Can you drive a motorbike or car in Da Nang, Vietnam with your home country's driving license under the ASEAN agreement, or do you need an International Driving Permit (IDP)?
Based on 3 discussions with 2 participants · Last activity: 22 days ago
TL;DR
The ASEAN mutual recognition agreement for driving licenses technically exists, but Vietnam has no clear law or official guidance on how it's applied in practice — this has caused ongoing problems for years. The safer option is to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
What the community said
Experts advise not relying on the ASEAN agreement and instead getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the Vienna Convention in advance — a more reliable option for renting a scooter or car in Vietnam.
69 days ago IDP (Vienna Convention)
While the ASEAN license recognition agreement is formally signed, the issue isn't whether it exists — it's that Vietnamese law has no defined procedure for applying it, which has caused problems for travelers for years.
70 days ago
The status of driving license recognition under the ASEAN agreement in Vietnam remains unclear and inconsistent — it's a long-standing, recurring topic among travelers and expats.
70 days ago