Can tourists drive in Vietnam with an ASEAN license or a temporary driver’s license?
Based on 1 discussion with 1 participant · Last activity: 6 days ago
TL;DR
For ordinary tourists and expats, the ASEAN mutual recognition agreement is generally not what Vietnam traffic police use in practice. Vietnam officially relies on its domestic rules: an IDP under the 1968 Vienna Convention is recognized when carried together with the original national driver’s license.
What the community said
For personal travel in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere in Vietnam, tourists should not rely only on the ASEAN agreement. Even if some neighboring countries accept such licenses more broadly, Vietnamese police usually enforce Vietnam’s own traffic rules rather than a traveler’s interpretation of regional agreements.
6 days ago ASEAN
The standard document set recognized in Vietnam is an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention together with the original national license. This is the format foreigners generally rely on when driving legally.
6 days ago 1968 Vienna Convention
A temporary driver’s license is generally not a reliable basis for driving in Vietnam. If a traveler only has a temporary permit and not the full accepted document set, there is a significant chance it will not be accepted during a traffic stop.
6 days ago Temporary driver’s license
Some people cite Circular 37/2023/TT-BGTVT as proof that ASEAN licenses are accepted, but that regulation concerns international road transport between ASEAN countries. It is aimed at drivers doing passenger or cargo transport, not ordinary tourists using a scooter or car for private travel.
6 days ago Circular 37/2023/TT-BGTVT