Living in Vietnam
This guide sets out essential information for British nationals residing in Vietnam.
Overview
Introduction
This guide sets out essential information for British nationals moving to or living in Vietnam, including where to find advice on health, education, benefits, residence requirements, finance and more.
We are unable to provide any guidance on general lifestyle enquiries apart from the information and links listed below. See Helping British people overseas: travelling and living abroad for more details of what our embassies, high commissions and consulates can and cannot do to help.
This information supplements our Vietnam Travel Advice
Our publication Support for British Nationals Abroad: a guide sets out the steps that British nationals can take to stay safe abroad, and gives details on what help the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide if you do get into difficulty.
Before you go
See our travel advice for Vietnam for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety, and emergencies.
See moving or retiring abroad.
The Embassy and Consulate-General will not be able to assist with individual Visitor visa extensions should you wish to stay in Vietnam, nor sponsor individual applications or sign NA5 forms (which has the same effect) as this involves legal and financial obligations. For those with a valid Work permit or Resident card, you can extend these at the Immigration office with the assistance and support of your family or employer.
What you should do
Stay up to date
You should:
- sign up for email alerts to this guidance
- follow the UK in Vietnam on Facebook
Entry and residency requirements
See Vietnam travel advice for entry requirements for British passport holders.
Vietnam has visa waivers for the nationals of 13 countries including the UK. Visa waivers allow for visits to Vietnam without needing to apply for a visa.
Since March 2022 there has been a 45-days visa exemption for UK passport holders (except for British National Overseas). For BNO passport holders, contact the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate to apply for a visa.
If you apply for the e-visa while in Vietnam and are successful, you must leave the country before your initial stay expires to validate the e-visa.
Visit the Vietnamese Immigration Department website for further information and contact details of your nearest office. You may find the Vietnamese language page has more up-to-date information than the English version. Due to the high volume of enquiries, it may take some time to reach the relevant authorities.
Visitor visas are issued to foreigners for a limited duration and on the basis that visitors must leave on or before the date of expiry. Those who come to Vietnam to work are required to apply for a Work permit. You should check the visa validity and conditions carefully. Overstaying your Visitor visa is a serious matter and you may be delayed from travel until a fine is paid, and may be prevented from visiting Vietnam again in the future.
If you want to stay in Vietnam, you must do so legally and with the right visa. Direct your visa-related enquiries to the nearest Immigration office.
We are aware that some foreigners have been using visa companies to submit visa applications to extend their stay in Vietnam without leaving the country. The UK government cannot control these services or rates charged by commercial companies. Neither are we able to recommend specific companies.
You cannot leave Vietnam without a valid visa.
Vietnamese Immigration requirement: you must use the same passport to enter and exit Vietnam. If you lose your passport and apply for an emergency travel document while you’re in Vietnam, you will need to apply for an exit visa on the new travel document which can take between 3 to 7 days to be issued.
If you wish to sponsor visa for family members/dependants you should contact the nearest Immigration office for instruction.
Transfer your Vietnamese visa to your new UK passport
When you get a new UK passport, you’ll need a visa transfer letter to move your Vietnamese visa from your old passport to your new one at the Immigration Office.
You can get the letter from the British Embassy Hanoi and the British Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City.
You’ll have to pay a fee to get the letter and will need to provide your:
- full name
- new and old passport numbers
- last entry date to Vietnam
- contact number
- address
Healthcare and medication
Visit the Health section of our Travel Advice for detailed advice on medical services, vaccinations, and health risks in Vietnam.
Standard of health care in public hospitals is different from in the UK. If you wish to receive the same health care standard as in the UK, you should consider using private hospitals.
See list of medical facilities in Vietnam for more details.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any form of medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it available, or are able to obtain it once in Vietnam. Certain medicines may not be available in Vietnam (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from bringing them into the country You should consult your GP before travelling to Vietnam to learn of any alternatives which may be available.
Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines.
Health insurance
If you are resident in Vietnam ensure you have taken out an appropriate health insurance policy.
If you are a visitor, arrange comprehensive travel insurance before you travel. Make sure your policy covers the following:
- an air ambulance, in case you need to be flown home by this means
- full medical cover (medical bills can be expensive)
- repatriation of your remains in the event of death
- repatriation of your family in the event it is necessary for you to return home due to illness or injury
Working in Vietnam
If you want to work in Vietnam you must have a valid work permit. For more information speak to your employer who will apply the work permit on your behalf.
If you have degree certificates, professional qualifications, job references, and police checks you must legalise them before they can be accepted by Vietnamese authorities. For information on how to get your documents legalised for use in Vietnam see legalisation of signatures and official stamps.
