Driving licence for foreigner!?

1855POSTS

4 years ago

I apologize for the offtopic. I want to ask you for advice. I will arrive in Vietnam in the next 7 days.

I have a valid national license issued from the country of origin (ROMANIA in my case, EU valid) and I want to be able to drive LEGALLY in Vietnam.

I will be a tourist because I will stay in Vietnam for 1 month. Is it possible to obtain an A&B driving license (my license already has valid A&B categories) and to drive legally?

Moreover, would it be possible for me to obtain (in addition to obtaining a driver's license from Vietnam), an International Driving Licence that I intend to use in Bali or the Philippines (my next destinations)?

Thank you very much for your time! I appreciate the help!

Unfortunately, I really did not find information on this subject...
- @Alex_ROM
Aside from the good advice given by Andy, you won't be able to find anyone who will rent a private car to a foreigner without also hiring a Vietnamese driver.
- @OceanBeach92107

IF you have a valid VN car licence YES you can hire a car through mioto & zoomcar WITHOUT a driver.

You have to photo passport & VN licence when you register leave 15mill deposit or bike worth over 15mill with valid blue card, helps if you have family book to show owner of car along with bike blue card.

They bring car you check it, you get keys off you go,, reverse happens when hand back.

Done it heaps.

Can hire Vietnam wide.

Have app and website, have google translate to flick it into english.

Tip: hire a car that you can get insurance on - you can filter on your search,, only a few bucks.

alexneoh Active member

73POSTS

4 years ago

#42

I apologize for the offtopic. I want to ask you for advice. I will arrive in Vietnam in the next 7 days.

I have a valid national license issued from the country of origin (ROMANIA in my case, EU valid) and I want to be able to drive LEGALLY in Vietnam.

I will be a tourist because I will stay in Vietnam for 1 month. Is it possible to obtain an A&B driving license (my license already has valid A&B categories) and to drive legally?

Moreover, would it be possible for me to obtain (in addition to obtaining a driver's license from Vietnam), an International Driving Licence that I intend to use in Bali or the Philippines (my next destinations)?

Thank you very much for your time! I appreciate the help!

Unfortunately, I really did not find information on this subject...
- @Alex_ROM
Aside from the good advice given by Andy, you won't be able to find anyone who will rent a private car to a foreigner without also hiring a Vietnamese driver.
- @OceanBeach92107

IF you have a valid VN car licence YES you can hire a car through mioto & zoomcar WITHOUT a driver.
You have to photo passport & VN licence when you register leave 15mill deposit or bike worth over 15mill with valid blue card, helps if you have family book to show owner of car along with bike blue card.
They bring car you check it, you get keys off you go,, reverse happens when hand back.
Done it heaps.
Can hire Vietnam wide.
Have app and website, have google translate to flick it into english.
Tip: hire a car that you can get insurance on - you can filter on your search,, only a few bucks.
- @Andybris2020

Remember to take photos especially dented / defect / scratches parts that has been observed. This will mitigate the dispute upon returning the cars.

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naaga7785 New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

#43

Hi,

Just for anyone interested since i just got my A1 License in HCM city last week and wanted to pass on the procedure of what i went through.

I only had a car license from home and absolutely NO motorcycle experience.

If your like in my case, make sure you at least have 4 months visa minimum before starting the process. Some maybe lucky to get earlier. I suggest this for people with long term visa.

Before starting procedure make sure you have 6 = 3by4 pictures needed for medical and forms at different points during the process.

Also make sure your home license and visa has much needed time because your VN license will be based on the earliest expiry of one of the two. This also is based on luck since i had a friend where his home license expires in 4 months but got his VN license based on his visa for 1 year. In Vietnam it is all about timing and chance i guess..

Forms, passport, Visa, home car license plus notarized copies of all and submit to the centre. They will take pictures and after 10-14 days issue the Vietnamese car license. NO computer test or NO practical test.

Once you get the VN car license card to the hand go and get a medical done.

Once you have the medical results ready, go to the centre with your passport, visa, VN car license and register for the test.

Test day, take your passport, visa and car license, do the figure eight and when passed you will sign a paper immediately after your test and then wait 21 days to get the A1 license card to the hand. And NO you dont do the computer exam since you have a car license from home. DONE

Also for anyone who like convenience, i suggest to go through agents even though its quite expensive and a friend of mine paid 4 million for the whole process with step by step guidance.

Hope it helps someone and apologies for any language errors.

3 members reacted to this post

Aidan in HCMC Vietnam Expert

4602POSTS

3 years ago

#44

Hi,

Just for anyone interested since i just got my A1 License in HCM city last week and wanted to pass on the procedure of what i went through.

