Vietnamese and foreign drivers can now register for international driving permits in Ho Chi Minh City.

People, who want to apply for an international driving permit (IDP), are required to call the helpline (08) 1081 in advance to arrange a meeting for registration submission at 252 Ly Chinh Thang Street in District 3.

They need to submit their current motorbike or car driving licence, passport and an application form along with a fee of 135,000 VND (6 USD). Foreigners must also include their permanent resident cards.

The permit, valid for three years, will be issued in Vietnamese, English, French, Russian or Spanish five days after registration.

The municipal Transport Department’s driving test and licence management office is set to process up to 60 documents per day. On the morning of February 25 – the first working day on international driving permits, the agency received 40 applications.

The permit will allow Vietnamese residents to drive vehicles in 73 countries that are members of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, established in 1968.

Hanoi to issue international driving licenses from next week

Hanoi’s transport department said it will begin issuing international driving permits (IDP) for both Vietnamese and foreign residents starting from March 1.

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 VND135,000 (US$6) to the department. Foreigners must also include their permanent resident cards.

The IDP will be issued within five working days after the required documents are submitted at No.2 Phung Hung street or No.16 Cao Ba Quat street.

Earlier, the Ho Chi Minh City Transport Department started granting the IDP on February 25.

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