Driving in Vietnam with a foreign licence
The Ha Giang loop and the coast road from Hoi An are two of the best rides in Asia — and Vietnam is also one of the few countries where a translation of your licence genuinely does not solve the problem.
Not valid — official IDP only
Do you need one for Vietnam?
Vietnam recognises only the 1968-convention international permit issued by a government-authorised body in your home country, and only alongside a licence class that matches your vehicle. Private translations — ours included — have no standing at Vietnamese checkpoints or with insurers.
That's why we don't sell for Vietnam. If your country issues the 1968 IDP (most of Europe does), get it from your automobile association before flying. If you hold a US, Canadian or Australian licence (1949-only countries), there is no fully legal scooter path in Vietnam short of a Vietnamese licence conversion.
At the rental desk
Shops in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City will rent you a scooter with no questions — that has no bearing on legality. Travel insurance is the trap: after an accident, insurers routinely deny claims from riders without the official 1968 permit and a motorcycle class.
If you're stopped
Checkpoints on the Ha Giang loop specifically screen foreign riders in high season. Without the official permit, expect the bike held and a fine; with it, stops are quick. There is no document we could sell you that changes this — so we won't.
Vietnam questions, straight answers
Why do other sites sell 'IDPs for Vietnam'?
Because the checkout doesn't check the law. A private translation has no legal standing in Vietnam regardless of who sells it or what stamp is printed on it. We'd rather lose the sale than sell you a fine.
Does the 1968 IDP make scooter riding legal for me?
Only if your home licence includes a motorcycle class. A car licence plus a 1968 permit still doesn't cover a Honda Win. That combination — motorcycle class + official permit — is the legal minimum.
What about the 'blue card' Vietnamese licence conversion?
For stays over 3 months with the right visa, converting to a Vietnamese licence is the robust option; agencies in Hanoi and HCMC handle it in about a week. For a two-week trip it's not realistic.
Is a car with driver a sensible alternative?
For most itineraries, yes — inter-city driver hire in Vietnam is inexpensive by Western standards, and it moves the legal and traffic risk entirely off you.
Do you need one for Vietnam?
We don't sell what doesn't work. For Vietnam, authorities accept only the official permit issued in your home country — get that instead. Here's how:
Get the official 1968-convention permit from the automobile association in your licence country (usually same-day at a counter, roughly $15–30). EU/UK licences: your national AA/ADAC/ACL equivalent. US/CA/AU licences: your countries issue only the 1949 permit, which Vietnam does not recognise — consider a car with driver, or a Vietnamese licence conversion for long stays.
