The Ministry of Public Security will grant licenses for foreign vehicles to enter Vietnam.

From May 1, the Ministry of Public Security will replace the Ministry of Transport in presiding over the approval of foreigners to bring vehicles into Vietnam to participate in traffic.

According to Decree 30/2024 effective from May 1 on the management of road motor vehicles registered abroad and brought into Vietnam by foreigners for tourism , foreign motor vehicles are right- or left-hand drive passenger cars with 9 seats or less, mobile housing cars or two-wheeled motorcycles.

Motor vehicles and foreigners wishing to participate in traffic in Vietnam must go through a Vietnamese international travel service company to complete licensing procedures. If all conditions are met, the Ministry of Public Security will issue a written approval.

Vehicles brought into Vietnam must meet the requirements such as road motor vehicles with license plates, vehicle registration, technical safety inspection certificates, and environmental protection certificates. Cars with right-hand drive must have an official dispatch from a diplomatic mission, consulate, or representative of an intergovernmental international organization in Vietnam. The official dispatch is then sent to the Ministry of Public Security stating the reason.

Another condition is that vehicles can only be temporarily imported and re-exported through international border gates by road, sea, inland waterway, rail and air. Vehicles must be temporarily imported and re-exported through the border gates approved by the Ministry of Public Security.

According to regulations applied from 2013 to present, the Ministry of Transport is in charge of approving the organization for foreigners to bring vehicles into Vietnam to participate in traffic.

Vehicles on the highway in Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Thanh — Vehicles on the highway in Hanoi. Photo: *Ngoc Thanh*

The maximum time allowed to participate in traffic in Vietnam is 45 days, in case of force majeure it can be extended by no more than 10 days. Current regulations allow a maximum of 30 days.

For drivers, the conditions are that they must be foreigners, have a passport or valid international travel documents, visa, and valid residence documents in Vietnam. Drivers must have a foreign driving license appropriate to the type of vehicle they are driving.

Regarding the licensing procedure, travel service businesses send to the Ministry of Public Security a set of documents, including an official dispatch requesting approval to organize for foreigners to bring vehicles into Vietnam to participate in traffic, a list of drivers...

No later than 5 days after receiving the complete application, the Ministry of Public Security will issue a written response of acceptance or rejection. The Ministry of Public Security's written approval will be notified to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Finance and People's Committees of relevant provinces and cities for joint management.

According to the decree, foreign motor vehicle drivers participating in traffic in Vietnam must have a vehicle in front to guide traffic. The guiding vehicle is a car or motorbike arranged by a Vietnamese international travel company, and must have a logo or flag with the symbol of that company.

When driving, drivers must comply with Vietnam's road traffic laws; must carry and present when requested by authorities documents such as passports, documents related to residence in Vietnam, driving licenses, technical safety inspection certificates, vehicle registration, etc.

Pham Du

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