I returned my car to my dad today.
Back in 2024, when I was still living in Vinhomes Ocean Park, I got a message from my mom: my parents were going to be separated. With my sister still overseas, I was the only one in Hanoi at that moment, so I moved back home to talk to both of them.
My dad’s wish during the separation was for me to move back and put my name down as the owner of one of our apartments. The remaining cash was meant to buy a car for me, since my mom no longer wanted him spending money on his personal hobbies.
Yeah, I inherited it, just like that.
I earned my driving license in 2023
In late 2023, about six months before my parents’ argument, I started taking driving lessons. It was one of the most meaningful things I did while I was single. The course cost around 19 million VND, bringing the total to 22 million VND, for a manual transmission license. Today, it is much more expensive.
For about three months, I rode my old motorbike 26 km each way to the driving school, a 50 km round trip. I don’t know where I found the energy, but all I felt back then was a strong determination: I have to learn how to drive.
The lessons were tough because I chose a manual car course. There were two male students in my group, as most women opted for the much easier automatic license. I got scolded a lot because the guys naturally picked things up faster than I did.
I had to take the test twice
I failed my first attempt when my car rolled backward during the hill-start test.
On my second try, I passed, using an older manual car with a pull-ring reverse. I got lucky. Newer manual cars are so light that you can easily overshoot the line if you accelerate too fast, or roll backward if you don’t give it enough gas.
That older model was much heavier, so all I had to do was push forward steadily without worrying about the car lunging too quickly. My instructor was shocked that I passed before the two guys, considering I was the weakest student in the group.
I drove 50,000 km in my first year
Driving became therapy for me during a difficult period. I only struggled with the lessons, not with the actual driving.
I waited until April 2024 to get the car. Later, I asked my mom to register it under her name - it was my parents’ money anyway. She was happy to do it and even asked me to help her pass her own driving test. She ended up failing seven times, and even after she finally got her license, nobody in the family let her behind the wheel.
From then on, I drove everywhere. My apartment back then was across the bridge, so my daily commute alone was at least 30 km, for only driving to work. I also drove frequently through the Old Quarter and narrow neighborhoods just to sharpen my skills.
I was working at AhaSlides, and my apartment was across the bridge, so I drove at least 30 km each way.
In that first year, I clocked 50,000 km. It was fun and challenging, though maintenance and fuel costs quickly piled up.
That number sounds crazy, so let me break it down. My commute alone was 30+ km each way, which works out to roughly 15,000 km a year. The other 35,000 km came from weekend trips to the northern provinces, plus driving my mom around to practice for her test. Driving was how I got through that year. Whenever I felt too heavy, I’d take the car out and just drive no real destination.
Then I realized: it is just a vehicle
In November 2025, I got married. My husband’s house is right in the city center, just a 15-minute walk from my office.
Owning a car in the city center is a nightmare. Parking fees, fuel, and maintenance costs all add up. Eventually, quitting a car was the most logical option.
My parents insisted that I keep it, arguing that since my son is one and a half now, traveling by car is safer for him. I agreed with them in principle, yet taking a taxi is far more convenient and cost-effective than maintaining a private vehicle. Even if we go out every single weekend, our ride-hailing expenses only come out to around 500,000 VND for two days, and we don’t even go out that often.
If you drive daily or live more than 10 km away from your office, then yes, owning a car makes complete sense for your health and comfort. But if you live in the city center, riding a compact scooter alongside apps like Grab or Xanh SM is common sense.
You spare yourself the constant fees and strict urban parking policies, especially given how chaotic Hanoi traffic can be.
Having a Car in Hanoi: City Center vs. Suburbs
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Car in Hanoi?
| Monthly cost | City center | Suburbs |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | 1.25-2M VND in a condo basement, or 4-6M VND for a day-and-night street spot | 1.2-1.5M VND in a condo basement, or ~2M VND on the street |
| Fuel | ~1.5M VND (short trips) | ~1.7-2.9M VND (12,000-15,000 km a year) |
| Road maintenance fee | 130,000 VND | 130,000 VND |
| Compulsory third-party insurance | ~40,000 VND (480,700 VND a year) | ~40,000 VND |
| Servicing + optional comprehensive insurance | ~1M VND | ~1M VND |
| Total | ~4-9M VND | ~4.5-6M VND |
The big variable is parking. Since 15 Oct 2026, Hanoi has raised its on-street parking rates. A monthly day-and-night spot in the center now can now cost to 5-6M VND, up from 3-4M VND. If your building has no basement, parking alone can cost more than the fuel, the fees and the servicing combined.
Living in the suburbs doesn’t make a car much cheaper. You save on parking but spend more on fuel. The difference is that in the suburbs the car replaces taxi trips you’d otherwise take every day. In the city center, it mostly replaces a 2-minute Grab ride.
So yes, think twice before owning a car if you’re on a budget.
City Center versus Suburbs
| Factor | In Hanoi City Center (Nội đô) | In the Suburbs (Ngoại ô / KĐT vệ tinh) |
| Daily Travel | Short distances (under 5 km); faster to walk by foot or ride a scooter. | Long distances, between 10-30km+ daily; crossing bridges or highways |
| Parking Slots | A daily nightmare; limited slots, narrow alleys, expensive with strict street parking bans. | Easy and plentiful: Dedicated basement or roadside parking at apartments. |
| Monthly Cost | ~4-9M VND | ~4.5-6M VND |
| Traffic | Heavy congestion, tight Old Quarter streets, high risk of minor scratches. | Much wider roads, smoother traffic flow, and a much more relaxing driving experience. |
| Alternative Transport | Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Xanh SM) arrive in 2 minutes and cost very little for short trips. | Fewer nearby drivers during off-peak hours; ride-hailing costs add up quickly for long commutes. |
| Overall Verdict | Optional / Costly - Better off quitting a car and using a scooter along with ride-hailing apps. | Necessary / Worth It - Save up lots of taxi fees. Protects your health, time and family comfort. |
In the end
So who owns the car now? On paper, it’s my mom’s; in practice, it’s my dad’s. I already handed him the keys. When we need a car for a weekend trip, I just borrow it from him.
Having a license and driving was a blast, and it remains my ultimate therapy. Back in 2023, I thought owning a car was cool and a symbol of status.
Today, the hassle of keeping a car in the city is no longer worth the reward. I would much rather spend my time and energy with my husband and my little boy. The car was simply a symbol of a cool, single lifestyle - one that I no longer need to hold onto.
Cost Reference
- Street parking rates (Decision 5794/QĐ-UBND, effective 15 Oct 2026) and fuel cost estimate: CafeF / Tiền Phong
- Condo basement parking (1.25-2M VND/month): Thanh Tra
- Condo parking outside Ring Road 3 (1.2-1.5M VND/month): Báo Pháp Luật
- Road maintenance fee (130,000 VND/month for privately registered cars): Thư Viện Pháp Luật
- Compulsory third-party insurance (480,700 VND/year for cars under 6 seats): HSBC Vietnam premium table
- Comprehensive insurance (about 1.5% of the car’s list price per year): oto.com.vn
- Servicing and my own fuel bill: my personal expenses, 2024-2025.
