May foreign tourists bring their own vehicles into Vietnam?

I’m a foreigner and going to enter Vietnam via a land border gate. May I take my motor vehicle with me for joining in traffic in Vietnam?

According to Government Decree 151 issued in 2024, detailing a number of articles of, and measures to implement, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety (Decree 151), foreign visitors may drive their motor vehicles into Vietnam but must comply with specific requirements.

First of all, it is necessary to note that in order to drive foreign-plated vehicles into Vietnam, foreigners must apply for a written permit via Vietnamese international tour operators licensed to organize self-drive tours for foreigners. In addition, foreign-plated vehicles must travel in a convoy, led by a guide vehicle bearing Vietnamese plate which is a car or a motorcycle, as the case may be. The convoy must travel along specific routes as outlined in the permit issued by competent authorities.



Regarding types of vehicles allowed to be driven into Vietnam, under Decree 151, foreign-plated vehicles permitted for participation in traffic in Vietnam include passenger cars of up to eight seats (excluding the driver’s), both left-hand drive and right-hand drive, motorhomes and two-wheeled motorcycles.

What are the procedures for me and my vehicle to enter Vietnam and for how long will I be permitted to drive my vehicle in the country?

Under Decree 151, you must carry out entry and exit procedures in accordance with regulations on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through, and residence in Vietnam, while your vehicle must go through customs procedures and concurrently the procedures for temporary import and re-export in accordance with the customs law at the border gate of arrival.

In order to go through entry and exit procedures, you must possess a passport and an entry visa or international travel document and a document valid for residence in Vietnam, unless you are eligible for visa exemption. In addition, you must not fall into cases of suspension from entry as prescribed in the law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through, and residence in Vietnam.

Please note that if you enter Vietnam under a unilateral visa exemption scheme, your passport must remain valid for at least six months and in case you use an e-visa, you must enter the country through one of the international border gates designated by the Vietnamese Government.

In addition, you must possess a valid driver’s license of a type suitable to the vehicle you intend to drive in Vietnam and recognized by Vietnamese authorities.

Regarding your vehicle, it must be accompanied with a valid vehicle registration certificate and a license plate issued by an authority of the country of registration. If it is a car, a valid certificate of technical safety and environmental protection inspection for motor vehicles or an equivalent paper issued by the authority of the country of registration is also needed.

Once you fulfill all the procedures, you may drive your vehicle in the country but please remember that you must bring your vehicle out of the country before your visa or visa exemption period expires.

However, if you encounter an unforeseeable incident and therefore cannot leave the country or bring your vehicle out of the country though having taken every necessary measure within your capability, you may stay in Vietnam for at most 10 more days. In this case, your tour operator or another relevant organization or individual will have to inform the licensing agency of the incident and immediately contact the public security agency of the locality where the incident occurred for coordinated settlement.VNA

What papers do I have to carry with me when driving my motor vehicle in Vietnam?

As specified, when driving your vehicle in Vietnam, you must comply with the law on road traffic order and safety; and carry and present the following documents when being requested by competent agencies:

+ Your passport or international travel document and a document valid for residence in Vietnam;

+ Your driver’s license, accompanied by an international driving permit;

+ The vehicle’s certificate of technical safety and environmental protection inspection;

+ The vehicle registration certificate;

+ A certificate of civil liability insurance of the motor vehicle owner, which must be valid in Vietnam; and,

+ The customs declaration form for temporary import and re-export of the vehicle.-

By: VLLF