Registration in Vietnam

Foreign travelers in Vietnam are required to register. Regardless of your visa category, you must register at the local police department within 24 hours of crossing the border. If you are staying in a hotel, guesthouse or hostel for the duration of your stay, in most cases the hotel management will take care of the registration formalities. If you are going to stay in private accommodation, e.g. with friends or acquaintances, you and the owner of the accommodation provided must visit a police registration center. Note, however, that private accommodation is generally not allowed if you are traveling on a tourist visa. Overnight camping in tents in Vietnam is only allowed as part of sightseeing tours due to the obligation to register. Registration in this case is the responsibility of the international or local tour operator.

In order to properly register, the host will require your passport and a valid visa to present at the local police department. Some hotels will make a copy of your identification document at check-in. Other hotels will collect guests' passports and store them in the hotel safe until departure.

With a valid visa, once registered, travelers are allowed to travel throughout the country. Exceptions are prohibited military zones and border areas. As these are not always clearly marked, it is advisable to consult local police authorities if you are traveling outside of Vietnam's typical tourist destinations.

Further information on registration in Vietnam can be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Vietnam in Berlin or other Vietnamese missions in your country.