Regulations on foreign drivers and vehicles participating in traffic in Vietnam from May 1, 2024

Regulations for foreign drivers and vehicles participating in traffic in Vietnam as of May 1, 2024 (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

On March 7, 2024, the Government issued Decree 30/2024/ND-CP on the management of road motor vehicles registered abroad, brought into Vietnam by foreign tourists.

1. Regulations for foreign drivers and vehicles participating in traffic in Vietnam as of May 1, 2024

According to Article 6 of Decree 30/2024/ND-CP, the following regulations apply to foreign drivers and vehicles participating in traffic in Vietnam from May 1, 2024:

- A leading vehicle must be present to guide the traffic for foreign motor vehicles during their participation in traffic in Vietnam.

The leading vehicle can be a car (if the tourist is driving a car) or a motorcycle (if the tourist is driving a motorcycle) arranged by the Vietnamese international travel service business, The leading vehicle must be equipped with a logo or flag bearing the symbol of that business.

- Participation in traffic is only allowed on roads within the provincial administrative boundaries and during the specified period of circulation in the territory of Vietnam as stipulated in the approval document from the Ministry of Public Security.

- When driving a foreign motor vehicle participating in traffic, the driver must comply with the provisions of Vietnamese road traffic laws; carry and present the following documents when requested by competent authorities:

 + Passport or international travel documents, documents related to residence in Vietnam;

 + Driver's license issued by a foreign authority that is valid and suitable for the type of vehicle being driven;

 + Certificate of technical safety and environmental protection inspection for motor vehicles or equivalent documents issued by the competent authority of the registering country (for cars);

 + Vehicle registration certificate issued by the competent authority of the registering country and still valid;

 + Civil liability insurance certificate for the motor vehicle owner, valid in Vietnam;

 + Temporary import or re-export customs declaration for the road transport vehicle.

2. Conditions for foreign motor vehicles participating in traffic in Vietnam

Based on Article 4 of Decree 30/2024/ND-CP, the following conditions are required for foreign drivers and vehicles to participate in traffic in Vietnam:

- General conditions for drivers and foreign motor vehicles entering Vietnam:

+ Drivers must go through a Vietnamese international travel service business to complete the procedures for approval to allow foreign tourists to bring foreign motor vehicles to participate in traffic in Vietnam;

+ Drivers must have an approval document organized by the Ministry of Public Security allowing foreign tourists to bring foreign motor vehicles to participate in traffic in Vietnam.

- Conditions for foreign motor vehicles:

+ Vehicles must be road motor vehicles as specified in Clause 1 Article 3 of Decree 30/2024/ND-CP;

+ Vehicles must have a vehicle registration certificate and license plate issued by the competent authority of the registering country and still valid;

+ Vehicles must have a certificate of technical safety and environmental protection inspection for motor vehicles or equivalent documents issued by the competent authority of the registering country and still valid (for cars);

+ Right-hand drive foreign motor vehicles must have a diplomatic note from the diplomatic representative agency, consular office, or representative office of an international intergovernmental organization in Vietnam, sent to the Ministry of Public Security, requesting and stating the reasons for the vehicle to participate in traffic in Vietnam;

+ Vehicles must go through customs procedures, temporary import, re-export according to the provisions of customs law at the entry and exit checkpoints;

+ Vehicles can only be temporarily imported, re-exported through international road checkpoints, seaports, inland waterways, railways, and airports; must be temporarily imported, re-exported according to the approved checkpoints by the Ministry of Public Security;

+ The maximum allowed time for participating in traffic in Vietnam is not more than 45 days. In the case of force majeure, the vehicles are allowed to stay in Vietnam for an additional period of no more than 10 days. It must comply with the regulations in Clause 4 Article 5 of Decree 30/2024/ND-CP.

- Conditions for foreign drivers of motor vehicles:

+ Drivers must be foreign individuals;

+ Drivers must have a passport or international travel documents and visa, documents proving residency in Vietnam, except in cases exempted from visas according to the regulations on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam. In the case of foreigners entering Vietnam under unilateral visa exemption, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months; foreigners using electronic visas must enter through international checkpoints determined by the Government;

+ Drivers must have a driver's license issued by a foreign authority that is valid and suitable for the type of vehicle being driven;

+ Drivers must go through entry and exit procedures according to the regulations on entry, exit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

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