Article 1 of Vietnam’s Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners defines the scope of the immigration regime. It sets out principles, conditions, and procedures for entry, exit, transit, and residence; the rights and obligations of foreigners; and the responsibilities of Vietnamese agencies, organizations, and hosts that manage or invite foreigners.
Who this guide is for (and what problem it solves)
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Travelers & families: “Do I need to register my address? What if my dates change?”
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Expats, students, contractors: “Which permits apply to my stay beyond the e-Visa?”
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Employers, hotels, tour operators, event organizers: “What are our legal responsibilities when we invite or host foreigners?”
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Compliance teams & counsel: “Where does the law draw the line between traveler rights and host obligations?”
What Article 1 covers (Scope at a glance)
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Activities regulated
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Entry, exit, transit, residence of foreigners in Vietnam
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Visa, e-Visa, and residence permit procedures (application, extension, conversion, cancellation)
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Temporary residence declarations and address reporting requirements
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Subjects governed
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Foreign nationals visiting, working, studying, or residing in Vietnam
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Vietnamese state bodies (immigration, border control, public security)
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Organizations/individuals that invite, sponsor, host, employ, transport, or accommodate foreigners (e.g., employers, schools, hotels, landlords, carriers, tour operators)
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Legal relationships defined
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Rights & obligations of foreigners (e.g., lawful entry, purpose-consistent stay, compliance with reporting rules)
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Duties of Vietnamese authorities and hosts (verification, registration, timely reporting, record-keeping)
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Plain language summary: Article 1 is the foundation that tells you who must comply, which activities are regulated, and which documents/procedures are legally recognized.
Why Article 1 matters (practical implications)
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Clarity for travelers: You know which visa/permit fits your purpose and how to enter, extend, or exit lawfully.
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Certainty for hosts: Employers/hotels understand onboarding and reporting duties, minimizing fines.
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Risk reduction: Aligning your purpose of stay (tourism, business, study, work) with the correct visa/residence prevents issues like overstay or mismatch at border checks.
Real-world use cases (answer-style)
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Tourist on an e-Visa: Must enter via an approved port, carry the e-Visa PDF, and register temporary residence via the accommodation provider.
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Short-term business visitor: Activities must match visa purpose; avoid work that requires a different permit.
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Employer inviting an expert: Must sponsor correctly, keep records, and ensure address registration and extensions are on time.
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University hosting students: Maintain invitation letters, submit registration, and instruct students on renewal windows.
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Hotel/landlord: Must declare foreign guest stays via the local system within the legally required timeframe.
Compliance checklist
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✅ Purpose of stay matches visa/residence type
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✅ Approved port of entry selected on e-Visa/visa
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✅ Passport validity (≥ 6 months) & data accuracy (names, numbers, dates)
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✅ Temporary residence is declared by host/accommodation
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✅ Extensions/changes submitted before expiry
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✅ Host duties (employer/hotel/landlord) performed on time and recorded
Key definitions (to decode the law)
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Entry/Exit/Transit: Crossing the Vietnamese border to enter, leave, or pass through Vietnam.
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Residence: Temporary or long-term stay recognized by the law (e.g., TRC, visa extensions).
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Sponsor/Host: Vietnamese organization or individual that invites, employs, accommodates, or escorts a foreigner and bears statutory responsibilities.
What Article 1 does not do (scope boundary)
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Does not set specific fees or processing timeframes (see implementing regulations/circulars).
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Does not replace labor or education laws (work permits, student rules are addressed in separate legislation).
FAQs (quick answers)
Q: Does Article 1 cover e-Visas?
A: Yes—visas/e-Visas fall within the procedures governed by the law’s scope.
Q: Who must register temporary residence?
A: The host/accommodation (hotel, landlord) performs the declaration; travelers must supply accurate details.
Q: Can I change my purpose of stay after entry?
A: Some conversions are permitted under law/regulations; others require exit and re-entry. Check your case before overstaying.
VietnamEntryVisa.com (operated by Nguyen Adventure, trusted since 2010 with strong Trustpilot/Tripadvisor ratings) provides:
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Purpose-based visa guidance (tourism, business, study, family) aligned with the law’s scope
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Document pre-check (names/ports/dates) to prevent border-desk issues
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Fast-track e-Visa options (Standard, 1-Day, Same-Day, Holiday) and status updates
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Support for hosts (employers, hotels, landlords) on timely declarations and renewal windows
Planning to visit or host foreigners in Vietnam?
Apply for the correct visa type and align your entry, residence, and reporting with Article 1’s scope.
Start your compliant application → VietnamEntryVisa.com