Traffic fines in Vietnam are administrative penalties set by government decree, and they were raised substantially from the start of 2025, together with a new road traffic safety law that introduced a points system for driving licences. For foreigners the costliest problems are usually not speeding or a missed signal but riding without a licence that is valid in Vietnam, and driving after any amount of alcohol. Fines can be issued on the spot after a stop or later from camera footage, and must be paid through official channels against a receipt.
This guide explains how traffic enforcement works in practice, what matters most for foreign drivers and riders, how camera fines reach you when you use a rented vehicle, what happens when a vehicle or licence is held, and how to pay or contest a fine. It does not list fine amounts, because they depend on the vehicle type and the violation and are revised from time to time; check the current figures on the official public service portal or with the traffic police unit involved.
How traffic enforcement works in Vietnam
Road traffic offences are mostly handled as administrative violations, not crimes. Traffic police, and in some situations commune or ward police, stop vehicles, record the violation in a written record and, for most offences, issue a decision imposing a fine and sometimes additional measures such as suspending the use of a licence or temporarily holding the vehicle. Only serious incidents, typically those causing death, serious injury or major damage, move into criminal law.
Enforcement combines roadside stops with cameras. Fixed and mobile cameras on major roads and in cities capture violations such as running red lights, speeding or riding in the wrong lane, and the authorities later trace the vehicle owner from the registration. This is often called a camera fine or delayed fine, and it has become the main way many foreigners discover they have broken a rule weeks after the event.
The legal framework changed significantly at the beginning of 2025. A new Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety took effect, splitting road rules from road infrastructure, and a new decree on traffic penalties raised many fines several times over, especially for alcohol, red-light and dangerous driving offences. The same law introduced a points system: a Vietnamese driving licence carries a stock of points that are deducted for violations and can be restored after a period without further deductions. Older articles and expat forum posts written before 2025 are therefore unreliable on amounts and consequences.
The violations that hurt foreigners most
Riding or driving without a valid licence. Many visitors ride motorbikes on a home licence that is not recognised in Vietnam. Vietnam recognises international driving permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, within their validity and the category shown; a permit issued under other arrangements may not be accepted. Long-term residents generally need a Vietnamese licence, often obtained by converting a foreign one. Riding without a valid licence carries a fine and can also void travel or health insurance in an accident.
Alcohol at any level. Vietnam applies a zero-tolerance rule: drivers of motor vehicles must have no alcohol in their blood or breath. Penalties rise steeply with the measured level and include long licence suspensions and temporary holding of the vehicle. Refusing a test is itself treated as a serious violation.
Helmets, lights and phones. Riding without a properly fastened helmet, carrying a passenger without one, riding at night without lights and using a phone while riding are among the most frequently fined behaviours and are easy to avoid.
Wrong lane, wrong way and red lights. Lane rules in cities can be confusing, but cameras now capture these violations systematically. Riding against the traffic flow and crossing on red attract much higher penalties than before 2025.
Vehicle papers. You should carry the vehicle registration certificate, or the legally accepted substitute where a vehicle is financed, and valid compulsory civil liability insurance. With rentals, ask the owner for these before riding away.
Camera fines when you use a rented vehicle
Camera fines are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, not to the person who was riding. When you rent a car or motorbike, that turns a traffic matter into a contract matter between you and the owner.
- Before renting, ask how the owner handles camera fines that arrive after the rental, and get the answer in writing in the rental agreement or a message.
- Record the time you collected and returned the vehicle, with photos showing the date, so that a fine for a date outside your rental cannot be attributed to you.
- If the owner says a camera fine arrived for your rental period, ask to see the official notice or the lookup result showing the time, place and violation before paying anything.
- Pay through the official procedure, or let the owner pay and reimburse them against a copy of the official receipt, rather than paying an unexplained cash amount.
- Be aware that an unpaid camera fine can stop the owner from completing procedures such as vehicle inspection, so owners take them seriously and may hold a deposit to cover them.
- If you leave Vietnam and a fine appears later, the owner's claim against you is civil; there is no automatic mechanism that follows a foreign rider home, but leaving disputes unresolved is unwise if you plan to return.
Owners and riders can check camera fines through the traffic police lookup services and the national public service portal using the plate number. Checking at the end of your rental period, and again a few weeks later, avoids surprises.
Licence suspension and holding the vehicle
For more serious violations, penalties go beyond money. The authority can suspend the use of a driving licence for a period, or deduct points from a Vietnamese licence under the points system. For some violations, including many alcohol offences and riding without a licence, the vehicle may be temporarily held while the case is handled, which in practice means it is taken to an impound lot.
