Introduction

한국인이 베트남에서 합법적으로 운전하려면 무엇이 필요할까요?

Everyone riding a motorbike in Vietnam needs two things: a domestic motorbike license and a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). South Korea is a genuinely special case here — not because it’s simple, but because it’s the one country on this list with its own dedicated treaty. Korea has never issued the 1968 IDP that Vietnam normally requires, which would ordinarily leave Korean riders in the same position as Americans, Canadians or New Zealanders. Instead, a 2023 bilateral agreement between Vietnam and Korea creates a direct workaround — but exactly what it covers depends on some fine print worth understanding before you travel.

Korea’s IDP: 1949 Only

There are two IDP conventions in use internationally, and Vietnam’s general rule only recognises the 1968 (Vienna Convention) version. South Korea has only ever issued IDPs under the older 1949 Geneva Convention — it isn’t a party to the 1968 convention for outbound permits at all. Under Vietnam’s general rules, a Korean 1949 IDP wouldn’t be valid here.

The 2023 Vietnam–Korea Bilateral Agreement

This is where Korea differs from every other 1949-only country. On 23 June 2023, Vietnam and Korea signed a dedicated Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of International Driving Permits, which entered into force on 23 July 2023. It exists specifically because Korea only issues 1949 IDPs, and it sets out exactly what a Korean IDP entitles you to do in Vietnam — in place of the generic 1968-only rule.

The key mechanism, straight from the agreement: what you’re allowed to drive in Vietnam depends on which category is printed on your Korean IDP.

•         If your Korean IDP carries category A, you’re permitted to ride the equivalent vehicle class in Vietnam — in practice, a motorcycle.
•         If your Korean IDP carries any other category (but not A), you’re only recognised in Vietnam for category B — car-equivalent — vehicles, with no motorcycle riding rights at all.

This recognition is valid for up to one year from the date you enter Vietnam, provided the IDP is still valid and — importantly — you carry it together with your underlying Korean driving license. The IDP by itself isn’t enough; Vietnamese authorities are entitled to see both. As with any visitor, you’re still required to follow Vietnamese traffic law, and Vietnam can withdraw or annotate your IDP if you’re found in violation, the same as it can for any other nationality’s documents.

One genuinely fine point worth flagging honestly: Korea’s own IDP category A doesn’t carry a displacement sub-limit the way Vietnam’s domestic A1/A split does — it’s simply defined as two-wheeled motor vehicles, with no separate 125cc-and-under tier. That means the treaty’s wording, taken literally, ties your Vietnam riding rights to whichever category is printed on your Korean IDP, not to a displacement figure. In practice, what actually gets printed as “A” should reflect the motorcycle rights on your underlying Korean license — so it’s worth confirming with the issuing office exactly what will appear on your IDP before you rely on it, and matching what you rent in Vietnam to the license class you actually hold at home rather than assuming the letter of the treaty stretches further than intended.

Getting Your Korean IDP

You can apply at any national driver’s license test center, at some police stations (worth confirming by phone first), at the international arrivals areas of Incheon or Gimhae airport, or online (capped at 450 applications per day). You’ll need your passport, your Korean driving license, and a recent passport-style photo. The fee is a modest 9,000 KRW (roughly $7 USD), and the permit is valid for one year from the date of issue.

Domestic License & Korea’s Motorcycle Classes

Korea’s motorcycle licensing doesn’t map onto the EU-style A1/A2/A structure used elsewhere in this series — it works differently:

•         A moped sub-license (원동기장치자전거) or an ordinary Class 2 Regular car license (2종 보통) — minimum age 16 for the moped license — both permit riding scooters and motorcycles up to 125cc.
•         Class 2 Small (2종 소형) — minimum age 18 — is a separate, standalone motorcycle license with no engine displacement limit. No car license grants this; it has to be earned on its own.

Vietnam’s system is simpler — just A1 (50–125cc) and full A (anything over 125cc). If you hold only a moped sub-license or a Class 2 Regular car license, that maps to Vietnam’s A1 class. If you hold a Class 2 Small license, that maps to Vietnam’s full A class and covers any bike size.

Where You’re Likely to Be Checked

The Ha Giang Loop is where document checks actually happen, and police there specifically know the difference between a 1949 and a 1968 IDP — and, for Korean riders, may need to be shown the bilateral agreement itself if they’re not familiar with it. Elsewhere in Vietnam, checks are far less common. Riding without valid documents typically results in a fine of 2–3 million VND (roughly $80–120 USD), though we’ve heard of fines as high as 7 million VND.

Travel Insurance

Even with the bilateral agreement in place, it’s worth checking directly with your travel insurance provider on exactly what they require. Some insurers are set up to check standard 1968 IDPs and may not be familiar with Korea’s special arrangement, so confirming in advance can save a headache if you ever need to make a claim.

Summary: What South Koreans Need

•         A Korean motorcycle license matching your engine size (Class 2 Small for anything over 125cc)
•         A Korean 1949 IDP with category A on it, matching your motorcycle license — confirm this with the issuing office when you apply
•         Your Korean driving license carried alongside the IDP at all times — the IDP alone isn’t sufficient under the bilateral agreement
•         Confirmation from your travel insurer on what they require

Need a Motorbike for Your Vietnam Trip?

Not sure exactly what your license and IDP cover, or what you’ll need to rent with us? Get in touch — WhatsApp, email, or through our website — and we’ll help you sort it out before you arrive. Style Motorbikes — your adventure starts here.