Did you guy surrender the domestics license when applying for IDP?

IDP and IDL are the same right?

https://jpj.my/international_driving_permit.htm

"You need to surrender your domestic license to JPJ as you are not allowed to hold 2 types of licenses at a time. If you no longer require the IDP, you may be go to the JPJ offices to get back your domestic license."

Why so troublesome?

IDL and IDP are the same right? So, when you go to Vietnam, you will go to the JPJ at Vietnam and conevert the IDP to their local Tieng Viet Driving license? What is the entire process? What form you need to fill and how much you need to pay?

Last month, I just renewed 10 years license + went to the JPJ to get the Physical license (+ 1 year). I printed the Agoda hotel booking. They didn't accept it and said that I can cancel the booking anytime. Luckily I brought my passport along with me. I showed them that I travelled to oversea at least 1 time per year to countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Then, they only allowed me to get the Physical license. So, you either need to show the flight ticket or proof from the records of your passport that you travel frequently to overseas

I don't have IDP yet. But, I think I need that if I want to drive in Vietnam

Who know the exact process of riding a motorcycle legally in Vietnam with Malaysia license? Do I need IDP? After I have IDP, I will need to go to the Vietnam JPJ to translate to local language like "gold member" mentioned?

I am planning a trip to go to Vietnam later this year. It will be more convenient if I have my own transport

Correct. It is stupid. On top of that, not all JPJ can issue the physical license. The nearest JPJ from my home can't do it. I had to drive about 1 hour (40-50 km) to another JPJ to get this physical license. Really troublesome

I know Singapore and Thailand no need IDP as I drive there multiple times. Even stopped by traffic police roadblock in Thailand for a few times as well, they accepted Malaysia Physical driving license. But, Vietnam might be different as the driving on the right. (Malaysia/Singapore/Thailand: On the Left)

I haven't tried driving/riding in Vietnam yet. I hope to try it later this year

I just asked Chat GPT. Malaysia License can not be used in Vietnam. Not even IDP 1949. We need IDP 1968 which is not issued by Malaysia

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Here is the most accurate, up-to-date, and brutally honest answer for your situation as a Malaysian wanting to drive or ride a motorcycle in Vietnam (as of May 2025):

1. Malaysian License Alone is NOT Sufficient
Despite Vietnam being an ASEAN country and Malaysia being part of ASEAN, in practice, your Malaysian driving license alone is not reliably accepted by Vietnamese authorities for driving or riding a motorcycle. While there is an ASEAN agreement on mutual recognition of driving licenses, Vietnamese police and rental agencies almost always require more than just your Malaysian license, especially for tourists and short-term visitors. This is confirmed by multiple sources and recent traveler reports [source].

2. International Driving Permit (IDP) – Which Version?
Only the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP is officially recognized in Vietnam.
Malaysia issues IDPs under the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Therefore, a Malaysian-issued IDP is not officially valid in Vietnam, even though some rental shops may accept it informally. If you are stopped by police, you risk fines and your insurance will likely be invalid [source].

3. Translation/Certification?
Some people claim you can get your IDP or Malaysian license translated and certified at a Vietnamese notary or transport department. This is only possible if you are staying long-term (with a residence permit/visa over 3 months), and the process is bureaucratic and requires a lot of paperwork, including a Vietnamese translation certified by a notary or embassy. For tourists, this is impractical and rarely done [source].

4. What Actually Happens in Practice?
Tourists: Most tourists rent and ride bikes anyway, but this is technically illegal unless you have a Vietnamese license or a 1968 IDP. If you are stopped, you may be fined (up to 5 million VND, about RM 1,000), and your bike may be impounded. If you get into an accident, your travel insurance will almost certainly refuse to cover you if you do not have the correct license.
Police: Enforcement is inconsistent. In tourist hotspots (e.g., Ha Giang Loop, Hai Van Pass), police checkpoints are common and they do check for the 1968 IDP. In other areas, you may get away with a bribe or warning, but this is not guaranteed and is risky.

Rental Shops: Many rental shops will rent to you with just your Malaysian license or even no license, but this does not make it legal.

Agree. But certain places like Danang/Hoi An are better in term of traffic. I thought of travelling and riding Bike around Danang/Hoi An but it seems that there is no way for me to riding a bike legally in Vietnam

Malaysia government should sign the 1968 IDP.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Driving_Permit

If you check wikipedia, the are 3 types of IDP: 1929, 1949, 1968. You may ignore 1929 as only a few countries signed it.

Countries with 1949 only: Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, USA, Australia, Canada, India, etc
Countries with 1968 only: Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brazil, Pakistan, Costa Rica, etc
Countries with both: Thailand, Philippines, China, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, etc

By right, ASEAN license can be used in anywhere within the ASEAN countries. But in reality, local enforcement is different and some countries (eg: Vietnam) don't recognise it.

IDP is just a temporary permit for tourists or short term foreigners to drive in the country. I feel that if tourism is a big contribution to the country GDP, the countries should have both 1949 and 1968 IDP. Why? It will provide convenience to tourists and temporary stay foreigners to drive locally and spend money. It will help the economy.

For example: Thailand and Philippines have both the IDP. They provides lots of convenience to foreigners/tourists. So, it helps in term of tourism.

If Malaysia government wants to attract tourists from Countries with 1968 IDP only, Malaysia should sign 1968.
If Vietnam government wants to attract tourists from Countries with 1949 IDP only, Vietnam should sign 1949.

But the problem is based on ChatGPT:-
The last country to accede to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic was Zimbabwe, on 18 February 1991.
After the 1990s, almost all new accessions have been to the 1968 Vienna Convention, not the 1949 Geneva Convention.
The 1949 Convention is now considered “closed” in practice, with no new major signatories in recent decades.

Conclusion: Malaysia government should sign the 1968 IDP to provide convenience to tourists (1968 only) coming to Malaysia and for Malaysians going overseas

You ride without IDP? Do they check you at the roadblock? Kena saman?

I believe only Ministry of Tourism can convince Anthony. They probably need to conduct a feasible study on how much extra tourism income the IDP 1968 can bring to Malaysia. Then, need to go through parliament debate, etc etc. The execution is probably many months/years from now

I went to Bali about 10 years ago and rode a motorcycle without IDP. Only used Malaysia Physical License. But, I didn't see any police roadblock when I was there for about 1 week though. I hope Indonesia recognises the ASEAN agreement more than Vietnam since Indonesia is driving on the left like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand

No problem bro. Yes, both is better. But, if the police really tries to "drink coffee", he can find any excuse to trouble you

Ah... better safe than sorry. Maybe next year