Licences in Vietnam: which documents actually work

The licence question comes up in every conversation about renting or buying a motorcycle in Vietnam, and the answer given is usually wrong. Between "international permits work" and "international permits do not work" sits one detail that decides everything: which convention issued it.

Two conventions, only one of which counts

Vietnam recognises International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are not recognised in Vietnam.

In practice that means riders from countries issuing 1968 permits, Russia among them, hold a document that works. Visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where permits follow the 1949 convention, cannot ride on them in Vietnam.

The category matters too

Holding an international permit is not enough on its own: it has to carry the right motorcycle category. In Vietnam those are A1 and A2, and they differ by engine capacity.

• A 1968-convention international permit plus your valid national licence
• A motorcycle category on the licence, not just the car category
• A category matching the engine capacity of the bike you are riding
• Both documents carried with you: the international permit alone is not valid

If you are staying long term

For longer stays a national licence can be converted into a Vietnamese one. In many cases no theory or practical test is required if the original licence is still valid.

Rules and enforcement practice change, so confirm the current requirements before you travel. If you are unsure whether your documents cover a specific motorcycle, ask us before you book. It is cheaper than finding out at a roadside check.