Article 2 of Vietnam’s Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners applies to (1) foreigners who enter, exit, transit, or reside in Vietnam, (2) Vietnamese state management agencies that administer immigration, and (3) related organizations and individuals that invite, sponsor, employ, transport, accommodate, or otherwise host foreigners.
Who Article 2 Applies To (clear, actionable scope)
1) Foreigners (all nationalities, all purposes)
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Tourism, business, work, study, family visit, long-term residence
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Visitors on e-Visa/visa, holders of Temporary Residence Cards (TRC), and persons in transit
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Obligations include purpose-consistent stay, lawful entry/exit via approved ports, and temporary residence declaration through the host/accommodation
2) Vietnamese state management agencies (immigration governance)
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Ministry of Public Security (Immigration Department): visa/e-Visa issuance, extensions, TRC, enforcement
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Ministry of National Defense (Border Guard): border control at land/sea/air checkpoints
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Consular/Overseas Missions): consular visas, diplomatic/official cases, coordination with host states
3) Related agencies, organizations, and individuals (hosts & sponsors)
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Employers & project owners (companies, factories, tech parks)
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Hotels/hostels, landlords, property managers (temporary residence reporting)
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Schools and training institutions (student invitations, compliance)
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Carriers & tour operators (airlines, cruise lines, travel agencies)
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Foreign organizations in Vietnam (NGOs, representative offices)
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Embassies/consulates (as foreign missions operating locally)
In plain English: The law covers everyone involved in a foreigner’s presence in Vietnam—the traveler, the authorities, and the host/sponsor.
Why this matters (benefits & risk control)
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For travelers/expats: Clear rights & obligations reduce risks of overstay, purpose mismatch, or port-of-entry issues.
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For hosts/employers/landlords: Knowing who must declare, report, and retain records prevents fines and processing delays.
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For compliance teams: Article 2 pinpoints who carries duties across the immigration lifecycle (invitation → entry → residence → exit).
Real-world use cases (answer-style scenarios)
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Short-term business visitor: May attend meetings on a business-appropriate visa; no unauthorized work outside the visa’s scope.
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Hotel or Airbnb host: Must declare foreign guest stays via the local reporting system within the legally required timeframe.
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Employer hiring a foreign expert: Must sponsor the correct visa/TRC, maintain on-time extensions, and keep compliance records.
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University admitting students: Issues invitation/confirmation, guides TRC procedures, and tracks address registration.
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Airline/cruise operator: Verifies that passengers meet entry requirements (passport validity, visa/e-Visa, approved port) to avoid denial at the border.
Responsibilities at a glance (quick checklist)
Foreigners
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✅ Enter via approved ports stated on visa/e-Visa
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✅ Keep passport valid ≥ 6 months, carry printed e-Visa PDF if applicable
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✅ Register temporary residence (through host) and observe visa purpose
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✅ Apply extensions/changes before expiry
Hosts/Sponsors (employers, hotels, landlords, schools)
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✅ Invite/sponsor correctly and store supporting documents
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✅ Declare foreigner’s stay and address updates on time
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✅ Monitor validity (visa/TRC) and coordinate extensions
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✅ Report changes (employment, address, early termination)
State Agencies
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✅ Issue & manage visas/e-Visas/TRCs per law
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✅ Control borders, prevent unlawful entry/overstay
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✅ Publish procedures and coordinate across ministries
FAQs
Q: I’m a tourist—does Article 2 really apply to me?
A: Yes. It applies to all foreigners, including tourists on an e-Visa.
Q: I changed hotels—do I need to re-declare my address?
A: Your new host/accommodation must file a new temporary residence declaration.
Q: Our company invites interns—are we a subject under Article 2?
A: Yes. Inviting/hosting organizations (employers, schools) fall within Article 2 and have sponsorship/reporting duties.
Q: Can I switch from a tourist purpose to work after arrival?
A: Some conversions are allowed by regulation; others require exit and re-entry. Confirm before proceeding.
Key takeaways for compliance
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Map your role (traveler, host, or authority) to specific obligations under Article 2.
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Keep purpose, documents, ports, and addresses aligned at every step.
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Document everything (invitations, declarations, renewals) to avoid penalties or processing delays.
VietnamEntryVisa.com (operated by Nguyen Adventure, trusted since 2010 with excellent Trustpilot/Tripadvisor reviews) helps:
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Travelers & families: choose the right visa/e-Visa, avoid purpose mismatches
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Employers/hosts: implement sponsorship & reporting workflows, meet deadlines
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Time-critical cases: Standard, 1-Day, Same-Day, and Holiday e-Visa handling with document pre-check and status updates
Stay aligned with Article 2—apply the correct visa and fulfill your role’s duties.
Start your compliant application → VietnamEntryVisa.com