What rights are needed in Vietnam

Are there Russian rights in Vietnam, and what are needed

Until 2014, to legally drive a car or motorcycles in Vietnam, it was mandatory to obtain local rights, no foreign rights were recognized. But fortunately, in 2014 Vietnam joined the Vienna Convention on road traffic (see more about the Vienna Convention and what rights you can drive abroad), and now here you can legally drive vehicles on international driving licenses (IDUs). You just need to understand what is the right IDP, which is suitable for Transport Management in Vietnam.

In total, there are two types of driver's licenses:

• National rights. These are the usual Russian pavs that every driver in Russia receives. They fully comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention and operate in many countries, but not yet in Vietnam.

  

• International License or international driving license (IDP, also IDP-International Driving Permit). This is another kind of driver's license, or rather an addition to national rights. It is made in the form of a book in several languages, and is issued at the request of the driver. IDI is valid only when presented jointly with national rights. Such rights apply in Vietnam.

  

In fact, there are several varieties of official IDUs, but in Vietnam only those that comply with the requirements of the Vienna Convention are recognized. And these are issued in the Russian Federation. It is important to understand that this is not a notarized translation or document issued by the Association of motorists, even if it is an international organization. To manage transport in Vietnam, it is necessary to have an international driver's license issued by state authorities, in the Russian Federation this is the traffic police. And do not forget that you need to always present national rights together with the IDI.

Of course, it is impossible not to take into account local realities. Many Vietnamese police officers still refuse to accept IDP because they do not know the new laws or pretend not to know. You should be prepared for such a development of the situation and prove your case. To do this, it does not hurt to carry a printout of the following law in Vietnamese:

Law on the recognition of Idi in Vietnam

How to get international rights

Obtaining an IDP in Russia is very simple. You can arrange them at will without re-passing exams and a medical certificate, you only need to pay the fee. To do this, you need to contact the traffic police or MFC, fill out an application, pay the fee, and that's it. The fee is 1600 rubles (for 2026).

You can also issue an IDP through the portal public services.RF, which is much more convenient and cheaper. Then, to get a ready-made IDP, you will have to go to the traffic police at the appointed time (choose a convenient time yourself).

What is the penalty for driving without a license

Officially, the penalty for driving without a license is 800 000 - 1 200 000 VND, which is roughly equivalent to 35-52 US Dollars (see Vietnam's currency and exchange rate). Plus, they can confiscate the vehicle on the spot and send it to the parking lot for up to 7 days, for which you still have to pay the landlord, because his transport will be idle. Of course, you can try to solve the issue on the spot with a bribe, and as many travelers say in the reviews, as a rule, it succeeds, but even in this matter you will have to bargain. But still it is better not to risk and issue an IDP.

Do I need a license to rent a scooter or moped

Driving a low-powered scooter or moped in Vietnam requires a license. Moreover, in your IDP there should be a corresponding category-A or A1. Category "M" is not provided for by the Vienna Convention, so it will not work. When making IDUs, categories from your national rights are simply transferred, so if you do not have the right category, you must first "open" it, and then draw up international rights.