penalty for driving in vietnam without license

R-E or R class, your licence record will simply be amended to include the new class of vehicle you are authorised to drive. If your current driver's licence is not due for renewal, it is advisable to pay for a replacement licence so that your plastic driver's licence document shows your new authorisation. Current fees and charges can be found The maximum penalty for driving without a licence is a fine of up to $1,000 or up to three months' jail for first-time offenders. Subsequent offenders face a fine of up to $2,000 and up to All Business licenses are renewed yearly from January 1 until March 31 without penalty. Businesses who fail to renew within that time will be charged a penalty in addition to the regular renewal fee. Lathrup Village, MI | 27400 Southfield Road Lathrup Village, MI 48076 | (248) 557-2600 The North Carolina DMV written test is about road rules and safe driving practices. Everything you need to know is covered in the North Carolina Driver's Handbook. The NC DMV test consists of 37 questions. To pass the North Carolina DMV test, you are allowed to miss 3 of the 12 questions about road signs, and 5 of the 25 questions about road rules. Florida uses a metal license plate with alpha numeric letters and numbers for identification. A sticker denoting the owner's birth month and the year of expiration is placed in the upper right hand corner of the plate. License plates are to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle with the exception of certain commercial vehicles. The valid driver's license of the person, who is at least 21 years of age or a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is 18 years of age or older, accompanying you to the Driver License Center. If you do not bring the original documents (not copies) listed above, you will not be given the test. Vay Nhanh Fast Money. citizens may visit the Department of State website here to find useful information about travel and transportation in Vietnam, including road conditions and safety, traffic laws, public transportation, aviation safety oversight, and maritime travel. Foreign driver licenses, even when accompanied by an international driving permit, are not valid in Vietnam. Even though a driver’s license from an ASEAN country may be recognized in certain circumstances as valid in Vietnam, it is still advised to obtain a local Vietnamese driver’s license if you wish to drive legally in Vietnam. Foreigners wishing to apply for a Vietnamese driver’s license or motorbike license must contact the nearest Department of Transportation for official instructions. In general, the following documents will be required Application Form for the Exchange of Motor Vehicle Driving License this form will be distributed at the office of the Department of Transportation when you arrive Original and photocopies of the following documents Notarized photocopies of a foreign driving license accompanied by a Vietnamese translation 2 copies Passport biodata page 2 copies Vietnamese Visa page 2 copies Vietnamese Residency Permit 2 copies Photograph taken by the Department of Transportation. Cash in Vietnamese Dong to pay the application fee 135,000 VND For further questions, please contact the appropriate office of the Vietnamese Department of Transportation directly. Actualisé 2022-03-10 0553 Si vous envisagez de louer ou acheter une voiture ou une moto au Vietnam, vous devez avoir un permis de conduire international IDP, qui doit être valable pendant toute la durée de votre séjour dans le pays. Les autorités consulaires de votre pays au Vietnam ne sont pas aptes à délivrer de permis de conduire. Si vous souhaitez avoir un permis de conduire local, faites la demande directement auprès des autorités vietnamiennes. Bon à savoir En tant que touriste, avec la documentation appropriée, vous avez le droit de conduire au Vietnam. Le permis de conduire vietnamien est réservé aux détenteurs du permis de séjour, ou du visa d'affaires de 3 mois, ou du parrainage d'une entreprise. Procédures pour obtenir un permis de conduire au Vietnam Pour obtenir un permis de conduire vietnamien Faire une traduction de votre permis de conduire actuel ; Demander une conversion de permis auprès du Department of Transportation of Ho Chi Minh City ou du Centre for Automotive Training and Mechanism de Hanoï. Les documents à fournir votre passeport ainsi que deux photos d'identité, une attestation de travail ou une copie de votre titre de séjour. Le permis de conduire est généralement délivré en une ou deux semaines. Les motos au Vietnam De nombreux touristes et expatriés au Vietnam choisissent de louer une moto pour se déplacer. La location d'une moto d'une puissance de 50 cc ou plus, nécessite que vous présentiez un permis moto valide. Si certains loueurs ferment les yeux sur cette procédure, en tant qu'étranger, une infraction de ce genre rend caduc votre assurance ! Ainsi, si vous avez le permis, la moto est un moyen rapide et économique de se déplacer, surtout en ville. Vous constaterez que la conduite au Vietnam est très différente de celle pratiquée dans de nombreux pays occidentaux. Cela peut prendre un certain temps pour s'habituer au trafic et aux habitudes locales sur les routes. Notez qu'au Vietnam, on conduit à droite. Conseils Si vous conduisez une moto et que vous n'êtes pas encore familiarisé avec les routes, utilisez l'application de navigation de votre smartphone ! Pour cela, achetez une carte SIM locale, mettez suffisamment de crédit pour être connecté en permanence durant vos déplacements. Contrairement à de nombreux pays occidentaux, les conducteurs vietnamiens font des appels de phares pour avertir les piétons de ne pas traverser ! Adresses utiles Bureau de délivrance des permis de conduire à Hanoï Ministère des Transports du Vietnam Adresse 80 rue Tran Hung Dao, district de Hoan Kiem, Hanoï Tél 04 39422079 Bureau de délivrance des permis de conduire à Ho Chi Minh Bureau des transports Adresse 63 rue Ly Tu Trong, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel 08 38223760 Lien utile Ministère des Transports du Vietnam Vietnam is a popular destination in Southeast Asia as a great “motorbiking trip”. Vietnam’s Hai Van Pass which can be found in the central of Vietnam, between Hue and Hoi An, was popularised by the British show Top Gear. Motorbike is also one of the common modes of transportation for the local either for a short trip, cities to cities or even from north to south of the country, a motorbike is always an option for many. Vietnam’s big cities and even countrysides are filled with small alleys that no car can fit through. Driving a motorbike is easier and more convenient for daily life here. MUST-READ Vietnam motorbiking routes and affordable Vietnam motorbike tours IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DRIVING IN VIETNAM Before I walk you through how to convert a driving license in Vietnam, let’s discuss things that you should know before you start the process. What Side Of Road Does Vietnam Drive On Vietnam drive on the right side. Although there are four countries in Southeast Asia that drives on the left; Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore Can I Use My International Driving License In