- Driving licence
- Not required for a compliant moped
- Minimum age
- 16 years
- Road-speed limit
- 40 km/h
The short answer
Vietnam exempts moped riders from the driving-licence requirement.
Law No. 36/2024/QH15, in force since 1 January 2025, expressly treats moped drivers separately from licensed drivers. Articles 56 and 59 allow a person aged 16 or over to operate a moped without a driving licence, provided the rider meets the age and health conditions and understands the traffic rules and how to control the vehicle.
That does not make every small scooter licence-free. The vehicle must satisfy the law's complete moped definition, and the rider remains subject to the rest of Vietnam's road-safety rules.
The complete vehicle test
Up to 50 cc and no more than 50 km/h by design.
Article 34 defines a moped as a two- or three-wheeled road vehicle with a design speed no higher than 50 km/h. For a combustion engine, capacity must not exceed 50 cm³; for an electric motor, power must not exceed 4 kW.
A seller's 50cc sticker is not proof of the whole definition. A modified or de-restricted machine can fall outside the category even if its engine remains 50 cc, so the registration and manufacturer specification matter at handover.
- Maximum 50 cm³ for a combustion engine
- Maximum 4 kW for an electric motor
- Maximum 50 km/h design speed
- No de-restricted or performance-modified vehicle
Rules that still apply
Licence-free does not mean rule-free.
Article 33 requires both the rider and passenger on a moped to wear an approved helmet and fasten the chin strap. The Ministry of Public Security's January 2026 guidance says a 50cc moped rider must carry the vehicle registration and a valid compulsory civil-liability insurance certificate for the vehicle owner.
Circular No. 38/2024/TT-BGTVT sets a maximum operating speed of 40 km/h for mopeds on ordinary roads. A lower posted limit still wins, and mopeds do not belong on expressways.
- Rider aged 16 or over and fit to ride
- Approved helmet correctly fastened
- Registration and compulsory owner insurance carried
- 40 km/h maximum road speed
Insurance is separate
Mandatory vehicle cover and personal travel cover are different layers.
The moped must carry valid compulsory civil-liability insurance for its owner. That local vehicle policy is not a substitute for the rider's own medical, travel or evacuation cover.
Travel and medical insurers write their own activity exclusions. Some policies distinguish mopeds from motorcycles; others exclude all powered two-wheelers or require named protective equipment and experience even where local law requires no licence.
Ask for written confirmation that a rented 50cc moped in Vietnam is covered, including medical treatment, third-party liability and evacuation. Rental availability is not an insurance decision.
At the handover
Confirm the exact scooter, not only the category card.
The Licence-Free 50 request reaches partners carrying the moped category, and the accepting garage names the actual model. Check the engine capacity and vehicle documents before taking the keys, reject unclear or modified hardware, and photograph the scooter's condition.
If the confirmed machine is above 50 cc or its design speed is above 50 km/h, the no-licence exception described here does not apply. Contact support instead of relying on a verbal assurance.
Useful questions
Answers before the request.
Is a 50cc scooter licence-free for foreign visitors too?+
The moped exception in Law No. 36/2024/QH15 is written around the vehicle and driver conditions, not a nationality list. A foreign visitor must still be at least 16, fit and able to control the moped, and comply with all other rules.
Can I ride a 50cc scooter at 50 km/h?+
No. Fifty kilometres per hour is the maximum design speed within the moped definition; Circular No. 38/2024/TT-BGTVT sets the maximum operating speed on the road at 40 km/h.
Can a 50cc scooter be modified to go faster?+
Do not use a de-restricted scooter for this exception. If its design specification no longer stays at or below 50 km/h, it does not meet the moped test relied on by the Licence-Free category.
Do I still need a helmet?+
Yes. Vietnam's road traffic law requires the rider and passenger on a moped to wear an approved helmet and fasten the chin strap.
Which documents should I carry on the 50cc scooter?+
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security says a 50cc moped rider must carry the vehicle registration and valid compulsory civil-liability insurance certificate for the vehicle owner.
Does my travel insurance automatically cover it?+
No. Ask your insurer for written confirmation for a rented powered two-wheeler in Vietnam, even when local law does not require a driving licence.
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