Q: I am going to work in Vietnam for one year. I already have international driver’s license but do not know if it’s valid when I a motorbike in Vietnam.
Jason, California
A: Dear Jason, Many tourists make the mistake that it’s legal to drive here with an international driver’s license. But they also have to register. According to a 2006 mandate by the Ministry of Transportation, all foreigners can register for a license in Vietnam if they had a valid one issued to them in their home countries. Each city or province’s Department of Transportation is in charge of granting driver’s licenses for foreigners with licenses issued in their home countries, tourists from neighboring countries driving their own cars in Vietnam, and Vietnamese who acquired a driving license abroad.
However, licenses are only granted to those who have valid travel visas for a period of at least 3 months in Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh Department of Transportation processes about 200 licenses for foreigners monthly. With the required documents, you can have license registered within 7 days.
If you have lived in Vietnam for over 3 months, you can apply to take an exam on driving techniques to get the license. However, you need to understand Vietnamese, be in good health, and be old enough for each license level.
An important point to note is that the type of license issued in Vietnam will only be equivalent to type granted in one’s home country. Those who have a four-wheel license, but want to ride a motorcycle will have to pass an exam on riding techniques, but won’t have to take a written exam on traffic laws.
WHAT’S REQUIRED: The following submissions are required for a foreigner to get a driver’s license in Vietnam:
- 1 petition (issued form) requesting driver’s license
- 1 copy (notarized duplicate) of original driver’s license
- 1 Vietnamese-translated copy (notarized duplicate) of driver’s license
- 1 copy (duplicate) of passport, and 3 passport-sized photos
Original copies of passport and driver’s license must be shown when submitting all documents. Your documents are not valid if the license in your country is expired, scratched, erased or different in personal identity.
Further information:
- Forms to request a driver’s license can be obtained at the Agency for Granting Driver’s Licenses.
- You can submit your request at:
HCM Department of Transportation
63 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, HCMC
Hanoi Department of Transportation
Branch 1: 2, Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Hanoi
Branch 2: 16 Cao Ba Quat, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
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