Important audio to listen to on this topic.
To drive legally in Vietnam you need to have a motorbike license (from home) and an international driver's permit. It is common and normal for people to drive without any license in Vietnam, and simple coffee money will deal with the police.
However, if you go above 150cc then having all your documents by the book becomes more important.
Please note, that for any model with less than 150cc, we will not check your driver's license. But to rent above 150cc you need to have both a valid motorbike license and an international driver's permit.
Understanding the international driver's permit
An IDP/IDL, or international driver's permit/international driver's license is the same. The IDP is an agreement between countries to recognize each other's drivers licenses. Unfortunately, there are different versions of the IDP, the1968 convention and 1949 convention.
The wiki page for IDP has up-to-date information on which version each country belongs to. Vietnam belongs to the 1968 version. Australia and America belong to the 1949 version. Therefore it is not possible for Australians or Americans to drive legally in Vietnam. A country like Great Britain, belong to both the 1949 and 1968 convention, so it is possible to drive legally in Vietnam.
The police will help you when they are not helping themselves.Hack ?
Hacky fixes to the problem for Americans and Australians, or people already traveling.
If your country belongs to the 1968 convention, such as United Kingdom. Then we recommend getting the IDP from home before departing from Vietnam. However if you are already on the road, the next best thing is to get one online using this website international drivers association.
For Americans and Australians, we recommend this website as it issues the IDP in the 1968 format.
It goes without saying that Tigit is in no position to advise on whether these online IDP websites are valid or real. If you have an insurance company investigate your situation, we have no idea what happens. However, in relation to Vietnam, it is very likely to help with police investigations. But again, no guarantees here!
Every country has different rules and regulations on IDP's and it is up to you to research your own country.
Ha Giang Police
Ha Giang has exploded in popularity; in high season, it can be considered as "tourist central," and ultimately, in our opinion, clients are far better off traveling the North West of Vietnam and skipping Ha Giang entirely.
If you do want to go to Ha Giang, the police are very strict and for good reason. Due to its popularity, thousands of backpackers drive with no experience on slippery mountain roads, and fatalities in the area are far higher than you would think!
There is certainly plenty of corruption around as well, but just know that Vietnam's intention to control this problematic area stems from a background of good intentions!
If you have no license at all and no IDP, you are likely to be hit with extremely large fines and potentially lose the bike as well. Do not go to Ha Giang without a license!
If you have a valid driving license but the wrong version of the IDP, in other words, you have the 1949 IDP when you need the 1968 IDP, then you may still go to Ha Giang. As of November 30th, 2025, there have been more cases of clients being rejected from the area because they have the wrong IDP. Keep in mind, this is not all cases, though, and Tigit is monitoring the situation.
You can buy the 1968IDP online (it doesn't matter where you are from). But this NEEDS to be printed in a format that actually looks like a real IDP. They do not accept online IDP's anymore. Again, the situation is not a guarantee, but if you are sitting at home, then ordering one of these IDPs is likely to greatly help you.
If you do get stopped, the fine is generally around 3,000,000vnd per person, and they will issue a ticket that allows you to freely travel the rest of the area. You may now celebrate.
There are also hidden speeding cameras, and we believe they target people caught on these cameras. They are stopping you for speeding, but hammering you for the license.
You MUST drive within 50km/h in Ha Giang if you want to help yourself avoid being stopped.
Finally, if you have all your paperwork completely by the book. A valid license and the correct version of the IDP that is printed out. Then you MAY STILL get stopped. However, from experience, you will be fine. In the end, though, there is no guarantee in this area!
Is it ok to drive in Vietnam illegally?
The short answer is yes. Both locals and tourists have spent years driving Vietnam without any licenses. For a routine and normal holiday without any incidents this is fine. However, problems arise if you are caught up in a major crash, both for yourself and for the 3rd party that may be involved.
If you are driving illegally in Vietnam, then any insurance you may have will be invalidated. Therefore you are on your own to negotiate or find a way out of whatever mess you find yourself in.
This is a risk that needs to be considered before choosing to ride a motorbike in Vietnam.
Where do I get an IDP?
International driver permits, technically, can only be obtained from within your home country. The process is cheap and easy. If you are already traveling, it is technically not possible to get an IDP. There are services online that provide IDP's , such as the international drivers association. If you look at the reviews of these online companies, there are plenty of satisfied people saying that it worked. In the end, we can't tell if they are real or fake. They are worth getting, though, and printing it for the local police. It definitely helps.
