Renting a motorbike in Da Nang can take a few minutes. Riding it legally is harder: Vietnam's road traffic law took effect in 2025, an amendment took effect in July 2026, and whether an international driving permit counts depends on where it was issued. Da Nang traffic police said in May 2026 that they were fining riders without helmets. So which licenses are valid, what are the fines, and what should you check before you ride off?
Which licenses let you ride a motorbike in Da Nang
Whether you can ride legally depends on the license you carry, not on what the rental shop asks for. You need a Vietnamese motorbike license, or an international driving permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, carried together with your home license for the same class of vehicle.
The United States and Australia are not parties to the 1968 convention, according to the United Nations treaty list, so their IDPs do not count in Vietnam. The United Kingdom ratified it in 2018, so a British 1968 IDP with a UK license that covers the bike you ride is valid.
| What you carry | Valid for a motorbike in Vietnam? |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese license, class A1 (up to 125 cc or 11 kW electric) or A (above that) | Yes |
| UK license with a full motorbike category that covers the bike's engine size, plus a 1968 IDP, both in date | Yes, if you carry both |
| US license, with or without an IDP | No |
| Australian license, with or without an IDP | No |
| License from another country that covers the bike, plus a 1968 IDP, both in date | Only if your country shows a ratification, accession or succession date on the UN list |
| Any license or IDP without a motorbike category | No |
A signature alone on the UN list does not count. Canada, Ireland and New Zealand are not on the list, and Spain and South Korea have signed but not ratified, so check the list before you rent. If your license covers bikes only up to 125 cc, riding a 150 cc scooter counts as riding with the wrong license, with a fine of 6,000,000–8,000,000 VND (about US$233–310).
The US Embassy in Vietnam tells Americans plainly that foreign licenses, even with an IDP, are not valid. The UK government says British riders need both the 1968 IDP and their UK license with them. An IDP is valid for no more than three years and only while your home license is valid. Vietnamese law also accepts licenses from countries that have a mutual recognition agreement with Vietnam; the US Embassy notes that some ASEAN licenses may be recognized in certain cases.
One exception needs no license: a moped (xe gắn máy) designed for a top speed of no more than 50 km/h. Its petrol engine must also be 50 cc or less, or its electric motor 4 kW or less. Both limits apply, so an electric scooter with a small motor still needs a class A1 license if it is designed to go faster than 50 km/h. You must be at least 16 to ride a moped, and the helmet rules still apply. Before relying on this, ask the shop to show you the engine size or motor power and the designed top speed.
If you live in Da Nang: converting your license
Foreigners with a visa or temporary residence card valid for at least 90 more days, or with a permanent residence card, can exchange a valid home license for a Vietnamese one. The rule comes from a Ministry of Public Security circular in force since July 1, 2026. Visitors on shorter visas cannot exchange a license, and an IDP cannot be exchanged at all.
You apply at a traffic police office, at a commune or ward police station that takes applications, or online at dichvucong.gov.vn, the national public services portal, which is in Vietnamese.
You need a notarized Vietnamese translation of your license and a copy of your visa or residence card. If you apply with a visa or temporary residence card, you do not need a health certificate; with a permanent residence card, you do. An electronic license is issued within one day of a complete application, and a printed card, if you ask for one, within two and a half working days. The new license is valid only as long as both your visa or residence card and your home license are valid. The US Embassy lists the fee as 135,000 VND (about US$5). For more on settling in, see the guide to renting an apartment in Da Nang.
Fines for riding without a valid license and other common offenses
Fines come from Decree 168 of 2024, as amended by Decree 238 of 2026 from August 15, 2026; the amended decree did not change the motorbike fines below.
| Offense | Fine |
|---|---|
| No valid license, motorbike up to 125 cc | 2,000,000–4,000,000 VND (about US$78–155) |
| No valid license, or the wrong class, motorbike over 125 cc | 6,000,000–8,000,000 VND (about US$233–310) |
| No helmet, or helmet strap not fastened, for the rider or a passenger | 400,000–600,000 VND (about US$15.5–23.5) |
| Alcohol up to 50 mg per 100 ml of blood or 0.25 mg per liter of breath | 2,000,000–3,000,000 VND (about US$78–116) |
| Alcohol above that, up to 80 mg or 0.4 mg | 6,000,000–8,000,000 VND (about US$233–310) |
| Alcohol above 80 mg or 0.4 mg, or refusing a test | 8,000,000–10,000,000 VND (about US$310–388) and a 22 to 24 month license suspension |
| Ignoring a traffic light, riding the wrong way on a one-way street or riding on the sidewalk | 4,000,000–6,000,000 VND (about US$155–233) |
| Holding a phone while riding | 800,000–1,000,000 VND (about US$31–39) |
| No compulsory insurance certificate | 200,000–300,000 VND (about US$8–11.5) |
Police can hold the motorbike before deciding the fine for license and alcohol offenses. Vietnam's law bans any alcohol in the blood or breath while riding. The passenger helmet fine has a few exceptions, such as children under 6.
