no general consensus on this thread then!!

I think i'll chance it and not bother with licence when I go for 3 weeks in January.

:-)

Etherelda Things always change, If you are really worried find some ex-pats in the town you land in , they have a current feel for the mood of politics and know of changes at senior levels of government which may indicate a change of attitudes.
I had few problems two years ago

thanks twobob for your two bob. I have some contacts so will check that out when I arrive, and see whats what then.

Just read this on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website:

'A Vietnamese driving license is required to drive a car or motorcycle in Vietnam. These can be obtained from Hanoi Department of Public Works and Transportation: (tel:+84 4 3843 5325) or Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Works and Transportation (tel: +84 8 3829 0451 or 0452, fax: +84 8 3829 0458).'

Vietnam travel advice

Etherelda, in any major city in Vietnam you will see literally hundreds of bike and car rental places. Even the hotels rent motorcycles. You will also see hundreds of western tourists riding around on rented bikes.

Regardless of what the rules may or may not be, there is active encouragement for tourists to rent and ride. The country relies on tourism as a major revenue earner, if the police were intent on enforcing any licensing rules I would expect to see some form of control rather than turning a blind eye.

__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

I rented in Vietnam last January and rode past the police numerous times, they did not blink an eye at me despite standing out like a sore thumb,
A mate lived there for years and rode all the time without issues

Hi,

Its because of people like Mika that the police in Vietnam controls foreigners too and dont turn a blind eye anymore.

If people ignore the law, are driving without license, bring vehicles into the country without customs ... so dont wonder when the authorities are not so friendly anymore. You even cant do that in the USA or Australia.

So, think twice before acting.

Paul
Motorbike registered in Vietnam
Vietnamese driving license A1 and B

Just got back from a 9 day ride with 4 friends, 1 guide, and a photographer working for the guide. On XR250/XR400/DZR400 's.

Hanoi -> Mai Chau -> ?somewhere? -> SaPa -> XiMan ->HaGiang -> Dong Van -> Bao Lai -> BaBe Lake -> Hanoi.

That's 5 BIG guys on (for VN) BIG bikes doing 1400 km.

No problems with police. Saw plenty of police shaking down the locals, but the plod just waved us through. There were a couple of times the guide was VERY particular about our speed, (40kph through a few town centres), but otherwise no probs.

We were all aware that we were unlicensed for VN. In the event of a fatal accident, we were facing mandatory life imprisonment. In the event of a non-fatal accident, you pay compensation to the other party (fault is irrelevant, you're a foreigner, so you pay) and move on, hopefully without the police becoming involved.

Great people, great roads, unbelievable scenery, ok food, cheap .
Brilliant country to ride.

We were all aware that we were unlicensed for VN. In the event of a fatal accident, we were facing mandatory life imprisonment. In the event of a non-fatal accident, you pay compensation to the other party (fault is irrelevant, you're a foreigner, so you pay) and move on, hopefully without the police becoming involved.
.[/QUOTE]

is it worth the risk of sitting out your days in a Vietnamese jail?

who was your guide by the way?

Glad you had a great time.

__________________
https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

We hired the bikes and guide thru Flamingo Travel. They are on the internets.

If you're looking for a low stress way to do a VN trip, they're great.

Our guide was actually the owner of the company, Hung Nyguen, and he did a great job. But he's actually the rookie of the company, as his employees usually do the tours. (when people ask for a guide. I understand most tours are unguided.)

Bikes were reliable. No hidden surprises.

I felt that we missed some of the experience in having a guide to arrange virtually everything along the way, but it made everything very efficient and carefree. We're not hardcore Trekkers like many on this site, so the easy option suited us.

My first post on the forum

Looks like this post has been around a while. But as i've just stumbled on it i'm sure i won't be the last. So for what it is worth, here's my 2 cents..

Repeat traveller to and rider in VN. First few times I went i hired a bike in Saigon (Pham Ngu Lao). First time i tried 5 'shops' before i could find one that would rent out for an indefinite period and number of km's. The others would only let them out if i stayed local. Had to forfeit passport, and kept colour copies of it for the hotel checkins. I never went to far that time, just to Ba-Ria Vung Tau and Dong Nai provinces. Subsequent trips travelled most of the country on bikes borrowed from friends.

Every time i've been i've only ridden, never bus or drivers. Everytime i've been stopped at least once, usually more times. Sometimes my own fault for speeding on the highways (like 80km/h when most are only 60). One time i'm sure it was a dubious 'roadworks zone' at 40km/h limit. Most other times i was spotted weaving through the trucks and cars so couldn't complain.

Had wide variety of experiences.

1) The gun toting top gun guy who's patience i tested by pretending not to speak vietnamese (moto bike, my firend, ho chi minh, bike my friend) who yelled at me in Vietnamese to just 'p*** off' and i gt away without a fine.

