Riding Scooters in Vietnam (and Staying Insured)

dekkar on 19/04/2017 - 09:43

Hi all, I'm travelling to Vietnam in a few months, and have received mixed advice in regards to riding scooters legally.

I've ridden in Thailand and other parts of Asia, so I know how crazy it can get, but at the same time, I want to be covered with my insurance.

I have been told that you need an international license by some people, and other say that this doesn't cover you over there, they only accept the local license.

Has anyone had some first hand (recent) experience with this?

(I do have my Aus motorcycle license)

Thanks,
Dekkar

Travel

Comments

  • AmpeD on 19/04/2017 - 09:50
    +1

    read your PDF insurance policy of company of choice. Done

    • dekkar on 19/04/2017 - 09:52

      They require you to be riding legally in whichever country you ride in. Which is usually pretty straight forward, however Vietnam its a bit hazy as to what is legal, and what isn't.

      If anything does happen, I know that the Insurance group will do anything in their power to NOT pay out, so I want to try and make sure I'm riding legally over there.

      • AmpeD on 19/04/2017 - 10:16

        If you spent the time to read Product Disclosure Statement of your company you will find them specifically stating what the will and wont cover in regards to motorcycle riding in another country. Many times it is above a certain cc rating you must have a licence in australia below a cc rating you are not required to have a aus licence but have a licence in that country.

        You would be better off having motorcycle licence in aus and getting your international licence with the RE on it.

        As I said before why not read the PDS of different companies and select the one that best suits you. Or at least call them instead of asking people on a website?

        • dekkar on 19/04/2017 - 10:28
          +1

          I've read multiple PDSs' and all of them that cover motorcycle riding have one particular clause; you can't be doing anything illegal.

          For anyone else in future, I just found out that our International drivers permit (issued from NRMA or similar for other states) currently isn't valid in Vietnam. The government over there recently started accepting International permits, but the permit given out in Aus is the wrong international standard.

          So the advice below applies if you want to be legally riding.

        • backpaqer on 23/04/2017 - 14:11

          @dekkar: I've been to Vietnam - everything is legal over there if you "had" enough Dong in your pocket :P

  • SydStrand on 19/04/2017 - 10:10
    +1

    Unless you have an international bike license which is extremely difficult and time-consuming to obtain, you are not riding legally (and it still might be). I heard you can convert a ful licenses to Vietnamese one but it depends on the length of your visa. You can get pulled over and they won't acknowledge your Aussie license, so have a bribe ready. That said, between all of Hanoi and Saigon I saw exactly two traffic cops pulling drivers over, so you probably won't be bothered.

    Your insurance will not cover you. If you stack it and wind up in a hospital, say you tripped because you won't get a payout if the insurance company find out it was on a bike you shouldn't have been on. That's just how it is. I had a great time with only a minor accident. But be smart, Vietnam is not Thailand. Less developed, fewer stops and the roads in rural Vietnam make Thailand look like the M3.

  • railspider on 19/04/2017 - 10:12
    +1

    From memory you need a locally issued licence, which some motorbike rental or visa shops can help you apply for. But you also need a 3-month or longer visa to be eligible for the local licence.

    Of course most tourists don't bother with this, ride unlicensed, and pay bribes if they're caught out. But if you want your insurance to cover you, you'll need that Viet-issued card.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 19/04/2017 - 10:13
    +4

    I assume you want the real answer and not advice? From the Australian Embassy in Vietnam themselves: http://vietnam.embassy.gov.au/hnoi/Driving_in_Vietnam.html Insurance conditions are still dependent on your provider.

    Driving in Vietnam
    Vietnamese driving licences are mandatory for all drivers of motor vehicles as well as for riders of motorcycles with a capacity of over 50cc. Non-Vietnamese citizens are only permitted to drive in Vietnam if they hold a temporary Vietnamese driver's licence.

    Converting an Australian driving licence into a Vietnamese driving licence

    To convert an Australian driving licence into a temporary Vietnamese driver's licence, the applicant must hold a valid Vietnamese residence permit of at least three month's validity.

