Procedure for Converting a Foreign Driver's License to a Vietnamese Driver's License

Based on the provisions of Point i, Clause 5, Article 37 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT:

Vietnamese nationals (holding Vietnamese citizenship) residing, studying, or working abroad, who have been issued a valid foreign national driving license, may apply to convert it to a corresponding Vietnamese driving license if they wish to drive in Vietnam.

According to this regulation, if you previously worked in South Korea and obtained a South Korean driving license, upon returning to Vietnam, you may proceed with the procedures to convert it to a corresponding Vietnamese driving license.

The procedures are applied according to the provisions of Article 41 of Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT. Accordingly:

You need to prepare 01 set of documents and submit it directly to the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam or the Department of Transport (where you register your residence, stay, temporary residence, or long-term settlement). The documents include:

- Application form for the conversion of a driving license (for Vietnamese nationals as per the prescribed form in Appendix 19 issued with Circular 12/2017/TT-BGTVT);

- A translated copy of the foreign driving license into Vietnamese, certified for translation quality by a Notary Public or Embassy/Consulate in Vietnam where the translator works, with a notarized copy of the driving license attached; for Vietnamese nationals, present a consular legalized driving license or foreign driving license according to the provisions of laws on consular certification and legalization, except for cases exempted by law;

- A copy of the passport (part containing the passport number, full name and photo of the holder, validity period, and visa page for entry into Vietnam), identity card, or citizen identification card.

When coming to perform the procedures for converting the driving license, you need to have your photo taken directly at the licensing agency and present the originals of the above documents (except for the originals already submitted) for verification.

Sincerely!