Convert driving license in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City – Get the Vietnamese driving license – Exchanging Foreign Driving License

1. Importance of having a valid licence

It is illegal to drive without a valid license. It needs to be either a Vietnamese driving license or a temporary license converted from your international driving permit. Penalties for not having a valid license when you drive can be bad: several years in prison if you cause an accident, and up to 20 years if the accident causes significant harm or death.

2. Applying for a new driving license

To get the application for the Vietnamese driving license (car or motorbike), contact the Centre for Automotive Training and Mechanism at 63 Ly Tu Trong (Ho Chi Minh City).

3. Convert your license into a Vietnamese driving licence

To convert your existing driving licence, first you need to translate your licence into Vietnamese, which can be done through a public translation service. This process will take about 2 days. After you receive the translation of your driving licence, you have to go to the Office of Traffic & Public Works. The address is 63 Ly Tu Trong (Ho Chi Minh City). At the office, you have to apply for your new Vietnamese driving license. We recommend bringing a Vietnamese person who can help you communicate at the office, otherwise it will be difficult get the things done there. Usually the Office of Traffic & Public Works needs about 10-14 days to convert your driving licence. They will tell you the date when the license is ready, so you will have to pick it up at the Office after that date.

Required Documents:

• A copy of your passport, including the photo page and the visa page

• A copy of your drivers license, with an officially translated version

• Three passport size photos

• Filled in application form (is provided at the office)

In the first few weeks we were in Vietnam, we had to convert our licenses on our own. The problem was that, as foreigners, it was really difficult, exhausting work that took us longer than expected: especially since you cannot communicate properly with the offices of the government in English. We don’t recommend to do it on your own if you don’t speak Vietnamese. 

That is why we created a service to convert your driving license for you. We want to offer you the easy way to get a Vietnamese license without going through all the problems we did.

Overview and Fee:

* The customer should have a notarized translation of his driving license to the Vietnamese language. In case the customer doesn’t have a notarized translation of his license, saigonBikes will translate his license. In this case the costs for the translation will be added to the cost of the license.