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Riding a motorbike in Vietnam: licence, insurance and fines

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Ride yourself only if you hold a home licence with a motorbike category and a 1968-convention International Driving Permit (IDP). If you don’t, take trains, buses and Grab, or hire a licensed driver for a loop such as Ha Giang. Your insurance only pays out if you’re riding legally.

Can you ride on your licence?

If it doesn’t go to plan

  • No valid licence? Don’t ride. Use Grab bike, buses or trains, or book a driver (see the Ha Giang section below).
  • Unsure which fines apply? Decree 168/2024 remains in force, and the Traffic Police Agency has confirmed no change to drink-driving penalties.VietNamNet (opens in a new tab)vietnamnet.vn
  • Fined by the police? Ask for the written violation record (bien ban) before you pay. Police may skip it only for fines up to 500,000 VND for an individual.Saigon Giai Phong, June 2025 (opens in a new tab)sggp.org.vn

Insurance

  • Travel and medical insurance covers you only if you’re legal on the road. It is void if you ride intoxicated.Viet Nam News, May 2026 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn
  • Read your policy’s motorbike clause and ask your insurer in writing before you ride.

Fines to know

Decree 168/2024 has applied since 1 January 2025.Baonghean (opens in a new tab)baonghean.vn

RuleFine
Highest alcohol band: over 80 mg/100 ml blood or 0.4 mg/l breath8,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND and licence suspended for 22 to 24 monthsVietnam Government News (opens in a new tab)en.baochinhphu.vn
Refusing an alcohol test8,000,000 to 10,000,000 VNDBaonghean (opens in a new tab)baonghean.vn
Running a red light6,000,000 VNDVietnamPlus (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn
Speeding more than 20 km/h over the limitUp to 8,000,000 VNDVietnamPlus (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn

Helmets

Hiring a bike

The Ha Giang loop

If you can’t ride legally, hire an easy rider: a licensed local drives and you sit pillion.