The Hanoi Transport Department on March 1 began issuing and re-issuing international driving permits (IDP) for both Vietnamese and foreign residents at No.2 Phung Hung street or No.16 Cao Ba Quat street.

Truong Dinh Nghia, head of the department’s vehicle management desk, said the agency can provide up to 300 IDPs a day and if the demand increases, it will open more issuing venues.

He added that the IDP issuance is based on information from the national management network managed by the department. Any driver violations will be updated to this system and all management and supervision agencies can access the information.

Those who want to obtain the licence should submit a valid motorbike or car driving licence granted by Vietnam, and an application form along with a fee of 135,000 VND (6 USD) to the department. Foreigners must also include their permanent resident cards.

The permit, valid for three years, will be issued in Vietnamese, English, French, Russian or Spanish, and allow the holders to drive vehicles in 73 countries that are members of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety by establishing standardised traffic rules amongst the participating parties.

The Convention was ratified at the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Conference on Road Traffic in Vienna in 1968. It came into effect on May 21, 1977. By August 2014, Vietnam had ratified the convention.

VNA