    In Hanoi, applications for temporary driver's licences should be directed to the Hanoi Urban Transport Management and Operation Centre, 16 Cao Ba Quat street, telephone (04) 3747 0029, fax (04) 3747 0024, website address: http://tramoc.com.vn/index.php?newlang=english

    In Ho Chi Minh City, applications should be directed to the following addresses (http://sgtvt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/huongdanthutuchanhchinh/Li…):

    252 Ly Chinh Thanh, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
    8 Nguyen Anh Thu, Trung My Tay ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City
    111 Tan Son Nhi, Tan Son Nhi ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City
    04-06 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Linh Xuan ward, Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh City.
    In provincial areas, travellers should consult local police authorities to determine what action is required to obtain a temporary driving licence in the province where the applicant resides.

    Applying for a Vietnamese driving licence

    To apply for a Vietnamese driving licence (either to driver a motor vehicle or a motorbike) in Hanoi, the applicant should contact the Research and Training Centre – Department of Transportation of Hanoi, 01 Quoc Tu Giam street, telephone (04) 3732 1283 or (04) 3733 4681, website address (in Vietnamese only): http://hosolaixe.vn/

    In Ho Chi Minh City, applications should visit the website below for a list of addresses that they can direct their application to: http://sgtvt.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/gioithieu/thongtingioithie…

  • dekkar on 19/04/2017 - 10:20

    Thanks all for the replies, it looks like it will be a real struggle to get licensed. @peterpeterpumpkin I'm always open to advice, especially from someone who has been there done that! Please, if you have any, I'd be keen to hear!!

  • AmpeD on 19/04/2017 - 10:37

    Im leaving in two weeks. With no Aus motocycle licence on a learners. My PDS says this

    Exclusions
    Any claim arising from the use of a two-wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicle unless you;
    a. as the driver or a passenger are wearing a crash helmet (this is irrespective of the law in the country you are in),
    and
    b. as the driver:
    (i) hold a driving licence appropriate for the country you are in, and
    (ii) if using a motorcycle rated 125cc or higher, you hold a current and valid license required for driving an
    equivalent rated motorcycle in Australia.

    Now, I am will not ride anything over 125cc and claim with this. My friend had a accident in Malaysia and got paid out with out a licence in Aus.
    You must remember the fastest road in Vietnam is highway one which is 60kmph and you would be doing 30-40.

    • hellbound on 19/04/2017 - 14:32

      So you don't meet either of the required criteria i and ii and still think you're covered?

      As Peter says above, it's not feasible to get the required Vietnamese license as a tourist, and no aussie insurance will cover you if you have an accident.

      I rode motorbikes in Vietnam last year, and was well aware that I would not be covered in the event of an accident.
      Highways are very lax on speed, we were usually doing 80-90kph to keep up with traffic flow out there.

      • AmpeD on 19/04/2017 - 14:50

        yes this is correct I will be accepting the risk. And just play the under 125cc card. Man you have to live life to the fullest!

        • hellbound on 19/04/2017 - 15:08

          Why stick under 125cc when you're not covered regardless, may as well go big and get something more exciting!

        • AmpeD on 19/04/2017 - 15:38

          @hellbound:

          Its vietnam nothing over 175cc and I dont want to stand out

  • rambutann on 19/04/2017 - 12:45
    +2

    I recently went to Vietnam for over a month. I too have a motorcycle licence but I did not ride over there because it is impossible for a foreigner to legally ride on a regular visa. If you're on a particular multi month visa you can get a local licence otherwise its not possible.

    Foreigners rarely ever get pulled over by police - but as you said, insurance does not cover you in the event that things go pear shaped.

    There has been discussions of them accepting international drivers permits but I am unsure whether or not that has come into effect yet.

    You can however legally ride a 50cc I believe.. But its impossible to get a rental 50cc…

    Once its legal I will be going back to ride around the whole country.

  • supnigs super skids on 19/04/2017 - 13:59

    Ride a push bike or e bike and eat pho

  • WT on 20/04/2017 - 12:44

    I would youtube some vids on riding in Vietnam. If you are rural I would consider it- maybe. there is no way in hell I would ride or even drive in a city. Their shit is a mess and they have their own local codes which doesnt make sense to us.

  • backpaqer on 23/04/2017 - 14:16

    though it's worth noting..http://motorbiketours-hoian.com/tours/ say that you must have a valid motorbike license and be over 18 to ride a motorbike otherwise you must ride as a pillion.

    Well…they accepted my motorbike license as acceptable and I got to ride with my daughter riding pillion behind me.

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