Motorbikes in Vietnam — ride, ride pillion, or don't

• lawYour licence must cover motorbikes. A car-only licence or car-only IDP does not let you ride. Engines above 50 cc need a motorbike class (A1/A in Vietnam).
• checkIDP must be the 1968 Vienna Convention type. Vietnam recognises IDPs issued under the 1968 convention, carried with your home licence. IDPs issued only under the 1949 Geneva convention (for example US and Australian IDPs, check yours) are generally not accepted.
• tipOr convert to a Vietnamese licence. Residents with a long-stay visa can convert a foreign licence; not practical for a short trip.

• lawRiding unlicensed voids most travel insurance. Policies exclude motorbike claims if you lack a licence valid in the country for that engine size, ride without a helmet, or have any alcohol. Medical evacuation from Vietnam can cost tens of thousands of US dollars.
• checkRead the motorbike clause before you fly. Some policies cap engine size (often 125 cc) or require a home motorbike licence even as a passenger — check the wording.
• lawThe bike needs third-party insurance. Ask the rental shop for the compulsory third-party certificate and the registration card (cà vẹt); carry both.

• lawHelmet on, strap done, rider and passenger. Mandatory on every road since 2007. Use a helmet with a visor or glasses; cheap 'hat' helmets are common, not safe.
• checkFines were raised sharply from January 2025. No helmet ₫400,000–600,000 (≈ US$16–25); riding without a valid licence for a bike up to 125 cc ₫2,000,000–4,000,000 (≈ US$80–160) and the bike can be impounded; any alcohol is an offence, with fines up to ₫8,000,000–10,000,000 (≈ US$350–400) and licence suspension (2026 estimate — check current decree).
• lawZero alcohol. Any measurable alcohol is an offence for riders. Breath checkpoints run at night in cities.
• lawPhone in hand is fined. Mount it or stop to read the map.

• tipNever leave your passport as a deposit. You need it for hotel registration, banks and police. Offer a cash deposit (commonly ₫2,000,000–5,000,000 (≈ US$80–200), 2026 estimate) or a photocopy.
• tipPhotograph the bike with the owner watching. All sides, existing scratches, odometer, fuel. Test brakes, lights and horn before you leave.
• tipPark in paid lots. Attended lots (gửi xe) cost ₫5,000–10,000 (≈ under US$1) and give you a ticket; street parking invites theft and towing.

• tipTraffic keeps right; the bigger vehicle wins. Trucks and buses take priority in practice. The horn means 'I am here', not anger.
• tipMotorbikes carry most of the road deaths. Most road users and most road deaths in Vietnam are on two wheels; night highways with trucks and wet mountain passes are the worst.
• tipRainy season changes everything. Oil on the first rain makes city roads slick; northern passes see landslides in summer — check before a loop.

1. Get off the road and switch on hazards; check yourself and others for injury.
2. Call 115 for an ambulance and 113 for police, or ask a local to call; show the phrase card.
3. Do not move anyone with a head, neck or back injury unless there is fire or traffic danger.
4. Photograph the scene, both bikes, plates and the other party's ID; get a witness number.
5. Call your insurer's 24-hour line before paying for anything beyond first aid; ask for an international hospital in Hanoi, Đà Nẵng or Hồ Chí Minh City.
6. Do not sign a document you cannot read; ask for an interpreter or call your embassy.
7. Minor scrape, no police: small cash settlements are common and the foreigner is often asked to pay — stay calm and let hotel staff or the rental shop help negotiate.
8. Call the rental shop; do not hand over your passport to settle a dispute.

• UK FCDO — Vietnam travel advice (driving section)
• US State Department — Vietnam country information
• Smartraveller (Australia) — Vietnam

Country rules on Vietnam