Vietnam Car Rental Guide 2026 — Self-Drive, With Driver & Airport

Vietnam is long, varied, and full of places that taxis and ride-hailing apps cannot reach comfortably — mountain passes, beach resorts, ancient towns, and golf courses spread 30 to 100 km outside the main cities. Renting a car is the most flexible way to see them. You have two clear choices: self-drive, where you hold the wheel yourself, or hire a car with a private driver, where you simply ride. For most first-time visitors, the second option is the easier and safer one.

RIDICAR is a booking platform that connects you with vetted local rental partners across Vietnam. Instead of negotiating at a counter in a language you may not speak, you send one request, review the conditions, and confirm. This guide walks through everything you need to decide what to book and where.

The single biggest choice in any Vietnam car rental is whether to drive yourself or hire a driver. Self-drive gives you total freedom and a lower headline cost, but it requires the correct licence and a willingness to handle local traffic. A car with driver costs more per day but removes every logistical worry — many travellers find it the better value once they factor in stress, parking, and fuel.

If you do choose to drive yourself, Vietnam recognises International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Since July 2023, South Korea and Vietnam also have a bilateral licence-recognition agreement. With a driver, none of this applies — you only need your passport for booking.

For self-drive rentals, yes. You must carry three documents together: a valid International Driving Permit (Category B for cars), your original home-country driving licence, and your passport. Vietnamese traffic police do run roadside checks on tourist routes, and missing any one of the three can lead to a fine or vehicle impoundment. For a car with driver, you need none of this.

• Apply for your IDP before you leave home — it cannot be issued inside Vietnam
• Category B covers cars, SUVs and vans; Category A is required for motorbikes over 50 cc
• Your IDP expiry date must extend past your rental period
• Keep physical copies or offline photos — mobile data is patchy on rural routes
• If your IDP category is wrong or missing, your rental insurance may be void

The smoothest way to begin a trip is to have a car — with or without a driver — waiting for you at arrivals. No taxi queue, no late-night negotiation, no working out an unfamiliar route after a long flight. Share your flight number and arrival time when booking, and your driver or vehicle meets you in the airport hall.

Note that Nha Trang is served by Cam Ranh Airport, which sits well south of the city — a private transfer is far more comfortable than working out shuttle connections with luggage. Ho Chi Minh City traffic from Tan Son Nhat can be heavy, so allow extra time around peak hours.

Vietnam stretches over 1,600 km from north to south, and each region has its own character. Here is a short orientation to the main destinations RIDICAR covers, with what each is known for and where a rental car earns its keep.

Explore each region and its available cars and drivers:Da Nang — central beach city and Vietnam’s most-visited base for tourists; gateway to UNESCO-listed Hoi An (~30 km) and Ba Na Hills with its Golden Bridge (~45 km).Nha Trang — a beach and resort hub on the south-central coast, served by Cam Ranh Airport, with day trips to mountainous Dalat.Ho Chi Minh City — the southern business capital (formerly Saigon); base for the Cu Chi Tunnels (~70 km) and the Mekong Delta.Hanoi — the historic northern capital and the launch point for Halong Bay and the northern highlands.Phu Quoc — Vietnam’s largest island, known for beaches and resorts; compact enough that short hops and day hires cover most of it.Dalat — a cool-climate mountain town of lakes, pine forests and flower gardens, popular as an inland escape from the coast.

A practical rule: in dense city centres, ride-hailing handles short hops cheaply. The moment your plan includes somewhere 30 km or more out of town — an ancient town, a mountain resort, a golf course — a rental car or private driver becomes the better choice, especially for groups of four or more.

Because RIDICAR works with many partner vehicles rather than a single fixed fleet, the final price depends on the city, dates, vehicle type, and whether a driver is included. The figures below are indicative self-drive starting points to help you budget — you receive an exact quote after sending a request and reviewing the conditions.

Car-with-driver pricing is quoted separately and depends on hours, route length, and waiting time, since it includes the driver and usually fuel. For day trips and intercity routes (for example a coastal run or a mountain-pass excursion), request a quote with your itinerary and we confirm an all-in rate.

• Choose your city (region) and the service you need — self-drive or with driver
• Set your dates, pick-up method (including airport pick-up), and vehicle type
• Submit a booking request — our team checks availability with local partners
• Receive a quote and review the conditions: route, fuel, insurance and waiting time
• Confirm and pay only once you are happy with the details
• On the day, collect your car or meet your driver at the agreed location

RIDICAR acts as an intermediary between you and trusted local partners, with Korean and English support throughout. Booking comes first and payment guidance follows confirmation, so you always know what you are getting before you commit.

Ready to start? Pick the option that fits your trip:Browse self-drive cars across Vietnam’s main cities.Hire a car with driver — no licence required.Arrange airport pick-up for a smooth arrival.