Can you drive in Western Australia with a Vietnamese license?

Yes. Visitors can drive in Western Australia on a current and valid Vietnamese licence for the length of their stay.

Transport WA treats tourists, business travellers, students and temporary workers as visitors, and visitors can use their current overseas licence with no fixed time limit while their stay remains temporary. The licence must be carried while driving and must not be suspended, cancelled, disqualified or withdrawn. Under the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014, the 3 month limit only starts once the person holds a permanent visa and usually resides in WA.

Visiting from overseas or interstate | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 (legislation.wa.gov.au)

An International Driving Permit is not required in Western Australia, but if a Vietnamese licence has no English text, carrying an English translation or an IDP is strongly advisable.

Transport WA's visitor page does not require an International Driving Permit; visitors only need a current and valid licence carried while driving. WA requires certified English translations of licences written solely in another language in licensing contexts, so a translation or IDP is the practical option for a Vietnamese-only licence.

Visiting from overseas or interstate | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

New permanent residents can drive on a current Vietnamese licence for up to 3 months, and must apply for a WA licence within that period.

Transport WA states that Australian citizens and permanent residents with a current and valid overseas licence can drive in WA for up to 3 months and must apply to transfer within that window; after 3 months they cannot legally drive on the overseas licence even if it is still valid. Regulation 61(4) of the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 ends recognition once a permanent visa holder has usually resided in WA for more than 3 months since the visa was granted.

Moving from overseas | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Regulations 2014 (legislation.wa.gov.au)

No. Vietnam is not a recognised country, so a Vietnamese licence cannot be exchanged without testing.

Transport WA's overseas licence checker lists Vietnam as a non-recognised country. Holders of a Vietnamese car or motorcycle licence must pass the theory test and the Practical Driving Assessment to obtain a WA licence.

Moving from overseas | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

Yes. Vietnamese licence holders must pass the WA theory test and the Practical Driving Assessment, plus an eyesight test at the service centre.

For non-recognised countries, Transport WA requires the theory test on WA road rules and the Practical Driving Assessment, and the theory test must be passed first. An eyesight test and a medical declaration are part of the application. Transport WA does not list a separate hazard perception test for overseas licence transfers.

Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

Only if the licence has no English text. A Vietnamese licence written solely in Vietnamese needs an English translation from an approved translator.

Transport WA requires a translation for non-recognised country licences only when the document is written solely in a language other than English. Vietnamese licences that include English text alongside Vietnamese would not need one, but a Vietnamese-only licence must be translated by an approved translator such as a NAATI certified translator.

Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)

Bring your Vietnamese licence (with a certified English translation if it has no English text), proof of identity documents and a completed application form to a DTMI service centre.

Applications are made in person at a Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) service centre or regional agent. You submit the application form, your overseas licence with a translation if needed, and proof of identity, then pass the eyesight test, complete the medical declaration and pay the theory test fee.

Transfer a driver's licence a non-recognised country or region | Transport WA (transport.wa.gov.au)