Motor bike licence

Mr An *** If you already have a driver's licence, it is a painless process.

Hi Dave thanks for the reply.where in hoi an do I go to get temporary resident card licence translated and notorised. Cheers Chris

About that, I'm afraid I have no idea. Mr An is in HCM. Good luck but it's definitely wise to have a licence.

Not sure if a licence can be arranged outside the big cities...I,m sure  I have seen on this site that it cannot and would agree with Dave that obtaining a licence is a good idea otherwise you are at the mercy of the cops and whatever bribe they require if  you are unlucky enough to be stopped.You also require third party insurance.
If you are going to follow it up thru Hcmc I have the driving test center address in Distict 10 and can inform you how to go about it as I have recently took the test myself.I also have the name and number of the agent I used who arranged the test /organised the paperwork for delivery of the licence...you can arrange it yourself but you would need someone who speaks the lingo...
Let me know if you need the details

Gareth Uk wrote:

Not sure if a licence can be arranged outside the big cities...I,m sure  I have seen on this site that it cannot and would agree with Dave that obtaining a licence is a good idea otherwise you are at the mercy of the cops and whatever bribe they require if  you are unlucky enough to be stopped.You also require third party insurance.
If you are going to follow it up thru Hcmc I have the driving test center address in Distict 10 and can inform you how to go about it as I have recently took the test myself.I also have the name and number of the agent I used who arranged the test /organised the paperwork for delivery of the licence...you can arrange it yourself but you would need someone who speaks the lingo...
Let me know if you need the details

Can you elaborate on what you did to obtain it and how much did the whole thing cost? Did you use an interpreter?

I would be looking at heading up to Da Nang and getting it sorted up there. Check out some of the online Da Nang forums for help.

There is an Aussie guy and his wife that own a motorbike touring company in Hoi An, they may be able to assist you.

Reply to Phil
The test center is on Hem 51 Thanh Thai about 50m up the road travelling from Thanh Trai( the main road) on your right hand side
I used an agent named Minh Minh on 0937 762 668 the total cost for his time ,arranging the paperwork and delivery of the licence was about 80 Gbp.His English is very good....you would not need an interpreter.I used him because he,s got the contacts,can arrange any bribery ( included in his fee )and since at the test center they have dealt with him many times  you won,t have any problems...if you pass the test!
The test and paperwork can be arraged directly thru yourself without an agent but you would need an interpreter...the cost would be about 25 Gbp....I do not know if you would need to bribe someone to enable the licence which would be extra.I found this out as while practicing at the center on the circuit my Vietnamese wife spoke to someone working there
You cannot take the test if you only have a tourist visa.If you have a Uk car drivers licence you will not need to take the written test.If you need to take the written test I,m sure Minh Minh will help you.
The test center will provide the bike to take the test as it has trackers on the front and back forks...the circuit has white lines to follow with metal strips....if the tracker goes over the metal strips 4 times you have failed.If you fail and you use Minh Minh ,ask him to arrange to stay late with the examiner,which was offered to another person on the day I took the test,until you pass the test...you might have to produce some cash.
If you wish to practice on the circuits at the test center,you can hire the bikes provided by the test center on which you will try the test later...be careful...the bikes are real rubbish.If you are to try the A1 ( under 150 cc)you need to practice on the 2 outer circuits,if the A2 ( over 150 cc) practice is on the middle circuit...it's bigger.If it's the A1 for you to hire a bike to practice is 100000 dong per hour...about 3 quid,you can arrange for 15 or 30 minuites if you wish
To hire a bike to practice go out thru the entrance gate onto Hem 51,there is a small office on the same side of the road directly on your left hand side..?.you will need an interpreter as the girls speak only Vietnamese
Sorry it's a long passage,think I got it all ...post if you need further info

did you have a UK drivers license? Did you take the full test? What's with the bike hire if it's included in the £80 costs with agent?

I got a provisional, I live in London so don't need to drive. I do have a CBT. Anyway, I've got nothing to convert so looking to take the test if it's possible for people who don't speak vietnamese.