However, in the case of a real crash and a claim to your insurance provider at home, this may be a way for them to get out of the payout you are expecting.
For Americans and Australians, we recommend this website as it issues the IDP in the 1968 format.
Can I rent without a valid license or IDP from Tigit?
Through the Tigit booking platform, we make clients tick the box to confirm they have a license and an IDP. On 150cc and below we are relaxed, but we motorbikes above 150cc to people who do not have a license and international drivers permit.
Crashing a Tigit Motorbike
Unrelated to licenses and IDP's, but Tigit has an optional damage waiver that can be paid for in advance. This removes all responsibilities to the driver for crash expenses. It has zero excess and is aimed at creating a seamless motorbike rental experience where we don't have to chase customers down for money at the end of the journey!
Key information on licenses in Vietnam
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- Not everyone has a driving license in Vietnam, but it will make life easier and safer if you do.
- If you can't get an IDP from home, then get one from an online company. Do consider that it may be fake though.
- Accidents can usually be resolved on the spot with police negotiations.
- You're at-home insurance will be void without a proper driving permit. Calculate this risk carefully into your travel plans.
- Tigit offers a damage waiver to remove you from paying for potential motorcycle damage.
Can't I just bribe the police, why do I need an IDP?
In short, yes. For nearly all minor infractions, it is possible to pay the police.
Serious issues, though, is where the IDP comes in handy. For the police, presenting legal documentation will aid in keeping you out of trouble. From your insurance company's perspective, you will not be covered if you are doing something illegal. Like driving a motorcycle in Vietnam without a proper permit. If you were to get into an accident that requires an insurance payout, you would want to have all your documents in ord er.
Insurance to motorbike in Vietnam
As a foreigner traveling through Vietnam, you will not be able to purchase insurance locally that you can use. Local sellers or other rental agencies might offer to sell you a 3rd party yellow insurance paper. For you, this does nothing. To have the yellow insurance is merely a guideline in Vietnam, and you should not rely on it for anything.
Before departing on your vacation, you will want to check with your local insurance agency about providing insurance for motorcycle rental within Vietnam. They will give you precise information on what they offer and how it might cover you in the event of a significant accident in Vietnam.
Our recommendation for obtaining insurance and company recommendations
1. Get an international drivers permit. This makes you fine by Vietnam's police standards.
2. Email an insurance company. Explain the story in detail.
3. If they agree to cover, then great
4. The insurance companies we have had good experience with are Allianz and ACS. Make sure you tick the box for "extreme sports".
For those who can't figure out the small print for insurance, another good option is Global Rescue. This service will rescue you from any situation and fly you to your chosen hospital (which can be back home). For people from countries with free health care plans like England and the NHS, this can be a great cost-effective solution. Also great for people who have comprehensive insurance back home, but can't figure out if it will work in Vietnam.
For the record, Global Rescue is what Tigit Jon uses, but so far he hasn't had to use the service!
What happens in a serious crash in Vietnam
With a crash where either the traveler or local is injured, people from the area will quickly surround the crash scene out of curiosity. The police will then promptly show up and act as an on-the-spot investigator and judge. After their small investigation, they will decide who pays who what amounts.
Please keep in mind , if you can get the motorbike away from the scene and away from police hands it will make the recovery process of the motorbike for Tigit much easier. Once the police are on the scene, it becomes extremely difficult to get the motorbike back. It can take years to finalize a major crash case to get a motorbike released.
The police will then confiscate the motorbikes from both parties and use them as a ransom to force an agreement between those involved in the crash. It is here that you will usually find the police quite helpful. They typically aid in a reasonable negotiation between foreigners and Vietnamese. Just because you manage to settle with the third party, does not mean the police will release the motorbike on the scene though. They are likely to make retrieving the motorbike back, very difficult.
We recommend following police advice in regards to the cash needed to make the situation go away. Holding on to your morals of who caused the crash will not help you here. This is Vietnam, and this is the way things are done. Once all parties agree to walkway quietly, the police may release the motorbike (but it is not a guarantee).
For Tigit’s help and assistance, it is important clients explain the full story accurately. It is common for travelers to “bend the truth,” which often contributes to digging big holes for all parties involved. It is easiest for travelers to fix the situation themselves. Police, like to deal with the vehicle driver directly and attempts to pawn the situation onto someone else, can delay in motorbike retrieval. Once again, if you are driving by the book and have an international driver's permit and valid license then this will help when accidents occur.
