Obtaining Vietnamese driver’s licenses

Many foreigners in Vietnam are now being stopped by the police and checked for a current Vietnamese driver’s license. If you do not, you may have your motorcycle or car impounded and you will also receive a fine. If your motorcycle or car is impounded it may take in excess of a month to get it back.
So here is a guide to help you through the process of obtaining a license in Vietnam, if you have a license in your own country.
First, have 2 photocopies made of your existing driver’s license and take them and your driver’s license to the Government Translation Office at 47 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, HCMC (corner opposite Diamond Plaza). Go to counter No. 1 and ask for your driver’s license to be translated into Vietnamese. The cost should be around 50,000 VND but the work will take them 5 to 7 days.
Second, while you are waiting for your translation, go to the HCMC Transportation Office situated down a laneway at 252 Ly Chinh Thang street, District 3, HCMC (near the large roundabout at Ba Thang Hai street). It is hard to find at first as there are a few laneways next to each other with the same numbers. Just show the details to the local people and they will show you the correct laneway. Go to the first floor and counter No. 1 and ask for the “Application for driver’s license” to transfer your license. The staff there are very lovely and helpful and can speak English.
Third, prepare 4 x passport photos 2 x 3, a photocopy of the front page of your passport, a photocopy of your visa or temporary residence card, a photocopy of your work permit or investment license, a photocopy of your place of residence registration (residence book) or something to confirm where you are living.
You have two options for your next step. Option one is to complete the “Application for driver’s license” and take all the photocopies, translations and originals to your consulate in HCMC and ask them to stamp and sign the application. Option two, if you have an investment license with your name on it, your company can stamp and sign the application. You do not have to go to your consulate.
Make sure you mark both the ‘Car’ and ‘Motorcycle’ boxes on the application.
Fifth, once this is all completed, take your photocopies, translations and all originals back to the HCMC Transportation Office at 252 Ly Chinh Thang street, District 3, HCMC and counter No. 1 on the first floor. They will check all the documents and if they are ok you will need to pay about VND30,000. Once you pay, they will process your application but it will take 5 to 7 days.
Sixth, on the day designated on your receipt, go back to the HCMC Transportation Office and to the first floor but to the counter at the far end of the office (you will see many people waiting there) and give them your receipt. You must have your passport with you when you collect your new Vietnamese driver’s license. Your Vietnamese driver’s license will have the same expiry date as your existing foreign issued license.
The whole process normally takes 2 weeks.
For more information, contact Richard Donarski at richardd1458@yahoo.com.au