If a vehicle is held, you will receive a record stating why and where it is kept. Getting it back usually requires paying the fine, presenting the vehicle papers and, for a rented vehicle, involving the owner, since the vehicle is registered in their name. Storage costs can accumulate, and owners of rented vehicles will expect you to cover the fine, the storage and any loss of rental income. Discuss this openly with the owner rather than leaving the vehicle in the lot.
When a foreign licence or international permit is held or suspended, the effect is limited to driving in Vietnam. Ask the officer to explain how and when you can recover it, and keep the record safe. If you plan to leave the country before the suspension ends, ask how the licence will be returned, because a paper left behind at a police station is difficult to retrieve from abroad.
How to pay a traffic fine properly
Paying correctly matters because only an official payment closes the matter. The usual channels are summarised below; availability varies by locality.
| Channel | How it works | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| On the spot, small fines | For minor violations the officer may collect the fine and issue an official receipt immediately. | The official receipt showing the amount and the issuing unit. |
| State treasury or authorised bank | Pay the amount in the decision at a treasury office or a bank that collects fines. | The bank or treasury receipt and a copy of the decision. |
| National public service portal | Look up the decision and pay online, then collect returned papers if any were held. | The electronic receipt and confirmation of payment. |
| Postal or online services offered by the unit | Some units allow papers held to be returned by post after online payment. | Payment proof and the postal tracking reference. |
Each decision states a deadline for payment, and late payment adds a surcharge for every day of delay. If you intend to contest the fine, do so through a complaint or a lawsuit rather than simply not paying, because an unpaid fine can lead to enforcement measures and, for foreigners, can be among the grounds for a temporary suspension of exit.
After an accident
An accident changes the picture. Stop, help injured people and call emergency services, keep the scene as it is if it is safe to do so, and wait for the traffic police. Leaving the scene of an accident in which someone is hurt is a serious offence and is treated far more severely than the accident itself.
It is common for the parties to try to settle on the spot with a cash payment. A voluntary agreement on compensation is lawful, but pressure from a crowd is not a basis for a fair settlement, and a payment made without any written record can be followed by further claims. If anyone is seriously injured, the police will investigate regardless of any private settlement, and criminal liability may arise depending on fault and consequences.
Inform your insurer as soon as possible and ask what documents they need, which usually include the police record of the accident. If you are injured, keep every medical record and receipt. If the other party claims compensation from you, or you from them, write down the agreement, the amount and the reason, and have both sides sign. For anything beyond minor damage, take legal advice before signing a settlement.
When you need a Vietnamese lawyer
Most ordinary traffic fines do not justify a lawyer; paying through official channels or filing a simple complaint is usually proportionate. You do need a Vietnamese lawyer when an accident causes injury or death, when you are told you may face criminal liability, when the police keep your passport, when a large compensation claim is made against you, or when a vehicle you rented is held and the owner demands an amount you think is unreasonable.
A lawyer can attend police sessions after an accident, review the accident record and the evidence of fault, negotiate a written compensation agreement and make sure it actually ends the civil claim, and explain how a settlement interacts with any criminal proceedings. In cases involving death or serious injury, early legal advice is important, because statements given in the first days carry heavy weight later.
If you are a long-term resident whose licence is suspended or whose residence status could be affected by a conviction, a lawyer can also explain the knock-on effects. For a quick orientation before choosing someone, you can describe the facts to a lawyer on AI Co Van, then decide whether to engage a local lawyer in the province where the accident occurred.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners ride a motorbike in Vietnam with a home driving licence?
Generally not on a home licence alone. Vietnam recognises international driving permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention within their category and validity, and long-term residents usually need a Vietnamese licence. Riding without a valid licence is fined and can void insurance.
How do camera traffic fines work in Vietnam?
Cameras record the violation and the authorities notify the registered owner of the vehicle. With a rented vehicle, the owner receives the notice and will usually ask the rider to pay. Ask to see the official lookup or notice before paying.
Is any alcohol allowed when driving in Vietnam?
No. Vietnam applies zero tolerance for alcohol to drivers of motor vehicles, including motorbikes. Penalties rise with the measured level and can include long licence suspensions and temporary holding of the vehicle. Refusing a test is also penalised.
Can I pay a traffic fine online in Vietnam?
In many cases, yes. Fines can be paid through the national public service portal, at the state treasury or an authorised bank, and small fines may be paid on the spot against an official receipt. Keep proof of payment.
What happens if I do not pay a traffic fine in Vietnam?
A surcharge accrues for late payment, and unpaid fines can lead to enforcement measures. For foreigners, an unpaid administrative fine can also be among the grounds for suspending exit from Vietnam, so resolve it before travelling.
Should I pay cash to settle an accident on the spot?
A voluntary compensation agreement is lawful, but make it in writing and signed by both sides. If anyone is seriously injured, police will investigate regardless, so take legal advice before paying significant sums under pressure.