A properly issued Korean International Driving Permit is recognized in Vietnam. The bilateral agreement on mutual recognition of international driving permits took effect on July 23, 2023 and covers Korea’s Geneva Convention-format IDP.

A Korean English-language driver’s licence card is not a substitute. The agreement also requires the IDP to be presented with the corresponding Korean domestic driver’s licence. Carry the passport as well so identity and the Vietnam entry date can be established.

Pre-trip decision path: verify the official IDP → pack it with the Korean licence and passport → compare expiry and entry dates → check class B for a car or class A for a motorcycle → verify rental and insurance terms separately.

This guide was checked on September 20, 2026 against the treaty text, Korean National Police Agency and Korean Embassy notices, and the Korea Road Traffic Authority’s current Vietnam-specific guidance.

What changed

Korea and Vietnam signed the agreement on June 23, 2023. It entered into force 30 days later, on July 23, 2023, and is published by Korea’s National Law Information Center as Treaty No. 969.

The agreement allows a Korean national holding a valid Korean-issued IDP to drive the authorized vehicle class in Vietnam for a non-commercial purpose. The agreement is of indefinite duration, but either government can terminate it through diplomatic notice, so current guidance should still be rechecked close to departure.

An English-language Korean licence is not the IDP

The Korean Embassy in Vietnam expressly says the arrangement applies to an international driving permit, not the English-language Korean driver’s licence.

  • English-language Korean licence: a Korean plastic licence displaying information in English
  • International Driving Permit: a separate paper booklet issued by an authorized agency

Private products labelled International Driving License are not equivalent to the official International Driving Permit. The Korea Road Traffic Authority warns against permits from unofficial issuers.

Documents to carry while driving

AI-generated travel-document scene illustrating the IDP, Korean licence and passport checklist

Article 2 of the agreement makes recognition conditional on presenting the valid IDP together with the corresponding domestic driver’s licence. The Korea Road Traffic Authority advises travelers to carry three documents:

  1. a valid Korean-issued International Driving Permit;
  2. the corresponding original Korean driver’s licence; and
  3. a passport.

Check that the English spelling of the name on the IDP matches the passport. The Authority also advises keeping the signatures on the IDP and passport consistent because national operating practices can vary.

Two clocks limit the driving period

A Korean IDP is generally valid for one year from issue. The bilateral agreement allows driving for up to one year from entry into Vietnam, but only while the IDP and corresponding Korean licence remain valid.

The practical end date is therefore the earliest of:

  • the IDP expiry date;
  • one year after entry into Vietnam; or
  • the end of the corresponding Korean licence’s validity.

The entry-based limit does not revive an expired permit.

A passenger car and a motorcycle require different classes

AI-generated image illustrating the distinction between passenger-car and motorcycle permit classes in Vietnam

The Korea Road Traffic Authority’s Vietnam-specific guidance applies the classes as follows:

  • Korean IDP class A: may drive the corresponding Vietnamese class A vehicles;
  • Korean IDP classes B, C, D or E: may drive only Vietnamese class B vehicles.

Vietnamese class B in this agreement includes passenger vehicles with no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver and goods vehicles with a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 3,500 kg. A Korean C, D or E entry does not extend recognition to heavy trucks, buses or heavy trailers in Vietnam.

For a motorcycle, verify that class A is actually authorized on the IDP. A rental business handing over a motorcycle does not prove legal driving entitlement or insurance coverage.

Is a Vietnamese translation or notarization mandatory?

The treaty text makes recognition conditional on a valid IDP being presented with the corresponding domestic licence. The reviewed Embassy and Korea Road Traffic Authority guidance does not list a Vietnamese translation or notarization as an additional treaty-validity requirement.

The reviewed official material therefore does not support a blanket claim that local translation or notarization is always legally required for a valid official IDP. A rental company or insurer may still request extra documents for its contract, deposit or claims process. Those private requirements are separate from recognition under the agreement.

Legal recognition is not rental or insurance approval

A valid IDP does not automatically guarantee:

  • acceptance by a particular rental company;
  • compliance with its minimum-age or driving-experience rules;
  • authority for the exact vehicle being rented;
  • insurance or damage-waiver coverage; or
  • immunity from Vietnamese traffic law.

Article 3 requires drivers to follow Vietnamese domestic law. Review the rental agreement and insurance terms, and do not drive a vehicle outside the class authorized on the permit even if a business is willing to rent it.

Pre-departure checklist

  1. Confirm that the document is an official Korean International Driving Permit.
  2. Compare the names on the IDP, Korean licence and passport.
  3. Check the expiry dates of both the IDP and Korean licence.
  4. Calculate the maximum period from the Vietnam entry date.
  5. Verify class B for a passenger car and class A for a motorcycle.
  6. Check the rental company’s age, experience, deposit and insurance conditions.
  7. Recheck current Embassy and Korea Road Traffic Authority guidance before departure.

A concise Korean search-answer edition is published separately on the Life Mokcha Naver Blog.

About the Author

Life Mokcha’s editor, “Mokcha Keeper,” separates treaty recognition, government guidance and private rental-contract conditions. Licence recognition and rental or insurance approval are different decisions, so travelers should recheck both official guidance and the contract close to departure.

References