Vietnam While motorbiking throughout Vietnam is such a big thing for tourists and expats, what most foreigners don’t know is that even having an international driver’s permit, you still need to convert this to a Vietnamese driving license. Besides your IDP, see other things should pack when you move to Vietnam and the current requirements for entering. Driving in Vietnam Without A Valid License It is illegal to drive in Vietnam without a valid driver’s license. You will get fined and have your motorbike or car confiscated if you get caught. You should also check with your travel insurance if you will be covered in case of an accident if you driver without a valid license in Vietnam. Many foreigners fail to get claim or coverage for accidents in Vietnam if you are driving without holding the right driver’s license. Can You Convert a Driver’s License in Vietnam Short answer is yes. Although you will have to apply for it and do a test both paper and actual. How Long is the License Valid Once your driver’s license is convereted, you should see the expiry date at the front. The license is only valid as long as your current visa during the application date. If you are on a tourist visa, then your converted license will expire as the same time as your visa. Same goes for business visa, TRC, etc. Requirements To Convert Your Driver’s License Here are the requirements you need to prepare before you start the process of converting your driver’s license your driver’s license – some people would say it has to be an international driver’s license but that’s not true, as long as it’s still valid, it’s good enoughpassport photos – white background, although this is a confusing requirement some applications say that you don’t need it since your photo will be shot when you submit your paper but some people still had to bring their own passport photos, it’s best to be preparedpayment – bring Vietnamese cash, you don’t need to pay more than VND including the notarization and translation If you are ready to get a valid driver’s license in Vietnam, here’s the step-by-step guide on how to convert your current license Photocopy Your Passport and Driver’s License You have to make a photocopy of all pages of your passport together with front cover and pages that don’t have any visa/stamp in it. You should also photocopy both sides of your driver’s license. Get Your Driver’s License Translated and Notarised You need to have your driver’s license translated and notarized first. Often, whichever government office you will go to submit your application, there is a notarization and translation office there or you can also use any private offices that offer this service. Get two copies just in case or so you don’t need to do it again in the future. You will probably have to leave your driver’s license for a day and come back the next day to pick it up. It shouldn’t cost more than VND per set. Look for signs that says “Văn Phòng Công Chứng” which mean notarize office. Bring These Documents To the Right Office/Department Once you have your driver’s license translated and notarized, it’s time to bring it to the Department of Transport License Conversion Department. Simply say to the receptionist that you are here to convert your driver’s license and show your paper, they will point you which window to go. In this part, you will be explained which vehicle you will be allowed to drive or which type of vehicle they can list on your Vietnamese driver’s license. Once you agree, your photos will be taken together with your documents. You will also be asked to pay the fee here, it should be more or less VND but not more than VND. Take the Written and Driving Test Most likely, you should be able to take your written and driving test the same day you submitted your application. There is a very confusing part here. Depends where you are getting your driver’s license converted, you may or may not have to take any test. In Ho Chi Minh City, some foreigners only had to do a written test, some said they only required to do the driving test while others claim you didn’t had to do either test. Another confusing thing is, some people said that the written test is in Vietnamese, if you don’t speak the language, there’s no way you can pass it while some locals said you should be able to ask to take the written test in English. Apparently, there are locals you can bribe to mark the answers in Vietnamese written test or you can simple hire a visa agent or local law firms to assist you in getting these done. Pick Up Your Converted Driver’s License Assuming you had to take the written and driving test, the same day, you will be told if you passed it and if you did, you can come back the next day to finally get your Vietnamese driver’s license or come back 3 days later if they are a bit backed up. In your license, it should say if A1 for those who want to drive a motorbike or B1 for an automatic car. It should say A1 and B1 if you can drive both. You will pay another VND when you pick up your Vietnamese driver’s license. SAMPLE OF CONVERTED VIETNAMESE DRIVING LICENSE valid for driving automatic car B1 back of the B1 driver’s license valid for driving a motorbike/motorcycle A1 GOVERNMENT OFFICES WHERE YOU SUBMIT YOUR VIETNAMESE DRIVER’S LICENSE CONVERSION Here is a list of offices where you can submit your application to convert your license into Vietnamese. You should also be able to get your current driver’s license translated and notarised Hanoi 16 Cao Bá Quát, Điện Bàn, Ba Đình, Hà Nội – Google map Da Nang 270 Đường Trần Phú, Phước Ninh, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng – Google map Nha Trang 4 Phan Chu Trinh, Xương Huân, Thành phố Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa – Google map Da Lat 36 Đường Trần Phú, Phường 4, Thành phố Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng, – Google map Ho Chi Minh City 252 Lý Chính Thắng, Quận 3, Ho Chi Minh City – Google map WHERE ELSE CAN YOU USE YOUR VIETNAMESE DRIVER’S LICENSE Just like a TRC temporary residence permit, you can fly domestically with a driver’s license, given that it’s still valid. Some expats said there’s an exception flying to Phu Quoc and that you cannot use your driver’s license to fly there, but based on my experience, I was able to fly in and out of Phu Quoc using my converted driver’s license. I hope this guide on how to convert a driving license in Vietnam has been useful. If you have questions or tips based on your own experience in doing this process, let us know in the comment section below. Posted by douluvme49 on 7/2/2011 at 2229 Hi There, My boyfriend and I want to rent/buy We havent decided yet 2 motorbikes in Ho Chi Min City and ride up to Hanoi on our own. I don't have a Canadian drivers lisence though. I have an identification card.... I read online that if we do it as a tour I dont need a lisence as we are with a guide. What are the chances of getting 'pulled over' and having our lisences checked??? What could happen???? Any suggestions? My boyfriend has his lisence, and we both ride dirtbikes in Canada ... we don't need a lisence for this as we aren't driving on the street. Any info would be great!! 