“Unblocking the Bottleneck: The Ministry of Public Security’s Proposal to Clear the Backlog of 705,000 Driving License Examination Files” Let me know if you would like me to tweak it further or provide additional suggestions!

According to statistics from the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction), as of the transfer of driving test administration to the Ministry of Public Security, there were 705,105 individuals across Vietnam who had completed their driver’s education but had not yet taken the driving test. Of these, 340,483 individuals were seeking car driving licenses, and 364,622 were seeking motorcycle licenses.

In particular, certain localities such as Ho Chi Minh City (with 107,459 cases), Hanoi (72,978), Dong Nai (30,282), Da Nang (26,838), Quang Nam (23,907), and Binh Thuan (6,883) are experiencing severe backlogs, putting immense pressure on the existing driving test centers.

Currently, there are 160 licensed and qualified driving test centers across the country. However, the practice of awarding the contract to a single test center in each locality has led to significant congestion. People have to wait for extended periods to take their tests, while other qualified centers remain idle, resulting in a waste of resources and infrastructure.

The Ministry of Public Security assesses that if the current mechanism persists, citizens will not be able to choose a test center that suits their needs and residence, leading to increased travel costs and dissatisfaction among the public.

In a document sent to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security proposes allowing the organizing agency of the driving test to proactively choose a suitable center based on the number of registrants and their locations. This solution will help alleviate the pressure on overloaded centers and efficiently utilize the currently wasted infrastructure.

For the time being, the Ministry of Public Security suggests applying Clause 3, Article 82 of Decree 24/2024 (amended by Decree 17/2025) to permit the selection of contractors in special cases – specifically for driving test packages that are urgent and unique in nature. This will resolve the backlog of more than 705,000 cases and prevent further delays that affect the rights of citizens.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Public Security also requests that the Ministry of Finance report to the Government and the National Assembly to amend the Bidding Law promptly. The aim is to establish a legal framework that aligns with the unique nature of driving test center rental activities, ensuring flexibility and better serving the needs of society.

In Hanoi, the City Police’s Traffic Police Department stated that after taking charge, they promptly organized training for examiners, prepared infrastructure and personnel, and signed contracts with test centers to stabilize the driving test process.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Ministry of Public Security’s Traffic Police Department affirmed, “The localities that complete the process first will be allowed to organize the tests first, preventing a backlog of applications. For places with obstacles, the Department will provide direct guidance to expedite the process and ensure maximum convenience for the people.”