Are the IAA and AAA International Driving Licenses Valid in Vietnam?

Updated 05/12/25

No. The International Driving License issued by the International Automobile Association (IAA) is not legally recognized or valid for driving in Vietnam. Equally, the International license issued by the AAA is not valid in Vietnam.
Vietnamese traffic police and authorities will consider presenting an IAA or AAA license as an administrative violation for driving without a valid license and you will be fined.

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: ⚠️

Misinformation from Tour and Rental Companies

It is common for motorbike tour operators, hostels, and rental shops in Vietnam to tell foreigners that the IAA and AAA licenses are valid, or that no license at all is required (this is only true for bikes under 50cc).

This is a dangerous misrepresentation, driven by either ignorance of the law or deliberate deception to secure a rental booking.

The Reality: A rental company accepting your IAA license is a business transaction (they issue the IAA license as an agent and charge a fee), not a legal endorsement. Their acceptance holds no legal weight with the Vietnamese police.

The Consequence: If you are stopped by traffic police, involved in an accident, or require hospital treatment, your IAA or AAA license will be rejected. You will be subject to a fine (up to 8 million VND) for driving without a license, and your travel insurance will almost certainly be voided, leaving you personally liable for all medical costs and damages.

The Only Legally Valid International Driving Document in Vietnam

To drive legally as a tourist or short-term visitor in Vietnam, you must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) that adheres to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

Key Differences: IDP vs IAA vs AAA

Feature	1968 International Driving Permit (IDP)	IAA International Driving License	AAA International Driving Permit (IDP)
Legal Status & Recognition	Legally Recognized. An official document based on the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.	Not Legally Recognized. A translation document from a private, non-governmental entity.	Legally Recognized, but typically based on the 1949 Geneva Convention (in the US).
Issuing Authority	Competent government authority or an authorized national automobile association in the driver’s home country.	Private, non-governmental entity (International Automobile Association, Inc.).	American Automobile Association (AAA), an authorized issuer of the official IDP in the US.
Governing Convention	1968 Vienna Convention	None (Private/Commercial)	1949 Geneva Convention (in the US)
Validity in Vietnam	YES. Vietnam officially recognizes IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Crucially, the IDP must be issued by a country that is a party to the 1968 Convention.	NO. The IAA IDL is invalid and is treated by Vietnamese authorities as an administrative violation for driving without a license.	NO. The AAA in the US issues the IDP based on the 1949 Geneva Convention, which Vietnam does not recognize. Only IDPs based on the 1968 Vienna Convention are accepted.

Key Takeaway for Driving in Vietnam

Only the 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for use in Vietnam.
If your IDP was issued by a country that is a party to the 1968 Convention (e.g., many countries in Europe, Russia, and others), it is valid.
If your IDP was issued by a country that is only a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (e.g., the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), the IDP is not valid in Vietnam for tourists.

Official References Confirming IAA License is Invalid

The invalidity of the IAA International Driving License has been explicitly stated by Vietnamese authorities and is codified in the country’s transport circulars.

In English (Official Police & Law Firm Statements)

Vietnam News (VNS) – Police Statement: “IAA int’l driving permits not valid in Việt Nam: Police… Only the International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid for use in Việt Nam; other types of international driver’s license, including IAA driving license, are not valid for use in the country.”

Source: IAA int’l driving permits not valid in Việt Nam: Police – Vietnam News

LawNet (Official Legal Portal): Explicitly quotes Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport, stating only IDPs issued by signatories of the Vienna Convention are valid, and “other types of international license (including IAA license) will not be valid for use in the territory of Vietnam.”

Source: Is an IAA license issued by the International Automobile Association valid in Vietnam?

In Vietnamese (Official Traffic Police Source)

Cục Cảnh sát Giao thông (Traffic Police Department) – HCM City Police: “Giấy phép lái xe quốc tế IAA không được công nhận tại Việt Nam.” (The IAA International Driving License is not recognized in Vietnam.)
Source: Giấy phép lái xe quốc tế IAA không được công nhận tại Việt Nam – Cục Cảnh sát giao thông (CSGT)

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Which countries can use their IDP to drive legally in Vietnam?

A license issued by any country that has signed the 1968 IDP convention is valid in Vietnam so long as you also have a valid 1968 IDP along with it.

BOTH countries must have signed the same agreement. So, you can see from the chart above that Vietnam signed the 1968 agreement along with Greece, Poland and UK, but not the 1949. This means that drivers with licenses from Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, and the USA amongst others cannot use their licenses or IDPs in Vietnam.

You can see which countries have signed which agreements here: Countries and jurisdictions that recognize IDP

What can happen if you do not drive legally?

There are many answers to this question. However, the consequences could range from:

being told off by the cops and sent on your way
being fined for not having the correct license
being detained in Vietnam pending trial for criminal proceedings if you injure a third party.

You can find out more in the blog ‘What happens if you drive without the correct license?’ that we made all about this.

FAQ

Is there any vehicle a tourist can legally drive in Vietnam without any kind of license?

Yes. A license is not required for driving a moped/motorbike with a cylinder capacity of 50cc or less (often referred to as an electric bike or scooter in Vietnam, though gas models also exist). However, you must still comply with all other traffic laws, such as wearing a helmet.

Why do the USA's AAA and Vietnam, as a government, recognize different International Driving Permits (1949 vs.1968)?

The difference stems from the two main international treaties on road traffic. The USA is primarily a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and therefore, the AAA (its authorized issuer) issues the 1949 IDP. Vietnam is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention, and its law only recognizes the 1968 IDP. Countries often sign one convention but not the other, leading to this discrepancy in IDP validity.

If my national license is only for an automatic car, can I legally drive a manual car or a motorbike in Vietnam with my IDP?

No. The IDP only translates and validates your existing driving privileges. You can only legally drive the specific vehicle types (automatic vs. manual, motorbike vs. car) that are authorized on your original national driving license and its corresponding category on the IDP. Driving an unauthorized vehicle class (e.g., a manual car if your license is only for automatic) is considered an administrative violation.

How will a travel insurance company verify that my license was legally valid in the event of a motorbike accident?

In the event of an accident involving injury or death, the insurance company will require a police report. This report will document whether you were driving legally. If the police determine that you were driving without a valid IDP and the corresponding national license, or with an invalid IAA/AAA license, the insurance company will consider your policy void due to illegal activity, meaning they will reject your claim for medical expenses or liability.

What is the official procedure for a foreigner to obtain a valid Vietnamese driving license if they plan on living or staying long-term?

A foreigner who is legally residing, working, or studying in Vietnam for three months or more can typically convert their valid national license into a Vietnamese license without having to retake tests. This requires a dossier including a valid passport, a residence permit, a health certificate, and a notarized Vietnamese translation of the national license, and the conversion application must be submitted to the local Department of Transport.

Don’t be Fooled

Hopefully, you now realise that the IAA and AAA IDLs are NOT VALID in Vietnam and that no matter what an agent, tour company or rental firm tells you, you will be driving illegally. Therefore, you could face trouble from the police and your insurance will not pay out in case of an accident.

Drive safely.