I only had a car license from home and absolutely NO motorcycle experience.

If your like in my case, make sure you at least have 4 months visa minimum before starting the process. Some maybe lucky to get earlier. I suggest this for people with long term visa.

Before starting procedure make sure you have 6 = 3by4 pictures needed for medical and forms at different points during the process.

Also make sure your home license and visa has much needed time because your VN license will be based on the earliest expiry of one of the two. This also is based on luck since i had a friend where his home license expires in 4 months but got his VN license based on his visa for 1 year. In Vietnam it is all about timing and chance i guess..

Forms, passport, Visa, home car license plus notarized copies of all and submit to the centre. They will take pictures and after 10-14 days issue the Vietnamese car license. NO computer test or NO practical test.

Once you get the VN car license card to the hand go and get a medical done.

Once you have the medical results ready, go to the centre with your passport, visa, VN car license and register for the test.

Test day, take your passport, visa and car license, do the figure eight and when passed you will sign a paper immediately after your test and then wait 21 days to get the A1 license card to the hand. And NO you dont do the computer exam since you have a car license from home. DONE

Also for anyone who like convenience, i suggest to go through agents even though its quite expensive and a friend of mine paid 4 million for the whole process with step by step guidance.

Hope it helps someone and apologies for any language errors.
- @naaga7785

Congratulations, @naaga7785, and thank you for the report.

I must ask. When you say a "car license", do you mean to say a "driver's license"?

An A1 license is not a license to drive a car.
An A1 license only allows for the legal, on road operation of a scooter/motorcycle with an engine size no larger than 175cc. It is the very minimum license required to operate a motorized vehicle over 50cc (50cc and under require no license). In addition to an A1 license, the vehicle must be insured.

I mention this as I did not want anyone to make the mistake of taking to the road in a car, or a larger bike with just an A1.

Again, congratulations, and please be safe as you learn to ride a motorbike.

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#45

@Aidan,

I believe when he said "car licence" he was talking about the converted home-VN car licence which you then use to get the A1 bike licence (175cc)

Years ago you had to do a comp test if you didnt have an overseas bike licence now you get your VN car licence first then no need to do the comp test because they figure if you can drive a car you know what you are doing on the road.

1 member reacted to this post

Aidan in HCMC Vietnam Expert

4602POSTS

3 years ago

#46

@Aidan,
I believe when he said "car licence" he was talking about the converted home-VN car licence which you then use to get the A1 bike licence (175cc)

Years ago you had to do a comp test if you didnt have an overseas bike licence now you get your VN car licence first then no need to do the comp test because they figure if you can drive a car you know what you are doing on the road.
- @Andybris2020

Ahh, okay, understood. My bad

So, naaga7785 will have an A1. And for a car license, a B1 or a B2?

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#47

@Aidan,
I believe when he said "car licence" he was talking about the converted home-VN car licence which you then use to get the A1 bike licence (175cc)

Years ago you had to do a comp test if you didnt have an overseas bike licence now you get your VN car licence first then no need to do the comp test because they figure if you can drive a car you know what you are doing on the road.
- @Andybris2020

Ahh, okay, understood. My bad
- @Aidan in HCMC

I think it was the mention of car when he ended with bike, it makes sense that VN who have done the car test know the road rules so why do the comp test for bike, but to a newbie never been on a VN road knowing how to drive a car overseas is Zero use on busy city road at rush hr on a bike, not that knowing the VN road rules makes any difference seeing there isnt any in reality.

2 members reacted to this post

Aidan in HCMC Vietnam Expert

4602POSTS

3 years ago

#48

I only had a car license from home and absolutely NO motorcycle experience.

Hope it helps someone and apologies for any language errors.
- @naaga7785

Please, PLEASE be careful, sir.

Updates on your progress would be very much appreciated.

Your English is stellar.

My comprehension? Not so much

1 member reacted to this post

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#49

@naaga,

I wish you well, as Aidan says take it easy try to do small trips off peak times and remember bikes will come at you from anywhere and just stop dead to look at their phones or have a chat.

If you stary near the side walk bikes will come at you in the gutter the wrong way, when you turn there will be a bike coming head on.

Try to stay under 30 until you stop screaming so much.

3 members reacted to this post

naaga7785 New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

#50

@Aidan in HCMC thank you…🙂

1 member reacted to this post

naaga7785 New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

#51

@Andybris2020 ..thank you and thanks for explaining to AIDEN, i had simply nothing to add to your explanation. Thanks again for the tips as well.

