Renting a Motorbike in Vietnam: What Americans Need to Know
Renting a motorbike in Vietnam is easy. Riding one legally on a US license is not. Vietnam's traffic law accepts international permits only from countries in the 1968 road traffic convention, and the United States is not on that list. So a US license, even with a AAA permit, does not meet the rule for a scooter over 50cc.
That matters more than the fine. If you crash without a valid license, your travel insurance may have grounds to refuse the claim. Read the policy before you rent.
You still have legal ways to get around: a moped of 50cc or less, a small electric scooter, or a motorbike taxi booked in an app. Those apps need data, so set that up before you fly.
Dollar amounts below use about 25,800 dong to $1, the rate on 2026-10-30.
In short:
- No license is needed for a moped up to 50cc, or an electric one up to 4 kW, with a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph).
- Riding a scooter up to 125cc without a valid license costs 2 to 4 million dong ($78 to $155) in fines.
- Helmets are required for rider and passenger. The fine is 400,000 to 600,000 dong ($16 to $23) each.
- One rental shop charges 200,000 to 340,000 dong ($8 to $13) a day for scooters, with a deposit of 2.5 million dong ($97) or more.
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Does a US license work in Vietnam?
The rules come from Law 36/2024/QH15, in force since January 1, 2025. Article 57 says Vietnam recognizes international permits and national licenses from countries in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. You also have to carry both documents, and the permit must match the type of bike.
The UN treaty list, checked on 2026-10-30, includes Vietnam, which joined in 2014. It does not list the United States as a party or a signatory. So the permit you buy at AAA does not fit this rule.
Some shops will hand you the keys anyway. That only means the shop was willing. It does not make the ride legal, and it does not help you at a checkpoint or with an insurer.
| Bike | What the law requires | Fine without it |
|---|---|---|
| Moped: up to 50cc or 4 kW, 50 km/h max | No license, rider 16 or older | None |
| Up to 125cc or 11 kW: Honda Vision, Air Blade, PCX 125 | Class A1 or A | 2 to 4 million dong ($78 to $155) |
| Over 125cc or 11 kW: Yamaha NVX 155, Honda ADV 160 | Class A | 6 to 8 million dong ($233 to $310) |
The class line moved in 2025. Class A1 used to reach 175cc. Now it stops at 125cc, so many 150cc and 160cc scooters need the full class A.
A car license does not count for a scooter, even for those who hold a valid foreign permit. Riding on the wrong class is fined the same as riding with no license.
The legal options for US travelers
Ride a 50cc moped. The law calls this a moped: two or three wheels, up to 50cc or 4 kW, and no faster than 50 km/h by design. No license is needed, though you must be at least 16 and still follow traffic rules. You also carry the registration and the mandatory liability policy.
D1 Moto rents a 50cc Kymco Candy in its catalog tagged as needing no license. It also lists a VinFast Evo Lite electric scooter the same way. Its motor is 1,600 W, under the power limit. Ask the shop to confirm the top speed before you take it.
Use a motorbike taxi. GrabBike and Xanh SM Bike put a licensed driver on the bike. You book in the app, so you need data on the street.
Hire a driver. Book a car or a rider for day trips. You skip the license problem and the traffic.
Fines in 2026
Fines come from Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, in force since January 1, 2025. Decree 238/2026/ND-CP changed some rules from August 15, 2026, but not the ones below.
| Violation | Fine in dong | In dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Rider without a helmet, or strap undone | 400,000 to 600,000 | $16 to $23 |
| Passenger without a helmet | Same for rider and for passenger | $16 to $23 each |
| Phone in hand while riding | 800,000 to 1,000,000 | $31 to $39 |
| Alcohol up to 0.25 mg/L breath | 2 to 3 million | $78 to $116 |
| Alcohol 0.25 to 0.4 mg/L | 6 to 8 million | $233 to $310 |
| Over 0.4 mg/L or refusing a test | 8 to 10 million, plus license loss | $310 to $388 |
| No license or wrong class, up to 125cc | 2 to 4 million | $78 to $155 |
| Same, over 125cc | 6 to 8 million | $233 to $310 |
| No bike registration | 2 to 3 million | $78 to $116 |
| No mandatory insurance | 200,000 to 300,000 | $8 to $12 |
Vietnam has zero tolerance for alcohol. The law bans riding with any alcohol in your blood or breath, so one beer is a violation. Police can also hold the bike until the fine is decided if you ride drunk or without a license.
One passenger is the limit. You may add a child under 12 as a second passenger. Two adult passengers cost the rider 400,000 to 600,000 dong.
Travel insurance and motorbikes
Do not assume your plan covers a scooter. Before you rent, read the sports or exclusions section and look for two things:
- Does it cover motorbikes or scooters at all, and at what engine size?
