As part of Vietnam’s plan to reorganize administrative units at all levels, the Ministry of Public Security has issued guidance to provincial police departments on vehicle registration and updated license plate symbols for 34 provinces and cities.

Effective July 1, all commune-level police and traffic police divisions will handle the registration of cars, motorcycles, and specialized vehicles for domestic organizations and individuals residing or headquartered within the same province or city.

Vehicle owners may now register their vehicles at either the provincial traffic police division or any commune-level police office within their locality. However, vehicles acquired from confiscations must be registered exclusively through the provincial traffic police.

In communes undergoing partial boundary restructuring or consolidation with other administrative units, registration services will temporarily be handled by the provincial traffic police while resident data systems are updated.

Regarding vehicle plate symbols, the updated system incorporates the codes of previously merged administrative units. Notable changes include dual or multiple codes for merged provinces. For example:

Hanoi: 29, 30 to 33, 40
Ho Chi Minh City: 41; 50, 51 to 59; 61, 72
Phu Tho: 19, 28, 88
Bac Ninh: 99, 98
Gia Lai: 81, 77
Central Department of Traffic Police) 80

The list of license plate codes for the 34 provinces and cities also includes:

Cao Bang - 11
Lang Son - 12
Quang Ninh - 14
Lao Cai - 24, 21
Quang Tri - 74, 73
Gia Lai - 81, 77
Lam Dong - 49, 48, 86
Dong Nai - 60, 39, 93
Can Tho - 65, 83, 95
Ca Mau - 69, 94
An Giang - 68, 67

According to the Department of Traffic Police, earlier-issued license plate codes of provinces retaining their names after administrative mergers will remain valid (e.g., Hung Yen - 89, Ninh Binh - 35, Dong Thap - 66, An Giang - 68). Once current code ranges are exhausted, subsequent registrations will use remaining codes in ascending order.

Dinh Hieu