alloy wheels, ABS brakes and a reverse sensor system.

According to many users of the Lifan 520, this is a Chinese sedan with the advantages of not going out of fashion much, being easy to repair, easy to drive and cheap. The disadvantages of this car, like many Chinese cars of the same period, are low assembly quality, poor materials, and a steering mechanism that is easily damaged if used carelessly (shafts flying off, steering racks broken). However, if you invest the right amount of money to repair and refurbish, this is one of the cheap, good-looking Chinese cars.

Kia CD5 2002-2004: Price 31-45 million VND

Starting in 1995, the Kia CD5 was sold in the Vietnamese market. By 1999, the car was assembled domestically and attracted attention because it was much cheaper than imported small cars at that time. The car was equipped with a 1.3l inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a capacity of 64 horsepower, combined with a 5-speed manual transmission.

This car line continued to be produced until 2004 when it had to stop, to make way for more modern car lines such as Kia Morning or Kia Spectra.

Up to now, Kia CD5s are still rolling in many provinces and cities across the country thanks to their low purchase price and good chassis quality. Besides, compared to Daewoo Matiz cars with similar prices, the Kia CD5's engine is still rated higher and can go on long trips without worry.

The biggest drawback of this car model is that it has a square, matchbox-style design that is quite outdated compared to today's modern cars. In terms of safety, this car model also does not have any outstanding equipment other than drum brakes, oil power steering and front airbags.