Anyone have experience in owning a car in Vietnam?

Do you really want to own a car in Vietnam???

muontrovevietnam wrote:

lostsouls wrote:

Do you really want to own a car in Vietnam???

I know it's a big PITA but...

To me, its not feasible as max speed is 35-40km/hr.

muontrovevietnam wrote:

lostsouls wrote:

muontrovevietnam wrote:

I know it's a big PITA but...

To me, its not feasible as max speed is 35-40km/hr.

Oh no, there are places that have speed limits at 80km/hr in the City.  And they have opened a few super highways for autos only.  I hope one day there will be a superhighway (like the US Interstate System) between HCMC and Ha Noi.

80km/hr? Thats slow to me, man......

muontrovevietnam wrote:

So do you just take a taxi or just use a motorbike in Vietnam?  I've looked up rates for renting a car for a month and they run about $1,000 which I think if you rent a car for 12 months, you might as well just buy one.  And buying one can last you about 10 years.

For me in Vietnam, either motor taxi or cab.

If this is the case, I rather you purchase a car. No point renting.

muontrovevietnam wrote:

Well, like buying a house, it's a big expenditure.  So I want to research it first.  Thought there would be some people here with experience in this arena.

I think there is, man. Im sorry I cant help you on this.

muontrovevietnam wrote:

I know that passenger autos have heavy taxes...like 200%.  I visited some showrooms and the prices for a little gopher car that you can buy in the US for maybe $8,000 runs twice the amount here.

Bro, Its crazy for pay for that amount. Just like Singapore. We have to buy a COE (Certificate of Entitlement), which cost $40,000 - $60,000 & it varies, for a piece of paper. Good money for the government.

muontrovevietnam wrote:

I've thought about importing a car but then the duty/customs hits you with the same tax.

Ain't worth it for parallel imports.

muontrovevietnam wrote:

I also thought about buying a used car but nobody sells decent used cars...they're all old and unregistered in the original owner's name.  So you can exchange the cash for key and hope the original owner doesn't call the cops on you that you stole the car.  Or if the cops pull you over, they don't think you stole someone else's car. 

But that's how buying used motorbikes are.  People don't bother registering the motorbikes in their name because it means they have to pay the taxes.  They just drive around under someone else's registration.

My girl told me this too & she never change to her name for her bike. If she gets caught, just pay some money & its fine.

No choice. Vietnam's government gets revenue by high taxing.

With ownership of bikes what should happen is you get all the paperwork for it etc and person who sells it to you gives you an official letter to say that you can ride\use\own it etc.
You can get the paperwork transferred into your name(that may change again) but as everything here its long drawn out process and complicated.
If your looking at buying a car and its only 12-20k then the chances are the taxes haven't been paid on it and you will have to pay them!! And the taxes are based on NEW prices! Unless your exempt of course.

I rent, comes with a driver and handy. No hassle just sign the contract for as long as you want although i believe the one's i signed up with wanted a minimum 6 months.

I agree, depends on what your specific needs are and how long you intend to stay. I am not sure whether i will be here for too long and i also tend to visit factories often that are quite far away. If i own and it breaks down i may have to postpone but the rental company provides me a replacement. So renting works for me.