If you are planning to ride a motorbike or drive a car in Vietnam, you have likely heard about the 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP). For short-term travelers, it is the perfect solution to legally navigate Vietnam’s bustling streets.
But what happens when you decide to stay a little longer?
A common and dangerous misconception among expats is that an IDP is valid for as long as the physical booklet says it is. In Vietnam, local laws dictate otherwise. Here is exactly how long your 1968 IDP is legally valid for use in Vietnam, and when you need to switch to a local license.
Vietnam only recognizes the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP (note: the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP is not accepted). However, the legal validity of your 1968 IDP is entirely tied to your visa status.
A 1968 IDP is only valid for temporary visitors entering the country on a tourist visa. As long as you are officially classified as a tourist navigating the country on a short-term basis, your IDP, paired with your home country’s driver’s license, makes you fully legal on the road.
So, you may look at the cover of your 1968 IDP and deduce that it is valid for up to 3 years. However, due to this rule you could be easily caught out. Beware.
The clock runs out on your IDP the moment you transition from being a “temporary visitor” to a “resident.” In Vietnam, this happens under two primary conditions:
Once either of these thresholds is crossed, your 1968 IDP loses all legal standing in Vietnam.
You might be wondering: “Will the local traffic police really know the difference?” While you might successfully pass through a casual traffic stop by flashing your IDP, the real danger lies in insurance. If you are involved in an accident after living in Vietnam for over three months or after getting a TRC, the authorities and your insurance company will investigate your legal driving status.
Because your IDP is no longer valid, you will be classified as driving without a license. This gives insurance companies the legal right to completely deny your claims, leaving you personally liable for expensive medical bills, property damage, and legal trouble.
In any half serious investigation into a large insurance claim, the insurance company will soon find out how long you have been in the country. As we all know, they are ruthless, so beware.
To remain legal, protected, and fully insured, long-term expats are legally required to convert their home country’s driver’s license into a Vietnamese driver’s license.
Fortunately, if you already hold a valid car or motorcycle license from your home country, the conversion process is a straightforward administrative task that does not require taking a local driving test. Once converted, your Vietnamese license will typically be valid for the duration of your visa or TRC.
Once you hear what you have to do for the Vietnamese driving test, you will say that it is so simple. But, hold your horses, it really isn’t. There is a whole load of paperwork that is needed and potentially a great deal of language learning!!.
If you don’t have a motorbike license from your home country, obtaining one in Vietnam is possible but challenging, as you cannot simply “convert” a non-existent permit. Here is the process for those starting from scratch:
To even apply for the test, you must hold a visa, work permit, or Temporary Residence Card (TRC) valid for at least three months. Standard 30-day tourist visas are not eligible for the driving exam.
Unlike those who already have a car license (who only have to take the riding test), you must pass both sections:
You will need to submit a dossier to the local Department of Transport (Hanoi or HCMC), including:
There is no magical expiration stamp that triggers at exactly 90 days, but under Vietnamese law, the 1968 IDP is strictly reserved for “temporary visitors.” If you remain in the country beyond a standard tourist timeframe—typically recognized as 3 months—authorities and insurance companies begin classifying you as a resident. At that point, relying on an IDP becomes a major legal and financial risk if you are stopped by traffic police or involved in an accident.
The moment your Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is issued, your 1968 IDP is immediately voided for use in Vietnam. A TRC officially changes your status from a tourist to a resident. As a resident, you are legally required to hold a Vietnamese driver’s license. If you are caught riding with an IDP while holding a TRC, your insurance is invalidated, and you will be treated by the law as driving without a license.
While a border run technically resets your tourist visa, it is a dangerous gray area when it comes to insurance liability. If you have been doing consecutive border runs and have essentially lived in Vietnam for a year, an insurance investigator will look at your passport history during a major crash claim. If they determine you are a de facto resident exploiting tourist visas, they have the grounds to invalidate your 1968 IDP and deny your claim.
Converting your license is the only bulletproof way to protect yourself.
No, and this is one of the most common, costly mistakes travelers make. Vietnam only recognizes IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
If your IDP was issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention (which includes permits from the USA, Australia, Canada, and Japan), it is completely invalid in Vietnam.
Furthermore, your valid 1968 IDP must always be presented alongside your physical, original home-country driver’s license that explicitly shows a motorcycle endorsement and is currently valid.
If you already hold a valid motorcycle license from your home country, the answer is usually no. Converting a foreign driver’s license to a Vietnamese one is an administrative process. It involves getting your home license translated and notarized, taking a quick local health check, and submitting the paperwork to the Department of Transport.
However, if your home country license is only for a car, you will be required to pass a practical motorbike riding test in Vietnam to be legally endorsed for two wheels.
Your 1968 IDP is a fantastic tool for a short backpacking trip or a quick holiday. But if you are putting down roots in Vietnam, do not risk your physical and financial safety. Keep an eye on the calendar, and once you hit the three-month mark or secure your TRC, make converting to a Vietnamese driver’s license your top priority.
Engine Type
air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement
411 cc
Bore X Stroke
78 mm x 86 mm
Ignition
TCI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm
Rear Suspension
linkage-type monoshock
Front Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
90/90 – 21
Rear Tyres
120/90 – 17
Wheelbase
1465 mm
Seat Height
800 mm
Ground Clearance
220 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
15 litres
Dimensions
2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)
Daily
Total
Rider (CRF 300)
$220
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Rider (XR 150)
Rider (CRF 300)
Rider (CB 500X)
Rider (Himalayan 400)
$220
Rider (GS 1250)
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Jeep (1 PAX)
$210
Jeep (2 PAX)
$120
Jeep (3 PAX)
$90
Jeep (4+ PAX)
$80
Rider (Easy Rider)
$115
Rider (Self-Drive)
$105
Private Room
$15
* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)
