Foreigners can drive legally in Vietnam in two main ways: with an international driving permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, carried together with their national licence, or with a Vietnamese licence obtained by exchanging a valid foreign licence or by passing the Vietnamese test. Permits issued only under the older 1949 convention, which some countries such as the United States use, are generally not recognised. Long-term residents usually end up exchanging their licence or taking the test, especially for motorbikes, because many home licences do not cover the motorbike class most people ride in Vietnam.
Licensing in Vietnam has changed recently. A new Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety took effect at the start of 2025, adjusting licence classes, and responsibility for issuing and exchanging licences moved to the police. Procedures, documents and offices may continue to be adjusted, so treat this guide as an explanation of the principles and confirm the current requirements with the traffic police in your province before you apply.
Can you drive with an international driving permit?
Vietnam is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. International driving permits issued by other countries that are parties to that convention are recognised in Vietnam for the vehicle classes shown on the permit, as long as the driver also carries their valid national licence. This route suits visitors and newcomers in their first months.
The catch is that not every country issues 1968-style permits. Some, including the United States, issue permits under the 1949 Geneva Convention only, and these are not generally accepted in Vietnam. In addition, an international permit only covers the classes on your home licence. If your home licence does not include motorcycles, or only covers small mopeds, an international permit does not let you ride a standard motorbike in Vietnam.
Insurers are strict about this. Many health and travel insurance policies exclude injuries suffered while riding without a licence valid in the country for that vehicle. People who have ridden for years without problems sometimes discover the gap only after an accident, when a hospital bill arrives without cover.
Your options at a glance
The routes below are the common ones for foreign residents. Eligibility, documents and processing times are set by current regulations and can change.
| Route | Who it suits | Key points to check |
|---|---|---|
| International driving permit (1968 convention) | Newcomers and short stays from countries that issue this permit | Carry it with your national licence; only covers the classes on your home licence; validity period |
| Exchange a foreign licence | Residents with a valid licence from home and a qualifying stay in Vietnam | Licence must be valid; certified translation; residence document; classes are matched to your home licence |
| Vietnamese test | Residents without a suitable home licence, especially for motorbikes | Theory and practical test; training requirements; language support available or not |
| Ride-hailing only | People who prefer not to drive or ride themselves | No licence needed; good for the first months while you decide |
Exchanged licences are usually matched to the classes and validity of your foreign licence and limited by your permitted stay. Check what happens when your foreign licence or your residence card expires, since renewals may be linked.
Exchanging a foreign licence: the usual steps
The exact list of documents and the office that receives applications are set by current regulations and may differ between provinces. The general sequence looks like this.
- Check that your foreign licence is valid for the period you need and that it covers the class of vehicle you want to drive or ride.
- Confirm your eligibility: exchanges are generally for foreigners living in Vietnam on a qualifying visa, residence card or similar document, not for short visits.
- Have your foreign licence translated into Vietnamese and the translation certified, as required.
- Prepare your passport, visa or temporary residence card, the application form, and photos or health certificate if requested.
- Submit the application to the competent traffic police office in your province or through the public online service if available, and pay the official fee.
- Collect the Vietnamese licence or receive it by the method offered, and check the classes and expiry date carefully.
Many residents ask their employer's human resources team, their school or a reputable service to help with paperwork. That is legitimate, but you remain responsible for the documents being genuine and the information being accurate. Anyone offering a licence without a proper exchange or test should be avoided; fake licences are a criminal matter.
Motorbike classes and the test
Under the 2024 law, motorbike licences are grouped mainly by engine size or motor power. Class A1 covers motorbikes up to a certain size, broadly the 125 cc range and equivalent electric motors, which is what most people ride for daily use. Class A covers larger machines. Small mopeds and electric bicycles have their own, lighter rules. Because definitions changed in 2025, check which class your intended vehicle falls into before buying or renting.
If you cannot exchange a licence for motorbikes, the Vietnamese test is the route. It has a theory section on road rules and signs and a practical section on a course, typically riding a figure-of-eight and straight lines without putting a foot down. Training centres prepare candidates, and some offer support in English, though the official process is in Vietnamese. The practical test rewards slow, controlled riding more than speed.
Car licences follow the same principles, with classes by vehicle type and seating. Few foreign residents drive cars themselves in the big cities, but those who do should note that the 2024 law also introduced stricter rules on child safety in cars, including restrictions on young children sitting in the front row. Check the current rules if you drive with children.
Buying, renting and registering a vehicle
Most foreign residents start by renting a motorbike monthly from a shop or through their building. When renting, ask for a copy of the registration paper and the insurance certificate, photograph the bike's condition, and agree in writing who pays for repairs and fines. A rental agreement does not replace the need for your own valid licence.