Money and banking
Vietnam has local and international banks that offer commercial banking services. While ATMs can be found almost everywhere, local bank cards might only work at ATMs under the same network. Find out which ATM network your bank belongs to before making any cash withdrawals.
Credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted in major cites, however large parts of Vietnam such as urban area may operate cash only payments.
If you wish to transfer money out of Vietnam, you must use money transfer services e.g. Wise, MoneyGram, or Western Union. You cannot transfer money internationally from your Vietnamese bank account unless the recipient is a member of your family.
Tax
See tax if you leave the UK to live abroad and tax on your UK income if you live abroad.
See Double Taxation Agreement between UK and Vietnam.
For more information speak to your employer who will complete your tax profile on your behalf. If you do not work but need more information about your tax profile contact a local lawyer. See our list of English-speaking lawyers.
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Vietnam.
You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
Pensions
See State Pension if you retire abroad and new State Pension.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
Benefits
See claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad.
Find out which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit can’t be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Driving in Vietnam
See driving abroad and Road travel section on our Travel Advice.
Vietnamese driving licences are mandatory for all drivers of motor vehicles as well as for riders of motorcycles with a capacity of 50cc or greater. Non-Vietnamese citizens are only permitted to drive in Vietnam if they hold a temporary Vietnamese driver’s licence. For more information, contact the nearest Transportation Office.
If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying, or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office e.g. the DVLA.
See taking a vehicle out of the UK.
The quality of roads in Vietnam can vary, caution should be taken, especially when travelling at night.
You should be extremely careful when deciding to drive any kind of vehicle in Vietnam. To drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Vietnam:
- you must have the correct licence. You can apply for an International Driving Permit if you already hold a UK driving licence
- you must make sure you have adequate and appropriate insurance for the category of vehicle you are using
Note that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and you risk being detained, fined or banned from driving.
If you do not follow the rules above it may invalidate your travel insurance if you have an accident or injury.
Riding a motorcycle
A high number of road traffic accidents involve motorcycles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Vietnam as a dangerous country for fatalities on motorcycles. A number of British people have been killed or seriously injured in accidents. Exercise extreme caution if you hire a motorcycle and always wear a helmet - it is illegal not to.
Hiring a vehicle
If you decide to hire a vehicle, do not hand over your passport as a guarantee (it is a legal requirement to carry identification with you at all times). You should offer an alternative proof of ID such as a photocopy.
Make sure you hire from a reliable rental shop, that you are covered by your travel insurance, and check the small print of the lease agreement. Motorcycles or scooters for hire in beach resorts are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road.
In addition, when doing tours on Motorbikes the size of the motorbike engine varies from self-driven bikes to bikes driven by a tour operator (known as easy riders), the higher engine sizes used by tour guides can sometimes invalidate insurance so refer to your insurance policy requirements.
Quad bikes/ATVs
Riding quad bikes can be dangerous. They may be available to hire in some tourist areas near beaches. It is also illegal to drive one on the road in Vietnam as they cannot be registered for a licence plate.
Coach travel
There have been a number of serious accidents involving overnight coach travel. All sleeper buses in Vietnam are required to have seat belts in order to be licensed. Drivers and passengers are required by law to wear seat belts.
If you are in any doubt about the safety of your transport provider or are involved in an incident, ensure you record the vehicle registration information, date, time, and location of incidents and contact the Police on 113 and Ambulance services on 115.
Language, social ethics and traditions
- language: Vietnamese is the first language of the majority of the Vietnamese population, as well as a first or second language for the country’s ethnic minority groups
- religion: Ancestor worship is the most popular belief amongst the Vietnamese people. Of the major world religions, Buddhism is prevalent followed by Catholicism. Atheism and Animism are also widespread
- attitudes (and legal position) towards LGBT: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are generally tolerated in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City where there is a larger LGBT community. The Law on Marriage and Family 2014 came into effect in January 2015 provided some rights to same sex couples and allow same-sex marriage. Although it allows same-sex weddings, such couples are neither recognised nor protected under the law for matters such as persona and property rights
Voting
British nationals living abroad can vote in some UK elections – you’ll need to register as an overseas voter.
Births, deaths and getting married
Births
A baby born in Vietnam must be registered within 60 days from the date of birth at the local Justice Office where the father or mother resides or you will be subject to a fine.
If one of the parents is a foreign national, the Vietnamese authorities may ask them to provide a nationality agreement form. Note that you are not required to have this signed by the British Embassy Hanoi or the British Consulate-General Ho Chi Minh City in order to obtain the birth certificate.
Note that the British Embassy and Consulate-General in Vietnam are unable to assess a child’s nationality and that British nationality can only be determined by His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). Therefore, our office no longer provides the child nationality agreement form.