In May 2026 Da Nang traffic police said they were fining riders without helmets and working with rental businesses on compliance, Tuoi Tre News reported. In June 2026 police confiscated the motorbike of a 24-year-old foreigner who rode with both hands off the handlebars on Minh Mang Street. They also called on rental businesses to rent only to people who meet the legal requirements.
Shops have their own reason to ask for your license. An owner who lets someone without the required license ride a motorbike faces a fine of 8,000,000–10,000,000 VND (about US$310–388) for an individual and 16,000,000–20,000,000 VND (about US$620–775) for a business.
Insurance: what the bike's policy covers
Every motorbike owner in Vietnam must buy compulsory civil liability insurance, and the rider must carry the certificate along with the registration papers. It pays for injury, death and property damage to other people and for injury or death of your passenger, not for you or the rented bike. The limits are 150,000,000 VND (about US$5,814) per person for injury or death and 50,000,000 VND (about US$1,938) per accident for property damaged by a motorbike.
The insurer does not pay if the rider is under the legal age or has no license, an expired or invalid one, or one for the wrong class of bike. It also does not pay for property damage if the rider's alcohol level was above the normal level set by the Ministry of Health, or if the rider had taken illegal drugs. Travel insurance may not help either. A 2023 guide on the website of the insurer World Nomads says that without a valid IDP or Vietnamese license your travel insurance will not be valid. The UK government tells travelers to make sure their insurance covers the activity, so check your own policy's wording on motorbikes before you rent.
After an accident, the UK government warns, you could face criminal charges and may have to pay compensation to injured people even if the injuries are minor. You could also be stopped from leaving the country while police investigate.
Deposits and your passport
Do not leave your passport as a deposit. The UK government advises against giving your passport to motorbike rental shops as a guarantee, warning that they can hold it against claimed damage. Vietnamese law fines anyone who unlawfully holds another person's passport 500,000–2,000,000 VND (about US$19.5–77.5), and anyone who pawns a passport or accepts one as a pledge 3,000,000–5,000,000 VND (about US$116–194). The decree does not name rental shops.
You still need ID on you. Foreigners must carry a passport or other valid papers when traveling, or face a warning or a fine of 300,000–500,000 VND (about US$11.5–19.5). The UK government says the authorities accept a printed copy of the photo page of your passport and visa. If a shop asks for your passport, this guide suggests offering a copy and a cash deposit instead, and asking for a receipt.
What to check before you ride off
The first two points are legal requirements; the rest are the UK government's advice and this guide's own suggestions.
- Ask for the registration certificate and the compulsory insurance certificate, which you must carry while riding.
- Wear a helmet that meets Vietnam's national standard, with the strap fastened, and make sure your passenger has one too.
- Rent from a reputable shop, check the bike thoroughly before you leave, and photograph any scratches with the shop owner present.
- Only rent if you are an experienced rider. The UK government warns that motorbike travel in Vietnam is much riskier than in the UK and has killed and injured British nationals.
- Keep your phone in your pocket while moving, and do not lend the bike to anyone else.
Prices are set by each shop. On October 2, 2026, the website of Gia Huy, a shop near Da Nang railway station, listed 80,000–100,000 VND (about US$3–4) a day for a manual bike and 120,000–150,000 VND (about US$4.5–6) for a scooter. Two helmets and two raincoats are included.
The same page asks for a deposit of 1,000,000–6,000,000 VND (about US$39–233) in one place and says no deposit is needed in another, so confirm the terms in writing. It also says electric bikes need no license, which is true only for mopeds within the limits above. The shop is named only as an example of listed prices, not as a recommendation.
