Alright, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Vietnamese driving license for a while now. I’m in Hanoi, and let me tell you, navigating this city without one is a real pain. So, I started digging around, trying to figure out how to get this done. It seemed like everyone had a different way, a different contact, a different story. Headache, right?
I finally stumbled upon some info about this online portal, the “National Public Service Portal”. Apparently, it’s the official way to go for a bunch of government stuff, including driver’s licenses. It’s in Vietnamese, but using the translator helps a lot.
First, I gathered all my documents, you know, passport, visa, residency proof, my current license, and a bunch of passport photos. And, of course, got the photos of my original driving license with notarization.

Then, I went to the website – a lot of clicking and translating later, I found the section for driver’s license applications. It’s a bit clunky, but hey, it’s progress. It showed where to scan and upload all of my documents. Make sure you have a scanner, or you have to do it in a copy shop.
Next up, I filled out the online forms. Lots of fields to fill in, but most of it was pretty straightforward. My name, address, passport details, that sort of stuff. I made sure to double-check everything. Don’t want any typos here.
After that, I paid the application fee online. They had a few different payment options, which was convenient. I chose to pay by bank transfer, and it got done in seconds.
Once the payment was confirmed, I submitted the application. Then came the waiting game. It felt like forever, but after about a week, I got an email saying my application was approved. And I saw the process is successful on the website portal, too.
The final step was to go to a designated center to take a photo and pick up my shiny new Vietnamese driving license. There are so many centers on the website, and I just picked the one close to me.
The Detailed Steps
- Gathered all necessary documents.
- Found the driver’s license section on the National Public Service Portal.
- Filled out the online application forms carefully.
- Paid the application fee online.
- Submitted the application and waited for approval.
- Received approval notification.
- Visited a designated center to pick up the license.
Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The online portal, while a little rough around the edges, definitely made the process smoother. No need to deal with lines or confusing paperwork at a physical office. Now I can finally cruise around Hanoi without a worry. It feels good, man. If you’re thinking about getting your license here, I’d say go for it. Just be patient and follow the steps on the portal. You’ll get there!