Driving in Vietnam as a Foreigner: Licence Rules

This page covers the rules. To convert a licence, see the exchange service.

Three situations

Your document	Can you drive in Vietnam?
National licence only, issued abroad	No — it is not valid on its own
International Driving Permit under the 1968 Vienna Convention	Yes, for temporary visits, with the national licence
Vietnamese licence obtained by exchange	Yes, for residents

Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are generally not accepted, which catches out visitors from several countries.

Motorbikes

The licence class matters: a car licence does not cover a motorbike above 50cc. Riding a 110–150cc bike on a car-only licence is uninsured driving, whatever the rental shop says.

Insurance consequence

Driving without a valid licence usually voids travel and health insurance for accident claims — the practical risk is far larger than the traffic fine.

Residents: exchange the licence

Foreigners with a stay of about three months or more can exchange a valid national licence for a Vietnamese one without a driving test, using a notarised translation of the licence and their residence document. Details: licence exchange.