Introduction

If you’re planning to ride a motorbike in Vietnam — whether that’s a day trip around Hanoi or a few weeks covering the whole country — there are two documents you legally need to carry. Get this wrong and you’re looking at a fine at best, or a gap in your travel insurance at worst.

After 12+ years renting bikes and helping travelers sort out Vietnam’s paperwork, here’s exactly what you need, how the rules actually work in practice, and what your options are if you don’t have the right license yet.

The Two Documents You Need

Anyone riding a motorbike over 50cc in Vietnam needs both of the following:

•         An international driving document — an ASEAN motorbike license, a Vietnamese motorbike license, or a 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP) with a motorbike stamp
•         A domestic motorbike license from your home country, covering the engine size you’re planning to ride

Neither one works on its own. You need both, and the engine size they cover needs to line up with each other.

The 1968 International Driving Permit

There are two IDP conventions used around the world — 1949 and 1968 — and Vietnam only recognises the 1968 version. A 1949 IDP looks almost identical, and plenty of travelers turn up with one thinking it’ll do the job, but it won’t hold up if you’re checked.

The tricky part is that not every country issues the 1968 version by default. The US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, among others, only hand out the 1949 IDP as standard. If that’s you, we’ve written dedicated guides covering exactly what to do:

•       Americans
•       Brits
•       Canadians
•       Australians
•       French travelers
•       Germans
•       Dutch travelers
•       Israelis

Don’t see your country on that list, or riding the Ha Giang Loop specifically? Check our

Ha Giang Loop legal requirements guide, or get in touch with us directly and we’ll help you work out what you need before you fly out.

Domestic License & Engine Size Classes

Your domestic license needs to cover the size of bike you’ll be riding:

•         50cc–125cc → an A1-class license (or your country’s equivalent)
•         Over 125cc → a full A-class license (or equivalent)

This cc threshold has changed recently — it used to sit higher, at 175cc, and older Vietnamese-issued licenses under the previous rules are still valid at that limit. If you’re riding on an older Vietnamese license, it’s worth double-checking which threshold actually applies to you.

Your 1968 IDP mirrors this split with A and A1 stamps. What matters is that your home license authorises the same engine size at home — that’s what determines which stamp you’re eligible for.

Where You’re Likely to Be Checked

In our experience, the Ha Giang Loop is where document checks actually happen. Police checkpoints there specifically know the difference between a 1949 and a 1968 IDP, and will pull you over to check. Elsewhere in Vietnam, checks are far less common and most police won’t know the difference — but that’s not really a reason to risk it.

What Happens If You Don’t Have the Right License

Get stopped without the right paperwork and you’re usually looking at a fine — typically 3 to 4 million VND, though this can change at any time. Police can technically impound the bike too, though we rarely see this happen in practice. Fines are common in Ha Giang specifically; almost everywhere else in the country, enforcement is inconsistent at best.

Can’t Get an Official 1968 IDP? Here’s a Backup

If you’re already travelling and missed the window to get an official 1968 IDP at home, a digital IDP is a grey-area option that, in our experience, often works. These usually cost under $50 online, but you’ll need the physical booklet shipped to you — just having it on your phone won’t satisfy a police check, though it may be enough for some insurers.

Travel Insurance

Your insurer’s requirements don’t always match Vietnam’s legal ones. Some providers — Covermore in Australia, for example — will cover you with just a domestic motorbike license and bike ownership back home, regardless of your IDP situation. It’s worth checking directly with your provider on exactly what they need before you go.

No License at All? The 50cc Option

If you don’t hold a motorbike license of any kind, you’re not completely out of luck. A 50cc bike needs no license to ride, and while it’s not built for a long cross-country trip, it’s a solid option for a few days on the Ha Giang Loop — either as a straight rental or as part of our Ha Giang Loop tour.

Summary: What You Need

•         A domestic motorbike license matching your engine size (A1 for 50–125cc, A for over 125cc)
•         A 1968 IDP with the matching A or A1 stamp — official if possible, digital as a backup
•         Confirmation from your travel insurer on exactly what they require

Need a Motorbike for Your Vietnam Trip?

Not sure exactly what your license covers, 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.