Where you can and cannot ride
Automatic scooters are banned on the forest roads of Son Tra Peninsula up to Ban Co Peak, a rule the city first set in October 2019 and kept in its 2022 plan for the peninsula. Those roads are open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm from October to February and until 6:30 pm from March to September. In August 2026 the route from Tien Sa via Suoi Om to Ban Co Peak was temporarily closed for storm repairs. The Son Tra Peninsula guide has the route rules.
On the Hai Van Pass north of the city, motorbikes may not use the Hai Van Tunnel, though a service carries them through if needed. The tourism portal describes the pass road as winding and steep and recommends limiting rides in the evening or in thick fog. If you are not used to mountain roads, it suggests hiring a driver or joining a motorbike tour. See the Hai Van Pass guide for the route.
Motorbike taxis by app instead
If you do not have a valid license, a motorbike taxi booked by app leaves the riding to a licensed driver. For taxis, the UK government recommends official ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Xanh SM (listed as Green SM in app stores). Grab shows its charges in the app before you decide to book.
| Service in Da Nang | First 2 km | Each km after |
|---|---|---|
| GrabBike | 12,273 VND (about US$0.48) | 4,222 VND (about US$0.16) |
| Xanh SM (Green SM) Bike, electric | 12,000 VND (about US$0.47) | 4,500 VND (about US$0.17) |
Both companies say fares can change with demand. Grab adds a small charge for travel time after the first 2 km and a 4% fee when you pay through its wallet with a card issued abroad. Grab says it may also add surcharges, for example at night or in bad weather, but does not list the amounts. Xanh SM adds 10,000 VND (about US$0.39) between 10:01 pm and 5:59 am and 5,000 VND (about US$0.19) on public holidays. Grab also sells GrabBike by the hour with a driver: 83,455 VND (about US$3) for one hour and up to 15 km, or 258,218 VND (about US$10) for four hours and up to 50 km.
Sources and how we checked
We checked every rule, fine and price on October 2, 2026. License rules come from the consolidated Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety and Circular 108/2026 of the Ministry of Public Security, read in the Official Gazette, and from the United Nations treaty list, the US Embassy and the UK government. Fines come from Decree 168/2024 and Decree 238/2026, insurance from Decree 67/2023, and the passport rules from Decree 282/2025. Da Nang rules and enforcement come from the city portal, the tourism portal and dated news reports, and app fares from Grab's and Xanh SM's own pages. US dollar amounts use Vietcombank's transfer rate of 25,800 VND per US$ on October 1, 2026, rounded to the nearest cent below US$1, US$0.5 up to US$100, US$1 up to US$10,000 and US$1,000 above that.
- Vietnamese law (Official Gazette, in Vietnamese): Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, consolidated text (April 9, 2026); Circular 108/2026/TT-BCA on licenses and IDPs (June 29, 2026); Decree 168/2024 on traffic fines (December 26, 2024); Decree 238/2026 amending it (June 26, 2026); Decree 67/2023 on compulsory insurance (September 6, 2023); Decree 282/2025, including passport offenses (October 30, 2025).
- United Nations Treaty Collection: Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna 1968, status (viewed October 2, 2026).
- Governments: US Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam, Driving in Vietnam (viewed October 2, 2026); UK government, Vietnam safety and security (updated September 21, 2026).
- Da Nang: city portal, Son Tra visitor safety plan (in Vietnamese, December 23, 2022); Van Hoa newspaper, scooter ban on Son Tra (in Vietnamese, October 16, 2019) and Son Tra routes and hours (in Vietnamese, August 13, 2026); Danang Fantasticity, Hai Van Pass (in Vietnamese, August 1, 2025).
- News: Tuoi Tre News, helmet rules (May 29, 2026) and motorbike confiscated (June 7, 2026).
- Insurance: World Nomads, motorbike safety in Vietnam (January 10, 2023).
- Prices: Grab, service and fare table (in Vietnamese, updated July 8, 2026); Xanh SM, Xanh SM Bike fares (in Vietnamese, viewed October 2, 2026); Gia Huy motorbike rental, price list (in Vietnamese, viewed October 2, 2026).
- Photos: Da Nang city portal, Hai Van Quan national monument (April 22, 2026) and rescue drill on Son Tra (November 15, 2025), in Vietnamese; Danang Fantasticity, Son Tra visitors after the routes reopened (in Vietnamese, October 8, 2025).
Updated: October 3, 2026
