Can Tho City, located in the Mekong Delta, is experiencing a significant backlog of around 3,000 driving license applications due to a shortage of printing materials. This issue has forced the city to prioritize the renewal and re-issuance of licenses only for necessary cases.

The Department of Transport in Can Tho is currently processing approximately 300 priority applications daily, focusing on licenses nearing their renewal date, or those that are lost or overdue. Despite the efforts, about 3,000 applications have been backlogged since early May.

Normally, the issuance of a new license takes just 15 days. However, according to Nguyen Dang Khoa, the department’s deputy director, the shortage of printing materials, including ink and adhesive film, has led to extended issuance times. The reserve of these materials has nearly been exhausted since the beginning of the year.

The new Bidding Law, effective from early 2024, requires that procurement of goods for specialized tasks valued over VND100 million (USD 3,900) undergo local bidding processes. This change has contributed to the delay in acquiring necessary printing supplies. Khoa stated that the department has completed the required procedures and is awaiting city approval for budget estimates and bidding plans. The situation is expected to normalize by early August.

In the meantime, Khoa advises citizens to delay renewing licenses that are still valid but need address updates, or old, faded licenses that remain valid, to avoid congestion.

Can Tho currently operates 12 motor vehicle training and examination centers, with over 2,000 candidates passing the examination each month, all of whom require new driver’s licenses.