Driving on Roads

Very, very carefully
Wadey

Hopefully with insurance!

Hey Canman.

Was thinking from Licence wise. do we need to apply for a licence from the local Police Station?
Or do we just make sure we have Insurance. ?

Cheers

Are you still in Australia? Get motorcycle qualified on your driver's license. Then it is pretty easy to get a Vietnamese driver's license.
Otherwise you may have to take a test in Vietnamese language.
Maybe, by hiring a fixer, you can pay to avoid the test? Not sure.
I hired a fixer regardless to help convert my license.
You really don't want to drive a car here, especially without a lot of motorbike experience first. There are road anarchists.

The license is easy if you already have a motorcycle endorsement.  Just paperwork and a little money.  Detailed instructions here. https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=837566 I just did it.

You need a moto liscence in your own country first. Then to get insurance while riding a moto in Vietnam is yet another undertaking.

Canman63 wrote:

Then to get insurance while riding a moto in Vietnam is yet another undertaking.

Yes, but simple and cheap.  It's utterly worthless but at 66,000VND for the year to satisfy the police and can buy anywhere they sell 150K VND helmets.

A policy for $3 US? That should be plenty in case of a serious accident!!!
😂😂😂
Perhaps proper insurance would be better!

Canman63 wrote:

A policy for $3 US? That should be plenty in case of a serious accident!!!
😂😂😂
Perhaps proper insurance would be better!

It is strictly to avoid the 100-200k coffee money grab when pulled over for any other possible offense.

SteinNebraska wrote:

Canman63 wrote:

A policy for $3 US? That should be plenty in case of a serious accident!!!
😂😂😂
Perhaps proper insurance would be better!

It is strictly to avoid the 100-200k coffee money grab when pulled over for any other possible offense.

Yes I understand,

The insurance is a problem.   Just because you have a policy doesn’t mean your covered .
I’ve done plenty of research on this , and also worked in the industry.

I may be repeating myself , but insurance companies dont get rich by writing cheque’s.     READ THE FINE PRINT?

Assume that most medical claims here will come from motor accidents.   
Most insurance companies have exclusions relating to Hazardous pursuits & activities.   Your a newbie riding on roads here that are crazy .   Bikes are not subject to safety inspections.    Foreigners get licenses that are technically invalid.     

The policies usually state that you must have a VALID license in the country your in.   They know in  Vietnam we get licenses over the counter from travel agents with shit for brains. They know most of us didn’t do the knowledge test ...because it’s in  Vietnamese.

Ya license ain’t valid kiddies.😆

OK,,next issue.  Policies won’t pay if you haven’t observed the road rules.    A foreigner here in a collision , will usually be in the wrong.  In an accident, you’ll be surrounded by about 200 screaming assholes ALL saying your in the wrong , and pay the VN guy money to fix his bike.  It’s all about the cash.

Companies won’t pay unless there’s a BAC report done.... blood alcohol content .   You can bet a lot of accidents will be at night.  I know one guy  very  well that’s now dead, and another seriously banged up. Both pissed out of their heads & no helmets.

Also,,most policies don’t cover the first 48 hours of hospital treatment.  Factor in the policy excess , could be $300 & up, you’ll have to be pretty well banged up to get anything.

Then....this is a goodie....most hospitals won’t let you in unless you pay a CASH bribe.  NO receipt for that either.    A friend here had a broken arm in a bike fall & the local hospital assholes wanted $500 before he could be looked at.

Another issue...pre existing conditions.  (Not covered). A lot of Expats here are retirees in not the best of “Nic”.   Good luck if your liver packs it in from drinking the cheap piss here.   

Policy excess.    A mate fell off a bike,,,gravel rash and needed 12 stitches.    Cost him $8 at the clinic and a few bucks worth of iodine.

An old guy here fell over on steps & Fractured his ankle.   Two day in hospital and some meds.  Less than $150.      Not worth claiming.

If it’s a serious matter,,,get on a plane to Thailand Bumragrad hospital in Bangkok.....if your fit to fly.

In the media here you see cases of MEN diagnosed as pregnant.  You,see the wrong limb amputated...etc etc.

This ain’t the place to have a bad accident or get crook.    But it’s pretty good for cheap beer & cheap Boom Boom......and lets be honest, that’s why most are here.

Yogi has spoken.

Spoken like a true champion!
And yes most don't come for the beaches and temples!

Yogi007 wrote:

In the media here you see cases of MEN diagnosed as pregnant.

In American and English media we learn that men get pregnant and have babies too.
Like these guys and this guy.

gobot wrote:

Yogi007 wrote:

In the media here you see cases of MEN diagnosed as pregnant.

