Documents for Self-Drive Car Rental in Vietnam

Discovering a missing document at the rental counter is the quickest way to lose half of your first day.

Preparing the right documents makes self-drive rental quick and calm. This checklist summarises what rental guides commonly list and the questions worth asking before you book.

Photo: Arrivals hall at Tan Son Nhat airport by WiNG, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Foreign visitors

Rental guides commonly list a passport valid for at least 6 months, a valid IDP from a 1968 Vienna Convention country and, with some operators, a Vietnamese guarantor. Some operators also ask to see your visa or entry stamp and home licence at pickup.

Vietnamese renters

Operators generally ask for a valid driving licence and an identity document. Requirements vary by company, so request the list before booking. For rentals in Ho Chi Minh City, see self-drive car rental.

Tip from Car Rental Vietnam: Send copies of your documents to the rental company in advance so they can check them; at pickup they only need to see the originals.

Questions to ask

• How much is the deposit and how is it returned?
• What insurance cover and excess apply?
• What are the mileage limit and late-return terms?
• Who handles tolls and notices? See notices and rental cars.

If your documents are not ready, a chauffeured car lets you focus on the trip.

Frequently asked questions

How long must a passport be valid?

Guides list at least 6 months.

Do requirements vary?

Yes, by company.

What is the alternative?

A chauffeured car.

Keep copies ready

Keep photos of your passport, licence and the rental contract on your phone, and the originals in the car when driving.

Check your licence is valid for the car category.

See expressway checklist and new arrivals.

Quick answers

Foreign licence ok? Check the rules for your licence.

Deposit? Set in the contract.