VietNamNet Bridge – Only expired automobile driving licences made from paper are required to change into those made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.

Automobile driving licences made of PET material. — Photo: VNA/VNS

The move came after the Ministry of Justice warned the Ministry of Transport about the condition under Circular No 58, issued in 2015, which ordered all automobile driving licences made from paper to change into those made of PET material before December 31, 2016 and anyone found disobeying the order six months after the deadline will have to take a test to get the licence reissued. The Ministry of Justice said the condition was unsuitable and affected citizens’ rights.

Nguyen Van Huyen, general director of the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam, said the ministry accepted the warning from the justice ministry, it would issue the revised circular that will not require people to take a test to get their licence re-issued before the end of December.

Huyen said by August 31, some five million automobile driving licences made of paper had been changed into PET material.

It was estimated that some 300,000 automobile driving licences made of paper had still not been changed into PET material across the country.

Nguyen Dinh Nghia, head of the Road Vehicle Management Office under the Ha Noi Transport Department, said three stations of the department where people can change their paper automobile driving licence into PET ones have reportedly been packed with people in recent days.

About 1,500 people have been coming to change their automobile driving licences daily, nearly doubling compared with the first few months of this year, he said.

A lot of people have even been queuing up since 5am daily, he said.

Nguyen Hong Truong, Deputy Minister of Transport, said the ministry has yet to consider the responsibility of people participating in compiling the circular.

VNS