Do you need a motorbike licence in Vietnam? How to get it

Do you need a motorbike licence in Vietnam? Find out IDP rules, 50cc bikes, and how foreigners get a legal licence to rent and ride in Vietnam. For tourist safety. 

Many people think that foreigners can freely drive motorbikes when they come to Vietnam, but in reality, I know this is against the law if they do not own a legal international driver’s license or a Vietnamese license. If you do not have enough documents, driving your own vehicle is completely illegal.

Do foreigners need a motorbike driver’s license in Vietnam?

When planning to travel Vietnam, I see on Reddit, Facebook and international travel forums, the topic of do you need a motorbike license in Vietnam is always discussed very enthusiastically. I see many foreign customers share that renting a motorbike in Vietnam is easier than expected, most shops only keep their passport or deposit.

From Nha Trang to strict roads like Ha Giang Loop, many people still comfortably ride bikes from 110cc to 150cc without being inspected. However, I want to warn that “driving a car” and “driving a car legally” are two completely different things. If an accident occurs, travel insurance will immediately refuse to pay because you were driving illegally.

Therefore, the core question is do foreigners really need a motorbike driver’s license in Vietnam? Through studying the law, I confirm the answer is yes. Vietnamese law requires foreigners to have a legal and nationally recognized driver’s license to operate a motorbike.

However, Vietnam also has an exception, vehicles under 50cc usually do not require a license. Therefore, many tourists often choose models such as Honda Cub 50cc, electric scooters, or models under 50cc to travel legally.

Recognized International Driving Licenses in Vietnam

Do you need a motorbike licence in Vietnam? To clarify the questions of myself and many tourists, I carefully researched the official regulations on whether do you need a motorbike license in Vietnam from the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam. In fact, Vietnamese law governs this issue very strictly, and not all international degrees can be legally used here.

Types of driving licenses that Vietnam recognizes for foreign tourists include:

• IDP international driving license according to the 1968 Convention: this is the only international driving license accepted by Vietnam. When traveling on the road, tourists are required to carry parallel documents including a valid original national driver’s license and a 1968 standard IDP (International Driving Permit) of the corresponding motorbike class.
• The national driver’s license has been converted to a Vietnamese license: if you are a tourist staying in Vietnam long-term (a person with a temporary residence card, settlement visa or work permit), you can carry out translation procedures and convert your driver’s license to an equivalent Vietnamese driver’s license for use.

It should be noted that Vietnam absolutely does not recognize IAA international driving licenses (issued by the American International Automobile Association), IDP licenses according to the 1949 Geneva Convention (usually issued in the US, Australia, Canada) or other types of online licenses often purchased online.

During actual trips, I have witnessed many foreign tourists being stopped and fined by the Traffic Police, especially after Ha Giang motorbike rent. Many people are very confused when they are fined even though they have presented an IAA international license, because they do not know that Vietnamese law completely rejects this type of document. After that situation, many people learned how to get a motorbike license in Vietnam to be able to drive legally and more safely.

As a result, they were issued an administrative penalty record on the spot with an extremely heavy fine from 4,000,000 VND to 5,000,000 VND (about 160 to 200 USD) for not having a valid license. At the same time, the motorbike was detained for 7 days, causing the entire trip to have to be canceled midway.

Getting a Vietnamese Motorbike License

Do you need a motorbike licence in Vietnam? And how to get a motorbike licence in Vietnam? Witnessing many international friends having trouble with traffic police, I proactively researched official ways to obtain a legal driver’s license in Vietnam. In fact, this process is not complicated at all if you prepare the right documents and choose one of the two clear options below:

#1. Change your foreign driver’s license to a Vietnamese license

How to get Vietnam motorbike license is extremely suitable for those who come to Vietnam to work, study, or travel long-term (3 months or more). As for short-term tourists, going to work on their own will take quite a bit of time because they have to wait for their documents to be approved.

In fact, it is entirely possible to ask travel or service companies to help. Many of my acquaintances have chosen this method; They just need to send their passport, visa and driver’s license for translation, the service company will take care of the entire package from submitting the application to the appointment date, just need to take a photo of their face and it’s done, extremely time-saving.

#2. Take a motorbike driving license test in Vietnam

This method is only for foreigners who intend to settle, work or live in Vietnam for a long time. Short-term tourists traveling on a visa for a few months are completely unsuitable and are not eligible to apply.

If you want to take the Vietnam motorbike license for foreigners, you can contact driver training centers or large service companies for support in preparing documents and registration procedures for foreigners. However, you yourself need to go to school and take the theoretical and practical tests to get a license.

Can tourists rent motorbikes in Vietnam without a driver’s license?

From the reality of traveling, I find it extremely easy for foreigners to rent a bike in Vietnam. Many stores only require a photo of your passport and a deposit so you can pick up the car without having your license checked.

However, I sincerely advise you not to rent a self-driving car, especially a large displacement vehicle, without a suitable driver’s license, because you cannot predict any unexpected risks or dangerous accidents that will happen on unfamiliar roads.

If you only move around flat inner cities like Hanoi, Hoi An, or coastal Da Nang, you can absolutely choose a car under 50cc or an electric motorbike to travel legally. However, these small cars will certainly be weak and impossible to take to climb steep passes in Ha Giang, Sa Pa, or for long trips in Vietnam.

If you do not have a Vietnam motorbike license for foreigners or a standard IDP 1968 international driving license, you should proactively choose the following safe and convenient alternatives:

• Technology motorbikes (Grab, Xanh SM): book easily and have a local driver pick you up at your door at a very cheap cost.
• Renting a car with a private driver: the safest and most relaxing solution for groups of friends or families traveling long distances.
• Bicycle: a great choice to leisurely explore every small alley of the ancient city without worrying about paperwork.

Conclusion

Having a valid driver’s license not only helps you comply with the law but also ensures insurance benefits when traveling. Therefore, before the trip, many tourists often find out whether do you need a motorbike license in Vietnam to prepare appropriate documents and travel more safely.