Learn how to convert your foreign driving license in Vietnam, including the requirements, documents needed, application process, and practical tips for foreigners.

How to Convert a Foreign Driving License in Vietnam (Without an Agency)

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You can convert your foreign driving license into a Vietnamese one yourself, in about a week, for roughly the price of a notarized translation plus a small state fee. Many expat agencies do this for you, which is fine if you want zero effort, but they charge far more than the real cost. We did it ourselves in Ho Chi Minh City. Here is exactly how it went.

Update: 26/10/2026

Table Of Contents
  1. Who can convert
  2. What you need
  3. The notarized translation
  4. At the office, step by step
  5. After the conversion
  6. Mistakes to avoid
  7. FAQ

Who this is for: expats and long-term residents with a Vietnamese residence document. If you are a tourist, this is not your route (see the FAQ).

Who can convert

According to the Ho Chi Minh City traffic police, you can exchange a valid foreign license if you live, work or study in Vietnam and hold one of these documents: a temporary residence card, residence card, stay card or permanent residence card, valid for at least 3 months. We converted licenses from several countries in mind (US, French, Dutch, Russian, Korean and others) because the process is the same, but the foreign license must be a valid, original national license.

Not accepted: international driving permits, temporary foreign licenses, expired licenses, and licenses that are damaged or missing information.

What you need

  • Your passport (up to date).
  • Your physical foreign driving license (the original).
  • Your Vietnamese residence card (mandatory).
  • A Vietnamese translation of your license, certified by a notary, stapled to a photocopy of the license.
  • Photocopies of your passport, residence card and license.
  • The application form, which you get at the office.
  • A medical certificate, unless your license term simply follows your visa or residence card term. Check this when you go.
  • A pen. Ours cost 5,000 VND at the office.

The notarized translation

This is the step where people overpay. Go to a notary office in Vietnam that certifies translations and have your license translated and certified. We paid roughly 200,000 to 300,000 VND. We were quoted 400,000 VND or more elsewhere, so compare before you commit. If you want the notary we used, message us through the contact page.

At the office, step by step

252 Lý Chính Thắng, Nhiêu Lộc, Hồ Chí Minh, Viêt Nam. Ministry of Transportation in Ho Chi Minh City

Where: the traffic police office that handles driving licenses in your city.

In Ho Chi Minh City we went to 252 Lý Chính Thắng, Nhiêu Lộc, Hồ Chí Minh, Viêt Nam.

The service moved between agencies over the last years, so check the current address before going.

Tips before you go

  • Go early in the morning. The wait can reach an hour.
  • Do not ride a scooter without a license to get there. There are police everywhere around the office.

The steps

  1. Take the form. Queue at the first counter and ask for the application form.
  2. Fill it in. Then hand over, in this order: the form, a photocopy of your passport, a photocopy of your residence card, a photocopy of your license, and the notarized translation. Also give the originals of your passport, residence card and license.
  3. Sit and wait. Staff call you when it is your turn.
  4. Get your photo taken.
  5. Pay. We paid by QR code transfer. The official fee is 135,000 VND.]
  6. Keep your receipt. It shows your new Vietnamese license number and the date to come back.

Waiting room at the Ministry of Transportation Vietnam

After the conversion

Come back to the same office after about 7 days to collect your Vietnamese license card (officially 5 days). Then you can drive legally across Vietnam, which also matters for insurance on a car or motorbike. License data should also appear on VNeID. See our VNeID guide for foreigners.

If you also want a motorbike license, a Vietnamese car license is a useful starting point. We cover the motorbike exam in our next guide, how to get the Vietnamese motorbike license.

Item Cost (VND) Notarized translation 200,000 to 300,000 State fee 135,000 (official) Pen 5,000

Total about : 340,000 to 440,000 VND

Mistakes to avoid

  • Paying a notary 400,000 VND or more without comparing.
  • Forgetting the physical originals of your passport, residence card and license.
  • Arriving late in the day.
  • Riding to the office without a valid license.

New to Vietnam? Our Vietnam Visa Exemption and E-Visa Guide explains the residence side, and the Travel Budget Calculator helps with monthly costs. Exploring HCMC? See must-visit places and hidden gems.

👉 Grab the free Vietnam 7-Day Itinerary.

FAQ

Can tourists convert their license in Vietnam?
No. You need a residence document valid for at least 3 months. Tourists should check the rules for an international driving permit instead.

Is an international driving permit accepted for conversion?
No. Only a valid national license is converted.

How much does it cost to convert a foreign license in Vietnam?
Roughly 340,000 to 440,000 VND in total in our case, mostly the notarized translation plus the state fee.

How long does it take?
About 7 days for us. Officially results are ready 5 days after the application.

Do I need an agency?
No. It is paperwork and one office visit. Agencies are convenient but cost much more.

Can I drive a motorbike after converting my car license?
A car license does not automatically cover motorbikes. See our motorbike license guide.

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Source: SGGP, Ho Chi Minh City traffic police guidance on converting foreign licenses (11/03/2025)

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