1 douluvme49 has been a member since 4/2/2011. Posts 33 Posted by Vietnam720 on 8/2/2011 at 0743 The worst that can happen after being pulled over is to have your bikes confisicated and kept for 30 days. A fine will be issued rightfully about US$15. But still you can't take the fine untill after 30 days. 2 Vietnam720 has been a member since 26/8/2009. Location Singapore. Posts 46 Posted by Randy on 8/2/2011 at 0855 Here are some tips for motorbike travelling lovers in VN. Chances of being get pulled over by Vietnamese cops excluding accidents Rate from most to least as...1/ Operate motorbike on wrong side of road, or opposite direction in one-way street...2/ Operate motorbike WITHOUT licence plate...3/ Operate motorbike WITHOUT helmet...3/ Operate motorbike with MORE THAN 2 PERSONS in a bike...4/ Overspeed...5/ Operate motorbike with supicious goodswatch out at areas which are closed to border passes...6/ Operate motorbike in ...impaired manners such as drunk, high on pot..7/ Racing with Vietnamese undercovered cops Undercovered cops have no right to stop you in vn, only traffic cops...8/ Operate a motorbike which is BIGGER than 125cc...9/ Minor contact into...cop bike on the road...10/ Carry more than 2 little kids in a bike. The end. 3 Randy has been a member since 3/2/2011. Posts 28 Posted by douluvme49 on 8/2/2011 at 1028 will i be able to get bike insurance with out a lisence if we happen to buy bikes? I guess both bikes could go in my boyfriends name, and i just ride the one. thanks for the info. by the sounds of it i will be okay riding a bike as long as i am not an idiot!! 4 douluvme49 has been a member since 4/2/2011. Posts 33 Posted by caseyprich on 8/2/2011 at 1201 Remember that your travel insurance will most likely not cover you if you get in a motorbike accident without having an intentional drivers licence. Not sure how it is in Vietnam, but your biggest concern will probably be livestock - not police. 5 caseyprich has been a member since 3/3/2010. Location China. Posts 1,281 Posted by goonistik on 8/2/2011 at 1311 See part 9. It seems that Vietnam doesn't recognize foreign drivers licenses nor international driving permits. What a bummer. More info here 6 goonistik has been a member since 7/1/2010. Location Philippines. Posts 563 Posted by 69bertie on 8/2/2011 at 1746 douluvme49 newbie Posts 2 will i be able to get bike insurance with out a lisence if we happen to buy bikes? I guess both bikes could go in my boyfriends name, and i just ride the one. thanks for the info. by the sounds of it i will be okay riding a bike as long as i am not an idiot!! Waste of time buying any bike insurance in Vietnam, as without a license it's invalid as is the case with any motor vehicle insurance worldwide. $2000USD is about max payout anyway. might be for a car but you'll find a lot of Vn insurance companies are the same when it comes to the maximum payout figure ..... 50million vnd is $2500 USD 7 69bertie has been a member since 22/12/2009. Posts 90 Posted by burnthisnow on 11/2/2011 at 1309 Hi, we operate a Vespa tour company in Saigon, and it's definitely true that travel insurers will not cover you if you are driving a vehicle in Vietnam without a Vietnam-issued drivers licence. However, you are covered if you're only riding pillion behind another driver or a guide doesn't matter if it's with a tour or not. If you're thinking of buying a motorbike in HCMC and riding up to Hanoi, that's a great trip. As several people have said here, traffic laws - such as they are in Vietnam - are irrelevant to whether you get pulled over by police and fined. The police will cook up any excuse to pull you over if they feel like it, not much you can do about it. If you are pulled over, 99% of the time the police will simply insist on a money payment on the spot a bribe without issuing a ticket. This can be anywhere from 150,00-500,000VND $8-25 US. Simplest thing is just pay it and be on your way. Still, a foreigner getting pulled over by police and truly hassled over traffic laws is very, very rare here. Also, it's not difficult to get a VN license if you already have one in Canada. You can do it here in a single day. Drop us a note if you have any more questions patrick and please stop by Zoom Cafe in Pham Ngu Lao when you arrive in HCMC. Lots of people there can tell you about doing this trip and how best to buy a bike, etc. Cheers, Patrick 8 burnthisnow has been a member since 24/5/2008. Posts 16 Posted by 69bertie on 13/2/2011 at 0926 You can get a Vn license in a day??? Took me a week, Had to have my UK driving license translated took two days, 3 months visa as a minimum, residential address. Hand the paperwork in at District 3. License signed for and picked up 7 days later. Bargain of a price....30000 vnd .... £1. 9 69bertie has been a member since 22/12/2009. Posts 90 Posted by AbgAcid on 13/2/2011 at 1527 No licence, dont ride. My advice, dont do it. Forget about fines, or pull over by police. Think of the consequences of running somebody on the road. Futhermore if the accident is a fatal one, it will be very very very messy. AA 10 AbgAcid has been a member since 28/11/2009. Location Malaysia. Posts 162 Posted by douluvme49 on 15/2/2011 at 0318 Burnthisnow - If I do not have a canadian lisence will i have issues, or if i just pay the bribe i should be ok? 11 douluvme49 has been a member since 4/2/2011. Posts 33 Posted by burnthisnow on 15/2/2011 at 1119 If you have your passport you should be fine. All they care about is the bribe. They'll tell you what you've done 'wrong,' then they'll suggest you give them money 200,000 or 300,000 VND. They'll pretend that this is for a ticket/fine, but it just goes in their pockets. You can try to bargain if you like, it's common. Or you can just pay it and be on your way right away. Best thing is to be friendly and pleasant about the whole procedure, if it happens. That's how all the Vietnamese handle it. 12 burnthisnow has been a member since 24/5/2008. Posts 16 Posted by hmdliven on 19/2/2011 at 2251 hi, This is not a good Idea to even rent a motor-bike in Vietnam, in a land which no one care about himself even. i was in HCMC and a motor bike driver catch my foot when i wanted to cross the street , maybe you go and do it with yourself and nothing happend to you But generaly advice is not to do it, cuz nobody is familiar with vietnamese driving culture expect themselves Have fun 13 hmdliven has been a member since 19/2/2011. Posts 9 Posted by Positivetravel on 9/3/2011 at 0115 We travelled through Vietnam ofr 2 months and bought a motorbike in Hanoi and made our way through the country down to Saigon. We only had 1 bike a 125cc Suzuki for the 2 of us with both our backpacks strapped on we got custom racks made and it was great. It may seem like too much for one bike but we never broke down once, but we did get her checked out by mechanics along the way. We never had any problems with police. