Suzuki Celerio
The cheapest way to stop depending on taxis. Enough for two with luggage, parks anywhere in Phan Thiet, around 5 l/100 km.
Mitsubishi Mirage
Same class as the Celerio but roomier inside and calmer on the Saigon highway. The sensible pick if you'll drive beyond the village.
Toyota Veloz Cross
Seven seats and real ground clearance. Taken by families, by crews with boards, and for dune trips where a low car bottoms out.
Licences first — this decides everything
Vietnam requires category B plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, carried together with your national licence. Neither document works on its own.
Your national card plus the IDP booklet in the 1968 format. Both countries issue exactly that format and Vietnam recognises it. Carry both: the booklet is void without the national licence.
Your IDP is issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, which Vietnam does not recognise. Legally that equals driving unlicensed. The options are a Vietnamese licence or a car with a driver — the second is faster and, counting your time, cheaper.
Without a valid licence your insurance does not apply. On a scooter that is your own risk; in a car it adds someone else's — third-party damage after a crash comes entirely out of your pocket, and those numbers are repair bills, not fines.
Photos of your passport and licence; the originals stay with you. We never hold a passport as a deposit — it is your entry document and it stays in your hands.
Prices
| Car | Seats | Gearbox | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Celerio | 5 | automatic | 700 000 ₫ ≈ 22 € | 400 $ |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 5 | automatic | 800 000 ₫ ≈ 25 € | 500 $ |
| Toyota Veloz Cross | 7 | automatic | 1 500 000 ₫ ≈ 47 € | 1000 $ |
Daily on the left, monthly on the right. The monthly rate already includes the long-term discount: the Celerio works out around $13 a day against $27 daily. Fuel is not included in either.
Self-drive or with a driver
Self-drive uses the prices above. You need category B and an IDP; the deposit is agreed when booking and returned when the car comes back in the same condition.
With a driver we quote per route: a run around the village, an airport transfer to Saigon and a full day waiting at the dunes are different jobs. No licence needed, the driver speaks basic English, and we agree the route in advance. Tell us where and when — you get the figure before the trip.
What's included
- Compulsory third-party insurance under Vietnamese law.
- Delivery to your hotel in Mui Ne and collection from the same place.
- A full tank at handover — return it full.
- Our phone support in Russian and English while you have the car.
What's not included
- Fuel. Petrol is cheaper than in Europe: roughly 120,000 ₫ per 100 km on the highway.
- Toll sections on the Saigon highway — paid in cash at the gate.
- Camera-issued fines: they reach the owner, and we pass them on as they arrive.
- A wash if the car comes back full of sand after the dunes.
About the roads, if it's your first time
- Drive on the right. Limits are 50–60 km/h in built-up areas and up to 80 on the highway, with plenty of cameras.
- The defining feature is the scooter traffic. Scooters travel in every direction, turn without signalling and appear on your right. Keep more distance than you're used to and check mirrors often.
- Drink-driving is zero tolerance — not 'a little is fine', zero. The fine for a single glass runs into millions of dong and the car is impounded.
- At night the highway has unlit trucks and cattle on the shoulder. Plan long drives for daylight where you can.
Common questions
Can I rent without an International Driving Permit?
Not to drive yourself — that is driving unlicensed, with the insurance void. With a driver, yes: no licence needed at all.
What's the deposit?
Agreed when booking and returned when the car comes back in the same condition. We don't take passports.
Can I drive outside Mui Ne?
Yes, no route limits: Phan Thiet, Saigon, Da Lat, Nha Trang. Tell us in advance about a long trip and we'll prep the car for it.
How does fuel work?
Full tank out, full tank back. If it returns short, we settle the difference at the pump price.
What if the car breaks down?
Call us straight away. We handle it: roadside help, and a replacement car if needed. You don't fix it yourself and claim later.
Is there a child seat?
Yes, on request and at no extra charge — tell us the child's age and weight when booking.
Which car do you need?
Send your dates and how many of you there are — we'll match the car and confirm availability. No licence? We'll quote the driver option right away.