Riding a motorbike in Vietnam
Renting a scooter is cheap and easy, and that is the trap. Shops often do not check your licence, but the police and your insurer can. The licence rules are the part most often reported wrongly, so read this page and then check your own licence.
Most of what follows comes from law-firm and tour-company write-ups, not from the legal texts. Where we could not confirm a rule, it says check before you go.
The licence you need
- Your home licence plus an international driving permit. Guides say a foreign licence alone is not enough. You need your valid home licence and an international driving permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, with the motorcycle category 1,2. Vietnam's 2024 road traffic law (Law 36/2024/QH15) is cited for this 3.
- Check which convention your permit follows. Several sources say a permit issued under the older 1949 Geneva Convention is not accepted and is treated as no licence at all 1,3. Some countries issue only the 1949 kind. Check before you go: ask the body that issues your permit which convention it follows. We could not confirm each country's status.
- The category must match the bike. Sources say a licence for bikes up to 125 cc does not cover a bigger engine. One guide says licences issued before 1 January 2025 keep the old 175 cc limit. Check before you go: confirm the category on your licence and permit against the size of the bike 1.
- A permit bought in Vietnam is not a licence. A permit issued in Vietnam under Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA may not be used in place of a Vietnamese licence inside Vietnam 4.
- Long stays. Guides say a foreign licence with a permit is for short visits, and that a stay over about three months means converting to a Vietnamese licence 2. Check before you go: we could not confirm the exact limit or the conversion steps.
- The U.S. Embassy's line is stricter. As reported in search results, it says foreign licences, even with an IDP, are not valid in Vietnam 5. Check before you go: read the current wording of your own embassy's advice.
If you do not hold the right papers, the safest choice is a ride app or a driver. See the next section for what it can cost you.
Fines and police checks
These come from Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, which sources say has applied since 1 January 2025 6,7. Fines change, so treat amounts as rough.
| Offence | Fine reported |
|---|---|
| No helmet, or strap not fastened (rider or passenger) | 400,000 to 600,000 dong 6 |
| No valid licence, bike up to 125 cc | 2 to 4 million dong, and the bike may be held for days 7 |
| No valid licence, bike over 125 cc | 6 to 8 million dong 7 |
| No compulsory liability insurance | 200,000 to 300,000 dong 8 |
| Running a red light | 4 to 6 million dong, plus lost licence points 9 |
| Alcohol, up to 50 mg per 100 ml of blood | 2 to 3 million dong 6 |
| Alcohol, 50 to 80 mg per 100 ml | 6 to 8 million dong 6 |
| Alcohol, over 80 mg per 100 ml | 8 to 10 million dong 6 |
The helmet and alcohol amounts are from a summary of the decree 6. The licence and insurance amounts come from secondary sites that disagree in places, so check before you go 7,8. One site gives a fine for no licence of 2 million dong and up 2.
Guides say police checkpoints stop foreigners on any bike, including small scooters, and that checks are tougher since 2025 1,2. If you are stopped, stay calm and polite, and ask for a written fine. Do not hand over cash on the roadside.
Insurance
- Travel insurance often leaves riding out. Policies commonly exclude motorbike accidents unless you hold a valid licence for the bike, and some exclude two-wheelers altogether 2. A claim after a crash without the right licence is likely to be refused.
- Read the exclusions before you ride, not after. Look for the words "motorcycle", "moped" and "licence".
- Compulsory insurance is a separate thing. Riders are fined for having none 8. Ask the shop what cover comes with the bike and what it pays for. Check before you go: we could not confirm what the compulsory cover pays out.
- Save your insurer's phone number. Many insurers want a call before a big treatment.
Helmets and gear
- A helmet is required for the rider and any passenger, and the strap must be fastened 6.
- Choose a helmet that fits and a strap that clips.
- Long trousers and closed shoes help if you fall.
Before you rent
- Check the licence, permit and category for the exact bike. Shops that do not ask do not protect you.
- Test the brakes, lights, horn and tyres.
- Photograph every scratch with the owner in the shot, before you ride off.
- Ask what happens if the bike is stolen or damaged, and get it in writing.
- Start slow. Practise on a quiet road first and skip rush hour.
Before you ride
Check what your passport needs in the visa check. Read your policy against the list above, or look at travel insurance.
Questions and answers
Can I ride in Vietnam with just my home licence?
Guides say no. You need your home licence and a 1968 Vienna Convention permit with the motorcycle category 1,2. Check before you go, because some sources and embassies word this more strictly.
Do I need a licence for a small scooter?
One source says bikes of 50 cc or less need none 1. Check before you go: we could not confirm this against the law, and most rentals are bigger.
Will my travel insurance cover a crash?
Often not without the right licence 2. Read your policy for motorcycle exclusions and ask your insurer in writing.
What happens if I get stopped without the right papers?
The fine for no valid licence is reported at 2 million dong and up, and the bike may be held 7. Your insurer may also refuse a claim.
Sources
All pages were read or seen in search on Oct 20, 2026. Most are rental, tour or law-firm sites. We did not read the legal texts themselves.
- AZ Motorbikes, "Vietnam motorbike laws 2026: complete guide for foreign riders" (IDP type, categories, checkpoints; seen in search): hanoiscootersrental.com
- Vietnam Tourism, "Driving in Vietnam: international permits, rules and renting a motorbike legally", updated Aug 29, 2026: vietnamtourism.com
- Luat Viet Nam, "Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, No. 36/2024/QH15" (seen in search): english.luatvietnam.vn
- Vietnam Law Magazine, "How can foreigners obtain International Driving Permits in Vietnam?", Nov 5, 2025 (Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA): vietnamlawmagazine.vn
- U.S. Embassy Vietnam, "Driving in Vietnam" (seen in search, page would not load): vn.usembassy.gov
- Luat Viet Nam, "Decree 168/2024/ND-CP penalties for violations related to road traffic order and safety" (helmet and alcohol fines): english.luatvietnam.vn
- Vietnam Teaching Jobs, "What are the exact fines for driving without a license in Vietnam" (seen in search): vietnamteachingjobs.com
- Indochina Motorbike Tours, "Vietnam motorbike traffic laws and fines 2026" (insurance fine; seen in search): indochinamotorbiketours.com
- Barrso, "Notable 2025 motorcycle traffic fines according to Decree 168/2024/ND-CP": barrso.com