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact we bought a less powerful bike, so we didn't stick out like a sore thumb while we were riding. My fiance only rode the bike and even though it is illegal for foreigners to own a bike in vietnam, we bought one with a Vietnamese persons name on it. Yes, there is a risk in doing this, but like I said because we bought a less powerful bike, we only road about 4 hours a day and were careful, I think that really helped us in not getting pulled over by the police. As for the crazy driving everyone talks about-yes it is busy in the cities, but it is doable. Have a practice riding first, keep up with the flow of the traffic, when on highways keep over to side of the road as much as possible. Also the Vietnamese use their arms a lot to indicate and to tell people where they are moving too. It may seem strange but I started doing this while on the back of the bike when we were turning left etc i would stick out my left had and shake it a bit and I think that really helped. Doing what they do and know worked well. A lot of the road rules etc from your own country don't really apply in Vietnam-work with what they do! Feel free to email us directly if you have any other questions admin [at] positiveworldtravel [dot] com Cheers! Elise 14 Positivetravel has been a member since 8/3/2011. Posts 17 Posted by stephenpham on 19/6/2012 at 0227 Not easy to bike from South to North of Vietnam, if you are foreigner 15 stephenpham has been a member since 12/6/2012. Posts 8 Posted by JonMyers on 25/6/2012 at 0502 I've lived in Saigon for 3 months now, and will be here another 3 or 4 months. I have a motorbike, and I don't have a license. I used to have a motorcycle endorsement back in the states, but I'm a perma-traveler, and my drivers license expired. Anyhow, you won't have any problems with police as long as you don't take the risks, which others have outlined. You shouldn't be anyways. That said, there are a lot of traffic nuances, which are unique to Saigon. For example, the motorbikes generally all stay on the right hand side, and cars stay on the left. Obviously, there is a lot of cross-over in lanes from both vehicle types. Especially when turning or when a taxi driver gets excited and spots a fare on the side of the road. You'll have to learn not to panic. Also, be very careful about where you park your motorbike. It could get stolen. When you go out only park it with security. Never just leave it on the sidewalk, which is an invitation for theft. My advice is to get here, and wait a few days, and take in the city on the back of a motorbike taxi. See it how feels, see the flow of traffic, and take in all the craziness that goes with it. Also, be very careful about the motorbike you rent. DON'T rent a bike from Chi Cafe, which is recommended on this site. I ended up returning 3 different motorbikes from there. They were all horribly maintained, and downright dangerous from bad brakes to second gear only working to rickety loose bearings in the steering head. I found a lady on Craig's List by the name of Thamle who rents motorbikes that are well maintained. She'll also drop it off at your house/ apartment or hotel. Her number is 090-3177407. I'm paying $1,000, month $50 bucks for a newer Sym Attilla, which is an awesome bike. One last thing, which I haven't seen anyone mention is this - expect to surrender your passport or at least a driver's license from your home country to whomever you're renting from. I rent an apartment here, so I gave the lady I rented from a copy of my rental agreement proof, and gave her my driver's license from back home, and held onto my passport. A lot of places will demand you give it up. 16 JonMyers has been a member since 11/10/2010. Location United States. Posts 1 Posted by SikKelowna on 25/6/2012 at 1711 Hey there, I can tell you first hand that i travelled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City just over a year ago, there were 4 of us all from Canada, we bought the chinese copy bikes in Sapa and made our journey from Hanoi down. It was the most amazing trip i have ever done, my girlfriend who was on her own bike did get stopped but as soon as she started speaking english they let her go on her way. Yes the traffic can be intimidating at first, it is ridiculously busy in the main cities but it all flows and works, rules of the road are few and far between with everyone picking their own path and turning whenever they feel like but you just use that little horn button on your bike every 5 seconds and keep a good eye on everything around u and you should be safe. The big danger isnt the other bikes but the buses and big trucks on the main highway! They dont care about any of the rules of the road so stay out of their way and stick to the side of the road!! Most of your trip will be on the ho chi minh highway and smaller roads but unfortunately you have to take the main highway at some point in your trip. No insurance for any of us and although we made it safe and sound through vietnam, it is a big risk and you have to be extra careful and attentive as to avoid the many dangers while on the road. But...it is the most amazing way to see vietnam!! and will surely be an unforgettable trip!! Be safe and wear a helmet that will actually protect your head! 2 of my friends wore the baseball cap style helmet that provides zero protection! Chris 17 SikKelowna has been a member since 4/5/2011. Posts 7 Posted by Randy on 26/8/2012 at 1715 Hints for riding motorbike in Vietnam for ForeignersSupplemental....1/Only Vietnamese cops or Custom staffs/or Highway robbers riding motorcycle which is bigger than 125cc in Vietnam..2/ It is EITHER illegal OR RARE for any individual, Foreigner or Vietnamese to own and ride a motorbike which is ..BIGGER 175cc..3/ It's very easy to obtain Vietnamese Motorbike licence as long as you will be ready for the test in VIETNAMESE WRITINGS...3/ To Foreingers, the helmet NOT ONLY PROTECT YOUR HEAD but also help you to blend in in with the main flow of Vietnamese traffic and..NOT TO BE STUCK OUT and CAUGHT ATTENTION by Vietnamese cops for pulling over. The end.... 18 Randy has been a member since 3/2/2011. Posts 28 Posted by Vietnam720 on 26/8/2012 at 1859 Wearing face mask and jackets will help you to blend into the crowd too 19 Vietnam720 has been a member since 26/8/2009. Location Singapore. Posts 46 Posted by Randy on 27/8/2012 at 0756 PULLED OVER BY VIETNAMESE COPS WHILE RIDING MOTORBIKE IN VIETNAM. Well, back to the topic, the answer is IT IS RARELY. Reason Before 2006, no one has a licence to ride a motorbike in Vietnam. Vietnamese people, also cops have been thinking like that for....the first day there was presence of motorbike in VN. Figure it out, Buddy. No adventure then no fun. Think like a Vietnamese cop Why bother a white guy/girl when he or she couldn't speak the language? The fact that a Foreigner who couldn't speak the language and having the ball to ride motorbike in VN that is cool enough to....LET HE or SHE goes without hassles. Myself, paying bribe ONCE and no accident for + 2thousands of kilometers riding motorbike in Vietnam-Again, no insurance, no licence and sometimes...no helmet either....Use your common sense and be careful for...big trucks, buses because on the HWs of VN, these monsters somtimes pass you as of there is no presence of you on the road. 20 Randy has been a member since 3/2/2011. Posts 28 Posted by Randy on 27/8/2012 at 2357 I believe it is about 1700kilometers b/t HCMC and Hanoi. Bicycling would take you a whole month, non-stop. That's not mention about Mekong Delta region of VN. Cycling tour of VN like you think? Better prepare to live in Vietnam for ...6 months on a row, Buddy! 