禁漫天堂

In my searching I've found that Australian drivers license isn't accepted in Viet Nam even doubtful in getting a IDP for Australians, how have others gotten on with this (Australians only ) - @MarkinNam

Take a read through post #1, here.

It looks as though I don't need an IDP. Thanks Aidan.

XR150 for me

It looks as though I don't need an IDP. Thanks Aidan. - @MarkinNam

No sir, you will definitely need an IDP, and your Australian driver's license.

The information found on the Australian Automobile Association's website regarding IDPs and Vietnam is woefully out of date.

Purchase the IDP. It's a simple process, and inexpensive.

@Aidan in HCMC

Hi Aidan, most of my parts have been sourced from wreckers , timing chain was from David Silvers in England , cluth plates were from Dany in Cho Lon

@MarkinNam

you don't need in Vietnam an IDP issued by Australia because it is not accepted since is not under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road (the only signed by Vietnam). USA and Australia are not part of this specific convention, hence the only legal alternative, same for any who doesn't have an IDP, you can also ask for a sort of temporary validation here in Vietnam (only in DaN岷穘g, Hanoi and Saigon) for less than $50

We would have a real problem if we didn't have a plethora of experts on the subject...

@ajairon

I've sent an enquiry to my local federal member as to why Australia has not signed up to the convention, Can only hope.

@ajairon
I've sent an enquiry to my local federal member as to why Australia has not signed up to the convention, Can only hope. - @MarkinNam

It's usually Vietnam that refuses to be a signatory to international conventions

@OceanBeach92107

Understand that, if correct why can Canada, USA get IDP not Australia?

@OceanBeach92107
Understand that, if correct why can Canada, USA get IDP not Australia? - @MarkinNam

Perhaps because you drive on the wrong side of the road?

@OceanBeach92107
Understand that, if correct why can Canada, USA get IDP not Australia? - @MarkinNam

You most certainly can get an Australian issued IDP through the aforementioned AAA (Australian Automobile Assn).

As with Australia, the US and Canada are also not signatories to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

When I arrived here back in 2017, I held a driver's license from a Canadian province (Ontario), and an IDP issued by the CAA (Canadian Automobile Assn) under the 1949 convention. Before shelling out the money for my new bike, I checked with the local CSGT precinct on Huynh Tan Phat, D7, Saigon to make sure I was legal to drive (I was aware of the different IDP dates). I was told that the CAA issued IDP was valid, and so off I went and purchased my bike. I'd been stopped twice within the first year of my riding here, not for any infraction but for what seemed to be a coffee-money fishing expedition. As mentioned to member Safepeter, here, ...

"Those conventions had been discussed in a different thread, and though I don't recall the specifics, there was some indication that IDPs issued by official foreign gov't agents would be acceptable to the police here.

Because of the change to our forum activity history, I'm no longer able to conveniently locate that thread (frustrating).

Insurance, however, might certainly be an issue. As always, what the large print giveth, the small print taketh away."

I've still not managed to find that thread where those 1949 and 1968 IDP Conventions were discussed, and frankly I've stopped looking. Recent changes to the forum's member "Activity" history make searching extremely time consuming.

I do remember reports in that thread from other members from countries which were signatories to the 1949 convention indicated that the police were accepting the IDPs issued by those countries. Again, insurance would be a different matter altogether.

I want to stress that this is not legal advice, but is instead only my personal experience and the experience of others who'd reported to the forum. It would seem that the traffic police are either A) not concerned with which IDP convention a foreigner's home country is a signatory to, or B) that the police (at street level) are unaware of there being two IDP ratification dates.

I suggest you buy your AAA IDP (it's cheap), and upon arrival present yourself at a police station and get their opinion. If they give you the go-ahead, you can drive that very day.

I can't believe I kept this thing. Apologies for the condition. It went through an awful lot of abuse馃榾

The more we discuss this, the more I recall there being confusion over the validity of 1949 vs 1968 conventions. I remember reading contradictory information on US, Canadian, and Australian gov't websites. Too bad I can't locate that old thread.

Make of it what you will.

Last pic, "States where the 1949 International Driving Permit is accepted".

Though not a signatory to the 1949 convention, according to the Canadian Government and its agent, the CAA, Vietnam does accept IDPs from 1949 signatories.

