Vietnam on a US Licence 2026: AAA's 1949 Permit Won't Count
United States
Vietnam
Vietnam accepts only 1968-Convention IDPs. The US is not a 1968 party and AAA issues the 1949 permit, so an American visitor cannot legally drive on licence plus IDP. Use a driver.
Of all the routes into Vietnam, the American one is where the licence question genuinely bites, so here is the blunt version.
The verdict: the US permit is the wrong format
Vietnam lets foreign visitors drive with their national licence plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. The United States is a party only to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the permits AAA and AATA issue are the 1949 format, and Vietnam does not recognise them. An American on a short trip therefore cannot legally drive a car or ride a motorbike in Vietnam on licence and IDP, and an accident without a valid licence can leave you uninsured and facing charges. Do not plan to hire a car and sort it out on arrival. The practical routes are a car with a hired driver, taxis and ride-hailing, or trains and domestic flights.
At least the side of the road is familiar
Vietnam drives on the right, the same as the US. That is the one thing in your favour, and the traffic outweighs it.
The road reality: scooters, not speed signs
Vietnam’s traffic is dominated by motorbikes: dense, fluid streams that filter up both sides and treat intersections as a continuous negotiation. Speed limits are modest on paper, 50 km/h on ordinary two-way urban roads and up to 120 km/h on expressways, but in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City the swarm sets the pace.
Alcohol is zero, enforcement is real
The alcohol limit is an absolute zero, checkpoints are common and penalties are steep. The police emergency number is 113, fire 114 and ambulance 115.
Compare other routes with the Driving Permit Checker, read the full rules on our Vietnam driving guide, and check who pays driving fines abroad before you go.
Sources
- UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Viet Nam a party, United States not): treaties.un.org
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (United States a party): treaties.un.org
- GOV.UK, Vietnam travel advice, road travel (1968 IDP with licence; zero alcohol): gov.uk
- Government of Viet Nam, Circular 38/2024/TT-BGTVT on speed limits from 1 January 2025: xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. Vietnam recognises international permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, carried with the national licence. The United States is a party only to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the permit AAA or AATA issues is the 1949 format, which Vietnam does not accept. A car with a hired driver, taxis and ride-hailing are the lawful options for a short visit.
Yes, Vietnam drives on the right, the same as the United States, so there is no side switch. The challenge is the traffic itself, not the orientation.
Zero. Any alcohol in a driver's blood or breath is an offence, with heavy fines and possible imprisonment, and checkpoints are common.