What to Do After a Motorbike Accident in Vietnam: A Practical Guide for Travelers

Last checked: 19 September 2026. This guide is general information for travelers, not individual legal, medical or insurance advice.

If you have just had a scooter or motorbike accident in Vietnam, do not start by arguing about who pays. First protect people, follow the accident-reporting rules, preserve useful evidence, then contact the rental company and insurer.

Vietnamese law sets specific duties after a road accident. That means advice such as "it is only a small crash, pay cash and leave" is not a safe rule to follow.

Quick answer: what should I do first?

If you are involved in a crash:

1. Stop.

2. Check whether anyone needs urgent medical help.

3. Warn other road users about the danger if you can do so safely.

4. Preserve the accident scene as far as possible.

5. Help injured people.

6. Report the accident as required under Vietnamese law.

7. Photograph the scene and damage when it is safe.

8. Contact your rental company.

9. If insurance may be involved, contact the relevant insurer before non-emergency repairs are authorized.

In Da Nang, the city's official emergency numbers are 113 for police and 115 for medical emergencies.

Sources: Da Nang official emergency numbers and Law 36/2024/QH15.

What Vietnamese law requires after a road accident

Article 80 of Vietnam's Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, effective from 1 January 2025, sets duties for drivers and other people involved in a road accident.

The law requires an involved driver or person to:

• stop the vehicle;
• warn of danger;
• keep the accident scene unchanged;
• help injured people; and
• report the accident to the police, a medical facility or the nearest People's Committee.

It also says involved people should remain at the scene until police arrive, except in situations such as needing emergency treatment, taking an injured person for emergency treatment, or facing a threat to life or health. In those exceptions, the person must promptly report to the police or nearest People's Committee.

Read the current text in the official legal database: Law 36/2024/QH15, Article 80.

What this means for a traveler

A private roadside agreement does not automatically replace those legal duties.

You may hear advice such as:

> "No one is badly hurt, so just pay for the scratch and leave."

Do not treat that as the official procedure.

The practical priority is to handle injuries and immediate danger first, then follow the reporting requirements and document what happened.

Should I move the scooter?

Vietnamese law says to preserve the accident scene.

So do not automatically move the scooter just because traffic is building up. If movement is necessary for safety or because a competent authority instructs you to move it, document the original position first when that can be done safely.

If compulsory motor-vehicle liability insurance may be involved, the insurance rules also require the policyholder or insured person to protect the scene and generally not move, dismantle or repair damaged property before the insurer agrees, except where movement is necessary for safety, preventing further damage or following an authority's instruction.

For a rental scooter, the easiest practical step is usually to call the rental company before arranging non-emergency repairs.

What should I photograph?

Once the immediate safety situation is under control, collect evidence before details disappear.

Useful photos or video include:

• the overall accident scene;
• the position of each vehicle;
• licence plates;
• visible damage to every vehicle involved;
• road markings and traffic signals;
• debris or skid marks when relevant;
• road and weather conditions that may matter.

Also record the approximate time and location.

If there are independent witnesses, ask whether they are willing to give you their name and contact details.

Keep the original files. Do not rely only on screenshots or edited copies.

Should I call my rental company?

Yes. Contact the rental provider early.

A rental company may need to:

• arrange recovery or towing;
• identify the scooter's registration and compulsory-insurance information;
• contact the insurer;
• inspect the scooter;
• explain the rental agreement's damage procedure; or
• tell you where an authorized repair should be done.

Do not authorize a significant non-emergency repair simply because a nearby mechanic offers to fix the scooter immediately.

For AKi renters, use the contact details provided with your rental. For any other rental company, follow that company's accident procedure.

Who pays for the accident?

Do not assume the answer is determined by nationality.

There is no reliable legal rule saying:

> "The foreigner always pays."

Responsibility can depend on what happened, applicable traffic rules, evidence, insurance and the rental agreement.

Likewise, paying money at the roadside does not by itself prove legal fault or guarantee that every later issue is settled.

If there is injury, significant damage, disagreement about what happened or a serious legal issue, rely on the competent authorities and appropriate professional advice rather than roadside assumptions.

What does Vietnam's compulsory motorbike insurance cover?

