With a rental car, you can plan your travels through Vietnam as you see fit. You’ll have the opportunity to take a last-minute beach trip; travel down side-roads you otherwise notice; pull over to take holiday snaps and decide for yourself when you need to take a break.

In short, renting a car means complete independence.

Rent a car in  Ho Chi Minh is an amazing way to discover in Vietnam.. Your own set of wheels gives you the freedom to discover the best destinations, in your own time, and without depending on public transport.

But before you sign on the dotted line, there are a few things you should know. Such as, the best place to rent a car in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam, how much it costs and, importantly, Here is a helpful information to rent a car without driver in Vietnam that you need to read before driving in Vietnam.

The freedom to go anywhere you please and enjoy a crazy driving by yourself in Vietnam.

In short, renting a car means complete independence.

Advantages:

You decide where to go
You decide when to leave
You don’t have to carry your luggage from A to B
You can always travel together as a couple, family or group of friends
You feel a sense of adventure that comes with absolute freedom!
You can easily and safely rent a car in Vietnam  so Vietnam Budget Car Rental offers car rental with all the necessary insurances.

There are a few things you need to consider before you rent a car in Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh Vietnam. Driving in Vietnam may be challenging for people unused to driving a car with an automatic transmission. Or to driving on the right side of the road.

You’ll also be required to respond quickly to unexpected occurrences, such as vehicles going against the flow of traffic and dogs + buffallow + motocycles crossing the road.

If you can handle that, we believe that renting a car in Vietnam is well worth the challenge! In this blog post we cover the how, what, when and where of car rental so you can collect those keys with confidence.

Below is a list information for renting a car in Vietnam.

1. Conditions
You must be at least 20 years old and have a category B1 driving license for at least one year before you can rent a car in Vietnam. Certain car rentals set an even higher minimum age limit of 23.

What type of the B1 license driving in Vietnam?

Driver whom is of B1 and B2 driver's licenses are allowed to drive vehicles of 9-seater cars, including seats of drivers, trucks, including specialized trucks with design load of less than 3,500 kg in Vietnam.

You’ll also need the following documents:

Passport

International driver’s license

A credit card registered to the main driver with sufficient funds to cover the deposit and fee
Conditions but there’s usually no mileage limit within 24hrs and only travel inside Vietnam ( not able to drive entry into the Cambodia - Laos - Thailands...).

1.1 International driver’s license

An international driver’s license is simply a translated version of your original driver’s license. Therefore, it is only valid when presented alongside your original category B driver’s license.

So what we need from you are : 1 your original driving & 1 international license.

1.2 Age restrictions

As mentioned, so your age will be from 22 years old till 65 years old.

1.3 Additional driver

Registering an additional driver is practical, as you’ll be able to share the driving and cover more ground. Most car rentals allow you to do this free of charge. Of course, an additional driver must fulfill the same requirements as the main driver and carry an international driver’s license.

Noted: Should an unregistered additional driver have an accident, the insurance company won’t cover any damages. Moral of the story – don’t drive unregistered!

See more: Phu Quoc self car rental all thing you need to know.

2. Rental procedure

The easiest way to rent a car is to apply online. That way, you can see a broad comparison of different companies’ plans, prices, insurances and conditions of rental. You can also choose the type or model or car yourself and arrange a hotel drop-off. 

Book > Confirm > Pay it and Get a car at the airport - hotel location .

2.1 Renting & signing the contract.

Once you’ve signed the contract, you must pay the entire rental price plus the deposit (unless you already did that online). To pay, you must have a credit card in the name of the main driver.

Notes: None payment deposit refund for any cancel for the renting a car - just refund for the car payment deposit.

Next, a staff member will escort you to the car so you can check for any damages. If there is damage, we advise that you take pictures. After that, check the contents of the gas tank and ensure there is a spare wheel. The staff member will tell you anything you need to know about the car before handing over the keys.

Now it’s time to start your adventure in Vietnam and let go now.

2.2 Car rental agencies

In Vietnam, you can not choose between big international rental firms or local rental agencies because rent a car without driver is still a new business tourist and illegal to travel around in Vietnam.

Service can be less professional and rental agency staff don’t always speak good English, making phone calls in case of car breakdown or an accident very challenging.

3. Expenses for renting a car in Vietnam

The cost of a car rental depends on the car model, the rental period and rental rates set by the agency. You must pay the entire rental price and deposit in advance, so double-check your available credit card balance can cover it.

You can rent a five-door, economy car for approximately 89$US per day. Models include the Sedan Toyota Vios or the Suzuki ERTIGA, both of which have automatic gearboxes and space for four to five passengers.

You can rent an SUV for approximately 100$-110$ per day. Models include the Xpander Mitshibishi, Isuzu Mu-X or Toyota Innova. These cars also come with automatic gearboxes and will fit up to seven people.

