Motorbike confusion

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Driving License

If you have license from your origin country, just convert it into vietnam driving license.

If you want to find motorbike < 50cc, just go around Ho Chi Minh City, along Phan Dang Luu street have many shop sell those kind of motorbike or you can buy electric motorbike (e-moto) it also not required driving license.

I am thinking about getting a motorbike myself.  I have a california driver's license with the 'M' for motorbike allowed driving.  1) Which government office do I take it to to convert it to a VN license.  Just the name of the dept. will suffice;
2) Do 'bikers' have to or need or want to get insurance for motorbike damage/physical injury? 
Thanks, Duane

AQM22,

Where in Dong Nai are you? I currently live in Bien Hoa. You can convert your current license into a Vietnamese license. I am not sure if you have to do it in Saigon or if it can be done in Dong Nai. It would propably be easier in Saigon though as very little English is understood in Bien Hoa.

Most police in Bien Hoa will not even bother you if you are a foreigner because of the language barrier. When I drive by them I usually wave hello to them which always confuses them. They either wave hello or look the other way because they do not know what to do.

If they ever pull you over in Dong Nai do not even try to talk to them in Vietnamese, just look at them and keep saying "I only speak English" While this is quite effective in Dong Nai I wouldn't sugguest it in Saigon where many of the traffic cops speak better English than most Americans.

Only call someone that speaks Vietnamese and can translate for you as a last resort, i.e. when they are getting ready to put your motorbike on the truck to be towed away.

Parmyd, I'm in Bien Hoa, too. So, I guess driving around Dong Nai won't be too bad, but don't take a chance in Saigon? I guess that's good to know since I was planning on visiting Saigon for the upcoming holiday.

I was asking as to where in Dong Nai or Bien Hoa I can get my licence, but no one can seem to answer me. Everyone was telling me to just play the "helpless American" card. I'm a little dubious though. I just don't want to invite trouble.

If I can do it close to homebase, I'd rather do that. I don't know how long the process' going to take. I hear Saigon is about pretty far from where I am. However, if that's the only place to do that, then it's the only place I guess.

Thanks everyone for your answers so far.

AQM22,

I believe you have to get your Vietnamese License in HCMC. I will ask around and try to find out for sure. Driving to HCMC is only about 1 hour from Bien Hoa. No need to be afraid of driving to HCMC just be aware that the "helpless American card" does not work so well with the traffic police in HCMC. Many speak fairly good english.

Firstly, you will need to get your license translated, which can be done in Dong Nai at the Peoples commitee if you ask around. Then the translated document is taken to a transport office,this is how its done in Saigon.They may also ask to have it verified by your embassy.All provences are different, they have their own ways of doing things. But here in Vung Tau my brother went to a guy who does expat documents and all he did was get some photos and the guy took it to the office in Ba Ria, total cost 700,000vnd. You must have a bike license from your country to get a VN license.

Hi, I'm looking to settle in Dong Nai as well. If you do get your motorbike license I'm interested to know how you went about getting it.

I have a motorcycle license in my home country so I'm guessing I won't have to do the figure 8 test.