Vietnam's compulsory motor-vehicle civil-liability insurance is not the same thing as comprehensive insurance for the rental scooter or your personal travel insurance.

Under Decree 67/2023/NĐ-CP, the insured subject is the vehicle owner's civil liability toward third parties and passengers.

For motorcycles and mopeds, the decree sets these liability limits:

These are maximum liability limits, not automatic payouts.

The current official decree is Decree 67/2023/NĐ-CP. We also checked the 2026 amendment, Decree 220/2026/NĐ-CP, which took effect on 1 July 2026.

For a fuller explanation of the difference between compulsory liability insurance, rental damage and travel insurance, see our motorbike insurance guide for tourists.

What should happen with the insurer?

Under Decree 67's claims procedure, when compulsory motor-vehicle liability insurance is involved, the policyholder or insured person must promptly notify the insurer, take steps to reduce further loss and protect the scene.

For a rental scooter, you may not be the policyholder. That is another reason to contact the rental company promptly so the owner can handle the insurance process correctly.

Do not assume a repair invoice created after the scooter has already been dismantled will be enough for an insurance claim.

What about my travel insurance?

Your travel-insurance policy is a separate contract.

Check the actual wording for questions such as:

• Does it cover riding a rented motorcycle or scooter?
• Does it require a valid motorcycle licence?
• Does it require an IDP recognized in Vietnam?
• Does it restrict engine size or vehicle class?
• Are passengers covered?
• What accident documents does the insurer require?
• Are there helmet, alcohol or other exclusions?

Do not assume one insurer's terms apply to another insurer.

Your legal entitlement to ride also matters independently of insurance. If you are unsure, read our Vietnam motorcycle licence and IDP guide.

What documents should I keep?

Depending on the accident, useful records may include:

• passport or identification;
• national driving licence;
• recognized IDP or other applicable driving authorization;
• rental agreement;
• vehicle-registration information supplied through the rental process;
• compulsory-insurance information;
• original photos and videos;
• witness details;
• police or authority documents;
• medical reports and receipts;
• repair estimates and invoices; and
• messages exchanged with the rental company and insurers.

Not every accident needs every document, but it is much easier to keep records at the time than recreate them days later.

Should I repair the scooter immediately?

Usually, speak to the rental company first.

If compulsory liability insurance is involved, the applicable claims rules can also restrict moving, dismantling or repairing damaged property before the insurer has given approval, subject to safety and authority exceptions.

A sensible sequence is:

document the damage → contact the rental company → identify whether an insurer must inspect it → get an itemized repair estimate → authorize repair through the proper person.

This protects both you and the scooter owner from arguments about what damage existed and what work was necessary.

What if I was not legally entitled to ride the scooter?

The accident and your licence status are separate issues.

If the vehicle required a licence or recognized driving permit that you did not have, separate legal or insurance consequences may arise. Do not try to solve that question by assuming every scooter under a certain marketing label is "licence-free."

Check the actual vehicle classification and your documents. Our licence and IDP guide explains this in detail.

What should I ask before renting?

A good accident plan starts before you ride away.

Ask the rental company:

• What number should I call after an accident?
• Who arranges towing or recovery?
• What compulsory insurance belongs to this scooter?
• What does the rental agreement say about damage?
• May I authorize repairs myself?
• What documents should I collect after a crash?

Also photograph the scooter at pickup. Our motorbike rental inspection checklist shows what to record before the rental starts.

The simple version to remember

After a motorbike or scooter accident in Vietnam:

Protect people → follow the reporting rules → preserve and document the scene → contact the rental company → contact the relevant insurer → deal with repairs and liability afterward.

Do not assume a small cash payment replaces your legal obligations.

Do not assume the scooter's compulsory liability insurance pays for every type of loss.

And do not assume being a foreign traveler automatically determines who is responsible.

Official sources

• Law 36/2024/QH15 on Road Traffic Order and Safety — official legal database
• Decree 67/2023/NĐ-CP on compulsory insurance — Government of Vietnam
• Decree 220/2026/NĐ-CP amending Decree 67 — Government of Vietnam
• Da Nang official emergency telephone numbers