Menu
Expat.com
Search
Magazine
Search

Paperwork

ancientpathos
#1
I bought a used motorbike 2 months ago. Wanting to be legal, I soon found out that I could not register it. Decided to register it in my girlfriend name. She said she could not because she is from a different province than we live. Is this true for motorbikes? Would this also be true about houses? Been here over a year and still have lots to learn?
See also
Parmyd
#2
She can't register it there but she can register it in her hometown province. I bought a new motorbike last year in Bien Hoa and had to have my girlfriend register it in Hai Phong. It took about 2 weeks for them to send the plates.

The Vietnam expat guide

Comprehensive and free

Read it now
Vietnam
charmavietnam
#3
Owners should register it at their respective birth place. After registration can bring anywhere inside Vietnam.
About house, if the owner want to change to new address, yes they can. In both case you cannot do anything  :D
ancientpathos
#4
Thanks Parmyd, is there a reason behind needing to register in their hometown.
G
#5
Only the Shadow knows...... :cool:
1 member reacted to this post
saigonmonkey
#6

ancientpathos wrote:

Thanks Parmyd, is there a reason behind needing to register in their hometown.


Yes Ancient, the government wants to control the movement of its people, and making things like this difficult is one way to deter them from moving around inside the country too much. If your and Parmyd's girlfriends still lived in their hometowns (which is what the government really wants), registering a motorbike would be easy for them.

1 member reacted to this post
MIA2013
#7
Parmyd and Saigon Monkey are  right. I bought a relative a motorbike and he had to travel back to where his license was issued and register it there.  :(
Anatta
#8
This is related to the issue of household registration (đăng ký hộ khẩu)

The hộ khẩu system, as SM mentioned, is designed to control people movement. Vietnam copies it from the Chinese Hukou (thus the name)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hukou_system

In Vietnam, people can only register their vehicles where they are formally registered (have hộ khẩu).
There are exception for students and soldiers to register elsewhere.
Moving hộ khẩu to another town is regulated under a byzantine law. One can register as living temporarily (đăng ký tạm trú) in another town, but moving permanently is difficult. Think of it as a temporary working visa vs. citizenship.

Having a hộ khẩu in big cities like Hanoi is often considered a status symbol (at least to girls in small towns).  :)
2 members reacted to this post
ancientpathos
#9
Anatta and SM, thank you both. Now I understand. Guess I will wait until I have my temporary residence card and buy new, register in my name.
Crazy Buffalo
#10
Foreigners are almost impossible to own a house/ apartment here, except some special cases ( I guess you are not in this list). However, you can be the "shareholder" in case you marry a VNese girl...hahahaha
Parmyd
#11

Crazy Buffalo wrote:

Foreigners are almost impossible to own a house/ apartment here, except some special cases ( I guess you are not in this list). However, you can be the "shareholder" in case you marry a VNese girl...hahahaha


Might not be too long before foreigners can own property and houses in Vietnam.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/page … gners.aspx

OBB
#12
i bought a used bike from my family's neighbor last year in Dong Nai.   my relatives said i had to find the original owner somewhere in Saigon and ask them to go with you to register the bike.   they didnt think it was worth the hassle so i didnt bother to register it.   i also wanted to repaint it white instead of original black but i was told i would have to register it after the paint job which leads me back to the beginning :(

Essential services for your expat journey

Choose the best health insurance
Choose the best health insurance
Protect your health and get easy access to treatment for expats in Vietnam.
Plan your international move
Plan your international move
Facilitate your move to Vietnam by getting a quote from our top rated movers.
Open a bank account that suits you
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
Send money overseas at the best rate
Send money overseas at the best rate
For fast, safe and secure money transfers to and from Vietnam.
Other discussions on formalities in Vietnam
Ask your questionOther discussions about formalities in Vietnam

Further reading

Traveling to Vietnam
Vietnam holds a powerful intrigue for many visitors. Recognized internationally for delicious food, a vibrant ...
Dating in Vietnam
If you're single and ready to mingle, this article will help you understand the dos and don'ts of dating ...
Phones and Internet in Vietnam
The telecommunications sector in Vietnam has flourished throughout the past two decades, and just like the rest of ...
Sports activities in Hanoi
We know there's a lot of attention on the drinking culture in Hanoi, but what about the options for a healthy ...
Moving to Vietnam with your pet
If you are planning to move to Vietnam with a pet, here are the key areas to focus on, including your pet's ...
Accommodation in Da Nang
Are you considering living in the vibrant coastal city of Da Nang? Expat.com showcases several rental options, and ...
Working in Vietnam
Anyone thinking about working in Vietnam is in for a treat. Compared to many Western countries, Vietnam's ...
Customs in Vietnam
Entering a new country will entail going through their customs and immigration process. While this process is ...