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#52

I would say best place to be is the sidewalk,,, but there are bikes on there as well

1 member reacted to this post

naaga7785 New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

#53

I have actually been riding in saigon since 2018 and was high time i got the license🙉🙈…actually the goal is to get A2 since there is a particular motorcycle i would like to get. Since i didnt have time to do a full course on A2, i just settled for A1.

I would appreciate if anyone have any information on an easier way of getting an A2 license. Great help if possible. Thank you

1 member reacted to this post

naaga7785 New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

#54

@Andybris2020 so true….actually everyday is an experience when riding in saigon…always something new and sometimes shocking..lol

1 member reacted to this post

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#55

You could go back to test center do the A2

1 member reacted to this post

naaga7785 New member

6POSTS

3 years ago

#56

@Andybris2020 yes …thats an option but when i asked about it they said that i have to do the theory test which is in Vietnamese for A2, which again does not make sense since it was not needed for A1 in my case. Fyi embarrassingly i cannot understand or speak viet other than the basic day to day xin chao & em dep lam stuff 😂😜, quite bad in languages.

1 member reacted to this post

SteinNebraska ViP

1298POSTS

3 years ago

#57

@Andybris2020 yes …thats an option but when i asked about it they said that i have to do the theory test which is in Vietnamese for A2, which again does not make sense since it was not needed for A1 in my case. Fyi embarrassingly i cannot understand or speak viet other than the basic day to day xin chao & em dep lam stuff 😂😜, quite bad in languages.
- @naaga7785

I don't know any foriegners that have taken the test for A2 because of the requirement to take the written test in Vietnamese. Me and everyone else that I have heard of that have A2 got it as easily as you got your A1 because we had a motorcycle endorsement on our home country driver's license.

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#58

@Andybris2020 yes …thats an option but when i asked about it they said that i have to do the theory test which is in Vietnamese for A2, which again does not make sense since it was not needed for A1 in my case. Fyi embarrassingly i cannot understand or speak viet other than the basic day to day xin chao & em dep lam stuff 😂😜, quite bad in languages.
- @naaga7785

I don't know any foriegners that have taken the test for A2 because of the requirement to take the written test in Vietnamese. Me and everyone else that I have heard of that have A2 got it as easily as you got your A1 because we had a motorcycle endorsement on our home country driver's license.
- @SteinNebraska

Yep, This guy has ZERO bike experience in home country, converted his car licence to VN then did the A1 bike but still wants the A2, he stated (and I have also heard) that you dont need to do the comp test if you have a VN car licence (i think it changed some time during covid period) but he confirmed you still have to do comp test for A2, which is a shame.

SteinNebraska ViP

1298POSTS

3 years ago

#59

Somewhat related, IAA international license is not accepted by Vietnam but IDP (International Driving Permit) is.

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society/202 … 68738.html

1 member reacted to this post

Mac68 Serial expat

357POSTS

3 years ago

#60

Somewhat related, IAA international license is not accepted by Vietnam but IDP (International Driving Permit) is.

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society/202 … 68738.html
- @SteinNebraska

Greetings,

Both my wife and I are with Drivers Licenses in USA. We believe we can apply for a VN drivers license, as long as we hold USA drivers license that is valid, for the duration of its validity. Mine is valid another 4 years, includes a Motorcycle License.

Understood validity is dependent upon home country validity. How I get lost so damn easily here while we a re traveling around our home town Old My Tho, is why I'm still a back seat rider on our motorbike, unless my wife is feeling particularity like a daring soul that day.

My wife, holds/has a motorbike license here in VN. Her license in USA needs renewed this October. She's got 90 days after expiry date to renew in USA, we will travel there within that time frame to make a visit w family.

Any knowledge base, or experiences on this stuff here?

Thanks in advance,

MAc

Travelfar Contributor

196POSTS

3 years ago

#61

Yep, This guy has ZERO bike experience in home country, converted his car licence to VN then did the A1 bike but still wants the A2, he stated (and I have also heard) that you dont need to do the comp test if you have a VN car licence (i think it changed some time during covid period) but he confirmed you still have to do comp test for A2, which is a shame.

- @Andybris2020

I got my A1 prior to 2010 with my USA auto license and only the practical test, not the written.

AndyHCMC ViP

1855POSTS

3 years ago

#62

@Travelfar

Yep because converted overseas car licence (with my USA auto license) so you dont need comp test only practical, if NO overseas car licence to convert then you do have to.

Mac68 Serial expat

357POSTS

3 years ago

#63

Yep because converted overseas car licence (with my USA auto license) so you dont need comp test only practical, if NO overseas car licence to convert then you do have to.
- @Andybris2020

Thanks Andy,

MAc