Renewing a Vietnamese driver's license

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SteinNebraska ViP

Member since 30 April 2018

SteinNebraskaViP10 February 2020 11:29:19

1281

I have a B1/A2 driver's license now but it expires with my visa March 19th.

I just got my Visa Exemption Certificate in my passport today.聽 Bummer it's for 4.5 years but my passport has 5 years left so the new VEC expires 6 months before my passport does.聽 No matter, it's $10 for five years so that is a win.

Anyway, when I got my driver's license I followed this procedure from another thread:

1) go to the district 3 People鈥檚 Committee:

99 Tr岷 Qu峄慶 Th岷, Ph瓢峄漬g 7, Qu岷璶 3, H峄� Ch铆 Minh, Vietnam

2) take a number. Press the 3rd button for translation service. (Button 1 is for picking up something already translated. We didn鈥檛 know this and sat for about 45 minutes before figuring it out.)

3) after getting a number, go get the your license copied. (Same floor.) this is the only thing you will need copies of to get the translation made.

4) After your number is called; go requests he translation. (320k VND for fast translation. (Apx. 1 hour.) The fast service may only be available before 11am if I understood correctly.

3) now that you have more time, go make copies of visa, passport, and after receiving it, the translation of drivers license. X2 of each. Or you can do this somewhere else if you desire.

4) After you have the translation and required copies, take the papers to the Department of Transport:

252 L媒 Ch铆nh Th岷痭g, Ph瓢峄漬g 9, Qu岷璶 3, H峄� Ch铆 Minh

5) Fill out 1 form, submit the copies, and pay 60k, if I remember correctly. Then have your picture taken.

6) Decide to either return and pick up your license in a week or so, or have them mail it to you. (There is a postal desk there.)

My questions are, for a renewal do you have to follow the entire procedure above or can any of it be skipped since it is a renewal instead of a new license?聽 Also, if you do have to follow the above completely then at the time I make copies of my current license do they want both the US and Vietnamese license copied?

SteinNebraska ViP

Member since 30 April 2018

SteinNebraskaViP11 February 2020 03:47:28

1281

础苍测辞苍别?听

Do I just do everything all over again or any steps bypassed on a renewal vs a new license?

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member11 February 2020 04:15:35

7067

SteinNebraska wrote:
础苍测辞苍别?听

Do I just do everything all over again or any steps bypassed on a renewal vs a new license?

Maybe try reposting this under your current city, or "report" your OP to ADMIN, asking them to move the entire thread for you.

I hear a significant number of regulars don't monitor the forum at the national level; only within their local area.

I hope someone provides good info for you (no SWAGs 馃槈 )

jrharvey Contributor

Member since 16 February 2023

jrharveyContributor16 February 2023 09:54:25

125

@SteinNebraska Did you ever figure out an answer to this? I have a very similar question. I have heard you have to do the whole shebang all over again as if you never had a license at all. Seems cumbersome.

AndyHCMC ViP

Member since 29 February 2020

AndyHCMCViP16 February 2023 23:01:03

1855

@SteinNebraska Did you ever figure out an answer to this? I have a very similar question. I have heard you have to do the whole shebang all over again as if you never had a license at all. Seems cumbersome.
-@jrharvey

Yes,

Copy, translate and notarize licence and copy TRC get 2 copies and take them to licence centre and pay, get a photo they give you the receipt with a date to collect it will have the date of licence expiry or TRC expiry whichever is soonest.聽

Rahj_Devon Contributor

Member since 26 July 2019

Rahj_DevonContributor15 January 2025 15:19:00

102

Does anyone know if I can use my U.S driver license in vietnam or I need to convert? How can I go about getting this done?聽 Thank you in advance.....

SteinNebraska ViP

Member since 30 April 2018

SteinNebraskaViP15 January 2025 16:02:52

1281

Does anyone know if I can use my U.S driver license in vietnam or I need to convert? How can I go about getting this done? Thank you in advance..... - @Rahj_Devon

No, you can't use a US license.聽 If you have a motorcycle endorsement on your US license you can use the steps in my original post to get a VN license without any testing or drive test.聽 It will include ratings for motorcycle and car.聽 If you don't have a motorcyle endorsement you can't get a VN motorcycle license.聽 It would only be an auto license.

SteinNebraska ViP

Member since 30 April 2018

SteinNebraskaViP15 January 2025 16:04:51

1281

One other thing, the VN license will exprire on the earliest of your US license expriring or your visa, TRC or VEC expring.聽 If you aren't on a long term TRC or VEC it's pretty pointless to try to get a VN license.

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