Short answer
Only an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is valid in Vietnam, and only when you carry it together with your original home-country licence for the same class of vehicle.[1][2][4] IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and “international licences” sold by private companies such as the IAA, are not accepted.[1][2]
What to carry when you ride
The Traffic Police of Hue City list three documents you must carry together:[1]
- A valid IDP in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your original national driving licence, still valid and covering the vehicle you ride.
- Your passport, with a valid visa or temporary residence card, to show you are in Vietnam legally.
The IDP works like a translation of your home licence, so it is never valid on its own.[3] The Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police say both must be shown at a roadside check.[2]
Permits Vietnam does not accept
1949 Geneva Convention IDPs
Hue City Police explain that the United States is not a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention and mainly issues IDPs under the 1949 Geneva Convention. These are not recognised directly in Vietnam, and police can tell a rider the permit has no effect.[1] If your country issues both types, ask for the 1968 one.
IAA and other private “international licences”
The International Automobile Association (IAA) is a non-governmental organisation based in the United States, and its permits have no validity in Vietnam.[3] Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police have fined riders who showed an IAA permit for riding with no driving licence.[2]
Your licence must cover big bikes
Under Vietnam’s Road Traffic Order and Safety Law, a class A1 licence covers motorcycles up to 125 cc, and class A covers motorcycles over 125 cc.[4] Your home licence and IDP must both carry a full motorcycle category.
Every bike in the DME fleet is over 125 cc, so a scooter-only or learner category is not enough.
The law behind it
The Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety No. 36/2024/QH15, in force since 1 January 2025, lists the licences valid in Vietnam. Among them is an IDP together with a national licence for the vehicle class, both issued by a country that is a member of the 1968 UN Convention on Road Traffic (the Vienna Convention).[4]
Before that law, Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT set the same rule, and the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police still quote it. It defines an IDP as a permit in a single standard format, issued by an authority of a Vienna Convention country (Article 3). It requires you to carry the IDP with a national licence for the vehicle class (Article 11).[2]
Before you book
- Check that your IDP was issued under the 1968 Convention. The issuing authority can confirm this.
- Make sure your home licence and IDP both show a motorcycle category, and that they will be valid during your tour.
- Lived in Vietnam for more than 3 months with a visa or residence card? You can exchange your home licence for a Vietnamese one instead.[1]
Not sure about your documents? Send us a photo on WhatsApp before you book, and we will take a look.
Sources
- [1]Traffic Police Division, Hue City Police. Answer to “Thắc mắc về quy định sử dụng bằng lái xe quốc tế (IDP)”, Hue-S citizen portal. 10 October 2025. tuongtac.hue.gov.vn
- [2]Road & Railway Traffic Police Division (PC08), Ho Chi Minh City Police. Giấy phép lái xe quốc tế IAA không được công nhận tại Việt Nam (IAA driving permits are not recognised in Vietnam). csgt-congan.hochiminhcity.gov.vn
- [3]Voice of Vietnam (VOV). Bằng lái xe quốc tế có được lái xe ở Việt Nam? (Can an international licence be used in Vietnam?). 3 September 2023. vov.gov.vn
- [4]Government of Vietnam e-newspaper (Chinhphu.vn). Quy định về thời hạn của Giấy phép lái xe, on the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety No. 36/2024/QH15. 4 March 2025. xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn
This page summarises official Vietnamese sources for riders. It is not legal advice, and rules can change. Check with the authority that issues your IDP before you travel.
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