- Does it require a license that is valid in the country you are visiting?
Ask the insurer in writing if the wording is not clear. Given the license rule above, plan as if a scooter crash on a US license could leave you paying your own medical bills.
What rentals cost
These prices are from one chain, D1 Moto, with offices in Nha Trang, Da Nang and Phu Quoc among other cities. One-day rates were checked on 2026-10-30. Longer rates were checked on 2026-10-20. All prices are per day in dong, for riding within the city. Other shops set their own prices.
| City | Bike | 1 to 6 days | 7 to 13 days | 14 to 29 days | 29+ days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nha Trang | Kymco Candy 50cc | 230,000 ($9) | 196,000 | 150,000 | 115,000 |
| Nha Trang | Honda Air Blade 125 | 320,000 ($12) | 250,000 | 200,000 | 127,000 |
| Da Nang | Honda Vision 110 | 200,000 ($8) | 170,000 | 130,000 | 87,000 |
| Phu Quoc | Honda Air Blade 110 | 230,000 ($9) | 180,000 | 140,000 | 93,000 |
| All three | VinFast Evo Lite electric | 250,000 ($10) | 230,000 | 200,000 | 116,000 |
The deposit on most bikes in the catalog is 2.5 million dong ($97), and 5 to 7.5 million ($194 to $291) on newer PCX models. D1 Moto asks for a passport photo, your address in Vietnam and riding experience. You pay rent and deposit when you pick up the bike and sign the contract. The rental includes two helmets, two raincoats, a phone mount with charging, and a full tank.
Check the bike before you ride
- Test the brakes, headlight, turn signals, brake light, horn and left mirror. If one fails, the 400,000 to 600,000 dong fine goes to you, the rider.
- Find the registration and the insurance policy. You have to carry both.
- Confirm the engine size on the paperwork.
- Check both helmets, including the straps.
- Save the contract and the shop's contact on your phone.
- Photograph the bike from every side.
Fuel is cheap. Petrolimex listed E10 RON 95-III at 26,720 dong a liter on October 15, 2026, about $3.92 a gallon. It has been changing prices weekly, so expect a small difference. A second price zone costs slightly more.
Data on the road
A phone in your hand costs more than a helmet fine, so use a mount. Plan the route before you start, and download an offline map over hotel Wi-Fi. If the bike breaks down, send the shop your location pin. It works even if you do not know the address.
If your US plan already includes data roaming in Vietnam at a price you like, you may not need anything else. Check first.
If not, a Vietnam eSIM from Moosetrip runs on Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone. It is data only, with no phone number. Install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code. The days start at your first connection in Vietnam, your normal number stays on as a second line, and you can add data to the same eSIM.
As a generous estimate, 1 GB covers about 5 hours of maps and rides. Two hours a day for a week comes to about 2.8 GB. Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A few days | 1 GB, 7 days | $4.50 |
| 1 week | 3 GB, 30 days | $9.50 |
| 10 days | 5 GB, 30 days | $14 |
Visiting more than one country? See the Asia plans. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked, so check your phone before you buy.
Questions
Can Americans ride a motorbike in Vietnam?
Legally, without a Vietnamese license, only a moped up to 50cc or an electric one up to 4 kW. The US is not a party to the 1968 convention that Vietnam's law relies on.
Is a AAA international driving permit valid in Vietnam?
It does not fit the rule. Vietnam's law recognizes permits from 1968 convention countries, and the US is not one of them.
Can you rent a scooter in Vietnam without a license?
Shops can rent you a 50cc moped or a small electric scooter with no license. For anything larger, riding without a valid license brings a fine and the police can hold the bike.
How much is a motorbike rental in Vietnam?
At D1 Moto on 2026-10-30, about 200,000 to 340,000 dong ($8 to $13) a day for scooters on a short rental. Rates drop for rentals of 29 days or more.
Do you have to leave your passport with the rental shop?
Not everywhere. D1 Moto asks for a passport photo and takes a deposit at pickup.
Is a helmet required in Vietnam?
Yes, for the rider and the passenger, on every kind of bike, including a moped.
Sources
- UN Treaty Collection, Convention on Road Traffic of 1968, status checked 2026-10-30
- Law 36/2024/QH15, full text, Vietnam government portal, in force from January 1, 2025, checked 2026-10-20
- Law 118/2025/QH15 amendments, January 23, 2026
- Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, full text, in force from January 1, 2025, checked 2026-10-20
- Decree 238/2026/ND-CP, signed text, June 26, 2026
- D1 Moto catalog, one-day rates and deposits checked 2026-10-30
- D1 Moto home page, checked 2026-10-20
- Petrolimex price notice, October 15, 2026
- ExchangeRate-API USD rates, checked 2026-10-30