Driving in Vietnam: licence, roads and tolls

Only a 1968-convention permit is accepted, and the permits issued in the United States, Japan and Australia are not that.

• Check which convention issued your permit. Vietnam joined the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2014 and recognises permits issued under it. A 1949 Geneva permit - the kind issued in the US, Japan, Australia and several other countries - is not valid here.
• Motorbike hire is the real issue. Renting a scooter without a licence valid for it voids travel insurance, and a motorbike accident is the most common serious injury to visitors in Vietnam.
• The alcohol limit is zero. Vietnam introduced absolute zero tolerance in 2020 with very large fines, and roadside checks are frequent.
• Traffic works by flow rather than by right of way. Crossing a junction is a negotiation, and hesitation causes more accidents than speed.
• Cars with drivers are cheap and normal, which is what most visitors end up doing between cities.