Riding Without a Licence in Da Nang: Fines and IDP Rules

A moped needs no licence class, and 16 is the minimum age. Anything bigger needs a licence valid in Vietnam: an IDP from a 1968 Convention country with your home licence for the class. Without one, the fine is 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND up to 125 cm3, and 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND above.

VVincent Nguyen

The simplest legal choice is a 50cc moped: the law exempts moped riders from the licence requirement, and 16 is the minimum age. A 110cc shop scooter is a motorcycle, not a moped. Riding one without a licence valid in Vietnam costs 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND up to 125 cm3, and 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND above.

Which case are you?

• Bike is a moped — engine up to 50 cm3 or electric motor up to 4 kW: no licence class is needed, and 16 is the minimum age.
• Scooter up to 125 cm3 on a home car licence alone — the licence does not suit the vehicle driven, so the fine is 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND.
• 1968 Convention IDP with a home licence for the same class — both documents are valid here, and both must be carried.
• IDP but no home licence for the class — up to 125 cm3 the fine is 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 VND, and over 125 cm3 it is 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND.
• Engine over 125 cm3, electric motor over 11 kW, or a three-wheeled motorbike — either figure on its own puts the bike in the higher band, 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND.

Still open: whether a checkpoint in Da Nang accepts a 1968 Convention IDP carried with a home licence for the class — Da Nang City traffic police.

The two fine bands, by vehicle class

Decree 168/2024/NĐ-CP sets both bands, and each is a range rather than a single figure. A two-wheeled motorbike up to 125 cm3, or with an electric motor up to 11 kW, sits in the lower band.

A two-wheeled motorbike over 125 cm3, or with an electric motor over 11 kW, sits in the higher one. Either figure alone moves the bike up, and a three-wheeled motorbike is in the higher band too.

Is an IDP or a home licence valid in Vietnam?

The Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 36/2024/QH15 lists four kinds of licence that are valid on Vietnamese roads. One is a licence that a Vietnamese authority issued. Another is an IDP from a 1968 Convention member state, carried with a national licence for the class ridden.

The law also recognises a licence from a country with which Vietnam has a mutual recognition treaty or agreement. A foreign licence from a country recognised under a treaty Vietnam is party to counts as well.

An IDP runs no more than 3 years from issue and must fit inside what is left of the national licence. Vietnam has been a party to the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic since 20 August 2014.

VOV reported on 3 September 2023 that among international permits only the 1968 Convention IDP has validity in Vietnam, and that other international licences do not.

Circular 108/2026/TT-BCA sets the exchange to a Vietnamese licence. A foreign resident qualifies with a still-valid national licence plus one of four papers.

Those are a diplomatic identity card, an official identity card, a visa or temporary residence card valid for 90 days or more, or a valid permanent residence card. The Vietnamese licence runs to the remaining validity of the papers held. The steps are in Vietnam driving licence for foreigners.

What the police can hold, and for how long

For a no-licence stop in either band, the officer may hold the vehicle before the penalty decision. Under the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations 15/2012/QH13, a temporary seizure runs no more than 7 working days, or 10 when the file goes to another authority.

A bike held to secure the penalty decision is kept until that decision has been carried out, and the holding ends at that point. Where only a money fine applies, the officer may hold the driving licence until the penalty is carried out. A rider with no papers can have the vehicle held instead.

What Da Nang police have done

VTV reported on 10 June 2026 that Da Nang traffic police were stepping up patrols and strict handling of foreigners who ride in breach of the rules. The same report lists the violations found among foreigners, including riding with no lawful licence or with an international licence not recognised in Vietnam.

ANTV reported that in an operation on 31 October 2024 the task force seized vehicles. It drew up records against both the rider and the owner of a self-drive rental business.

Renting a moped: what the shops list

DanangBike shows 50cc scooters from 195,000 VND a day, from 1,250,000 VND for 7 days and from 4,500,000 VND for 30 days on its page in October 2026.

AZ’s price board, sent by the shop on 3 October 2026, lists the Little Cub 50cc and the Galaxy 50cc. Its three prices run 140,000 VND for one to three days, 120,000 VND for four to seven days and 90,000 VND for one month. The board states no unit for them: it does not say whether each is per day or for the whole period.

Gia Huy asks for a citizen ID card or passport and a valid A1 or A2 licence. It puts a Yamaha Sirius 110cc at 100,000 VND a day on a 2026 price list.

The Sirius is 110cc, above the 50 cm3 ceiling for a moped, so it is a motorcycle and not a moped. A rider on one needs class A1, which covers two-wheeled motorbikes up to 125 cm3, or with an electric motor up to 11 kW.

Monthly prices, deposits and delivery are in Motorbike rental in Da Nang. Buying your own machine is covered in Buy or rent a motorbike and Register a motorbike. For the alternatives — Grab, metered taxis and the city bus — see Getting around Da Nang.

What the law requires

• A driver must hold a licence that is valid, still has points and suits the vehicle driven; a moped rider is the exception.
• A moped rider must know the road rules, handle the vehicle, and meet the age and health conditions.
• Class A1 covers two-wheeled motorbikes up to 125 cm3 or 11 kW; class A covers what is above that, and the A1 classes too.
• The moped definition turns on a design speed of 50 km/h or less, with an engine up to 50 cm3 or an electric motor up to 4 kW.
• A motorcycle is a two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle that is not a moped.
• A pedal-assist bicycle, electric included, cuts motor power at 25 km/h and is a rudimentary vehicle.
• Age: 16 or over may ride a moped; 18 or over may be issued class A1, A, B1, B or C1.
• Operating a motor vehicle in road traffic without the licence the law requires is a prohibited act.

Not confirmed: Whether your country's permit is an IDP under the 1968 Convention. Whether Vietnam recognises your home licence under a treaty or agreement.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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