If one of the parents is a British National, and the other parent is Vietnamese, you have the option to put Vietnamese on the birth certificate and submit the document to HMPO to apply for your child’s first UK passport.
If both parents are British Nationals, the nationality on the birth certificate can be left blank (this cannot be amended later). Leaving the nationality blank, does not stop a child from claiming British citizenship, if they are eligible.
If one parents is British National and the other parents is a third country national, you have the option to check with your partner’s Embassy and Consulate-General if their missions can provide a child nationality agreement form. If that’s possible, you can put your child’s nationality as the ‘third country’ nationality and apply for your child’s UK passport.
To confirm the nationality of your child, once you have received a local birth certificate make a passport application online with His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) as soon as possible.
A UK-style birth registration certificate is not mandatory. If you’d like one for your baby anyway, see register a birth abroad.
Deaths
See what to do after someone dies and bereavement information Vietnam.
Getting married
See getting married abroad. If you want to get married in Vietnam you will need to obtain an affirmation or an affidavit of marital status how to book an appointment.
The British Embassy Hanoi conducts same sex marriage (one person must be British) UK Consular Marriages and Marriages under Foreign Law (Number 2) Order 2014. With the agreement of the Government of Vietnam but such marriages are not, at this time, recognised in Vietnamese law.
Legal and other services
List of English speaking lawyers, translators and interpreters who may be able to provide you with legal services and official translations in Vietnam. Note that inclusion in this list does not constitute official endorsement by the Embassy or the Consulate-General or the UK government.
Notarial and documentary services
Information on how to apply for notarial and documentary services available at the Embassy and Consulate-General in Vietnam.
British passport services
See overseas passport applications. If you have questions on the application process, contact the Passport Adviceline. The Embassy and Consulate-General is not part of the passport application process, so we’re unable to give any advice on this. If you have questions on the application process, contact the Passport Advice line.
If you need to travel urgently, you can apply for an emergency travel document.
Pets
See travelling with pets.
Emergencies
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111 Hotline for child protection, 24/7, free of charge
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112 National search and rescue
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113 Police
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114 Fire
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115 Ambulance
These numbers are not always answered and may not have English speaking staff.
Accommodation and buying property
With the effectiveness of the Vietnamese Law on Residential Housing in 2015, foreigners can purchase as many property units as they desire and there is no limitation on the total purchase of property units. Nonetheless, there are some restrictions. The number of property units in one administrative ward a foreigner can own is limited. A foreigner can only purchase a maximum of 30% units of the condominiums and are not allowed to own more than 10% properties of a landed project.
Foreigners are not allowed to purchase land in Vietnam. They are allowed to use and control the land they lease with a leasehold period of up to 50-70 years. The leasehold period if renewable.
Freehold ownership is not permitted for foreigners unless a foreigner is married to a Vietnamese national.
Leaving Vietnam
If you have not made full National Insurance (NI) contributions, remember you may not be eligible for state benefits or support. HM Revenue & Customs provide some useful information on returning to live in the UK for non-residents, including how to make NI contributions from abroad.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
See tax if you return to the UK.
Returning to the UK
If you live in Vietnam and are considering returning to live in the UK (for example on retirement) you should consider how you will support yourself, and how non-British members of your family may be able to accompany you. There is information available to help you make informed choices about living abroad and thinking about returning to the UK.
National Insurance (NI)
If you have not made full NI contributions, you may not be eligible for state benefits or support. HM Revenue & Customs provide some useful information on returning to live in the UK for non-residents, including how to make NI contributions from abroad.
Healthcare
Your entitlement to free NHS treatment depends on length and purpose of your residence in the UK, not your nationality. You must be able to show UK residency to be eligible for free treatment, even if you are a British citizen. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau or NHS can provide further information.
Visas
If you wish to return to live in the UK with family members who do not hold British citizenship, they will need to meet the UK’s immigration requirements for settlement in the UK. See the UK Visa and Immigration page for more details.
See the UK Visa and immigration.
Disclaimer
Note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Vietnamese authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Updates to this page
Last updated 11 October 2024 + show all updates
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Added information on getting a visa transfer letter.
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Updated sections: Entry and residency requirements, Money and banking, Driving in Vietnam and Births.
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Update new info
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New information added
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) part has been removed
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Update on registering the birth of a child born in Vietnam
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Update on Coronavirus
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Update the guide.
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Update the guide
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Update to Health, Visa & Immigration, Entry & Residence Requirements, Driving licences and vehicles.
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Addition of information on Visa extensions
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Addition of guidance on Covid-19, Health and Visa & Immigration
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Addition of guidance on Covid-19, Health and Visa & Immigration
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TO update more information upon request of HQ.
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First published.