Table of Contents
Holding two passports can make travel complicated. For dual citizens of Vietnam, the passport you present at immigration determines your entire legal status.
The Golden Rule: Your Passport Dictates Your Status
In Vietnam, your legal status is determined entirely by the passport you use to cross the border. You must use the same passport for both entry and exit.
Entering on a Vietnamese Passport
If you present your Vietnamese passport to immigration, you enter as a Vietnamese citizen.
- No Visa Required: You can enter freely and stay indefinitely without applying for a visa or exemption certificate.
- Rights & Obligations: You enjoy the rights of a citizen but are also subject to domestic laws (e.g., exit bans if you have outstanding tax debts in Vietnam).
Entering on a Foreign Passport
If you present your foreign passport (e.g., US, Australian, French), you enter as a foreign national, despite having Vietnamese blood.
- Visa or Exemption Required: You must apply for an eVisa or hold a 5-Year Visa Exemption. The eVisa is valid for up to 90 days and allows entry through 83 designated ports.
- Stay Limits: You must adhere strictly to the expiration date stamped in your foreign passport. Overstaying will result in fines.
Never mix passports. If you enter on your US passport, you cannot show your Vietnamese passport when leaving to avoid an overstay fine. The immigration system tracks entries and exits by document number. Make sure to check your visa requirements and apply online before traveling.