1968 vs 1949 IDP: who can legally ride a motorbike in Vietnam
Reviewed 2026-06-03 · General guidance, not legal advice — Kai gives you your personal status.
It's the single most expensive misunderstanding a foreign rider can have in Vietnam: not every International Driving Permit is recognised here. The difference between the 1968 and 1949 conventions decides whether you're a legal rider or an uninsured one facing a fine and an impounded bike.
Vietnam recognises only the 1968 Vienna Convention permit
Vietnam recognises only the 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit. A 1949 Geneva Convention permit — the kind issued by the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and Korea — is not valid here for a petrol motorbike over 50cc.
There are two international treaties that produce an IDP: the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. Vietnam is a party to the 1968 one — so only a 1968-convention IDP (carried with your home licence) is valid here.
A 1949 Geneva permit is, in the words of more than one rider who learned the hard way, treated like a souvenir booklet. It does not make you legal to ride a petrol motorbike over 50cc in Vietnam.
Whose permit is valid (1968) — a representative list
Most of continental Europe issues 1968 permits, and crucially so does the UK. If your licence was issued in one of these countries and you hold the matching IDP, you can be a fully legal rider here:
- United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria
- Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czechia, Hungary
- Russia, Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Israel
Whose permit is NOT valid here
These countries issue only the 1949 permit (or aren't party to the 1968 treaty). Their riders cannot legally ride a petrol bike over 50cc in Vietnam, no matter what a rental shop tells them:
- United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
- Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, India
- Spain, Ireland (and a few others — confirm your exact case)
What it costs to get it wrong (Decree 168, in force since Jan 2025)
Riding a petrol motorbike over 50cc without a Vietnam-recognised licence is fined VND 2–4 million for a bike up to 125cc, or VND 6–8 million over 125cc, plus a 7-day bike impound. Under Article 32.10, the person who hands an unlicensed rider the bike faces a separate VND 8–10 million fine.
Vietnam's Decree 168/2024 sharply raised traffic penalties from 1 January 2025. Riding without a Vietnam-recognised licence is fined VND 2–4 million (≈ USD 80–160) for a bike up to 125cc, or VND 6–8 million (≈ USD 240–320) for anything larger, and your bike is impounded for up to seven days — mid-trip.
The quieter, larger risk is insurance: ride without a valid licence and a crash can void your travel-medical cover, leaving you personally liable for a hospital bill that can run into five figures. The legal problem and the financial one are the same problem.
The legal way through if your permit isn't valid
You are not stuck. A licence-free electric scooter (rated 4 kW or under) needs no licence and no IDP — it is legal for everyone to ride in Vietnam, and it comfortably covers city and coastal riding. The other route is a Vietnamese licence, which is possible but slow.
This is exactly the check Kai does first: tell it your country and whether you hold a 1968 IDP, and in about 90 seconds you'll know precisely what you can legally ride — before you pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is a US International Driving Permit valid in Vietnam?
No. The US issues a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, and Vietnam recognises only the 1968 Vienna Convention permit. A US IDP does not make you legal to ride a petrol motorbike over 50cc here. A licence-free electric scooter (rated ≤4 kW) is legal for you instead.
Which countries' IDPs are valid for riding a motorbike in Vietnam?
Countries that issue the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP — including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, the Philippines and Thailand. The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Spain and Ireland issue the 1949 permit, which is not valid here.
Can I ride in Vietnam with just my home driving licence?
No. A foreign licence on its own is not valid; you need it together with a valid 1968 IDP. Without a recognised licence you can still legally ride a licence-free electric scooter (rated ≤4 kW).
Know your exact status in 90 seconds
Tell Kai your country, licence and dates. It confirms what you can legally ride, matches the bike and quotes one honest all-in price — free, before you commit anything.
Talk to Kai