Can Foreigners Drive a Motorbike in Vietnam? Here’s What You Actually Need to Know. Vietnam is one of the most breathtaking countries in the world to explore on two wheels. From the misty mountain passes of Sapa to the winding coastal roads of Central Vietnam, riding a motorbike gives you a freedom that no bus tour ever could. But before you hop on a bike, there’s one question you need to answer honestly: are you actually allowed to ride legally?
The rules aren’t complicated once you understand them — but a lot of tourists get it wrong, and the consequences (fines, impounded bikes, voided travel insurance) aren’t worth it.
Vietnam only recognizes the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic when it comes to international driving permits. Whether you can legally ride a motorbike here depends entirely on which country issued your license.
If you’re from a country that signed the 1968 Vienna Convention — many European countries, parts of Asia, and parts of Africa — you can ride legally in Vietnam. You’ll need two things: a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention with the motorcycle (“A”) endorsement clearly marked, and your original home country motorcycle license. You must carry both at all times. Your IDP is typically valid for up to 3 years from the issue date, or until your home license expires — whichever comes first.
When getting your IDP, only use an officially authorized issuer in your home country — usually your national automobile association. To find the legitimate issuer for your country, use the official AIT/FIA IDP directory at https://internationaldrivingpermit.org.
Warning: Fake IDP Websites Are Everywhere. This is something we feel strongly about warning travelers on. There are dozens of websites selling “International Driving Permits” online — and the vast majority of them are scams. We’ve checked some of these sites ourselves. Watch out for sites with no named organization, country, or automobile association behind them, prices that seem unusually cheap or suspiciously expensive, fake or missing contact details like placeholder social media links and generic email addresses, and documents that look official but carry no legal weight whatsoever.
A fake IDP will not protect you if you’re stopped by Vietnamese traffic police. It also won’t be recognized by your travel insurance provider. The consequences — fines, impounded bikes, and uncovered medical bills — fall entirely on you. The only safe way to get a valid IDP is through your country’s officially authorized issuer. Use the AIT/FIA official directory at https://internationaldrivingpermit.org to find yours.
If you’re from an ASEAN country — Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, or Brunei — you can use your domestic motorcycle license in Vietnam without needing a separate IDP. That said, some tourists from ASEAN countries report that traffic police in popular tourist areas still ask for a 1968 IDP. It’s worth double-checking with your country’s transport authority before your trip and carrying all your documentation to be safe.
If you’re from the USA, Australia, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Fiji, or Papua New Guinea, this is where it gets frustrating. These countries issue IDPs under the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention, and Vietnam does not recognize the 1949 IDP. In practical terms, tourists from these countries cannot legally drive a motorbike in Vietnam on a tourist visa. Converting to a Vietnamese license is technically an option, but it requires a long-term visa or residence permit — not something available to short-term visitors. If you’re from one of these countries and want to explore Vietnam on two wheels, your best options are hiring a driver (Easy Rider-style tours where a local guide drives while you ride pillion are an amazing experience), joining a guided motorbike tour where the guide handles the riding, or booking a trekking or adventure tour through a local operator like us.
Riding without a valid license in Vietnam can mean fines of 2–4 million VND (roughly $80–160 USD), your motorbike impounded for up to 7 days, and your travel insurance voided — leaving you personally liable for 100% of medical bills and any damages if you’re in an accident. As of January 2025, Vietnam has introduced stricter traffic enforcement, particularly in popular tourist destinations, and police checkpoints are more common than they used to be.
To summarize: if you hold a 1968 IDP with a motorcycle endorsement plus your home license, you’re legal. If you’re from an ASEAN country with a domestic motorcycle license, you’re legal. If you’re from the USA, Australia, UK, or Canada on a tourist visa, you cannot legally ride.
If you’re visiting Sapa and you’re not sure about your license situation, don’t let it stop you from experiencing the mountains. We at Sapa Sisters offer trekking adventures that take you deep into the valleys, rice terraces, and hill tribe villages — no motorbike license required. Explore our tours at https://sapasisters.com.
Always verify the current rules with your home country’s transport authority and Vietnam’s traffic regulations before your trip, as laws and enforcement can change.