Self-drive rental in Vietnam runs on two very different customers: backpackers renting a semi-automatic bike for a few weeks, and Vietnamese families renting a seven-seat car for Tết or a weekend in Đà Lạt. Both are now covered by a new traffic law, Law 36/2024 on Road Traffic Order and Safety, in force since 1 January 2025, and a new personal data law in force since 1 January 2026. Many shop contracts predate both.

This version of our free agreement is built on the current rules. Vietnam is preset in the form; add your details and download.

What the Vietnam version covers

Licences. Law 36/2024 sets the classes: A1 for motorbikes up to 125 cc or 11 kW, A above that, B for cars up to 8 passenger seats. The minimum age is 18. Licences issued before 2025 stay valid for the vehicles printed on them.

Foreign renters and the IDP. Vietnam acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention, and an IDP from a Convention country is valid only together with the matching national licence. Circular 12/2025/TT-BCA says treaty IDPs are used as the treaty provides. So the clause accepts a foreign licence plus a 1968-type IDP, or a converted Vietnamese licence, and warns that permits under other conventions may not be accepted. That matters because some countries issue 1949-type permits. Handing a vehicle to someone not qualified to drive it is itself prohibited, so the agreement says you won't.

Zero alcohol. The same article bans driving with any alcohol in the blood or breath. The agreement repeats it, and breaking it removes insurance protection.

Helmets and passengers. Rider and passenger must wear a national-standard helmet with the strap fastened, with one passenger (two only in listed cases, such as a child under 12).

Seatbelts and child seats. All belted seats need belts worn, and from 1 January 2026 a child under 10 and under 1.35 m must not sit in the driver's row and needs a child safety device. Worth offering child seats as an extra.

Documents to carry. The driver must carry the registration certificate (or a permitted copy), licence, inspection certificate where needed and compulsory insurance certificate (Art. 56). A Vietnam-only clause lists what you hand over and makes the renter return it.

Compulsory insurance. Owner's civil liability insurance under Decree 67/2023 covers third parties and passengers, with limits of VND 150 million per person for injury or death and VND 50 million (motorbikes) or 100 million (cars) for property. It never covers the rented vehicle, which needs voluntary physical damage insurance (bảo hiểm vật chất xe).

Passports and ID. Holding a passport as security is the classic Vietnamese rental habit. It is also illegal: pledging or accepting passports, and unlawfully holding another person's passport, is fined under Decree 282/2025, and the Law on Identification 2023 bans the same for ID cards. The agreement uses a cash deposit (ký cược under the Civil Code, Art. 329) and a photo of the document instead.

Personal data. The Personal Data Protection Law 91/2025 and Decree 356/2025 apply from 2026, with some duties relaxed for household businesses and micro-enterprises. The data clause covers purpose, retention, tracker location data and the renter's consent.

Camera fines. Phạt nguội notices reach the owner weeks later. Provincial guidance says the owner can identify the renter with the contract, ID and licence so the renter is fined. The agreement makes the renter cooperate and repay you if you are fined, and lets you hold part of the deposit for 30 days.

Language and disputes. English and Vietnamese side by side, Vietnamese prevailing, disputes before the competent People's Court.

Common problems it handles

• A northern loop that ends in Hà Giang with a broken bike: the renter must call you before any repair, small emergency repairs up to your limit are refunded, and faults caused by misuse (ignoring a warning light, riding off-road) are the renter's cost. You can also set a permitted area.
• Late returns: under Civil Code Art. 482 the renter bears the risk during a late return, and the agreement says so.
• Scratches and missing mirrors, settled with Annex A photos. See our handover checklist guide.

How to use the builder

1. Vietnam is preset.
2. Add your business, vehicle, daily or monthly rate and deposit. Our deposit guide and starting a scooter rental guide help with numbers.
3. Leave fields blank to write in at handover, then download Word or PDF.

Other countries are on the main free rental agreement page. This is general information from public sources, not legal advice.

Let RoveHQ fill it in for you

RoveHQ fills in the agreement from each booking automatically, the renter signs on their phone, and passport and licence details are read from a photo. Start free.