Here's how it usually goes. You arrive in Da Nang, someone at a rental shop asks for a deposit, and often nobody asks for a license. The ease of it creates the impression that foreigners can ride freely. They can't. Vietnamese law sets out who may drive, and since January 2025, the fines for breaking those rules are steep.

This guide covers the official rules. Where enforcement or rental practice differs, we say so.

Last verified: October 11, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules on licenses changed in 2025, so confirm your situation with the traffic police or a lawyer.

The basic rule: convert your license

Under Article 18.7 of Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA, issued by the Ministry of Public Security on February 28, 2025, foreigners who want to drive in Vietnam must convert their national driver's license into a Vietnamese one, unless a treaty Vietnam has joined provides otherwise, Vietnam Law Magazine explained.

To be eligible, you need to:

  • have lived in Vietnam for at least three months;
  • hold a valid national license; and
  • hold a residence permit, or a diplomatic or official-duty ID card.

Some licenses can't be converted at all: temporary licenses, international driving permits, expired licenses, and damaged licenses missing required information.

In practice, conversion is a route for residents, not for someone on a two-week holiday.

How conversion works

According to Viet Nam News and Vietnam Law Magazine, the dossier includes:

  • an application form (Appendix XIII of Circular 12);
  • a copy of your foreign license with a Vietnamese translation certified by a notary or a Vietnamese mission;
  • a health certificate from a qualified medical facility, which may be waived if you apply within the validity of your visa or temporary residence card; and
  • a copy of your residence permit or ID card, valid for at least three more months.

You file it with the traffic police division of the provincial-level Public Security Department, or at an authorized commune-level police office. Licensing now runs through the police under the Ministry of Public Security's 2025 circular, so older guides that send you to a transport department may be out of date. Once approved, the license is issued and recorded within three working days and printed within five, Viet Nam News reported. The converted license is valid only as long as your residence permit and your home license.

What about an international driving permit?

Vietnam recognizes international driving permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Holders of a permit issued by a Convention country must carry both the permit and their national license, and the license must match the class of vehicle they're driving, Báo Đầu Tư reported when the rules on international permits were set out in 2015.

Two catches. First, the permit has to cover motorcycles. A permit that covers only cars doesn't let you ride a scooter. Second, not every country issues permits under the 1968 Convention. Check with the body that issued yours.

What it costs to get it wrong

The penalties under Decree 168/2024, in force since January 1, 2025, are substantial. According to a summary by Thư Viện Nhà Đất:

  • No valid license, up to 125cc: 2 million to 4 million dong.
  • No valid license, over 125cc: 6 million to 8 million dong.
  • Licensed but not carrying it: 200,000 to 300,000 dong.
  • No helmet, or not fastened (rider or passenger): 400,000 to 600,000 dong each.
  • Running a red light: 4 million to 6 million dong.
  • Alcohol: from 2 million to 3 million dong at the lowest level, up to 8 million to 10 million dong and a long license suspension at the highest.

The lowest alcohol tier covers any reading up to 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, so there's no amount that's safe to ride on. If you've had a drink, don't ride.

The bigger risk isn't the fine. If you crash without a valid license, check whether your travel or health insurance will still pay. Read the policy before you need it.

Practical advice

  • If you're visiting: get the right international permit at home, or use apps, buses and the train.
  • If you're living here: once you have a residence permit and three months behind you, convert your license.
  • Wear a real helmet and fasten it. It's the law, and it's your skull.
  • Know the local exceptions. Automatic scooters aren't allowed on Son Tra's upper roads. See our Son Tra guide.

Sources

This story was compiled by the Da Nang Voice news desk from the published sources listed above. Facts, figures and quotes are attributed to those sources; Da Nang Voice did not conduct interviews for it unless the text says so. Corrections are dated and noted at the top of the story. Read our corrections policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.