Foreigners living in Vietnam can register a vehicle in their own name, generally with a passport and a valid visa or temporary residence card, and the rules on how long the registration lasts may be tied to your permitted stay. Registration has moved to an increasingly digital process managed by the police, and requirements have changed more than once in recent years. Before buying, ask the seller or dealer to confirm what you will need, and check with the local police if anything is unclear.
Avoid the old habit of buying a second-hand bike with only the registration paper in a previous owner's name and no transfer. Unregistered transfers make it hard to prove ownership, complicate insurance, and can leave you liable for someone else's fines. Completing the transfer properly protects both buyer and seller.
Keeping your licence valid over the years
Once you have a Vietnamese licence, a few habits keep it useful. Note the expiry date and the classes, and set a reminder well before expiry. If your licence was exchanged from a foreign one, check whether its validity is linked to your foreign licence or your residence card, and plan renewals together so that one lapse does not invalidate the other.
Under the 2024 law, licences carry a points system, with points deducted for violations and restored after a period without further offences. Losing all points can suspend your right to drive until you pass a refresher test. The details of the system are set out in implementing regulations, so read them if you drive regularly.
When you leave Vietnam or return home, keep your Vietnamese licence safe. It can be useful evidence of driving history, and if you come back to live in Vietnam later, a valid or recently expired licence may make the process easier.
Riding without a licence: the real risks
Many foreigners ride motorbikes in Vietnam without a licence valid there, and enforcement can seem uneven. The risks are nevertheless real. Traffic police can fine riders without a valid licence and may hold the vehicle. Fines and procedures were raised and tightened in recent years, and checks at night and around holidays are common.
The larger risk is financial and medical. If you are injured, many insurers will refuse to pay for treatment or evacuation linked to riding without a valid licence. If you injure someone else, you may face civil claims and, in serious cases, criminal liability, and your position is far weaker without a licence and insurance. Some employers also prohibit staff from riding without proper documents.
For a long-term resident, the cost and effort of getting a proper licence are small compared with these risks. Until you have one, ride-hailing is the sensible alternative. Rental shops that hand over a motorbike without asking for a licence are not doing you a favour; the legal and insurance consequences of an accident fall on the rider, not the shop.
Rules to know before you ride or drive
Zero alcohol. Any alcohol in the blood or breath while driving or riding any vehicle is prohibited, and penalties are severe. There is no safe small amount.
Helmets. Compulsory for riders and passengers on motorbikes and electric scooters; must be properly fastened.
Documents to carry. Your licence, the vehicle registration paper and compulsory civil liability insurance. Many papers can now be shown in digital form through official apps; check what is accepted.
Phones. Using a phone while riding or driving is prohibited, including holding it to follow navigation. Mount it securely or use voice directions through a headset where permitted.
Lanes and turns. Motorbikes and cars may have separate lanes on larger roads, and turning on red is not allowed unless signed. Follow local traffic patterns carefully, and give way to vehicles already in a roundabout or junction where signs require it.
Traffic cameras. Big cities increasingly use cameras to detect violations, and fines can be issued to the registered owner later. If you borrow or rent a vehicle, agree how any fines will be handled.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
Can I drive in Vietnam with my home country licence?
Not on its own. You need either an international driving permit under the 1968 convention carried with your national licence, or a Vietnamese licence obtained by exchange or test. Check whether your country issues 1968-style permits and whether your home licence covers the class of vehicle you want to use.
Is a US international driving permit valid in Vietnam?
Generally not. The United States issues international driving permits under the 1949 Geneva Convention, while Vietnam recognises permits under the 1968 Vienna Convention. American residents usually exchange their state licence or take the Vietnamese test. Confirm the current position with the traffic police before driving.
Can I exchange my foreign licence for a Vietnamese one?
Usually yes, if your foreign licence is valid and you live in Vietnam on a qualifying visa or residence card. You will need a certified translation, identity and residence documents and the application form. The Vietnamese licence generally mirrors the classes on your foreign licence. Check details with the provincial traffic police.
Do I need a licence to ride an electric scooter in Vietnam?
It depends on the vehicle. Electric motorbikes above a certain power need a licence of the appropriate class, while electric bicycles and small mopeds have lighter rules. Definitions changed in 2025, so check the specifications of the vehicle and current regulations before riding.
What happens if I ride without a licence in Vietnam?
You risk fines and having the vehicle held by the police. More seriously, many insurance policies exclude accidents while riding without a valid licence, leaving you to pay medical costs yourself and weakening your position if someone else is hurt.
Who issues driving licences in Vietnam now?
Since 2025, issuing and exchanging driving licences has been handled by the traffic police under the Ministry of Public Security, following the new road traffic law. Procedures, forms and offices may continue to be adjusted, so check with the traffic police in your province or the official public service portal.