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You often read that when driving a rental vehicle in Vietnam, it's easier to get away with a bribe than to pay an official fine for a traffic violation. Sometimes that's true, but keep in mind that the country is fighting corruption, and if you run into a principled cop, you could face criminal charges. But if you've broken the rules and feel like they're extorting a "bribe" instead of a fine, you should at least know the official fine amounts so you can negotiate — otherwise, you might end up paying even more than the official fine.
❗ Important update (2025–2026): A new decree, 168/2024/ND-CP, has come into effect, replacing the old Decree 100/2019. Fines for most violations have increased significantly — in some cases, 10 times or more. Also, starting in 2025, Vietnam introduced a penalty point system: each driver gets 12 points per year, which are deducted for violations. If you run out of points, your license is canceled and you have to retake the exam. Below are the current fines under the new rules.
Here's a list of the most common violations and the official fines for them:
| Violation | Car (fine / license suspension) | Motorbike (fine / license suspension) |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding by 5–10 km/h | 800,000 – 1,000,000 30.39-37.99 USD. 2 points deducted |
warning |
| Speeding by 10–20 km/h | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 152-228 USD. 2 points deducted |
600,000 – 800,000 22.79-30.39 USD. |
| Speeding by 20–35 km/h | 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 228-304 USD. 4 points deducted |
8,000,000 – 10,000,000 304-380 USD. |
| Speeding over 35 km/h | 12,000,000 – 14,000,000 456-532 USD. 6 points deducted |
— |
| Running a prohibitory sign | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 152-228 USD. |
200,000 – 600,000 7.6-22.79 USD. |
| Driving the wrong way on a one-way street | 18,000,000 – 20,000,000 684-760 USD. 4 points deducted |
4,000,000 – 6,000,000 152-228 USD. 4 points deducted |
| Running a red light / disobeying a traffic controller | 18,000,000 – 20,000,000 684-760 USD. 4 points deducted |
4,000,000 – 6,000,000 152-228 USD. 4 points deducted |
| Turning/changing direction without a turn signal or hand signal | 200,000 – 1,200,000 7.6-45.59 USD. |
|
| Alcohol up to 0.25 mg/l (up to 50 mg/100 ml blood) | 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 228-304 USD. 4 points deducted |
2,000,000 – 3,000,000 75.98-114 USD. 4 points deducted |
| Alcohol 0.25–0.4 mg/l (50–80 mg/100 ml blood) | 18,000,000 – 20,000,000 684-760 USD. 10 points deducted |
6,000,000 – 8,000,000 228-304 USD. 10 points deducted |
| Alcohol over 0.4 mg/l (over 80 mg/100 ml blood) | 30,000,000 – 40,000,000 1140-1520 USD. license revoked for 22–24 months |
8,000,000 – 10,000,000 304-380 USD. license revoked for 22–24 months |
| Not carrying vehicle registration or driver's license (if you can show them later) | 200,000 – 400,000 7.6-15.2 USD. |
100,000 – 200,000 3.8-7.6 USD. |
| Driving without a license or without the proper category | 10,000,000 – 12,000,000 380-456 USD. |
6,000,000 – 8,000,000 228-304 USD. |
| Driving without a vehicle registration certificate | 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 75.98-114 USD. |
300,000 – 400,000 11.4-15.2 USD. |
| Riding without a helmet | — | 400,000 – 600,000 15.2-22.79 USD. |
| Using a handheld mobile phone while driving | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 152-228 USD. 4 points deducted |
800,000 – 1,000,000 30.39-37.99 USD. 4 points deducted |
| Missing or broken left mirror | — | 400,000 – 600,000 15.2-22.79 USD. |
| Driving on the sidewalk (except designated entries) | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 152-228 USD. 2 points deducted (for both vehicles) |
|
| Carrying a child over 6 years old on your lap (motorbike) | — | 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 304-380 USD. |
Note: In most cases, for serious violations, besides the fine and license suspension, a penalty point deduction system applies (12 points per year). If you run out of points, your license is canceled and you have to retake the exam. Fines shown are for motorbikes (up to 50–175 cc). For cars, fines are much higher (e.g., up to 6 million dong for running a red light and 4 points deducted).
The penalty point system (12 points per year) does not apply to tourists with international driver's licenses. However, for serious violations (running a red light, speeding >20 km/h, alcohol, driving on the sidewalk), they will confiscate your license and send the rental vehicle to an impound lot — effectively a full driving ban. On the spot, they'll issue you a fine and a receipt to pay (via bank), and only then can you get your license and vehicle back from the police. For minor fines (usually up to 250,000 dong), you can pay on the spot in cash — that's the quickest way to resolve it without losing your documents and dealing with impound.
Other important changes and clarifications:
- Higher fines: Fines for most violations have gone up significantly. For example, running a red light now costs 4–6 million dong instead of the old 300–500 thousand dong (up to a 6x increase). Driving on the sidewalk — 4–6 million dong (10x increase). Missing a rearview mirror — 400–600 thousand dong. Carrying a child over 6 on your lap (on a motorbike) — 6–10 million dong (30x increase).
- New rules for cars: From January 1, 2026, drivers must use child seats for children under 10 years old and shorter than 1.35 m. The fine is 800,000 – 1,000,000 dong. The exception is taxis and commercial transport (not required yet).
- Point system (for Vietnamese licenses only): Every driver gets 12 points per year. Different violations deduct 2 to 10 points. If you run out of points — your license is canceled, and you need to retake the exam. Points are automatically restored after 12 months if there were no major violations.
- Using a phone while driving: It's forbidden to hold a phone in your hand while driving. Hands-free use (bluetooth headset, speakerphone) is allowed.
- Vehicle documents: Not carrying your vehicle registration certificate or driver's license (if you can show them quickly) — a fine of 200,000 – 400,000 dong. If you have no documents at all, the vehicle may be impounded for 7 days.
- Old Decree 100 is gone: Decree 100/2019/ND-CP officially expired on May 15, 2026. Now all traffic violation penalties are covered by Decree 168/2024 (for roads) and Decree 81/2026 (for railways).
Advice for tourists: Always carry your International Driver's Permit (IDP) along with your national license — neither works alone. When renting a motorbike, check for a left rearview mirror and working headlights. Don't drink and drive — Vietnam has a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol. Follow speed limits and intersection rules.