Converting Your Driving Licence to Vietnamese

A Vietnamese driving licence is the cleanest legal status for any foreigner who plans to drive regularly here. It removes the long-stay grey zone around riding on an IDP, opens car-rental options that motorbike-only licences don't, and is recognised by insurance providers without quibbles. Conversion is possible for many nationalities and is significantly easier than taking the Vietnamese driving test from scratch.

Rules current as of 2026-05-17. Confirm with the Department of Transport (Sở Giao thông Vận tải) in your province before applying.

Who can convert

Vietnam will convert your home-country driving licence into the equivalent Vietnamese class if:

• You hold a valid Temporary Residence Card (TRC) or qualifying long-stay visa — see Temporary Residence Card
• Your home country either has a bilateral road-traffic agreement with Vietnam or issued you a licence to a standard Vietnam recognises (the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is the relevant treaty)
• Your licence is current and not under suspension

Countries whose licences convert without a Vietnamese driving test, as commonly reported by foreigners:

Country	Notes
Japan	Bilateral; smoothest conversions
South Korea	Bilateral; smooth
France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia	Vienna Convention 1968 signatories
Most EU member states	Vienna Convention treatment
UK	Recognised in practice; outcomes vary by province
Australia	Recognised; outcomes vary by province
USA	Outcomes vary — some applicants get conversion, others are told to test
Canada	Outcomes vary

The "outcomes vary" group reflects the fact that Vietnamese provincial DOTs have some discretion. Hanoi and HCMC DOTs are generally more accommodating than smaller provinces.

Documents

Document	Notes
Passport	+ scan of bio page and visa pages
TRC	Original + copy
Home-country driving licence	Original + translated, notarised by a Vietnamese notary
Photos	3×4 cm white background, 2–4 copies
Application form	Provided at the DOT counter
Medical certificate	From an approved Vietnamese hospital, ~500K VND
Address registration (Form NA17)	Already on file from your TRC

For the translation: most cities have specialised translators near the DOT office who know exactly the format required. Cost ~200K VND per document including notary stamp.

Where to apply

• HCMC: Department of Transport at 8 Nguyễn Ánh Thủ, District 12 (and other district sub-offices)
• Hanoi: 16 Cao Bá Quát, Ba Đình
• Other provinces: provincial DOT office — locations vary

Process

1. Get the medical certificate from an approved hospital (Vinmec, FV, or DOT-listed clinic).
2. Translate and notarise your foreign licence.
3. Submit dossier at DOT counter. Pay fee (~135K VND).
4. Officially 5 working days; in practice 5–10 days.
5. Collect your Vietnamese plastic-card licence.

What you get

A Vietnamese driving licence in the class equivalent to your home class:

• A1 — motorbikes up to 175cc
• A2 — motorbikes above 175cc
• B1 — non-professional car (up to 9 seats)
• B2 — professional car
• C, D, E, F — trucks, buses, articulated vehicles

The licence is valid for 5–10 years depending on class. Renewal at the DOT.

The International Driving Permit (IDP) alternative

If you don't have time or eligibility to convert: an IDP issued in your home country is the lighter option. It must be the 1968 Vienna Convention version (not the older 1949 Geneva version, which Vietnam does not formally recognise). Many Western countries issue both — confirm before travel.

The IDP is technically required alongside your home licence. Realistically, most foreign motorbike riders on short stays ride with neither — police stop foreigners rarely, but the legal exposure in an accident is real. See traffic safety.

Common pitfalls

• Some provinces refuse US, Canadian, Australian conversions even though others accept. If yours refuses, try a different province (Hanoi DOT is the most receptive).
• Licences from countries Vietnam doesn't recognise (some Middle Eastern, Caribbean states) must take the Vietnamese driving test from scratch — which is in Vietnamese.
• Translation quality matters — use one of the translators directly outside the DOT.
• Medical certificate from non-approved clinics is sometimes rejected. Ask the DOT for the current approved list.

Honest take

If you'll be in Vietnam for a year or more and intend to drive any vehicle, conversion is worth the half-day of paperwork. For short trips of less than a year, the IDP route plus careful riding is the standard pragmatic approach.

For the motorbike-buying side once you have a licence, see buying a motorbike as expat.