Overview
This guide sets out essential information for British national residing in Vietnam, including advice on entry requirements, health, education, driving regulations and more. We are unable to provide any guidance on general lifestyle enquiries apart from the information and links listed below. See our information on what consulates can and cannot do.
Vietnam entry requirements
All British nationals need to obtain a Vietnamese visa. The British Embassy/Consulate General is not involved with transferral/issuance or production of visas for Vietnam. If you are outside of Vietnam, please contact your nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. Location and contact details can be obtained via the Internet. If you are inside Vietnam and wish to transfer/extend your Vietnamese visa please contact the nearest Vietnamese Immigration office in the city you live in. Their contact details and further information on applying for a Vietnamese visa is available via their website.
Registering with us
If you live in Vietnam, you do not need to register with the British Embassy in Hanoi or the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. The Embassy no longer keeps a register of British residents in Vietnam.
You should read our travel advice and subscribe for email updates at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKGOVUK/subscriber/new
You can stay in touch with us on Facebook
Registering with local police
All non-Vietnamese nationals are required to register their presence with the local police. When checking into a hotel, you will have to hand over your passport so that the hotel can register your presence with the local police. Make sure your passport is returned and keep it in a safe place. Don’t use your passport as a deposit for renting a hotel room. If you are staying in private accommodation, you will still be expected to register. Ask your host to help you with this as soon as you arrive. You may be fined if you don’t register.
Legal Advice in Vietnam
Consular staffs are not qualified to offer any legal advice. If you have a legal enquiry (employment/contractual matters) please click on the following link to our list of lawyers in Vietnam.
Working in Vietnam
British Nationals working in Vietnam for 3 months or more require a work permit and an appropriate work visa. Your employer will need to help you obtaining a proper work permit. Working without a work permit is not permitted and you may be subject to a big fine as well as deportation order.
Driving licences and vehicles
If you would like to drive a vehicle or ride a motorbike in Vietnam you must have a Vietnamese driving licence. It is illegal to ride/drive in Vietnam without a driving licence. If you hold a valid International or a British driving licence you can use it to apply for a Vietnamese national driving licence. Depending on where you reside, you should contact the nearest Department of Transport for advice on the procedure.
Their offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are:
Department of Transport in Hanoi: 16 Cao Ba Quat Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
Department of Transport in Ho Chi Minh City at one of the following addresses:
252 Ly Chinh Thanh, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
8 Nguyen Anh Thu, Trung My Tay ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City
111 Tan Son Nhi, Tan Son Nhi ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City
21 bis, Duong so 9, KP 4, Truong Tho ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City
500-502 Huynh Tan Phat, Binh Thuan, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
Healthcare in Vietnam
The Medical facilities in Vietnam can be quite basic and there are not many English speaking hospitals. There are some international or private hospitals/medical clinics with English speaking environment and the fees are normally very high. Medi-vac to Singapore or Thailand can be very expensive. Please make sure you hold a valid medical insurance whilst staying in Vietnam. Please click on the following link to our list of some English speaking hospitals/medical centres in Vietnam
UK Healthcare
Your entitlement to free NHS treatment depends on the 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 Citizens’ Advice Bureau or NHS can provide further information.
Education
There are a number of English or international schools in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and some other big cities.
You can find information on International or English-speaking schools in Hanoi by visiting the website [http://hanoi-iwc.com] (http://hanoi-iwc.com). For information in Ho Chi Minh City, please visit the website http://www.livinginvietnam.com.
UK National Insurance
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] (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk), including how to make NI contributions from abroad.
Returning to the UK
If you live in Vietnam and are considering returning to live in the UK, 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.
Good Conduct Certificate/Police Certificate
Provincial level Justice Department can issue a “Judicial Record” to confirm if there is any criminal record about you during the time you reside in Vietnam.
The Embassy/Consulate General cannot help you to obtain this certificate. You may need to ask your Vietnamese employer or hire a local lawyer to apply on your behalf. You can find a list of local lawyers.
Emergency contacts in Vietnam
Police: 113
Fire: 114
Ambulance: 115
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCO and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.