Decoding Vietnam’s License Plates: Meaning and Feng Shui

“Good fortune is endless, a good car is nothing compared to a beautiful license plate,” a common saying among truck drivers at the parking lot near Thanh Tri Bridge, Hanoi, reminds me of my former colleague, Tuan “Lo”. After 5 years of driving a Dongfeng truck for his boss in Nguyen Van Cu Street, Long Bien, he finally bought his dream Hyundai Porter truck. Yet, what made him most joyful was getting a “five 9s” license plate. He said, such a beautiful license plate would surely bring good luck and fortune on every trip. Indeed, after changing the license plate, Tuan “Lo’s” business boomed.

The story of beautiful license plates bringing good luck is probably not unfamiliar, especially to those in the transportation industry like us. So, what are national license plates in Vietnam? What is their true meaning? Does the feng shui of a license plate affect the owner’s fortune? This article will help you decode the interesting mysteries surrounding national license plates in Vietnam.

National License Plates in Vietnam: Concept and Meaning

What is a License Plate?

A license plate, also known as a vehicle registration plate, is an important document issued by a competent state agency to manage and identify vehicles participating in traffic. Every vehicle on the road must have its own license plate, permanently attached to the front and rear of the vehicle.

What is a National License Plate?

Before 2012, license plates in Vietnam were issued based on the province or city where the vehicle was registered. However, from August 1, 2012, the Ministry of Public Security issued Circular 36/2010 regulating the application of unified license plates nationwide. Accordingly, the national license plate was born, without distinction by registration province as before.

The Meaning of National License Plates

The application of national license plates brings many important meanings:

• Synchronization and unification: The nationwide license plate system is managed in a unified, scientific, and modern way.
• Convenient for management: Helps authorities easily control and look up vehicle information, limiting the situation of stolen or fake vehicles.
• Creating equality: Eliminates local barriers, creating favorable conditions for people to buy, sell, and exchange vehicles between provinces and cities.

Classification of National License Plates

Based on color and symbols, national license plates are divided into many different types such as:

• Cars and trucks license plates: White background, black letters and numbers
• Commercial transport vehicle license plates: Yellow background, black letters and numbers (like my friend’s Thaco Towner truck in Cau Giay, specializing in transporting goods)
• Military vehicle license plates: Blue background, white letters and numbers
• Police vehicle license plates: Blue background, white letters and numbers, with specific symbols
• Diplomatic vehicle license plates: White background, blue letters and numbers, with the symbol NG

License Plate Feng Shui: Belief or Reality?

From ancient times, Vietnamese people have believed in the saying “there is worship, there is sacredness, there is abstinence, there is peace.” For business people, especially those who often have to travel by truck like us, choosing a beautiful license plate that matches feng shui is even more important.