Driving licenses for foreigners
Foreigners wishing to exchange
driving licenses (for motorbikes
or cars) for Vietnamese
equivalents can contact the local
communications and public
works department in the province
or city where they are living,
working or studying.
According to Duong Tu Luc,
head of HCM City Department of
Communications and Public Works' driving test management and
licensing office, foreigners can obtain the application for exchanging
driving license (in English) at 63 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1. Tel:
08-8237440.
Luc says at present, an average 100 foreigners contact his office for
exchanging licenses a month, an increase of 10% compared with the time
before the Vietnam Road Department had not issued the new regulation
on exchanging driving licenses for foreigners. The regulation, effective
since May 2002, makes it easier for foreigners to exchange the licenses.
"Before the regulation was issued, the valid time of the driving license
depended on the validity of visas. Now, the time can be extended
between three and five years depending on specific regulations for each
kind of license. When the time expires, foreigners can exchange the
license once more," Luc explains.
The application for exchanging driving license needs only certification
from the employer instead from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign
embassy or consulate, the department of planning and investment, the
external economic relations department, and others as before. This new
rule saves time for foreigners and makes them feel at ease.
However, foreigners wishing to take driving tests in Vietnam will get into
trouble as Vietnam Road Department only has questions in Vietnamese,
not in English. Therefore, foreigners should carry with them driving
licenses when they come to Vietnam and exchange them for Vietnamese
equivalents.
The Saigon Times Weekly - March 22, 2003.
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