How to Read Vietnamese License Plates in English

“Long journeys, long license plates,” my neighbor’s humorous saying reminds me of a backpacking trip with my college friends. On our first long-distance trip, we were confronted with a variety of license plates and had no idea how to read them. Asking for directions became even more confusing. So, we decided to learn how to read license plates in English to make our journey more confident and smoother.

What is a License Plate in English?

A license plate, also known as a number plate, is a metal or plastic plate attached to a vehicle for identification purposes. It usually contains a combination of letters and numbers, and each country has its own unique licensing system.

Did you know that a license plate is not just a random string of characters? It actually contains a lot of interesting information about the vehicle. For example, you can tell which province/city the vehicle is registered in, or even the year of manufacture.

Structure of Vietnamese License Plates and How to Read Them in English

Vietnamese license plates have a fairly diverse structure, but in general, they can be divided into 3 main parts:

1. Region Code (Local Symbol)

• The first two digits on the license plate indicate the province/city where the vehicle is registered. For example: 29 is Hanoi, 51 is Ho Chi Minh City, 30 is the former Ha Tay (now part of Hanoi),…
• When reading the region code in English, you simply read each digit individually. For example: 29 is read as “two nine”, 51 is read as “five one”.

2. Series Code

• The series code is usually a letter, following the region code.
• You can read this letter according to the English alphabet. For example: A is read as “A”, B is read as “B”, C is read as “C”,…

3. Registration Number

• The registration number is the final sequence of numbers on the license plate.
• You read each digit one by one, similar to reading the region code. For example: 123.45 is read as “one two three four five”.

Example:

The license plate 29A – 123.45 would be read as “two nine A – one two three four five“.

Vietnamese license plate example

Some Notes When Reading License Plates in English

• For newer license plates with an additional letter after the region code (e.g., 29A-123.45), simply read the letter according to the English alphabet.
• If the license plate has a hyphen “-“, you can read it as “dash”.
• When reading a license plate, speak slowly and clearly, especially when communicating with foreigners.

Spirituality and License Plates

Vietnamese people attach great importance to spirituality, and license plates are no exception. Many believe that a beautiful license plate with good feng shui will bring luck and fortune to the owner. Conversely, a bad license plate can bring misfortune.

Mr. Nguyen Van A, a car feng shui expert, said: “License plates affect the owner’s destiny. Choosing a license plate that matches the owner’s age and destiny can bring them good luck in life.”

Feng Shui and license plates

Frequently Asked Questions

• How to look up license plate information? You can look up license plate information on the website of the Vietnam Register or use license plate lookup apps on your phone.
• Is using a fake license plate illegal? Using a fake license plate is a violation of the law and will be heavily penalized.
• How to change a license plate? You can go to the registration office to carry out the procedures for changing your license plate.

Conclusion

Knowing how to read license plates in English is a useful skill in life, especially when traveling or communicating with foreigners. We hope this article has provided you with useful information.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or contact us at 0968239999, email [email protected] or address No. TT36 – CN9 Road, Tu Liem Industrial Zone, Phuong Canh Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. We are always ready to assist you 24/7.