Vietnam's Traffic Police Department (Cuc CSGT), under the Ministry of Public Security, has put forth a draft circular proposing major changes to the country's driving license examination and issuance process. Open for public comment until 18/6, the proposals aim to enhance driver competency by increasing the number of theoretical questions, extending road test durations, and removing the controversial simulation test.
The department argues that the current theoretical tests are too limited, allowing candidates to rely on memorization rather than genuine understanding. The existing questions primarily focus on general traffic rules, lacking content on practical situation handling and traffic culture. This new approach seeks to instill a proactive mindset towards accident prevention among prospective drivers.
Under the new draft, theoretical exams will see a substantial increase in questions and duration, alongside adjusted passing scores. The proposed changes are detailed below:
| Vehicle class | Increased number of questions | Increased exam duration (minutes) | Correct answers needed to pass |
| Class A, A1 motorcycle | from 25 to 40 | from 19 to 27 | 36/40 |
| Class B1 motorcycle | from 25 to 50 | from 19 to 33 | 45/50 |
| Class B car | from 30 to 50 | from 20 to 33 | 45/50 |
| Class C1 car | from 35 to 60 | from 22 to 40 | 54/60 |
| Class C car | from 40 to 70 | from 24 to 47 | 63/70 |
| Class D1, D2, D car | from 45 to 90 | from 26 to 60 | 72/90 |
| C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE | from 45 to 90 | from 26 to 60 | 81/90 |
Beyond theory, the Traffic Police Department also seeks to improve practical driving assessments. The current road test, which requires car drivers to complete a minimum distance of 2 km with four basic lessons (starting; increasing gear, increasing speed; decreasing gear, decreasing speed; and finishing), is deemed insufficient for evaluating a candidate's true driving ability.
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Candidates taking the simulated driving test in Hanoi in 4/2026. Photo: Viet An |
The proposal suggests extending the minimum road test distance for car drivers from 2 km to 5 km. This extended route would incorporate a wider range of real-world traffic situations, including three-way and four-way intersections, branch roads merging into main or priority roads, roundabouts, traffic lights, and pedestrian crossings. Furthermore, the number of practical test lessons would increase from four to 12, providing a more comprehensive assessment of driving skills.
A notable change is the proposed removal of the simulation test. The department views this segment as ineffective, stating it fails to accurately reflect real traffic conditions and often includes "tricky" scenarios that challenge candidates unnecessarily rather than truly assessing their driving competence.
The proposed reforms are part of an ongoing effort to improve road safety and ensure that newly licensed drivers possess the necessary skills and awareness for Vietnam's increasingly complex traffic environment.
Viet An
