Phu Quoc Motorbike Tour Licence and Insurance

Local sources report that riding legally in Vietnam needs a Vietnamese licence, or an International Driving Permit from a 1968 Vienna Convention country carried with your home licence. A home licence on its own is reported as not valid. Insurance can be refused after an accident if the licence does not match. Confirm the current rule on WhatsApp or on the beach.

Do I need an international driving permit to ride a motorbike?

Operators and local sources report that you do, if you do not hold a Vietnamese licence.

Since January 1, 2025, the reported rule is a Vietnamese licence, or an International Driving Permit from a 1968 Vienna Convention country carried with your home licence. Several details come up again and again:

• A home licence alone is reported as not valid for riding in Vietnam, even if it is real.
• The permit should be from the 1968 Vienna Convention. A permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention is reported as not valid.
• Canadian and American permits are reported as not recognised, because those countries are not parties to the 1968 convention.
• Home licences from ASEAN countries are reported as recognised for a temporary stay if they cover the vehicle category.

This is a summary of reports, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule before you ride.

If your licence or permit does not meet the reported rule, you still have choices. You can see the island by car with a driver, by taxi or on a guided tour where someone else rides. Those options remove the licence question completely. Ask us on WhatsApp which option fits your day.

Which category is needed?

Local sources report that the permit needs category A or A1 for a motorbike.

Category A covers motorcycles, and category A1 covers light motorcycles up to 125cc. Riding a 250cc bike on an A1 permit is reported to count as riding without a licence. Ask the operator for the engine size of the bike, and check that your category matches. If the category does not match, ask for another option.

Do not rely on a verbal “it is fine” from a seller. Ask for the engine size and the category in writing, and ask what happens if a police check disagrees. If the answer is vague, choose another bike or another way to travel.

What is included in a motorbike tour, and what about fuel and cost?

Inclusions vary by operator, so ask about each item.

Some operators include a bike, a helmet, fuel or a guide. Others do not. Do not assume. Ask whether your quote includes each of these:

• The bike and its engine size.
• A helmet for the rider and for a passenger.
• Fuel, or a fuel top-up rule.
• Insurance, and what it covers.
• A guide, and whether the guide rides ahead.
• A deposit or a document held by the operator.

Scooter rental rates on Phu Quoc are reported to run slightly higher in high season. We do not give a figure for fuel or bike cost, because it varies by operator. We confirm the exact price in the chat before you pay.

What does travel insurance cover after an accident?

It may not cover you if the licence is wrong.

Before you ride, photograph the permit, the home licence, the rental contract and the bike condition. Insurers are reported to ask for all four. Read your policy and ask your insurer if the bike category is covered. Look for exclusions about licences, engine size and alcohol, and keep a copy of the policy on your phone. Insurers are reported to look closely at licence details after an accident, so this check is worth doing before the trip.

What are the rules for riders and passengers?

Our sources describe the rules for the rider. For a passenger, ask the operator.

Local sources report these points for a rider:

• Carry the original home licence and the permit while riding, and a copy of both. A photocopy or a phone photo is reported as not accepted instead of the original.
• Police checkpoints are reported as common on Phu Quoc’s coastal road.
• Licence offences can lead to the bike being impounded. Helmet offences are reported as not grounds for impounding.
• A visitor riding on a foreign permit has no licence points to lose, and the sanction is reported as suspension of the right to drive.

One serious violation can end the riding part of a holiday on day two. If you are not sure that your licence is valid, choose a tour with a driver.

What to do next

If you want to choose between two wheels and four, read Motorbike or Car Tour of North Phu Quoc. If you do not want to ride, see Phu Quoc Countryside Without a Motorbike Tour. If a pickup does not turn up, read Phu Quoc Tour Pickup Did Not Arrive: What to Do.

Message us on WhatsApp and we will confirm the current rule and the price in the chat before you pay. Tell us what licence and permit you hold, and which category is printed on it, so we can suggest a tour that fits.