On October 4, 2025, the Ministry of Construction unveiled a sweeping proposal to eliminate nearly a third of the investment and business conditions that have long governed Vietnam’s driver training industry. This bold step, detailed in a draft amendment to Decree 160/2024/ND-CP, marks a significant push toward simplifying administrative procedures, embracing digital transformation, and decentralizing management in a sector vital to public safety and economic mobility.
The Ministry’s draft, which is currently open for public comment, aims to remove 30% of the regulatory requirements that driver training centers must satisfy to operate. According to reports from DNTT Online, these proposed changes are not just a matter of trimming bureaucratic fat—they represent a fundamental rethinking of how the state oversees and facilitates driver education. The move aligns with the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW, issued by the Central Executive Committee on December 22, 2024, which calls for national innovation and a robust digital transformation across key industries.
Notably, the proposal would abolish several long-standing requirements. No longer would the head of a driver training facility need to be a principal or a director who serves as the legal representative of the organization. The obligation for managers to undergo specialized training in education management is also on the chopping block. As for physical infrastructure, the draft eliminates the rule that a facility must have at least 1,000 square meters of usable space, and that classrooms must be at least 48 square meters each—a change that, according to Hangthat.vn, could open the market to smaller and more flexible training providers.
Other notable removals include the stipulation that trucks used for B-class license training must weigh between 2,500 and 3,500 kilograms and comprise no more than 30% of the total training vehicles. The draft also proposes to scrap the restriction that a driving test ground can only be considered as one training ground when calculating training flow, as well as the requirement for waiting rooms and seating for students at training sites. Even the mandate that instructors hold a corresponding driving license or have a minimum of three to five years of experience, depending on the license class, would be axed.
Instead, the Ministry is betting on digital solutions to maintain and even enhance oversight. The draft introduces a new requirement: all driver training facilities must implement electronic identification and authentication systems. This technology would ensure that students are accurately identified at every stage of their journey, from registration to final testing. As DNTT Online notes, this is seen as a major leap forward in the sector’s digital transformation, fostering transparency, consistency, and efficiency.
Administrative processes are also set for a major overhaul. The Ministry proposes that most documents related to driver training—whether for licensing, learner permits, or instructor certification—can be submitted online. The legal value of these electronic documents would be recognized as equivalent to traditional paper files, a move that not only shortens processing times but also reduces compliance costs for both citizens and businesses. "The aim is to reduce business conditions, simplify administrative procedures, decentralize management authority, and promote digital transformation to build a transparent, modern driver training and testing system," the Ministry stated in its public communication.
One of the most consequential shifts in the draft is the proposed transfer of state management authority over driver testing. Currently, the Ministry of Transport (which, following recent government restructuring, is now the Ministry of Construction) oversees both training and testing. Under the new plan, the Ministry of Public Security would take over responsibility for driver testing, while the Ministry of Construction would retain its role in managing driver training. According to Hangthat.vn, this division of labor is designed to clarify responsibilities and further streamline the regulatory landscape.
The drive to cut red tape is not happening in a vacuum. The proposed reforms are part of a broader government strategy, as outlined in Decision 1757/QD-TTg dated August 18, 2025, to reduce and simplify administrative procedures across all sectors under the Ministry of Construction’s purview. The Ministry’s leadership argues that these changes will not only benefit the economy by lowering barriers to entry and operation, but also improve road safety by making training more accessible and oversight more effective.
For many industry insiders and would-be entrepreneurs, the most immediate impact of the draft could be the lowering of entry costs and the removal of cumbersome physical requirements. A training center, for example, would no longer need to secure a vast tract of land or invest heavily in specialized facilities just to meet regulatory minimums. Instead, the focus would shift to the quality of instruction and the integrity of student identification and assessment—a move that supporters say puts the spotlight where it belongs.
However, the draft does not entirely abandon the need for standards. The introduction of electronic identification and authentication systems is expected to raise the bar for operational transparency and fraud prevention. By tracking students through every step of their training and testing, regulators hope to close loopholes that have historically allowed for cheating or unqualified drivers slipping through the cracks.
Administrative simplification is another pillar of the reform. The Ministry’s plan to allow online submission of most documents—and to grant electronic files the same legal status as paper ones—reflects an understanding of how digital tools can cut through bureaucracy. "These changes are expected to reduce compliance costs, create maximum convenience for citizens and businesses, and improve state management efficiency in this field," the Ministry declared, echoing the optimism of many observers who see digital transformation as the key to modernizing Vietnam’s public services.
Of course, the proposed changes have sparked debate. Some stakeholders worry that removing certain requirements—such as minimum classroom size or instructor experience—could lead to a decline in training quality. Others argue that the shift toward digital authentication will require significant investment and technical know-how, potentially putting smaller or rural providers at a disadvantage. The Ministry, for its part, insists that the new standards will actually raise the bar by focusing on results and accountability rather than rigid inputs.
As the draft circulates for comment, the Ministry of Construction is encouraging feedback from all corners—industry professionals, educators, business owners, and ordinary citizens. The hope is that, by balancing deregulation with digital oversight, Vietnam can build a driver training and testing system that is not only more efficient, but also fairer and more transparent.
With the legislative process still underway, it remains to be seen how many of these proposals will make it into law. But one thing is clear: the Ministry’s plan signals a decisive break with the past, one that could reshape the way Vietnamese drivers are trained, tested, and certified for years to come.
