Private Car with Driver in Vietnam: What the Price Includes

By the Car Rental Vietnam editorial team · Compiled from official sources and Vietnamese press · Updated: October 2026

The price of a private car with driver in Vietnam is driven by distance and route, vehicle size, whether the trip is one-way or a round trip, and how many hours the driver works for you. Car Rental Vietnam's online quotes already include the driver's wage and road tolls. Everything else, from fuel and overtime to the driver's overnight costs, parking, holiday surcharges and VAT invoices, is worth confirming in writing before you travel.

Traveller reviewing a written quote for a private car with driver in Vietnam

How private-car pricing works

Distance and route: actual kilometres, expressway or national road, mountain passes and any stops on the way.
Vehicle type: a 4-seater, 7-seater, 16-seater van, limousine van or coach each cost differently to run.
One-way or round trip: on a one-way intercity run the car usually drives back empty, so part of that return leg is often built into the price. On a same-day round trip, the driver waits for you at the destination.
Point-to-point or a package: airport runs and intercity transfers are priced per trip; sightseeing days are usually half-day or full-day packages with an hour and kilometre allowance.

For reference figures, see our price list and the overview of car rental with driver in Vietnam. If you only need to get from A to B, read how one-way intercity rental works. This guide covers cars with a driver; Car Rental Vietnam also offers self-drive rental, which has its own paperwork and pricing.

What is usually included, and what may be extra

Item	Typical treatment	What to ask
Driver's wage	Included in Car Rental Vietnam quotes	How many working hours the price covers
Road and expressway tolls	Included in Car Rental Vietnam quotes	Whether a route change is re-quoted
Fuel	Usually part of an all-inclusive price	Get it confirmed in writing, especially for day packages
Overtime or extra kilometres	Charged beyond the agreed allowance	How it is calculated and who logs the finish time
Driver's overnight costs	Applies on multi-day trips	Overnight allowance, and who books and pays the driver's room
Waiting time	May be charged by actual waiting time	Whether any waiting is free, and from when
Parking and entry fees	Depends on the site	Paid by you on the day or included
Night, weekend or holiday surcharge	May apply	Which hours and dates
VAT invoice	Prices shown on our website exclude VAT	The price after VAT and the details needed for the invoice
Detours and extra stops	Charged by extra time or distance	Ask for an add-on quote before the day

The FAQ on our homepage states that displayed prices include road tolls, trip insurance and the driver's wage, but exclude VAT and off-plan costs such as route changes, extra stops or waiting beyond what was agreed. Our staff confirm the final price once they have your request, so keep that written quote.

How long can a driver drive?

Article 64 of Vietnam's Road Traffic Order and Safety Law, as amended by Law 118/2025/QH15 from 1 July 2026, says commercial drivers must not drive continuously for more than four hours, except in cases of force majeure or objective obstacles. Daily and weekly working time follows the Labour Code, under which normal working hours are capped at eight hours a day (ten if the employer schedules by the week) and 48 hours a week. The earlier "ten hours of driving per day" line was removed.

For you, that means long days need planned breaks, and a very long single-day itinerary may trigger overtime or work better split over two days. A one-day Ho Chi Minh City – Da Lat round trip, about 640 km on our price list, is a good example. Our guide to expressway rest stops helps you plan the pauses.

How to book, step by step

Share the trip: pickup and drop-off points, dates and times, adults and children, large suitcases and planned stops.
Pick a vehicle: by people and luggage, not seats alone. See how to choose a car size for your group.
Get a written quote: it should list what is included and excluded.
Lock the schedule: pickup time, breaks on long legs and expected finish time each day.
Pay the deposit: as instructed by our staff, and keep the receipt. Confirm which payment method applies to your booking rather than assuming the driver can take a card.
Receive driver details: name, phone number and plate before the day.
Update in writing: any change of time, stops or passengers gets a fresh confirmation.

Expressway trips

Tolled expressways in Vietnam use electronic toll collection (ETC). With a chauffeured car, the toll account belongs to the vehicle and tolls are already in the quote, so you only need to agree breaks, lunch and whether the driver may leave the expressway for a sightseeing stop. More in our ETC guide for renters.

Sample plan: Ho Chi Minh City – Vung Tau, 2 days, 1 night

Our price list counts a two-day Vung Tau trip as about 250 km. Agree these points before you book:

Day 1: pickup time, a mid-route break, afternoon stops and when the driver's day ends.
Evening: where the driver sleeps and who covers the overnight allowance and room.
Day 2: hotel pickup time, lunch stop, departure time and drop-off address.
Throughout: how extra stops outside the plan are charged.

Language, meals and tipping

Drivers may speak limited English, so send your itinerary on WhatsApp or Zalo with addresses written out. On full-day trips some groups invite the driver to eat with them, while others let the driver eat separately while waiting; there is no rule, so just ask. Tipping is optional and never required.

Car Rental Vietnam tip: Send your plan as a timed list (pickup, stops, return) in your first message. A quote based on a real schedule is far closer to the final bill than an answer to "how much to Vung Tau?".

Checklist before you confirm

Vehicle type, seats, dates, times and route.
Included: driver's wage, tolls, fuel; whether trip insurance is covered.
Excluded: parking, entry fees, night or holiday surcharges, VAT.
Hour and kilometre allowance, and the overtime rule.
Driver's overnight costs on multi-day trips.
Cancellation and date-change terms, and what happens if the car breaks down.
Deposit receipt and a contact number for the travel day.

Common mistakes

Booking a car that exactly fits the headcount and forgetting the suitcases.
Comparing quotes on different terms, one with tolls and VAT, one without.
Planning a day so long that it ignores the driver's rest time.
Agreeing surcharges by voice only.
Not asking about cancellation until plans change.

Peak seasons

Demand peaks around Tet (Lunar New Year), the 30 April – 1 May holiday, 2 September and the summer school break, when holiday surcharges may apply. Book early and ask which dates carry a surcharge. In the south, the rainy season (roughly May to November) can also lengthen journeys.

Frequently asked questions

Are tolls included in the price of a car with driver?

Yes, Car Rental Vietnam's quotes include the driver's wage and road tolls, but not VAT. Ask for items such as parking or holiday surcharges to be stated in your written quote before you confirm.

Who pays for the driver's meals and room on a multi-day trip?

Multi-day trips usually carry an overnight allowance and accommodation for the driver. Ask whether this is included or paid separately before you book.

How many hours can a driver drive in Vietnam?

Since 1 July 2026, commercial drivers may not drive continuously for more than four hours except in force majeure situations, and daily and weekly working time follows the Labour Code.

Is one-way cheaper than a round trip?

Not always, because the car usually returns empty and part of that leg is priced in. Ask for both options and compare.

Do I have to tip the driver?

No. Tipping is optional and up to you.

Want a quote for your exact plan? Call +84 967 914 574 or message us on WhatsApp or Zalo with pickup point, dates, group size and bags, or see car rental with driver.

Main sources: Vietnam Government portal (Law 118/2025/QH15 and the consolidated Road Traffic Order and Safety Law); Labour Code 2019; Car Rental Vietnam quote data.