Citizens and residential foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City can apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) starting Thursday, the municipal Department of Transport said Wednesday.

Last year, the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam announced that IDPs would soon become available in the Southeast Asian country.

An IDP is a multi-page identity document that allows the holder to drive in any country that recognizes the permit, following the 1968 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 standard traffic rules among the contracting parties.

The convention was agreed upon at the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Conference on Road Traffic and concluded in Vienna on November 8, 1968. It came into effect on May 21, 1977.

Among the 73 countries that ratified the agreement are Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, and Vietnam, according to the United Nations Treaty Collection.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters conducted a brief interview with Vo Trong Nhan, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Driver’s License Issuing and Testing Administration division, on the upcoming changes.

According to regulations, Nhan said, those who wish to apply for an IDP may dial (+84-8)-1081 to get instructions on the required documents and book an appointment for further procedures at 252 Ly Chinh Thang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Would you kindly elaborate on the detailed procedures for IDP application?

The procedures are as follows: the applicant will submit an IDP request form, a 4x6cm ID photo, and a copy of their driver’s license and passport. An original copy of their Vietnam-issued driver’s license must also be shown when submitting the documents.

For foreigners, an original passport and resident card must also be presented for verification.

The issuing fee for an IDP is VND135,000 (US$6) per permit.

The IDP is to be issued after five working days with the same class as the holder’s Vietnamese driver’s license and will expire after three years.

Delivery service is available if applicants register with the postal officer at the issue office.

Can Vietnamese or foreigners use IDPs within Vietnam? How is an IDP used while traveling abroad?

In line with current regulations, IDPs issued by Vietnam are not accepted in Vietnamese territory.

Vietnam-issued IDP holders can use the permit accompanied by a Vietnamese driver’s license when driving in the 73 Vienna Convention member countries and must adhere to all local traffic regulations.

Can family or friends of an overseas Vietnamese submit the application on their behalf?

No. The applicant must be present at the issue office to have their photo taken and provide an electronic signature to be uploaded onto the IDP database.

Would you like to give any additional advice to those who wish to acquire an IDP?

To avoid wasting time and money on an IDP, those who really wish to get the permit should have a look at the list of 73 countries that ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Many popular destinations for Vietnamese expats such as the U.S., Australia, Japan, and South Korea are not on the list.

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