Recently, VietNamNet has received numerous complaints about the slow processing of driver's licenses, especially from individuals who have already passed their driving tests.

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Driver's License Training and Testing Center in Can Tho City. Photo: Tran Tuyen

Vo Hoang Hieu, a 29-year-old resident of Dong Thap province and a professional motorbike taxi driver, has been directly impacted by these delays.

After saving for several years, he enrolled in a driver training and testing center on Nguyen Van Linh street in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city, investing over 20 million VND for his training.

Hieu passed his Category C driving test on July 19 and expected to receive his license within ten days. However, when a job opportunity arose, the absence of his license, due to processing delays, cost him the position.

The delay forced Hieu to return to his hometown with his wife and three-month-old child to continue working without the necessary documentation.

Similarly, Nguyen Thanh Nguyen, a 30-year-old from Vinh Long province, who also trained at the same center, passed his driving test on August 6 but has yet to receive his license.

Without the license, Nguyen is unable to drive, which significantly impacts his business transporting aquarium accessories from Ho Chi Minh City, costing him about 400,000 VND per trip.

Staff from the training center confirmed that they have only managed to issue licenses up to the beginning of July due to the complete depletion of printing materials at the Transport Department.

This issue is compounded by a recent surge in license renewal applications, which has exhausted available stocks of ink and cover film in several provinces. Additionally, new regulations from the 2023 Procurement Law mandate that purchases over 100 million VND undergo a bidding process, complicating the procurement of necessary materials.

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A driver's testing center in Can Tho announces that driver's licenses are only available for students up to early July. Photo: screenshot.

In Can Tho City, where there are 12 road motor vehicle training and testing facilities, over 2,000 individuals pass their tests monthly and require new licenses. The local Transport Department has recently secured a contract with a new supplier and is working overtime to address the backlog and resume normal operations by October.

In Vinh Long province, over 10,000 applications have been backlogged since July due to supply shortages. Following a failed contract with a supplier who did not meet commitments, the department has initiated a re-tendering process. They have issued a statement acknowledging the delays and have asked for the public's understanding and patience.

Meanwhile, Ngo Cong Thuc, the Director of the An Giang Provincial Transport Department, reported that their operations are running smoothly with enough ink to last until the end of October. The department is seeking approval from the provincial People's Committee to purchase additional materials to ensure continuous license issuance without further interruptions.

Tran Tuyen