11 foreign motorcyclists fined for riding on expressway in northern Vietnam

The Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on Sunday evening announced the results of its handling of the group.

Earlier, a video clip circulated online showing around 10 large motorcycles traveling on the expressway at high speed.

The riders were seen frequently changing lanes and weaving through traffic to overtake other vehicles, raising safety concerns.

Following the circulation of the clip, the head of the department instructed the traffic police division under Phu Tho Province’s Department of Public Security to investigate and clarify the incident.

Officers later confirmed that the group comprised 11 male riders, including three motorcycles carrying passengers. 

On Sunday morning, traffic police in the province coordinated with officers in Tuyen Quang Province and other relevant units to inspect the motorcycles in Minh Xuan Ward, Tuyen Quang.

The group was summoned to the police station for questioning in accordance with regulations.

The group included 11 men and three women.

The 11 motorcycles were ridden by foreign nationals, including three from Bahrain, three from Saudi Arabia, two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Qatar, one from Kuwait, and one from Oman.

Traffic police in Phu Tho Province booked the 11 riders for the offense of ‘operating high-capacity motorcycles on an expressway,’ an act prohibited under Vietnamese traffic regulations.

Each rider was fined VND5 million (US$192).

Police said that all riders possessed valid driving licenses and legally issued visas, and that the motorcycles had complete and lawful documentation.