The online service, available at www.drvn.gov.vn and www.dichvucong.gplx.gov.vn:8000, costs VND135,000 per license (approximately US$6). Drivers can receive their licenses by post and pay the shipping fees for post offices nationwide.

The launch of the service comes after six months of research and formation of the Vietnam Road Administration (VRA) and is part of the Ministry of Transportation (MOT)’s plan on supplying online public services in the 2013-2015 period with an orientation to 2020.

The service will facilitate workers, students and officers living and working in other countries which join the 1968 Vienne Convention on Road Traffic.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transportation Nguyen Hong Truong praised the VRA’s efforts in putting the service into operation over the shortest-time possible, contributing to the MOT’s administrative reforms.

He asked the VRA to duplicate the service in all provinces and cities, especially in popular tourism cities, while reminding the agency of information security on the issuance of licenses and enhancing communication about the service’s convenience.