According to Article 19 of Chapter IV of Management testing regulation of road motorized driver licenses issued together under Decree No. 4352/2001/QD-BGTVT on 18/12/2001 of the Minister of Transport, Vietnam Transport Department driver license converting is stipulated in Article 5 of Chapter II as follows:
1. DRIVING LICENSE CONVERSION FOR FOREIGNERS WHO RESIDE, WORK AND STUDY LONG TERM IN VIETNAM:
1.1. Foreigners who reside, work or study in Vietnam or foreigners drive registered abroad that enter Vietnam from 3 months and above, with international or national driver license (issued abroad) are also valid for use, if they wish to drive registered abroad in Vietnam, they have to apply for changing correlative Vietnamese driver license.
1. 2. The procedure for converting the driver license includes:
a) Driver license converting application (in the prescribed form), certified by the heads of foreigners management agencies in Vietnam (by Embassy, Consulate, Representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government Agencies, Investment & Planning Department, External Economic Department of Provinces and Cities, Foreign representative offices, General Director of the joint venture enterprises and enterprises with 100% foreign capital, heads of agencies where foreigners work or study).
b) A copy of abroad driver license.
c) Translate abroad driver license into Vietnamese which insured translation quality of the notary public of the State or Embassies, Consulates, Representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam that the translation works, and stamped with a photocopy of driver license.
d) A copy of passport (including passport number, name and photo of the one who issued, the expiry date and the entry visa into Vietnam page) or photocopy of identity card (diplomatic or public affairs) issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam. For objects of diplomatic representative offices, representative offices of international organizations enjoyed privileges and immunities which have referral letter in the form prescribed by the Protocol Department – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
e) 03 color photos 3x4cm of ID size.
f) When filing procedure for converting the driver license, must present the abroad driver license and passport (or diplomatic or public affairs identity card provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam) for comparison with profile.
1. 3. The expiry date of the driving license of Vietnam has changed in accordance with the expiry date of abroad driving license but not in excess of the limit prescribed of Vietnam driving license.
1.3.1. Do not accept applications for changing driver license expired, erased or torn off, no longer all the elements necessary to change driver license, or it has identified differences.
1.3.2. In case the international or national driver license for foreigners to drive many different vehicles classes are being exchanged for the correlative driver license of Vietnam.
1.3.3. Applications for changing driver license of foreigners stored at conversion driver license agency (Vietnam Transport Department) includes material recorded at the points a, b, c, d, e Section 1.2 above.
1.3.4. If changing driver license next time, must have documentation as specified at the points a, d, e, g Section 1.2 above.
1.4. If need to move driver license be granted to other local, management driver license agency makes moving form attached to driver profile transferring to management driver license agency to move to.
2. DRIVING LICENSE CONVERSION FOR FOREIGNER TRAVEL IN VIETNAM TO REGISTER VEHICLES:
2.1. Foreign tourists driver abroad registered vehicles to travel in Vietnam, with international or national driver license (issued abroad) which is valid for use, if they want to drive, must make the procedure for converting correlative driver license of Vietnam.
2.2. The procedure for converting the driver license including the documents specified at points a, b, c, d, e, g Section 1.2 above.
2.3. In case registered for traveling, visitors can not yet present foreign passport and abroad driver license, can be based on the immigration list of the Ministry of Public Security and driver license translation (accompanied by a photocopy of abroad driver license) makes available driver license for registers. driver license only be issued to those who really into Vietnam after comparing abroad driver license and passport. Time limit for issuing driver license consistent with the time tourists travel in Vietnam (from enter until exit) but not exceeding the time limit for Vietnam driver license.
2.4. Applications for changing driver license of foreigners stored at conversion driver license agency (Vietnam Transport Department) includes material recorded at the points a, b, c, d, e Section 1.2 above.
2.5. The Department of Transportation when changing driver license for foreigners monthly, have to report to Vietnam Transport Department.
3. How to convert the driving license?
To convert your current driving license or an International Driving Permit into a Vietnamese driving license, the applicant must first hold a valid Vietnam permit of at least three month’s validity and a current driving license or a valid International Driving Permit.
3.1 Where to apply Vietnamese driver license:
In Hanoi, applications for temporary driver’s licenses should be directed to the Office of Traffic and Public Works, 16 Cao Ba Quat Street (Website: http://www.sogtvt.hanoi.gov.vn)
In Ho Chi Minh City, applications should be directed to the Office of Transportation, 63 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 (Tel 84-8 38 290 451; website: http://www.sogtvt.hanoi.gov.vn).
In the other provinces, the applicants should consult local police authorities to determine exactly what action is required to obtain a temporary driving license in the province where the applicant resides.
3.2 Apply for a new Vietnam driver license
To apply Vietnamese driver license (either to drive a motor vehicle or a motorbike) in Hanoi , the applicant should contact the Centre for Automotive Training and Mechanism, 83A Ly Thuong Kiet Street – Telephone 3942 2715.
In Ho Chi Minh city the license should be applied at Office of Transportation, 63 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1 – Telephone 3822 3760
3.3 Documents required for driver license conversion
In order to apply or convert your existing driver license to a Vietnamese equivalence, you need to submit the following documents:
+ One copy of your passport with the photo page and the visa page (both visa and passport need to be valid).
+ One copy of your existing driver license, with a translated and notarized version (by a public notary place)
+ Three passport size photos
+ Filled in application form (download driver license application form for foreigners)
+ 200,000 VND (about USD $ 8 for processing fee)