@Aidan in HCMC

I asked GROK AI to help locate the relevant thread. Here's the reply:

~~~~~

Relevant Threads on 禁漫天堂 Vietnam Forum

Thread Title: International Driving license in Vietnam - what convention?

Posted: March 18, 2023

Link: /en/forum/asia/vie 鈥� ntion.html

Summary: A user from Poland asked about using a motorbike in Vietnam with a local driving license (Category A) and an IDP issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. The discussion clarifies that Vietnam only recognizes IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, not the 1949 Convention, for legal driving. It notes that foreign driver鈥檚 licenses, even with a 1949 IDP, are not valid, and obtaining a Vietnamese driver鈥檚 license is recommended for legal compliance. The thread also mentions the process for converting a foreign license to a Vietnamese one, which requires a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) and documents like a notarized translation of the foreign license, passport, and visa. It addresses enforcement issues, noting that police may be lenient with foreigners but that lacking a valid license could lead to issues with insurance or accidents.

Thread Title: IDP 1949 not recognized by the Vietnamese police

Posted: November 23, 2024

Link: /en/forum/asia/vie 鈥� olice.html

Summary: This thread involves a user (@TyNg) discussing an incident where their 1949 IDP was deemed invalid by Vietnamese police. It covers legal driving requirements, emphasizing that Vietnam does not recognize 1949 IDPs and requires a 1968 IDP or a Vietnamese license. The thread explores options for obtaining a Vietnamese license, noting that tourists on short-term visas cannot convert their licenses, but those with a 1-year visa or TRC can apply. It also references the 1949 Convention explicitly, citing the AAA鈥檚 misleading claim that Vietnam honors 1949 IDPs and discussing real-world enforcement inconsistencies.

Notes

Search Limitations: The expat.com forum鈥檚 interface changes and archival practices make it challenging to locate older threads (pre-2023), and many discussions from 2018鈥�2022 may be archived or less accessible. The two threads above are the most relevant found within the specified timeframe that explicitly address all three criteria: legal driving, IDP usage for obtaining a license, and the 1949 Convention鈥檚 relevance (or lack thereof) in Vietnam.

Why These Threads: Both threads directly discuss the 1949 Geneva Convention鈥檚 non-recognition in Vietnam, the legal requirements for driving (motorbikes or cars), and the process or limitations of using an IDP to obtain a Vietnamese license. Other threads from 2018鈥�2025 often focus on only one or two of these aspects (e.g., general driving laws or IDP validity) without specifically addressing the 1949 Convention.

Additional Context: Vietnam鈥檚 non-recognition of 1949 IDPs stems from its commitment to the 1968 Vienna Convention, as noted in Circular No. 29/2015/TT-BGTVT and Decree 46/2016/ND-CP. For legal driving, a 1968 IDP with a valid national license is required, or a Vietnamese license must be obtained, which is not feasible for tourists on short-term visas.

Links don't work. try this one

/en/forum/asia/vie 鈥� ntion.html

I can't fix the second broken link but I think it's the first one from 2023 that you were looking for

ADMIN!! many of us have been spending years contributing information to the forum. now it seems that it's become virtually inaccessible through the search function here (which was never really a very effective search function). it personally feels as if our contributions are no longer considered of value. it's really a shame, especially since it seems that the only information of value to the website are the articles written by people who've never actually been here

I can't fix the second broken link but I think it's the first one from 2023 that you were looking for - @OceanBeach92107

Yes!! Good use of Grok, OB! TY for that!

As well as the changes to our activity history, since the site upgrade many links to older threads are no longer directing properly. Thanks to your Grok search I was able to find it through the forum's "Search" title function.

Relevant to the topic of IDPs 1949/1969, start at post #7 from member yng68bld.

There were at least two other threads on this same topic, but alas, to find them is now a Herculean task (which I'm not inclined to take on).

ADMIN!! many of us have been spending years contributing information to the forum. now it seems that it's become virtually inaccessible through the search function here (which was never really a very effective search function). it personally feels as if our contributions are no longer considered of value. it's really a shame, especially since it seems that the only information of value to the website are the articles written by people who've never actually been here - @OceanBeach92107

OB, I can tell you admin is very well aware of our concerns, concerns shared not just on the VN forum. I'm happy to report that admin is sympathetic to, and understanding of, the issue with our activity history issues and has spoken to the IT dep't on members behalf. I'm told that IT has something in the works to restore/improve our activity search access, but as of yet no date has been announced on when that roll-out will occur.

I'm looking forward to getting something akin to the way the activity search history was previously viewable/searchable.

Hello everyone,

Please note that this new thread has been opened from some off-topic posts on the Ho Chi Minh聽 City forum.

In regards to the search history and the broken links. My apologies for this issue.

We will look into the matter asap.

Regards

Bhavna

Hello everyone,
Please note that this new thread has been opened from some off-topic posts on the Ho Chi Minh City forum.

In regards to the search history and the broken links. My apologies for this issue.

We will look into the matter asap.

Regards
Bhavna - @Bhavna

Thank you 馃檹

Even though this issue was originally raised in the HCMC forum, it's always been a nationwide issue.

Please consider moving this to the main Vietnam forum (perhaps under "formalities")

Very appreciative of your help

@OceanBeach92107
Understand that, if correct why can Canada, USA get IDP not Australia?聽 - @MarkinNam
Perhaps because you drive on the wrong side of the road? - @OceanBeach92107

Hihihihihihihi

@MarkinNam

An Australian visiting Canada gets pulled over by the highway police for driving on the wrong side of the freeway.

Australian says to the officer, "I'm sorry. I just came here from Australia."

Police asks, "Well, did you come here to die?!"

"No, I came here yester-die"

馃榿

This was copied from the Australian Austmobile Association and the Australian Embassy website 15/07/2025

Australian Embassy Vietnam website

Driving in Vietnam

Vietnamese driving licences are mandatory for all drivers of motor vehicles as well as for riders of motorcycles with a capacity of 50cc or greater. Non-Vietnamese citizens are only permitted to drive in Vietnam if they hold a temporary Vietnamese driver's licence.

Converting an Australian driving licence into a Vietnamese driving licence

To convert an Australian driving licence into a temporary Vietnamese driver's licence, the applicant must hold a valid Vietnamese residence permit of at least three month's validity.

Please contact the relevant ward police for advice.

AAA website

Australians wanting to obtain a drivers licence in Vietnam please visit website of the Australian Embassy or Consulate-General in Vietnam

Note: Non-Vietnamese citizens are only permitted to drive in Vietnam if they hold a temporary Vietnamese driver's licence. Read more at the Australian Embassy Vietnam website

Disclaimer

Information provided on this Australian Automobile Association (AAA) ACN 008 526 369 International Motoring website is for information purposes only.

The information provided via the website is accurate as at the time of publication. While we periodically update the website, the AAA does not warrant the currency or accuracy of the information thereafter.

AAA will not be responsible for any claims, damages, costs or losses following any reliance placed on any information provided via the website.

It is your responsibility to ensure that any information provided via the website is relevant and appropriate to you. The AAA provides no warranty and carries no responsibility in relation to this.

(Link)