answered about 2 months ago by mnguyen
If you buy a used one, no problem, it'll already have a license plate.
If you buy a new one, more difficult, much more difficult to register as a foreigner.
As for drivers license, you should get one if you're going to be here for a long time, but really doesn't matter.
answered about 1 month ago by Kurtz
Anybody can buy a bike, plant themselves on it and drive it here.
All vehicles need a registration card (frame and engine numbers listed) - it's credit card size. In effect if you hold that card then you own the bike. If you buy the bike from somebody then you should get a sales paper (can be hand-written or can follow the official sample) as proof of purchase.
If you're a tourist then you cannot get your name on a registration paper. If you have official employment - and therefore can get an official company red stamp - then you can get your name on there.
Not as complicated as it used to be and not that expensive, but you need to know who to contact. However it's not at all necessary to get your name on this paper unless you like the look of it. Foreigners registering vehicles is now quite normal, just most don't bother and it's not a major issue.
As for licences you should get one. Full stop. Again tourists cannot get a VN licence but they should have an International Licence (which whatever you've heard to date is legally valid in Vietnam) at least. Fair enough to say you'll always get away with it as a foreigner but if you wait until the day when you need one then you'll wish to heaven you'd done it before. And when you need one you really bloody need one, believe me. At the moment this is usually in the accident scenario, but don't think you're infallible as you're not. Accidents include some other drunk geezer planting his vehicle full pelt into your passive stationary bike.
Licences are neither complicated nor expensive. Accidents without them are both complicated and expensive, and I imagine a bit harrowing.
