The test location is in Q.Tan Phu heading out of the North-West of Saigon - the unsealed road leading to it is harder than the actual test. The test is notoriously easy, and here I will document the photographic evidence. The course takes about 3 minutes to complete and consists of the following.
The figure of 8, where no one I spoke to knew if you were allowed to touch the yellow lines or not, you are not meant to put your foot down during the test either.
Exiting the figure of 8, attempt the 'straight line' (I agree, if you can't do this you really shouldn't be on a bike) and then on to the slalom. I say slalom.
Then it's on to the fearsome off-road track...
And that's it.
So after practising it is then a question of waiting for the test to start on time (or not). Luckily foreigners are afforded the luxury of going first and your names are called out. Three 'judges' sit at their desk trackside. Unfortunately, and this is a big tip for anyone with an upcoming test, you are not allowed to do the test wearing shorts. 75% of the foreigners turned up wearing shorts. Fortunately, my friend Craig happened to have his test on the same day so I stepped into his jeans whilst he donned my shorts. An unlucky Frenchman trudged out of the makeshift foreigner changing rooms in baggy trousers and a shirt two sizes too big for him, much to the amusement of the locals. It was all in good humour. The judges didn't pay a blind bit of attention to what was actually happening on the track, you could have driven into the coffee shop scattering chairs and tables and ending up with motorbike on top of you and had time to get up and resume the figure of 8 without them noticing. You finish and go and stand in front of the desk and they say 'Pass - good, very good!'. Will collect the plastic in 3 weeks.
17 comments:
I'm a little confused by that first picture...shorts and no helmet? I assume you put one on for the real test?
My test in An Giang featured the written test with a guy who looked over my shoulder the whole time until I had filled in enough correct answers and no driving test at all. I guess that's what the "foreigner" price was for. I still got 8/10 marks on the driving test though.
Yeah that was me before the test...you're out in AG?
Great pictures, my partner took his test a month or so ago but wouldn't agree to me going out to document it. Fear of failure?
back then, no helmet or driving test was required, it was up to one's parents judgment, if they see their kids "mature" enough to handle the motorcycle, normally, in the senior year of HS, then the father or the older bro would take his young bro to one those deserted streets or school play ground to teach him how to ride motorcycle... culturally, getting to ride motorcycle in VN is equivalent to get a car in the US. :)
speaking of driving, I'm told the reason why people in England drive on the left hand side of the road because it got to do with jousting in the middle age, imagine a scene, a jouster is coming down the lane, his left hand holds the shield and harness, his right hand holds the jousting stick, and his opponent is also coming down the opposite lane on his left, because the horse head is in the way, so he can't reach over it to knock the other guy off the horse . also, the vulnerability of the other guy is also on his right because he has the shield protect him on this side. one favorable way for one to knock off his opponent off his horse is coming down the lane on the left... that's how driving on left was "wired" in England :) dont know the reason for Japan case, probably, Samurais back then also exploited the odds of survival for coming down the "lane" on the left.:)
probably, there's scientific reasons for driving on the left.
Viet - I think I have heard that before with regards to driving on the left!
Was in An Giang. Now in the TP. :)
J. what is the address to go for this test in Saigon. I recently got the 90 days multiple-entry visa under the five year visa waiver program. And I understand that I can now obtain the Vietnamese bike license. I have a French license for a bike up to 125cc. Many thanks for your feedback.
If you already have a license for a motorbike you don't need to do a test...only the paperwork. Go to the office at 63 Ly Tu Trong to pick up the form and details on what you need to do. You need the application form stamped at your embassy, you need 8 photos, you need your visa notorized and driving lisence translated...you do that at No 1 Office on Pasteur and another office on Le Duan (for translation).
I took the test 6 months ago at the same place. When I did it there was no rule about wearing shorts - maybe they just wanted to mess with you. As you say, the test itself was simple. I practised for about an hour on my bike, until I could do it without thinking. Unfortunately, as it turned out, for the test we had to use one of the 4 official Honda Dream-style bikes they provided. They were all clapped out and had faulty brakes, so that was the real challenge. Oh, and the license is made from laminated paper, so it's not exactly durable - not that you'll be carrying it around with you because it's too big to fit in a wallet.
Reuben, I don't think they were messing us to be honest...it seemed to be the rule. Maybe they have changed it. Yes we also had to use the bike they provided with the shit brakes!
So if I have a motorcycle license in the US I can go to VN and just have the paperwork done so I can get a motorbike license in VN?? Please confirm if I am understanding correctly..
Linda, from my understanding that is correct. I got a car license as well with no test because I have a UK car license and it is the same with motorbikes.
Could you provide details as far as cost and location of where to get tested??
I read your blog from when you first started it and I must say that it was definitely worth reading over studying...
hi may I have the address of the place? I'm a singaporean living in vietnam. As a young adult this will probably be my first test.
Been riding a motorbike for half a year though.
Cheers!
i have no driving license car or bike. is it still possible to take the test and be legal to ride in vietnam?
Do they offer the written test in english? In the United States a lot of states offer the written test in vietnamese and other foreign languages.
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