2) Being given a caution down in the delta (when i was doing that weaving i mentioned). Was fascinating for the locals to watch me, i think they were perplexed why no cash or paperwork was exchanged!

3) Being fined proper. Not advisable if you're in a hurry... Fine on afternoon day 1. Overnight in nearby provincial centre (Vung tau that ime so i as lucky i knew my way around... but i WAS on my way to Mui Ne on the south coast). Next morning to main office to register. Sent to cashiers office on the other side of town. Then sent back with the receipt to the main office. By that time spent a second night in town before day 3 getting on my way.

4) My now preferred method, in some ways, and no in others. Nam Tram. 500K dong. About 20-25 dollars. Mentioned by one expat on here already. Never leave home without it now. First time i cottoned onto this they were loading up locals bike on the back of the truck (confiscating them until the fines were paid). There's a place underground next to a carpark in Saigon where there are hundreds of cobweb covered bikes i imagine started out like this. I was asked around the back of the truck with the fine book. Nam Tram is a bit rich compared to local doations but i'm not complaining. I don't ever have an A1 or an A2 license, and often no rego papers.

International license states accepted in VN. It isn't. I always carry my one from my country but just for photo ID purposes. I've ridden everywhere, anytime and crack downs or no crack dons, between my 5 tram and Viet language skills, and a happy manner with the guys it's no trouble at all.

Beware now, road cops have breathalisers and radar guns. I was zapped by a guy hidden in a car who radioed his mates down the road with my description and speed. This was on a rural route in Nhon Trach (back way to Vung Tau from Saigon).

Hope this helps some future travellers! Happy to catch up by PM/email however it works on HUBB) if anyone's interestd down the track. I've written an unofficial guide to the 'road rules' and 'etiquite' in VN. Propbably be my next post!

Stay vertical!

Absolutey true farqhuar... Same goes for any soft crime in VN. Anything illegal that can be benefited from by the constabulary christmas party fund finds itself with a slightly twisted neck on the side of the blind eye. Lots of developing countries are the same. Not sure how this will pan t in 5 years time when VN will ahve changed so much, but at least for now, don't forget your 500k bill in the pocket

last time in vietnam a whoman crashd in to may bike the police came the whoman talk to them she whas ok but i have to go whid the whoman and the police to court the ask to sea may whalet i have 56 dollar in it the talk to the judge and hea rule i can keap 4 dolars to go to gas station and the whoman geats 52 dollars case closed thats vietnam and she whas the guilty person in the crasch f..k vietnam never again only problem all the time

Hi bad bubba. That's pretty terrible. Stark contrast to my similar incident. Toward the end of ny first ride in VN i was heading back in towards HCMC along hiway 1 and hot absolutely crunched from behind by a 3 wheel utility bike. Sent the bike flying and wobbling until i decided if i let go of the bike i could stay upright while the bike dropped and slid under a semi-trailer truck. Meanwhile i was flying mid-air and slammed luckily hands first into the trailer!

Bikes faring was trashed, indicators and lights gone etc. I swore at the guy enough in Vietnamese and made sure he knew i was lucky to be alive. Unfortunately someone pulled the bike out from under the truck, would've made a nice pic! Kept a piece of faring for momento. I digress.. long story short he pulled out his wallet and gave me $20 in dong (probably a week or more wage). He said it would be enough and offered me a cigarrete and we had a brief chat. I took the bike to the repair shop who quoted me $15-20 to repair. Rental company took the bike, the 20 and i was done!

Maybe upshot is not to involve police?? Up to each situation i suppose :confused1:

Stay vertical

We both hired 110cc Honda's in Hanoi.
Took a month to ride to Saigon, very easy going, lazy days etc.

We saw police on the side of the road.
Dressed in 2 colour brown
Holding a white and black stick
They wave us to slow down, when they see our faces, see we are not local, they wave the stick to carry on, do not need to stop.

We see this twice.
Most of the time though, we just ride past the police, they don't wave to us or any thing.

I am UK, my girlfriend is Chinese.

vette

Maria,
I just spent the last two winters traveling in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on a Honda Win 110cc that I bought in Hanoi for $400.00. I rode the length of Vietnam and loved the northern part including Sapa the most. The people of Vietnam are the nicest and most welcoming people i have met anywhere! I was stopped by the police 3 times ( twice for speeding and once for going down a one way street the wrong way) and crossed the Cambodia and Laos borders with no trouble. I had an international license ( easily obtainable before you go) and a regular US drivers license that no one ever looked at. The police and customs always wanted the paper that show the registration of the bike which will be matched to the numbers on your bike. It of course, will be in someone else's name but thats ok too. I sold the bike last winter back in Hanoi for $200.00 to a young Vietnamese who was just starting a moto touring company... Go for it !! You will Enjoy... Eliza