Illustration. Photo: VNA

International driving licenses issued by the New York-based International Automobile Association (IAA) are not accepted in Vietnam, according to Ho Chi Minh City Police Department’s road and railway traffic police unit (PC08), VNA reported Wednesday.

PC08 said it acknowledges that IAA international driving licenses are popular among foreigners in Vietnam and Vietnamese drivers with foreign citizenship, in addition to those issued by competent authorities of their home country.

However, Vietnam only recognizes international driving permits granted by competent authorities of countries signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention in accordance to Clause 3 of the Ministry of Transport’s Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT dated on July 6, 2015, the unit noted, dismissing the validity of those issued by the IAA.

It warned that IAA permit holders are subject to penalties for driving without a valid license under police checks.

Therefore, in cases of violation of traffic laws where the driver uses an IAA international driving license, the traffic police all make a record of handling an administrative violation for not having a driving license.

PC08 affirmed that at the time of inspection by the authorities, drivers must present an international driving license (IDP) issued by the countries participating in the Vienna Convention, and at the same time present an international driving license that is valid for use in the territory of Vietnam.

According to provisions of Article 21 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended by Clause 11 Article 2 of Decree 123/2021/ND-CP) regulations on handling in case of not carrying a driving license, a fine ranging from VND 10 million (USD 426) to VND 12 million (USD 512) shall be imposed on drivers of cars, tractors and vehicles similar to cars without a driving license or using a driving license not issued by a competent authority. competent authority to issue or use erased driving license

A fine ranging from VND 4 million (USD 170) to VND 5 million (USD 213) shall be imposed on drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes with a cylinder capacity of 175 cm3 or more, and three-wheeled motorcycles without a driving license or using a driving license. Driving license not issued by a competent authority, Driving license erased

A fine ranging from VND 1 million (USD 42) to VND 2 million (USD 85) shall be imposed on operators of two-wheeled motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of less than 175 cm3 and vehicles similar to motorcycles without a driving license or using driving license not issued by a competent authority.

Accordingly, the penalty for the case of not having a driving license is much heavier than the penalty for forgetting the driving license.

As roads are expected to be crowded during the upcoming national holidays, there will be a heightened risk of traffic accidents and congestion.

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