Having stayed in Vietnam for most of the past 9 months, here's what I've found through hearing of other people's experiences and from my experience:

- If you ride a bike below 175cc (the smaller of the 2 categories in VN) - that's generally a scooter or something like a Honda Win - the police will typically let you go after paying a small "fine"

- Anything above 175cc or that looks like a "big bike" - you ideally wanna have the Vietnamese A2 (full) motorcycle license and bike's registration ("blue card"). Or, at the very least, your foreign DL that's actually respected in Vietnam, and an IDP on top of that. Bike confiscation is the main (and real) threat that they use.

If anyone wants to get an A2 license in Vietnam, I know a great guy in Ho Chi Minh City that can expedite the process.

Watch out for this guys on the road....:offtopic:

https://youtu.be/MDa_zsbjBmc

safe ride

I can only report on my firsthand experience, which is that in two weeks and 3000 km of riding all sorts of places in Vietnam, I was never stopped by the police. I rode through dozens of checkpoints inside and outside of towns, and just once was waved over; I slowed, made the usual "what do you want me to do?" motions, and was waved onward.

If it's relevant, I was riding a "big" 250 Honda, was not carrying registration or insurance papers (the owner of Flamingo Travel, who rents a whole fleet of various-sized bikes, said my rental contract would suffice), but did have a USA license and IDP. I'd have been instantly recognizable as a foreigner even without the 250, since I was outlandishly-dressed in boots, a proper riding jacket, a DOT/Snell helmet, gloves, and leg armor.

How might things have worked out if I'd been in an accident? Your guess is as good as mine, but I did try to avoid getting in accidents. Would Flamingo Travel have returned my cash deposit if the bike had been confiscated? I suspect so, but I'm glad not to have put this to the test. YMMV.

Mark

Most road police, especially outside main tourist areas, won’t know that the IDP as issued by USA/UK isn’t valid in VN. The issue is if you rely on travel insurance to repatriate you following a motorbike accident and you’re not deemed to be riding legally they probably won’t help you. That’s my only concern, local police and even minor accidents you just deal with. I’ve ridden quite extensively in VN over 3 trips in the past 3 years, love the place but wish they’d recognise the 1949 convention and not just the 1968.
https://vietnammotorbikerental.com/v...riving-license

Yes, you are so correct. And a VDL is easy to get.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

Yes, do not drive without the International Drivers License. Or else, you can get in trouble with cops

It’s good that the UK ratified the 1968 convention so all legal.