21 Randy has been a member since 3/2/2011. Posts 28 Posted by clayinAsia on 30/8/2012 at 0448 Motorcycles can be purchased and sold by foreigners. Manytravelers opt to buy their own bike and drive it throughout the country. A lotof drivers prefer to start in Hanoi and drive to Saigon on the world-famous HoChi Minh trail popularized by the British "Top Gear" series. Manypeople are unsure about the legality of purchasing bikes in it is illegal for foreigners to own bikes in Vietnam without theproper documentation. However, this law is not enforced and thousands flock toVietnam annually to buy bikes and ride them all over the country. It ispossible to convert your driving license from your home country to a Vietnameselicense, but few people go through this trouble. It is a well-known fact amongriders that the police in Vietnam are highly unlikely to carry out routinetraffic stops on foreigners. As long as the driver cares for his or her ownsafety and the safety of other motorist they can go the entire trip withouthassles. Most vendors do not sell bikes they only rent them. There are sometrusted companies selling bikes in Hanoi with good track records. Contact the foreign owned and operated Vietnam Motorbikes 0084-1285-963559 22 clayinAsia has been a member since 25/8/2012. Posts 4 Posted by ncsuang on 19/10/2012 at 0704 So I came across this thread after just being stopped north of Ha Giang a few hours ago. Let me first say that I'm an asian American and people mistake me for Vietnamese all the time so the idea of wearing full face helmets and big jackets might do more harm than good. They were stopping almost everyone. I didn't do enough research to find out you need a license and insurance to drive in Vietnam, stupid I know. Anyways, I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. They wanted 600,000 dong but then dropped it to 200,000 but then eventually they let me go. One guy was nice, the other guy not so much. I don't know how common these check points are but I am very close to the military area near the Chinese border. 23 ncsuang has been a member since 19/10/2012. Posts 2 Posted by Drybones on 9/5/2013 at 0221 I will be going to Vietnam in June 2013 and wish to obtain a Vietnamese drivers licence. I noticed that a company called An Khang is offering this service on Travelfish post no 23 - 30/8/12. Has anyone heard of this company and/or used the service? This seems to be an easy way to get a licence - I have a full UK driving car and motorbike licence. The VN licence will be sent to my UK address via DHL additional cost or I could collect it in Ho Chi Minh city. The cost will be $75 and I am wondering if this is legal or a scam as I do not have to make a personal appearance in any VN office. 24 Drybones has been a member since 6/5/2013. Posts 6 Posted by BanzaiSchnitzel on 27/5/2013 at 1354 Eagerly awaiting an answer to the above post on this company too 'An Khang' if its legit and i don't have to post original documents i'm well up for paying 75bucks. I have a UK bike and car license and have previously driven all over India without proper legality, but would rather drive legally if its straightforward enough to sort out, and If its possible to have a Vietnamese license pre-prepared that'd be great. I'm going for 3 weeks in August and won't have time to sort this out on the ground when i arrive there.... Any experience with this company anyone, please let us know!! 25 BanzaiSchnitzel has been a member since 27/5/2013. Posts 4 Posted by douluvme49 on 27/5/2013 at 1533 hey banzai from what i understand, it is illegal for a foreigner to ride a bike or car in vietnam. I know people that live in Vietnam , and have lived their for years and they do not hold any kind of Vietnamese lisences. I'm assuming what An Khang is trying to sell you isn't real, but I dont know. We rode all over the country and had no problems, nor did people we spoke with. We passed by many police and never were stopped They would say hello and let us be on our way. We checked into our International Drivers lisences, but even those aren't valid in Vietnam. Are you riding a motorbike in Vietnam? is that your plan? Are you renting or buying? Best way to travel Vietnam, hands down , was by motorbike! Well scooter... lol.' Have a blast. 26 douluvme49 has been a member since 4/2/2011. Posts 33 Posted by BanzaiSchnitzel on 27/5/2013 at 1619 Hey douluvme Thanks for the reply [img]smileys/ Yeh from what I've read international bike/car licenses aren't valid in VIetnam. If you want to be 100% covered getting a Vietnamese license is possible without a test but it takes at least 9 days on the ground.. I agree the An Khang site could be anything from a fake to a fraud, or a legit remote service.. There's really no way to tell unless its been tested... The plan is to fly Into Saigon because its cheaper, then fly straight to Hanoi as I wanna spend time In the north., then rent or buy a Minsk to see the hills on if i can find one. I'll need to be back in Saigon 3 weeks later.. So No idea where it could take me, im super super exited... Ultimately license or no license its being done! I've always been conscious enough on the roads, and I have enough experience with bikes to know their hazards, so I'm confident it'll be great if I use my head. keep a pocket full of dong handy [img]smileys/ and hope the police are as friendly as everybody is saying! A real license would just give me full peace of mind though. Regardless of how I conduct myself I can't fully account for anybody else, especially children or wildlife. I agree too the best way to see everywhere is by bike Any tips on the north? Special places? 27 BanzaiSchnitzel has been a member since 27/5/2013. Posts 4 Posted by douluvme49 on 27/5/2013 at 1626 I didn't even have a drivers lisence when we went... if your looking to buy a bike go to Hanoi backpacker Hostel the new one, sorry i cant remember street names. Ask at the front desk, a lot of the times ppl trying to sell them make posters there. We heard a lot of bad things about Minsk. I'd go with the Honda Winn they aren't real honda winns ,prob chinese... but easy for parts... we heard the minsks break down a lot. We didn't spend a lot of time in the North as we fell in love with a place called phong nha farmstay. We spent the majority of our time at a place called Phong Nha Farmstay. The owner Ben is super fun, its beautiful to ride around. Lots of caving, trekking, and just roads that go on for days with beautiful scenery. Again, not a ton of tourists but really nice. His wifes name is Bich. If you are easy going, not high maintenance... its a great place. Ppl that are expecting high high end hotels end up being let down. But, for 2 of us we spent approx 50-70$ a day when staying here. Great food, great drinks, lots of laughs and fun! Our friend Minh another local from the North .. when we were there had started his own hotel in his hometown, about 2 hours from Hanoi. No tourists, very real, pretty etc. I dont know what he charges , or if he charges anything... we just paid for our meals and offered to fill up the bike with gas we had already sold ours so he came and picked us up... but theres lakes and chickens and... just a