Do you need an IDP to drive in Vietnam as an American?

If you need an IDP to drive in Vietnam with a US-issued driver's license is a question without a straightforward answer. However, we’ll walk you through information from the best sources available, what your options are, and what the potential impacts may be of what you do.

Why the issue is complicated

In most countries, it’s clear whether or not an IDP is required to drive if you have an American license. But that’s not the case in Vietnam, due to a lack of information on the matter directly from the Vietnamese government and mixed messages from typically reputable sources.

The crux of the matter is that there are two different formats of International Driving Permits (IDPs) that exist in the world, they’re not automatically mutually recognized, and the US and Vietnam issue different ones. The first type of IDP is based on a United Nations treaty on road traffic from 1949 and the other is based on a similar UN treaty from 1968. All countries that signed the 1949 agreement accept IDPs from the other countries which also signed that agreement, and the same is true for all the countries that signed the 1968 agreement accepting IDPs from the other 1968 signatories. Many countries signed both treaties, so having a mutually recognized IDP when you're driving in another country is generally not an issue. However, the wrinkle is that the United States only signed the 1949 agreement and Vietnam is only unambiguously part of the 1968 agreement. (South Vietnam signed the 1949 agreement, while North Vietnam did not.)

The Vietnamese government is, as far as we can tell, silent on the matter, which leaves it to others to weigh in on what is or isn’t accepted in Vietnam. Most prominently, the US State Department says that IDPs from the US are not recognized in Vietnam and that tourists need to obtain a Vietnamese driver’s license if they are going to drive in Vietnam. Although that might be the official policy (even though the Vietnamese government itself is silent on the matter), it certainly is not something that is commonly done. The web page for applying for a Vietnamese driver’s license online is only in Vietnamese, so that is an indication that there aren’t many foreigners who complete the form. Regarding the use of the 1949 IDP in Vietnam, AAA’s IDP booklet states that "International Driving Permit honored" in Vietnam. However, on the same page (shown below), the booklet also says "IDP must be exchanged for a local driving license", which seems to contradict the other statement. 

AAA's International Driving Permit booklet shows seemingly contradictory information for Vietnam that it is "Not party to 1949 convention; International Driving Permit honored" but also that the "IDP must be exchanged for a local driving license".

Although it might not be an official policy, based on our experience, most tourists from the US who rent a car in Vietnam are able to effectively use an IDP issued from the United States. There are also several tour companies in Vietnam (examples here and here) that encourage Americans to get an IDP before driving in Vietnam. For what it’s worth, I have personally driven in Vietnam with a US-issued license and an IDP, and I was never hassled about not having a local Vietnamese driver’s license. Also, we haven't heard of anyone getting a fine in Vietnam from the police if they are carrying an IDP.

If you’re going to be staying in Vietnam for a prolonged period of time, it’s certainly best to get a local driver’s license. However, if you’re going to just be in Vietnam for a week or two, getting an IDP from the US is better than nothing and seems very likely to cover you. 

If you have a different experience or would like to chat with us about this topic, please reach out. We'd love to talk with you, and will update this blog post if you share any new information, too. 

How to Get an IDP for Vietnam

Here are your options on how to get an IDP before going to Vietnam:

Through AAA or AATA Directly: 

As the only authorized providers of International Driving Permits in the United States, your IDP must be issued by AAA or AATA. To get an IDP directly from one of them, you can visit a AAA branch, mail your application to AAA, or apply online. Processing times are same-day if you go to a AAA branch in-person, take 5-7 weeks if applying by mail abroad, and at least 5 business days plus shipping if done online. The cost from AAA is $20 for the IDP, $10-20 for passport photos, plus potential expedited processing and shipping fees if you don’t get the IDP in person, which can be quite expensive.

Through Fast IDP: 

If you’re already abroad and need an IDP quickly or if you want to avoid the hassle of going to AAA in person, we can help process your application with AAA and have your official IDP delivered to you as quickly as the next day if you’re in the US or 2-5 days if you’re abroad. What we’ll do is receive your IDP application, check it for errors, go to AAA to obtain your IDP, and then ship your IDP to you anywhere in the world. You can apply on our website here. Though Fast IDP is not usually the cheapest option for getting an IDP, it is the most reliable and fastest way to get an IDP other than going to a AAA branch in person. We have an 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot from hundreds of happy customers, so you don't have to just take our word for it that we deliver the service we say we will.

Note – Avoid Fake IDP Scams:

There are many companies online that claim to issue international driving permits, but it’s important to note that only AAA and AATA are authorized by the US State Department to issue IDPs for US drivers. All other companies offer illegitimate IDPs, which they also sometimes call international drivers licenses (IDLs), though there is no such thing as an IDL. Using a fake IDP can result in a fine and an inability to drive abroad.

Conclusion

Although the official answer is unclear on what documents are needed to drive in Vietnam as an American, we recommend carrying an International Driver’s Permit if you can't get a local Vietnamese Driver’s License.

Again, please let us know if you have any suggestions for this guide! Drive safely!