Vietnamese driving licences are mandatory for all drivers of motor vehicles as well as for riders of motorcycles with a capacity of over 50cc. Non-Vietnamese citizens are only permitted to drive in Vietnam if they hold a temporary Vietnamese driver’s licence.
To convert an Australian driving licence or an International Driving Permit into a temporary Vietnamese driver’s licence, the applicant must first hold a valid Vietnamese residence permit of at least three month’s validity and a current Australian driving licence or a valid International Driving Permit. In Hanoi, applications for temporary driver’s licences should be directed to the Office of Traffic & Public Works, 16 Cao Ba Quat Street . In Ho Chi Minh City, applications should be directed to the Office of Transportation, 63 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1 – Telephone 8223760 . In provincial areas, travellers should consult local police authorities to determine exactly what action is required to obtain a temporary driving licence in the province where the applicant resides.
To apply for a Vietnamese driving licence (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 9422715. . In Ho Chi Minh City , applications should be lodged with the Office of Transportation, 63 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1 – Telephone 8223760.
It is strongly recommended that Australians consider carefully whether they should drive motor vehicles or motorcycles in Vietnam as unfamiliarity with local driving conditions may result in serious injury, or a heavy compensation payment(s) as a result of any accident. Serious accidents have occurred on motorbikes, with a high proportion of those involving head injuries. If you ride a motorbike, you should seriously consider wearing a protective helmet. It is law to wear a helmet on designated roads in Vietnam.
The penalties for driving offences should be clearly understood. For example, driving without a proper licence may involve severe penalties. Experience has shown that such penalties might be as much as a three year jail sentence for driving unlicensed, up to ten years imprisonment for driving unlicensed and causing an accident, and up to twenty years imprisonment for driving unlicensed and causing an accident resulting in death. Actual penalties are, of course, determined by the police and the courts.
