An International Driving Permit (IDP) is the document that makes many foreign licences usable in Vietnam — but only the right kind.

Which IDP counts

Article 57(8) of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety (No. 36/2024/QH15) recognises IDPs and national licences issued by countries that are members of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, provided the licence is appropriate to the vehicle being ridden. Rules of thumb:

  • Carry both your national licence and the IDP — the IDP is a translation, not a standalone licence. Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP (Article 18) fines 1968-convention IDP holders who ride without carrying the matching national licence 2–4 million VND
  • Your national licence must itself include motorcycles; an IDP cannot add categories you do not hold
  • An IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention is not the basis for legal riding in Vietnam
  • Photocopies and photos of documents are not substitutes

Exchanging a foreign licence for a Vietnamese one

Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA (28 February 2025) governs licence testing, issuance and exchange. Foreigners residing, working or studying in Vietnam can exchange a valid foreign national licence for the corresponding Vietnamese licence without a new driving test, provided they hold a diplomatic identity card, service identity card, or a temporary or permanent residence card valid for 3 months or more. IDPs themselves are not exchangeable — only national licences are.

For long-term residents, teachers and students, exchange is usually the cleaner option than relying on an IDP indefinitely. Requirements can change; the traffic police have already proposed amendments to Circular 12, so confirm current paperwork before applying.

If you are stopped

Stay calm, hand over the requested documents, and do not hand your passport to anyone who is not a police officer. If your documents are not in order, a fine is the normal outcome; the serious consequences arrive only after an accident.

Information, not legal advice. Verified against the full text of Law 36/2024/QH15, Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA and Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP on 2026-09-21.