Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Vietnam: 8 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
Required
Recommended
Good to know
Tick before you go
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Vietnamese licence conversion required
Vietnam recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP but NOT the 1949 version that the UK issues; UK drivers must obtain a temporary Vietnamese licence via the Department of Transport before driving. EU 1968-signatory licences (most EU states) are valid with an IDP for up to 3 months.
Passport and visa
Carry passport with valid Vietnamese e-visa or visa exemption stamp at all times; police checkpoints routinely request ID from foreign drivers.
Third-party motor insurance is compulsory
Vietnamese-issued Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance (TNDS) is mandatory for any vehicle on the road; foreign Green Cards are not valid and you must buy local cover from Bao Viet or PVI from around 480,000 VND (~17 EUR) per year for a car.
Drive on the right
Vietnam drives on the right-hand side of the road; UK, Irish and Japanese drivers must adjust.
Speed limits
Expressways 90-120 km/h (signed), rural roads 80 km/h for cars, urban areas 50-60 km/h; limits are strictly enforced by speed cameras on the North-South Expressway.
Zero alcohol limit
BAC limit is 0.0 g/L for all drivers: any detectable alcohol triggers fines from 6 million VND (~215 EUR) and licence suspension. Random breath testing is routine.
Helmets and headlights
Helmets are compulsory on all motorbikes including passengers; dipped headlights are required at night and in tunnels, and using a phone while driving is banned.
ETC electronic tolling on expressways
All expressways (CT01 North-South, Hanoi-Haiphong, HCMC-Long Thanh etc.) require an ePass or VETC sticker linked to a prepaid wallet; cash lanes were abolished in 2022. Expect roughly 200,000-300,000 VND (~7-11 EUR) per 100 km.
Vietnam recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP but NOT the 1949 version that the UK issues; UK drivers must obtain a temporary Vietnamese licence via the Department of Transport before driving. EU 1968-signatory licences (most EU states) are valid with an IDP for up to 3 months.
Carry passport with valid Vietnamese e-visa or visa exemption stamp at all times; police checkpoints routinely request ID from foreign drivers.
Vietnamese-issued Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance (TNDS) is mandatory for any vehicle on the road; foreign Green Cards are not valid and you must buy local cover from Bao Viet or PVI from around 480,000 VND (~17 EUR) per year for a car.
Temporary import of foreign-registered vehicles requires a pre-arranged permit from the Vietnam Administration of Roads and a licensed tour operator escort; almost all visitors rent locally or hire a car with driver.
Vietnam drives on the right-hand side of the road; UK, Irish and Japanese drivers must adjust.
Expressways 90-120 km/h (signed), rural roads 80 km/h for cars, urban areas 50-60 km/h; limits are strictly enforced by speed cameras on the North-South Expressway.
BAC limit is 0.0 g/L for all drivers: any detectable alcohol triggers fines from 6 million VND (~215 EUR) and licence suspension. Random breath testing is routine.
Helmets are compulsory on all motorbikes including passengers; dipped headlights are required at night and in tunnels, and using a phone while driving is banned.
Dial 113 for police, 114 for fire, 115 for ambulance; traffic is chaotic with heavy motorbike flow: defensive driving and constant horn use are the norm.
All expressways (CT01 North-South, Hanoi-Haiphong, HCMC-Long Thanh etc.) require an ePass or VETC sticker linked to a prepaid wallet; cash lanes were abolished in 2022. Expect roughly 200,000-300,000 VND (~7-11 EUR) per 100 km.
Confirm the rental has a working VETC/ePass tag and topped-up balance before departure; without it you cannot enter the expressway network.
Vietnam does not legally require hi-vis vests, warning triangles or first aid kits in private cars, though carrying a triangle and basic kit is sensible given roadside breakdown response is limited.
Hanoi has announced a fossil-fuel motorbike ban inside Ring Road 1 from July 2026 and a wider LEZ pilot, but no sticker scheme currently applies to foreign-driven cars.
Central Vietnam (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An) sees typhoons and flash flooding August-November; mountain passes like Hai Van and the Ha Giang loop can be closed by landslides. Check VOV Traffic before travel.
Vietnamese dong (VND); RON95 petrol is around 20,500 VND per litre (~0.73 EUR) and diesel ~18,500 VND (~0.66 EUR), with prices reviewed every 10 days by the government.
Fuel stations in cities accept cards and QR (VietQR/Momo), but rural pumps are cash-only; tipping is not expected. Declare cash over 5,000 USD or 15 million VND at the border.
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Vietnam.
Start planning →Places to add to your Vietnam road trip.
Don't get caught out
Vietnam drives on the right-hand side of the road; UK, Irish and Japanese drivers must adjust.
Expressways 90-120 km/h (signed), rural roads 80 km/h for cars, urban areas 50-60 km/h; limits are strictly enforced by speed cameras on the North-South Expressway.
BAC limit is 0.0 g/L for all drivers: any detectable alcohol triggers fines from 6 million VND (~215 EUR) and licence suspension. Random breath testing is routine.
Helmets are compulsory on all motorbikes including passengers; dipped headlights are required at night and in tunnels, and using a phone while driving is banned.