I'm on a Visa exemption certificate too.

For Phil
You are ok to take the test with a visa exemption certificate...I have the same.
I have a Uk car drivers licence and because of that was not required to take the written test...I took only the practical for an A1 which is up to 150cc.
I would guess the agent ,if you wish to practice on a test center bike,would charge you the same as what the test center charges him .On the day I tried the test I wanted to hire a bike for an hour to practice but could not because they were busy and fully booked so I gave the agent the 100000 dong,the same as what the test center charge if  I hired directly,and he arranged an hours practice for me...as I say he,s well known there.I found it easier to arrange the bike hire for practice dayly myself because I could just turn up and as long as there is no testing going on you can practice there and then.If you arrange practice with the agent then you need to be there at the time he gives you...it is not difficult to arrange practice bike hire although I did turn up some days and because there was testing going on could not hire a bike so was turned away.......because I,m not a bike driver in the Uk I went to the test center for an hour a day for nearly 3 weeks before I felt I was good enough to get a pass !!!!
If you have only a Uk provisional then I think it best to contact Minh Minh....He will translate the theory paper.You can arrange yourself but you would need someone who speaks the lingo...if your wife or partner is going to translate and you wish to organise the test yourself you can confirm with the test center it's about 25 Gbp...that's the amount they told my wife.
Hope this helps...fire away if you have any more questions.

Gareth Uk wrote:

For Phil
You are ok to take the test with a visa exemption certificate...I have the same.
I have a Uk car drivers licence and because of that was not required to take the written test...I took only the practical for an A1 which is up to 150cc.
I would guess the agent ,if you wish to practice on a test center bike,would charge you the same as what the test center charges him .On the day I tried the test I wanted to hire a bike for an hour to practice but could not because they were busy and fully booked so I gave the agent the 100000 dong,the same as what the test center charge if  I hired directly,and he arranged an hours practice for me...as I say he,s well known there.I found it easier to arrange the bike hire for practice dayly myself because I could just turn up and as long as there is no testing going on you can practice there and then.If you arrange practice with the agent then you need to be there at the time he gives you...it is not difficult to arrange practice bike hire although I did turn up some days and because there was testing going on could not hire a bike so was turned away.......because I,m not a bike driver in the Uk I went to the test center for an hour a day for nearly 3 weeks before I felt I was good enough to get a pass !!!!
If you have only a Uk provisional then I think it best to contact Minh Minh....He will translate the theory paper.You can arrange yourself but you would need someone who speaks the lingo...if your wife or partner is going to translate and you wish to organise the test yourself you can confirm with the test center it's about 25 Gbp...that's the amount they told my wife.
Hope this helps...fire away if you have any more questions.

This might be a silly one. How long is it valid for? Forever...1 year... or for as long as your visa?

In the UK a CBT is valid for 2 years riding with L plates until you take the full test.

To Phil
The licence is valid for the duration of your passport....I understand on renewal of the passport you can arrange an updated licence...I don,t think the test needs to be taken again...if it does I,m up shit creek!....it took me 3 weeks this time and I,m 61....need to renew it in 3 years...it,ll take me 3 months!!!!

Gareth Uk wrote:

To Phil
The licence is valid for the duration of your passport....I understand on renewal of the passport you can arrange an updated licence...I don,t think the test needs to be taken again...if it does I,m up shit creek!....it took me 3 weeks this time and I,m 61....need to renew it in 3 years...it,ll take me 3 months!!!!

Bit odd it's tied to your passport but good to know.

Very useful info indeed.

Licence is tied to the length of your visa.

Yeah its related to your visa, not passport.

It's actually even stranger having it tied to it a visa but hey this is Vietnam.

£80 for 5 years (4.5 left on my VEC) is nothing. I'm going to give your guy a call when i'm next in town Gareth. Thanks for all the info.

Correction...as the guys say...it's for the duration of the visa.
Minh Minh is also on Facebook...lots of good feedback there..

Chris
what type of licence do you have for a motorbike
Do you work or have a full time contract
do you have a residents card
these are all the things I need to know before I can advise best route