International driving licenses issued by the IAA are not valid in Vietnam. Only the International Driving Permit (IDP) is recognized in Vietnam; other types of international driver’s licenses are not.
HCM CITY — Only the International Driving Permit (IDP) is valid in Vietnam; other types of international driver’s licenses, including the IAA driving license, are not.
The Road and Railway Traffic Police Office, part of the HCM City Police Department, stated on Tuesday that it is outlined in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 3 of the Minister of Transport’s Circular No. 29, dated July 6, 2015.
According to the police, some foreigners and Vietnamese with foreign nationality are currently using two types of international driving licenses in Vietnam.
The two international driving licenses are the IAA’s international driving license, issued by the International Automobile Association in New York, and the IDP, issued by competent state agencies of countries (including administrative regions) that have signed the 1968 Vienna Convention, according to the police.
According to the police, only the IDP is valid in Vietnam.
The police also warned people to be wary of advertisements on social networking sites offering the service of changing into an IAA driving license with the promise of being valid in many countries around the world, including Vietnam.
The police added that if a person presents an IAA international driving license, the police will treat it as an administrative violation for not having a driving license. — VNS