There’s no limit on the number of miles you’re allowed to drive.

The rental price includes VAT & car insurance but excludes gas, insurance costs, and any additional requirements such as child car seats or GPS-systems.

If you need car seats, reserve them in advance as companies may not store them on the premises.

Notes: The minimum rental period is 24 hours. Make note of the time the car is due to be returned, because if you drop it off late you will be charged for15$/hrs. If you return it off early there is no refund.

3.1 Insurance

Once a rental agreement is signed, we highly recommend that you insure yourself against accidents and damages from home and car rental only included a car insurance.

3.2 Deposit

The deposit is usually between 1,500$US by credit card and will refund within 45days. So this deposit amount will be minus in case of the heavy car accident or any cold report from the police officers.

3.3 Fuel

When you rent a car, the gas tank should be full. You must also return the car with a full tank so you’ll definitely need to refuel at some point. If you do not want to take a full tank then that will be fine.

To fill up the petrol/ gas / top up the petrol/ gas in Vietnam, you don’t have to leave your car. The gas station attendant will ask you how much fuel you need and takes payment in cash after they’ve filled your tank. You may be asked if you would like to have your windshield cleaned during refueling.

For gas = 1$/litter and diesel = 0.9$/litter 

4. Insurance packages

Most rental agencies offer a range of insurance packages, but some may not offer any at all. Renting a car in a foreign country will definitely not be covered by your domestic car insurance. Even most travel insurance packages will only partly cover for damages to rental cars.

In short, you always need a separate car insurance plan which is almost always provided by the car rental agency.

Before signing an insurance document be sure to read through the contents carefully and check how much damage waiver contribution is required.

We would also advise that you take out as much insurance as possible. This means fully covering yourself, the car, passengers and third parties.

4.1 OnlyCDW / Collision Damage Waiver includes

A collision damage waiver covers damage to the car resulting from vandalism or a collision with another vehicle on a public road.

The amount of coverage offered and the cost can differ significantly from vendor to vendor.
SCDW / Super Collision Damage Waiver, this full insurance also covers your damage waiver contribution.

5. Safety

Damage, car breakdown, theft, accident, all of these things could happen to you. And you need to know exactly how to handle it if they do.

As the driver, you need to be prepared for anything. Here are some random hazards you may encounter while negotiating Vietnam traffic:

Oncoming vehicles overtaking at a curve
Motorbikes squeezing their way between traffic
Pedestrians on the open road
Cars overtaking from both sides
Cars that brake suddenly and make a U-turn
Cars going the wrong way in the emergency lane
Dogs crossing the street or sunbathing in the middle of the road
As we’ve already mentioned, in Vietnam, people drive on the right side of the road and all rental cars have an automatic gearbox. This might take some getting used to, but the unfamiliarity can help you stay focused while driving.

5.1 Roadside amenities

Vietnam roads are generally well-maintained. You may encounter dirt roads or small holes here and there, but most roads are smooth and have clear signage.

The roadside lighting, however, isn’t great. Avoid driving after dark (after 6.00 PM) as most roads are either poorly-lit or not lit at all. Moreover, many road users drive without their lights on.

See more : All thing you need to know about the traffic sighs

On most major roads, you’ll have access to large gas stations with restaurants, a coffee shop, a petrol station and clean toilet facilities. Just remember to bring your own toilet paper.

You can even take your rental car to some of the largest and most popular islands via ferries. Tickets are usually bought at the ferry counter on arrival.

5.2 Vietnam traffic rules 

Traffic in Vietnam also follows several unwritten road rules. For example, the largest car usually has right of way. The left lane is used by motorbikes and slow vehicles, and using the emergency lane to park or as an additional lane is pretty common.

When a driver turns on his full-beam headlights, he is not asking for but is taking the right of way. You must get out of the way!

The safest way to drive is defensively. Take your cue from the rest of the road users and stay alert.

General Vietnam traffic rules include:

Road users overtake from the right and the left.
You may overtake from the left on roads with two or more lanes going in one direction. Turning left at a red traffic light does not allow, please do not turn left or right while in a red traffic light.

You may honk while overtaking. Must do it while driving in Vietnam. On mountain roads, it’s mandatory to honk before a blind turn.

Drivers on the left always have right of way.
Drivers on the main road have right of way.

If you want to overtake, you must use your left indicator. If it’s not possible to do this safely, you use the indicator on the right.
If you drive in adherence to traffic rules, you probably won’t come into contact with the traffic police. The only exception might be if you encounter a police checkpoint.

Usually, these officers will check you’re wearing your seatbelt and you’re carrying your driver’s license. In this case, show them your international driver’s license. They’ll take a quick look at it and send you on your way.