fantastic experience. If you have facebook, look up Minh Nguyen Quang and tell him Kristin told you to contact him. He actually came to Sapa with us for fun. im so jelous. i would go back in a heartbeat. Actually, a friend we made at the Farm local vietnamese is here visiting us now Canada! Another place we realy enjoyed was called Jungle Beach. Its a little further south. but a great place to relax. meals included. and if you have a bike its easy to get too. Find me on fb if you have any questions. Kristin Johnson My profile pic is of me and my boyfriend in thailand standing on a beach in front of a big rock. Cheers 28 douluvme49 has been a member since 4/2/2011. Posts 33 Posted by Drybones on 28/5/2013 at 1000 Further to my post 25 on 9/5/13 I decided to go ahead and use the services of An Khang. They have been very prompt in answering my many queries. I had to send a copy of my UK licence, passport, photo and visa I have a 5 year visa exemption certificate . Within 12 days I received an email showing both sides of my Vietnamese Driving licence VDL together with the 'official' stamps on the documents I sent. The VDL shows that, despite having a full motorbike and car UK licence, I can only drive a 2 wheeler up to 175ccs. However it allows me to drive up to a 9 seater car! When I asked about sending money to them I was told that I could collect theVDL at their office and that they would collect the fees on the day of my departure from VN. I will post details of how this works out later. One thing I did learn was that, as from 1st January 2013, the VN government changed the law for foreigners requesting a VDL - the VDL is only valid for the duration of the visa - if you have a 90 day visa you only get a 90 day VDL. A VDL cannot be renewed - the whole process must start again. In my case my exemption certificate expires on 1/2/14 - so will my VDL. When I get a new exemption certificate I will have to apply for a new VDL - this will expire in 5 years. 29 Drybones has been a member since 6/5/2013. Posts 6 Posted by BruceHaydon on 28/5/2013 at 2151 Fist rule in Vietnam No rule . Go ahead and do it . In the North of Vietnam , you must visit Mucangchai wonderful rice paddies , Sapa , Bac Ha , Hagiang Dong Van , Meo Vac Babe Lake , Ban Gioc Water Fall . There is wonderful route to ride . The Hostel someone mention before stay at number 6 Luong Ngoc Quyen Streets , and you can buy a bike there at the motorbike shop on number 5H same streets . Tips Bike a buy from mechanic guys , it could be a bit more expensive but at least they serviced the bike . They also can give you lots of advice for the road , accommodations ....etc. Ride like a local , use the horn , wear helmet and don not over the speed limit then you will be ok . Have Fun ! 30 BruceHaydon has been a member since 18/5/2013. Posts 6 Posted by BanzaiSchnitzel on 30/5/2013 at 0513 Hey guys Thanks very much for for your replies! Douluvme- that's cool thank you! We'll see if we can reach out to your friends too Drybones- that's awesome! I'm gonna see if I can do this when we have our visas - do you know if a certain type of visa is required for the application?? 1/3 month?? Bruce- thanks too! You seem to know the north well, we may reach out to you for more advice if that's okay? Can't wait to see the north, is it easy to get into Laos by road too? How long might journeys take, I was interested in Luang Prabang for one thing? Any more advice would be great! My girlfriend and I will fly to Saigon early Aug then I think straight up north to Hanoi, our schedule isn't set yet but we have basically 3 weeks and are more interested in the north and central areas so will look to spend most of this time up there... One complication is that we'd love to see Phu Quok island in the south for a few days. Either we use many internal flights to achieve this or we try to motorcycle south. We were going to travel over land from the north to hoi an area anyway. But is it too ambitious to take a bike all the way from north back to Saigon? If anyone has an idea on how long this might take I'd be interested to hear from you! The reason I was interested in a Minsk is because me and my girlfriend will be traveling on one bike, potentially with two bags, so we'll need something with a little more power. We are super exited and can't wait!! 31 BanzaiSchnitzel has been a member since 27/5/2013. Posts 4 Posted by douluvme49 on 30/5/2013 at 0805 We were running low on time so we arranged to take our scooters on the bus overnight. They put it in the under carriage. I think we paid an extra 60$ ... maybe more, I can't remember.. to take the bike. If you stop at Phong Nha Farmstay in Central Vietnam they can help arrange to put the bikes on the bus to somewhere close to Phu Quok. I know its possible to ride to Laos, our friend did it... but I dont know much about it... other then that the border ppl gave him a bit of a hard time. He's Vietnamese descent but from Canada...so I'm not quite sure how it would be being a traveller. Most ppl do the whole trip North to South Hanoi to Saigon in 3 weeks. Thats a lot of riding though, and not much time to stop and see everything. Hoi An's super cute! You'll love it! Drive safe! 32 douluvme49 has been a member since 4/2/2011. Posts 33 Posted by Drybones on 2/6/2013 at 0711 Re my post 30 on 28/5/13 I am led to believe that in order to get a VDL it is required to have a visa of at least 90 days. Meanwhile my plans have changed slightly. I will now be returning to the UK via Hanoi as we intend to visit Halong Bay. I guess I will pay An Khang for my VDL on arrival their office is only about 7 km from the airport instead of paying on departure - I suppose it would be unreasonable to expect them to go to Hanoi for their fee - 33 Drybones has been a member since 6/5/2013. Posts 6 Posted by Drybones on 24/6/2013 at 1940 Update on my licence application - I went to An Khang's office in HCM city and was given my VDL by an assistant. He told me to phone An Khang to arrange the collection of the fee $75 when I return to UK from Hanoi on 12 July. I think that this is very trusting of him. Apparently he wants to ensure that I know the VDL is genuine. So I am the proud owner of a Vietnamese driving licence that so far has cost me nothing! 