I find it hard to believe that this hasn't been asked before but I tried a few different key word searches and found nothing. So, does anybody know if it's possible to get a Vietnamese driving licence (for a motorbike) if you haven't got one from home? In other words can you take the test here? If so, is it expensive, easy etc? Thanks.

Has anyone here ever successfully gotten a "Permanent Resident Card" by virtue of being married to a Vietnamese national? How long did you have to be here before qualifying? I read this thread: http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/en/aska/answers/qid/1872 and thought I would be clever and get around this whole working paper issue by doing the paperwork and getting my permanent residency card. In that thread, one poster quoted: the "ORDINANCE ON ENTRY, EXIT AND RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM" specifically Article 13 1. Foreigners temporarily residing in Vietnam under one of the following circumstances shall be considered for permanent residence: c) They are spouses, offspring, parents of Vietnamese citizens residing in Vietnam." I went to the Immigration department in Tran Hung Dao Stre...

Can anyone please advise on whether I can choose Western names for my baby's Vietnamese birth certificate, or do all the names have to be Vietnamese? Brief summary of my position...my wife is Vietnamese, and I am from the UK. We live in Vietnam, and we had a baby here recently. We want the baby's main first name to be Western, with Vietnamese middle name and my surname. We are attempting to get a Vietnamese birth certificate, but the Ministry appear to be saying that we can only choose Vietnamese names. Is this the law? Does the choice of nationality that we will choose for the baby (UK or VN) have any bearing on this? Any other factors I need to consider? We plan to get a British passport for the baby in due course. First-hand experience and/or legal advice especially appreci...

Hi friends, I'm planning to buy a used motorbike from a foreigner with NN number plate registered under his name. I am working in vietnam with a valid work permit and temporary residence card. I would like it to be re-registered in my name as he is leaving the country in two months. I am not sure about the documents required and the registration fee. Any help on this would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know how to deal properly with income taxes I have been here under one year and need to consider a longer-term stay-taxes will be a big part of the decision-currently I don't think my employer is doing any tax stuff (assigning me a tax number),I don't have a formal work contract (didn't bother as last employer screwed me on every promise)If Im going to stay on-I need to get this stuff sorted out-anyone know a good accountant- (Im actually a CFP but this stuff here is beyond me !)

Hi all, The deadline for PIT finalization is approaching and, as I hadn't been at my company long enough, they don't do it for me. I went on the tax website to try to do it myself but was quickly faced with an "upload file" request and didn't know what file they wanted and couldn't find any info about it anywhere. Attempt ended. Does anyone have experience doing their PIT finalization here themselves? Or do they know any agency that will do it for me? Really starting to cause a headache. Any info would be massively appreciated. Cheers!

I need to get something notarized. Any country's notary is fine. I'd rather not have it done at my country's embassy, as my country has regulatory issues that would make the deal, which is just a simple sale of property, impossible. I've found it impossible to get a Vietnamese notary to notarize something. Is there anywhere in Vietnam, or another country in the region for that matter, where I can just go in, show my passport, pay the fee, sign the document in front of them, and they will stamp it?

We have had to bring my 86 year old Danish mother in-law over to Hanoi to live near us. We need a 24 hour care giver with her who speaks good English. Its not possible for foreigners to hire Vietnamese to live with them, so we have found excellent Filipino candidates to hire through an agency. The agency cannot help me for Vietnamese visas as most go to more developed countries and they are only set up for those. Can anyone help me in the process involved for getting visas for a Filipino (foreign) domestic helper? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I am planning on returning to university next year and I need some documents certified for my application by an Australian Justice of the Peace. As I have a few documents (8-10), this quickly adds up when you have them certified at the Australian Embassy. Does anyone know of a JP living in Hanoi and who is happy to certify documents? Thanks, Sarah

I have to get a passport photo/s fairly quickly?. I am wondering if there are any shops around To Ngoc Van or Xuan Dieu that do this. Or not far from there? I am aware of some in town, but because of some necessary to-ing and fro-ing it would be easier to say in that area.

I need a police clearance from the US to get a teaching visa. My state allows me to request it by mail, but I need to send a check or money order along with my application. Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a US dollar money order, or maybe a bank check? Thanks.

I currently am in the process of starting work for 2 companies. One of them is an agency that sends teachers to public schools and the other is a language centre. Both require me to get a work permit. Can I work 2 separate jobs on 1 permit? Or is a permit linked to the one employer? Can I have 2 work permits? Or will I just be unable to work for both?? Haven't gone through this process before so a bit confused. Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Hi, I am trying to decide between HSBC and ANZ to open up a bank account here in Hanoi. I have tried to read most of the previous posts on this site and it seems as though people might lean toward HSBC. Nearly every other employee at the school I work at though uses ANZ, possibly by default. Trying to decide if I should follow the herd or be advised by prior posts on this site from 2 or 3 years ago. If anyone has opinions or experience with these two banks more recently I would interested to hear about it. I would be only using the account as an atm account and transferring money back to the US four or five times a year. Thanks for your help

Is there a reliable service in Hanoi to have documents delivered? For example, if I want to have some documents translated and notarized is there a service one can call to have them collect the documents, deliver them, secure receipt of delivery and then collect the documents when they are prepared? Sorry if this has been asked but I can't find anything on the topic. Many of us are familiar with a motorbike or bicycle courier for this type of service. Not sure if it exists in Hanoi or not? Looking for some names and numbers. Thanks.

Hi everyone! I'm Vietnamese and my husband is American. I'm pregnant and will due in November. Now we are trying to find out how to register birth certificate for our child later. And will he automatically be American citizen? All information will be appreciated. Thank you guys :))

I am about to leave the US for Hanoi where I have a job with a school. Naturally, they have asked me to bring my documents along to obtain a work visa. Already have the police check sorted out so have my degree, college transcript and teaching certificates that are listed as necessary. My HR contact is asking that I 'certify' these documents. Does getting copies of each document stamped by a notary fulfill this requirement? Is there something more I can do here in America or do I need to do it at the embassy in Vietnam when I arrive. Thanks for any help

Grant mentioned in a thread a while back that transferring money out of Vietnam via Western Union is "unworkable." Can Grant, or anyone else, expand on that? Is it not allowed, or what, exactly?

I am currently trying to get a work permit as an English teacher here in Hanoi. I have all the paperwork except the proof of 5 years experience. I was told that this was only necessary for universities and not for private language schools. Is this true?

Je vis actuellement à Hanoi et je souhaite partir au Canada des cet été pour cela ils me demandent de leur fournir un extrait de cassier judiciaire dans les pays lesquels j'ai vécu plus de 6 mois durant les 5 années précédentes. De ce fait j'ai contacté l'ambassade des émirats arabes unis ou en leurs demandant les documents nécessaires à leurs fournir pour obtenir ce document. Le problème arrive ici, ils me demandent de leurs fournir une copie certifié de mes empreintes digitales(certified fingerprints form), je leurs ai donc demandé d'obtenir ces dernières mais sans réponse ni auprès de l'ambassade de France. Voila je ne sais pas ou me renseigner maintenant puis je dois faire ma demande de visa dans les semaines qui arrivent et j'ai besoin de ce document pour l'obtenir. Merci...

Hi anybody know about translation/notarizing place in Hanoi nearby Tay ho area? i want to apply for birth certificate of my son. i have Marriage certificate in English, its need to translate into english? or HANOI Justice Department accept Marriage certificate in English