In American and English media we learn that men get pregnant and have babies too.
Like these guys and this guy.

Whoa.....imagine that.
It’d be like being constipated for 9 months.

That’s why Boo Boos adopted.

Hi Gobot.

Thanks for the heads up.
Iv'e got an Oz Motorbike license.
Had it many years. Iv'e rode scooters over there before, but wasn't sure on getting around.
I assumed an International License would do, but Vietnam is not included.
So seeing best way to ride there.
Do you go to the local Police Station then ?
Cheers
Tony

Jacnton wrote:

Hi Gobot.

Thanks for the heads up.
Iv'e got an Oz Motorbike license.
Had it many years. Iv'e rode scooters over there before, but wasn't sure on getting around.
I assumed an International License would do, but Vietnam is not included.
So seeing best way to ride there.
Do you go to the local Police Station then ?
Cheers
Tony

https://mysaigoncity.com/vietnam-driving-license/

Jacnton wrote:

Hi Gobot.

Thanks for the heads up.
Iv'e got an Oz Motorbike license.
Had it many years. Iv'e rode scooters over there before, but wasn't sure on getting around.
I assumed an International License would do, but Vietnam is not included.
So seeing best way to ride there.
Do you go to the local Police Station then ?
Cheers
Tony

I gave literally step by step instructions when I posted the link in post #6.  From what address to go to for each step to what number button to push for assistance.  Just follow that exactly and it's not difficult.  I can't take credit for creating that thread but I did follow it and confirm it is exactly correct.

"Since you are an expat, you have to do a process called “Đổi giấy phép lái xe của nước ngoài cấp cho người nước ngoài” (Exchange driving license of foreigners from foreign territories).

First, you have to meet a few conditions as following:
Foreigners have been lived, worked, studied in Vietnam for at least 3 months.
Driving license from your country still displays/shows necessary information: still not expired, shows which categories of vehicles you are allowed to ride/drive, personal ID has to look same to you at the moment, no signature of changing information in the license or breaking or ambiguity picture or information.
And as you know, no temporary license or international driving license is accepted.

If you are qualified to all above conditions, congrats, now you have to prepare a dossier and submit it to the Department of Transport where you are live currently. The dossier has to contain:
1.        Application form for exchange of driving license. Download here at vanban.hanoi.gov.vn/documents/10182/2519670/9975.doc?version=1.0

2.        A copy of your driving license as well as Vietnamese translation of your driving license which has been notarized at notary office or Vietnamese Embassy. But bring your original one along just in case they ask for it to cross check.

3.        A copy of your passport and any kind of papers to prove that you have been lived here for at least 3 months and so on.

It would take about 5 working days since they receive all the valid dossier. The fee for this process is 135.000 VND. Remember to ask them where you have to go to receive your exchanged license since there are two location to receive:
−        252 Lý Chính Thắng Street, Ward 9, District 3, HCMC
−        111 Tân Sơn Nhì Street, Tân Sơn Nhì Ward, Tân Phú District, HCMC

letiendat wrote:

"Since you are an expat, you have to do a process called “Đổi giấy phép lái xe của nước ngoài cấp cho người nước ngoài” (Exchange driving license of foreigners from foreign territories).

First, you have to meet a few conditions as following:
Foreigners have been lived, worked, studied in Vietnam for at least 3 months.
Driving license from your country still displays/shows necessary information: still not expired, shows which categories of vehicles you are allowed to ride/drive, personal ID has to look same to you at the moment, no signature of changing information in the license or breaking or ambiguity picture or information.
And as you know, no temporary license or international driving license is accepted.

If you are qualified to all above conditions, congrats, now you have to prepare a dossier and submit it to the Department of Transport where you are live currently. The dossier has to contain:
1.        Application form for exchange of driving license. Download here at vanban.hanoi.gov.vn/documents/10182/2519670/9975.doc?version=1.0

2.        A copy of your driving license as well as Vietnamese translation of your driving license which has been notarized at notary office or Vietnamese Embassy. But bring your original one along just in case they ask for it to cross check.

3.        A copy of your passport and any kind of papers to prove that you have been lived here for at least 3 months and so on.

It would take about 5 working days since they receive all the valid dossier. The fee for this process is 135.000 VND. Remember to ask them where you have to go to receive your exchanged license since there are two location to receive:
−        252 Lý Chính Thắng Street, Ward 9, District 3, HCMC
−        111 Tân Sơn Nhì Street, Tân Sơn Nhì Ward, Tân Phú District, HCMC

Your posts are always informative, well done!