34 Drybones has been a member since 6/5/2013. Posts 6 Posted by BanzaiSchnitzel on 15/7/2013 at 0410 Hey Drybones, I've been all over the place the last month and just read your post.. Firstly how was your trip? Back in one piece? Any particularly awesome places you visited that you didn't want to leave? Me and lady fly out early August and can't wait, I have a few weeks to sort out my license app' but I wanted to check back with you first. Did the whole licensing business work out? My biggest question is Whether you were stopped by police and did they accept the license as valid? This is the whole point for me so any experience would be valuable. I think you are the first to do the remote application and write about it remote VDL pioneer! Haha Secondly, what bike did you have? Rent/buy? And did you also have some insurance? Tell us about it if you have a moment mate! Cheers Will 35 BanzaiSchnitzel has been a member since 27/5/2013. Posts 4 Posted by Drybones on 15/7/2013 at 0600 Re post 36 I checked with the police and the licence is valid. When we returned from Cambodia we spent a couple of days in Saigon. I decided to visit An Khang office to pay the $75 rather than in Hanoi . The office is genuine & well established. I received a receipt for the money and didn't actually check it until I received a call from Mr Khang saying I paid too much$120. He was very keen to return the excess despite me telling him I paid the correct amount. Anyway after much discussions & phone calls it turned out the receptionist had made a mistake on my receipt - she put $120. I was very impressed with Mr Khangs honesty. Renting a bike was a bit of a problem in Soc Trang but ok in Vung Tau. My travel insurance covered me for small motorbikes, as long as I had a valid licence. I did not attempt to rent in Hanoi or Saigon, you will understand why when you get here We did the trip to Halong Bay - the 3 hour drive there and 3 hours back was a bit tiring. The tour guide, Mike, was excellent. 4 hours on the boat with kayaking & cave visiting thrown in was fine for us. Some people may prefer overnighting on the boat. BTW we used Vietnam Airlines from the UK and were upgraded to business class using Optiontown - I definitely recommend this as the way to go. We were also upgraded on the flight from Saigon to Hanoi. 36 Drybones has been a member since 6/5/2013. Posts 6 Posted by gecktrek on 28/7/2013 at 1808 Did a 3 weeks motorbike trip in Feb/Mar through the central highlands; Ho Chi Minh, Binh Chau, Mui Ne, Da lat, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot, Gia Nghia, Phuoc Long & Ho Chi Minh, all up about 1500kms... didn't have a VN driving license, but did have my local and an international licenses, which enabled me to get travel insurance for my time riding motorcycles whilst in VN... luckily, didn't get pulled over by any police or have any accidents, awesome experience! 37 gecktrek has been a member since 24/3/2013. Location Australia. Posts 183 Posted by travworld on 3/8/2013 at 0820 Been driving here for 2 years , never been stopped, were a helmet use your signals , no one bothers you , have a accident and its your fault, expect to pay a couple million dong for damage . Police can be bought for a small price . I am from USA . Drive safely . 38 travworld has been a member since 9/7/2007. Location United States. Posts 23 Posted by Blackartemis on 4/8/2013 at 0222 Anyone know if I can ride legally and get insured while riding on a Thai/ASEAN Motorcycle DL, supposedly I am now legal to ride in 10 countries. As for "just doing it" that is horrible advice, sure it works out fine if you never have or cause and accident. But in SEA countries there are tons of stories of tourists out a ton of $ due to accidents without insurance. On top of that, most tourists suck are riding even a scooter and have no idea how to ride without endangering themselves and others. If you cause the death of a local and do not have a DL or insurance, have fun paying your way out of that one. 5+ years of riding in Thailand has shown me too many horror stories to back such advice... 39 Blackartemis has been a member since 16/7/2011. Posts 36 Please login to add your reply You need to be a Travelfish member to be able to add a post to the forum. After logging in you'll be returned to this page automatically to add your post. Not a member? Join up here. Driving in Vietnam can be quite intimidating as a foreigner. Especially if it is your first time. We recently got back from a trip to Vietnam where we drove pretty much all day for a week. Today we want to share all the tips we have picked up, as well as our own experience with Vietnam, you drive on the right side of the road. You need to have a valid International Driving Permit or a local Driver’s License. This is important for insurance purposes in case you get into an accident. The largest vehicles usually have the right of way, and the horns are used to signal your are a lot of differences between traffic in the west and in Vietnam If you are used to driving in Europe, or North America, we have a lot of tips you need to know before heading out into traffic. We will give you some information about rentals, insurance, and how to make sure your motorbike doesn’t get stolen on your in Vietnam is going to be quite a shock for you. As we arrived on our first day in Vietnam, the first impression we got of Vietnamese traffic, was the madness Hanoi calls at all possible, we recommend starting your trip outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Especially if this is your first time driving a scooter or if you do decide to start driving out of the two large cities as we did, we have a few tips to keep you reasonably Motorbike in Vietnam 2020 What You Need to KnowDriving out of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh CityFirst of all, don’t panic. The traffic inside the city moves very slowly. There is a 30 km/hour speed limit, and in the heavily congested main roads, you will be lucky to get to drive your bike faster than 20 km/ the traffic coming in every single direction is still very confusing and stressful though. We recommend that you stay far to the right, so you can blink into the side and stop to check directions not to start your trip out in the afternoon, as rush time inside the city is not a good way to start driving in you need to cross traffic to make a left turn, over to another road, try to slowly stray over in a predictable manner. And if you can, try to follow other drivers’ there is a traffic light, get to the front of the line and position yourself so that you can head off in the right direction ahead of the rest of the traffic. But until you get a bit used to driving in Vietnam, try to follow other drivers lead. In roundabouts, nobody quite knows what they are doing. Just try to follow other drivers heading in the same direction and use them for cover until you get the hang of it. Stopping inside the roundabout is often acceptable and reasonably safe compared to driving into oncoming to Watch Out ForInside the city, the biggest dangers are buses and large cars. Other scooters are usually not huge hazards when you drive slow and watch out for traffic in every problem with the large vehicles is that you can get pinched in between them if there are multiple ones. You will also want to avoid passing buses on the left side, as they do stop to pick up and drop off far as other motorbikes go, the biggest problem is their unpredictability. In Vietnam people just don’t follow traffic rules unless the police are watching. You need to be prepared that people can come in any direction at all times, people will stray over in front of you, they will come in from side roads, and on the left people WILL drive in the opposite direction of some room on the left for people driving the opposite direction, as well as some buffer for people ramming into traffic from side behind you is not a problem as long as you drive predictably don’t make hard stops or quick turns unless you have to. In Vietnam, you pretty much only need to watch out for dangers on the sides and in front of coming from behind will do the same for you. They will also honk their horns to make their presence known if they wish to pass you. I don’t think the Vietnamese use their mirrors at all. