Nowadays, although a new process for drivers’ exams has been applied nationwide, people can pay VND8 million (US$380) to get a B2 driver’s license in Ho Chi Minh City without going through driving lessons, a Tuoi Tre investigation has found.

Tuoi Tre reporters went to driver examination centers and found that many people were acting as brokers for those wanting to obtain a driver’s license. With the aid of these brokers, examinees do not need to attend classes on driving theory. On the examination day, they show up and do the theoretical exam for form’s sake. They will then only have to pass the practice test to get a driver’s license. On July 5 in front of the HCMC College of Transport, at 252 Ly Chinh Thang, Ward 9, District 3,  Tuoi Tre reporters saw brokers dealing with people who wanted to easily obtain a driver’s license. Brokers introduced different prices to their potential clients, such as VND12 million for a B2 license (for cars with fewer than 9 seats including the driver, or trucks with a load of under 3.5 tons) or VND14 million for a C license (for cars with a load of above 3.5 tons). “You do not need to learn driving but you will get a driver’s license after five months,” a broker named My said. My emphasized that his clients will have to spend only a day practicing with the vehicle, and another day on the exam. Another broker, Truong, said, “You do not need to worry about the theoretical examination, but you must try your best to pass the practice test, since examinees are given scores automatically by a machine.”“Grease”

Not only brokers but also workers at driver training center are engaged in “assisting” whose who want to easily get a driver’s license.  In front of the Central Vocational College of Transport No. 3 on Van Cao Street in Tan Phu District there are many facilities where people can register to take license exams. On July 4, Trang, a staff member at one of these facilities, told Tuoi Tre that the total cost for a B2 driver’s license was about VND8 million. The amount included VND4.5 million for tuition, VND585,000 for the examination fee, VND800,000 for the vehicle fee, and VND2 million for “grease” (bribe/under-table money) that ensures the examinee will pass the theoretical exam and long-road exam.  A broker named Thin, who lives in District 12, claimed that he was a teacher at the drivers’ training and examination center under the Central Vocational College of Transport No. 3. He said, “Examinees are required to be present at the theoretical exam, but their papers will be completed by an examiner, and the cost for such support is VND1.5 million.”False health certificate  D.N.K, 37, who lives in Binh Thanh District, said he paid VND7.7 million to the Bach Viet Driver Training Center under the U&D Investment Joint Stock Company in August 2012 to get a license, but it took him 11 months to actually receive the license. The quality of training was so poor that K, who now has a driver’s license, does not dare to actually drive his car, he said. “They did not do as they promised. I had to use my own car for practice, and the number of practice hours was lower than promised,” K said. I paid the fee to Bach Viet but was told to practice at another center, the Truong An Car Driving Training Center.  On June 4, Truong An staff took K to the Driver Examination Center in District 12 to attend an exam. At that time K was very surprised to see his medical check-up certificate, since he had not taken such a check-up before. K said the vision in one of his eyes is just 5/10, but as shown on the sheet, both of his eyes have 10/10 vision, K said. As indicated on the sheet, the doctor who examined and granted the certificate to K was Dr. Vo Thi Thanh Truc, and it was affixed with the seal of the General Clinic under the Tan Phu District Health preventive Center. However, in talking with Tuoi Tre on July 5, a deputy director of this center affirmed that Dr. Truc is working at the center’s Pediatrics Department and has never taken part in such medical examinations. Moreover, the center does not provide medical examinations and certification for people who want to take driver’s training courses.