Does Sixt require an IDP in Vietnam?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Vietnam: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
Vietnam drives on the right and now accepts the 1968 Vienna IDP; tourists should carry one with their national licence.
In Vietnam specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Vietnam ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Desks request a 1968 Vienna IDP; older 1949 permits are not accepted.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Vietnam desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Vietnam drives on the right, uses the VND, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Sixt counter in Vietnam
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the VND deposit; Vietnam drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Vietnam Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right amid dense scooter traffic.
- Helmets mandatory for all motorbike riders.
- 0.0% alcohol tolerance.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in Vietnam
Expressways use BOT toll stations; cars pay roughly VND 150,000-200,000 (about USD 6-8) per 100km, and the three e-tag providers (VETC, ePass, VietMap) are now interoperable nationwide, though many booths still take cash. A rental car should ideally have an e-tag fitted, as some expressway lanes are becoming barrier-free electronic-only.
In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City use guarded paid lots (gui xe) at hotels, malls and street attendants who issue a ticket for a small fee; do not leave a car unattended on the street. Pavement and red-curb parking is routinely ticketed or clamped in the central districts.
2025-2026 reforms raised fines sharply: phone use while driving is now VND 4-6 million, and extreme/reckless driving can reach VND 50 million (about USD 1,900); alcohol limit is effectively zero. Police can fine on the spot, and rental firms pass camera (phat nguoi) fines back to the renter's card.
Stop immediately, do not move the vehicles, and call police on 113 (ambulance 115); leaving the scene of an injury crash is a serious offence. Wait for police to produce a report for your insurer/rental firm, and expect to be detained until fault is settled, especially in injury cases.
Full driving guide for Vietnam →