Convert a string to a datetime

You should have to use Date.ParseExact or Date.TryParseExact with correct format string.

 Dim edate = "10/12/2009"
 Dim expenddt As Date = Date.ParseExact(edate, "dd/MM/yyyy", 
            System.Globalization.DateTimeFormatInfo.InvariantInfo)

OR

 Dim format() = {"dd/MM/yyyy", "d/M/yyyy", "dd-MM-yyyy"}
 Dim expenddt As Date = Date.ParseExact(edate, format,  
     System.Globalization.DateTimeFormatInfo.InvariantInfo, 
     Globalization.DateTimeStyles.None)

OR

Dim format() = {"dd/MM/yyyy", "d/M/yyyy", "dd-MM-yyyy"}
Dim expenddt As Date
Date.TryParseExact(edate, format, 
    System.Globalization.DateTimeFormatInfo.InvariantInfo, 
    Globalization.DateTimeStyles.None, expenddt)