Vietnam classifies electric two-wheelers by construction and power, and the boundaries decide whether you need a licence at all. The definitions come from Article 34 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety (No. 36/2024/QH15).
The three groups
Pedal-type electric bicycles (xe đạp điện). The law defines these as bicycles with motor assistance whose power cuts out when the rider stops pedalling or when the bike reaches 25 km/h. They are legally non-motorised vehicles: no driving licence applies, and riders must be old enough to ride a bicycle on the road. Riders and passengers must still wear standard-compliant helmets (Article 31(3)).
Electric mopeds (xe gắn máy chạy điện), 4 kW and under. Scooter-style electric two-wheelers of 4 kW or less, designed for no more than 50 km/h, fall in the moped class: no driving licence, rider must be at least 16. This is where many popular city e-bikes and small electric scooters sit.
Electric motorcycles, above 4 kW. These need a licence, matched to power under Article 57:
| Power | Licence class |
|---|---|
| Above 4 kW, up to and including 11 kW | A1 |
| Above 11 kW | A |
Class A covers every electric two-wheeler above 11 kW — there is no higher separate class in the new law. Electric A1 licences issued before 1 January 2025 keep transitional coverage from 4 kW up to (but not including) 14 kW under Article 89.
Why the distinction matters
Riders sometimes assume every electric two-wheeler is “just a bicycle”. A scooter-style electric machine that looks small can still exceed 4 kW and require an A1 licence. Check the rated power, not the size of the bike.
Renting electric in Hanoi
Electric options suit short city trips: quiet, cheap to run, no petrol smell. Range and charging time vary a lot by model. Contact us to confirm current availability of electric motorcycles or e-bikes.
Information, not legal advice. Verified against the full text of Law 36/2024/QH15 on 2026-09-21.
For what an electric motorbike is as a machine and category, see our what-is-electric-motorbike-vietnam and electric-moped-vs-electric-motorcycle-vietnam guides.