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t out for bikes, el-scooters and foot traffic as they move a lot slower than the rest of the traffic. You need to be prepared for Calm Ninh Binh into HANOI TRAFFIC - Driving Motorcycles in Old Quarter! Vietnam 2020Driving in Vietnam Left or Right?Technically everybody should drive on the right side of the road in in reality, everybody drives everywhere. Sidewalks are also up for grab during rush should stay on the right when driving a motorbike in Vietnam. The other lanes are usually reserved for larger vehicles. But you need to leave a bit of space between you and the pedestrians and scooters WILL drive against oncoming traffic. You will find them on the very right of the you, this means you stay a little away from the sidewalk, to be prepared for them. This is also good practice for making room for slower traffic than you think bikes, tractors, slow drivers, etc.The other situation where you will find people driving in the wrong direction is when they are coming from a sidestreet, and trying to cross the road you’re on to make a U-turn in an opening behind you. This may seem silly it is, but they often do it because it is faster for them than it is to drive in the right direction to make a U-turn further up the some visual examples, here is an article by another blogger we found useful as in Vietnam Without LicenseI would strongly recommend against are multiple reasons to have your papers in order, but the main reason is that your INSURANCE MAY NOT COVER YOU if you get into a serious accident without a valid far as law-enforcement in Vietnam goes, driving without a license is not an issue. We heard that a large number of Vietnamese people don’t have their driver’s license. But then again, they are in their home country, and probably don’t need to worry about keeping their traveler’s insurance valid like you generally won’t bother you as long as you drive properly and follow the rules. And we read online that people who get stopped usually just have to pay a small “fine”. As a side note, we drove past countless police check-points and random officers, and we were never Motorbike LicenseYou can quite easily obtain a Vietnamese Driver’s License. There are multiple agencies willing to help you out. You are going to pay a premium since you are a foreigner, but you will also be handheld through the entire on whether or not you have a driver’s license in your home country, the process usually takes 1-2 days and will cost you 100-200 USD from what we learned from our research Driving Permit in VietnamThankfully, Vietnam now accepts international driver’s permits. Both 1, and 3-year licenses are valid from Norway, but we were recommended to get the 1-year version of the you have a valid license for riding a motorbike, getting an International Driving Permit is the easiest way to drive legally in on where you are from, there are different steps to obtain an IDP. We recommend that you start planning how to obtain yours as soon as possible, as processing time can be up to a few weeks it is here in Norway if you need to use snail mail to send them proper Police and International Driving PermitsWe have heard stories of some Vietnamese Police not accepting IDPs if you do end up getting of getting stopped are quite low, but it is something to keep in mind. You may have to pay a “fine” to be allowed to you end up meeting some less honest police offers we have found a few tips from other travelers onlineDon’t let them take your key Stop your bike, take your key, and put it in your pocket. This way the police can not hold your key hostage for a larger keep 100,000-500,000 VND visible in your wallet This seems to be the acceptable range these “fines” will cost you. Best to not flash the entire federal small accidents on the spot if you get into a small accident, it is best to pay the Vietnamese driver off even if it is their fault. Foreigners tend to get stuck with the blame if the police get general, just try to get away from these situations as fast as possible, and don’t make a huge fuzz over it, nothing good can come from take this advice with a grain of salt, as it is all curated online. We never had any issues with the police during our trip. But it is nice to be prepared in case something like this were to Safe is it to Drive in Vietnam?While driving in Vietnam may seem insane and suicidal at a glance, there is a method to the is for sure not as safe as driving back home. Especially for us foreigners who are fresh of the plane or bus?. But once you get the hang of the traffic, and realize how everything works, driving in Vietnam is to Avoid to Stay SafeFor your safety, I have written a list of the most dangerous things we witnessed on the road in Vietnam, so you can try to avoid them and stay and Rural RoadsThe most dangerous areas to drive in Vietnam is in rural areas. This is not because of the friendly farmers, but because of the bad maintenance of the are full of sand, holes, and just parts of the road straight up missing. You need to be EXTRA careful if you decide to drive on these mountains can be hazardous if you don’t have a semi-auto, or manual motorbike. You need to be very careful driving the little scooters up into the mountains because if the brakes get too hot and fail on the way down the mountains, then you are in serious DriversEvery now and then you will see some drivers that you KNOW will create dangerous situations. Signs to watch out for Young men and women! Often not careful, and they will drive too without helmets or shirts These are often the young men that will drive very irresponsibly. But there are also grown men that will do Motorbikes They don’t have as much control, and will have a harder time stopping, or avoiding obstacles. You want to stay FAR away from these. You will see motorbikes overloaded with both items and you will see all three of these combined. It is not that uncommon to see an entire family baby included cruising down the road on a little motorbike, everybody without helmets and proper clothing, of trucks & minivans Large trucks are the kings of the road in Vietnam. Many of them will not stop driving at any cost losing their own life included. You really need to watch out for them on the highways. Minivans are similar to trucks, but they will drive a lot quicker and drive very TipsJust try to take it very slowly in the beginning, and assume nobody knows how to drive. After a while, you will start to understand little by little how to drive in you have driven in Asia before, you may have an easier time adapting to Vietnamese traffic. I strongly recommend checking out some videos on YouTube to get an idea of what to did an entire VLOG series on YouTube where we documented our experiences as they were happening on the road, plus we give some really valuable tips in-depth tips on driving in the link to our Vietnam Motorbike 2020 playlist on YouTube by tapping hereIf you have any questions, feel free to comment on any of the videos, and we will respond to hope you have a wonderful trip to Vietnam. We really enjoyed our drive down there, and hope you will do the same!

penalty for driving in vietnam without license