Can Foreigners Ride a Motorbike in Vietnam? Licences, Rules & Safety

Note: Verify every requirement, figure and date against the current regulations before relying on this.

Renting a motorbike is one of the most popular ways to see Vietnam, but riding legally depends on the licence you hold. Get it wrong and you risk fines, a police stop, or an insurance claim that is refused after an accident. This guide covers:

• Who can legally ride in Vietnam
• Which countries are recognised under the Vienna Convention
• What to do if your country is not recognised
• The road rules you must know
• A safety checklist before you ride
• Alternatives for exploring Vietnam by motorbike

Why the rules matter

Many tourists rent a bike without checking the law. Knowing the rules first means:

• You stay within Vietnamese law.
• You stay covered by your travel or medical insurance.
• You can enjoy the trip without unnecessary risk.

Vietnam and the Vienna Convention

The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international agreement that sets shared driving standards between member countries. Since 2015, Vietnam has recognised International Driving Permits (IDPs) issued under this Convention.

So if your country is a Contracting Party to the Convention and your IDP covers motorcycle categories (A1 or A2), you can ride legally in Vietnam. Vietnam is not a full signatory itself, so its recognition of foreign licences is limited to IDPs from Convention countries, plus the ASEAN agreement below.

Who can ride a motorbike in Vietnam?

In short, you can ride legally if you are from a 1968 Vienna Convention country and hold a valid IDP, or you are from an ASEAN country and hold your national licence. Many tourists still rent without the right documents, but that is illegal and can invalidate their insurance. If you are not permitted to ride, a good alternative is to travel as a pillion passenger with a licensed easy rider guide.

Riders from Vienna Convention countries

If you are from a 1968 Vienna Convention country such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan or South Korea, you may ride in Vietnam when you carry a valid International Driving Permit issued under the treaty. Keep in mind:

• Your IDP must specifically cover motorcycle categories.
• You must also carry your original national licence.
• Without the correct category, you are not legally permitted to ride.

Check that your country and licence class are covered before you travel.

Riders from ASEAN countries

Vietnam is part of the ASEAN Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences, so citizens of ASEAN member states can ride on their national licence without an IDP. ASEAN members are:

• Thailand
• Laos
• Cambodia
• Myanmar
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• The Philippines
• Brunei

Riders from non-Convention countries (USA, Australia, Canada)

If your country is not part of the Vienna Convention, such as the United States, Australia or Canada, your International Driving Permit is not recognised in Vietnam. Your options are:

• Convert to a Vietnamese licence if you are a resident or long-term visitor.
• Short-term visitors cannot legally ride unless they obtain this conversion, which means tourist rentals are technically outside the law.

Converting a foreign licence to a Vietnamese one

Foreigners living in Vietnam with a work permit or residence card can apply to convert a foreign licence into a Vietnamese one. The usual steps are:

• Submit your original licence, passport and residence card.
• Provide a translated and notarised copy of your licence.
• Pay the official fee.
• Your Vietnamese licence is issued for the same vehicle class as your original.

From 1 July 2026 the rules widened. Foreigners residing, working or studying in Vietnam who hold a valid foreign licence and one of the following, valid for 90 days or more, may apply to exchange it for the corresponding Vietnamese licence:

• A diplomatic identity card
• An official identity card
• A visa
• A temporary residence card

Previously you generally needed long-term residence, usually a Temporary Residence Card, and tourist or ordinary e-visa holders were not eligible. Adding visas valid for at least 90 days is a significant expansion, but it does not mean every tourist can now obtain a licence. Applicants must still:

• Hold a valid national driving licence from your home country
• Be residing, working or studying in Vietnam
• Submit the required documents
• Satisfy the administrative requirements for a licence exchange
• Apply for the equivalent licence class

It is an exchange (conversion) of an existing foreign licence, not the issue of a brand new Vietnamese one.

Road rules you must know

Even with the right licence, a few rules are strictly enforced:

1. Always wear a helmet. Helmets that meet Vietnamese safety standards are compulsory for the rider and any passenger, and fines are issued on the spot.
2. Carry the correct documents. Keep your passport or a copy, your visa, the motorbike registration papers and proof of insurance. Police can ask for them at checkpoints.
3. Keep to the right. Vietnam drives on the right; stay right except when overtaking.
4. Obey the speed limits. Typical limits are 30 km/h in school zones, 40 to 50 km/h in urban areas, 60 to 80 km/h outside cities, and up to 100 km/h on highways, though most motorbikes are not allowed on expressways.
5. Stay off expressways. Motorbikes are banned from expressways and some major highways. Watch for no-motorbike signs at entrances; expressways show as CT roads on Google Maps, and larger-capacity motorbikes are not exempt.
6. Never drink and drive. Vietnam has a zero-tolerance alcohol policy for riders. Even a small amount can mean heavy fines and possible licence suspension.
7. Use lights and indicators. Signal when turning or changing lanes. Headlights must be on between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am, and sometimes in tunnels during the day.
8. Carry only legal loads. You may carry one adult passenger plus a child. Larger loads or extra passengers are prohibited and often stopped.
9. Obey lights and signs. Running red lights is a common reason for fines, and police often watch busy city intersections.
10. Give way correctly. At intersections without signals, give way to vehicles coming from the right; in practice, larger vehicles tend to take priority.

Many local riders do not follow these rules. That does not make you exempt, so ride defensively, stay alert and expect the unexpected.

Quick checklist before you ride

Before you get on a bike, ask yourself:

• Do I have a valid IDP (1968 format) or an ASEAN licence?
• Does my licence cover motorcycles?
• Is my travel insurance valid for motorcycle riding?
• Do I know the local laws, including compulsory helmets and zero tolerance on alcohol?

If you cannot answer yes to all of these, riding could expose you to fines, confiscation, or an uninsured accident.

Alternatives for exploring by motorbike

If you cannot ride legally, you can still see Vietnam on two wheels. Travel as a pillion passenger with a licensed easy rider guide, or hire a driver for the day. It is safer, and a local guide often knows the routes and stops that make the trip.

Getting help and sources

There are several visa professionals and motorbike rental shops who can confirm whether your status qualifies for a licence conversion, help you prepare and translate the paperwork, and submit it for you.

The conversion rules above reflect Thông tư 108/2026/TT-BCA, issued 29 June 2026, which replaces Thông tư 12/2025/TT-BCA and takes effect from 1 July 2026. Rules change, so verify current requirements before you ride or apply.