海角乱伦

I didn't have any problem with the app used during COVID. I see a number of people on social media who are alarmed about anything that will cause them to give up "privacy". I think that means they want to continue hiding out here...

Or maybe they value privacy?聽 Every time someone gives away private information they risk聽 becoming a target.聽 Information is currency, ask all the bots. Concern is rational and considering the value of what is being offered is not a bad thing.聽

The main issue with Vietnam is there is absolutely no sense of privacy at all, they teach young children not to share their info but as adults you can see even random bank tellers will write you on Zalo or SMS about fixing issues and they give private info there directly, i hope to see Vietnam become stricter on privacy laws in the future.

Or maybe they value privacy? Every time someone gives away private information they risk becoming a target. Information is currency, ask all the bots. Concern is rational and considering the value of what is being offered is not a bad thing. - @KKK36

Sounds like an excellent argument for leaving Vietnam. If the relationship with the government here holds little or no value, that absolutely sounds like justification to say bye.

What absolutely bugs me is when one of my fellow foreigners decides that it's not a worthwhile relationship, but they stay here anyway. They are the most miserable people I know. I get so tired of them yammering about how much they hate the government here in Vietnam while at the same time doing everything possible to stay here.

At no point did I say the issue was a VN government issue. I just pointed out that in my opinion having a concern for privacy was rational.聽 Whether or not you or I have the same concerns is immaterial.

My response would be the same in Australia and possibly more so in Trump's US.聽 聽But that is a different conversation, about power, not privacy.

At no point did I say the issue was a VN government issue. I just pointed out that in my opinion having a concern for privacy was rational. Whether or not you or I have the same concerns is immaterial.
My response would be the same in Australia and possibly more so in Trump's US. But that is a different conversation, about power, not privacy. - @KKK36

You wrote "Concern is rational and considering the value of what is being offered is not a bad thing.

I inferred that to mean that you don't assign much value to the new ability of foreigners to be integrated into the national identification system.

VNeID - My wife uses it and I'll be glad to have it - @OceanBeach92107

A new how-to-apply video was posted to YouTube just yesterday.

"Foreigners living and working in Vi峄噒 Nam can now join the electronic identification system (e-ID). That may sound a little tricky but it's easier than you think. Watch our video to find out more."聽 ()

Link to YouTube video, July 5th/2025, below.

This new initiative does not appear to be part of Vietnam's regular national identification system, to which all Vietnamese citizens are registered. It looks to be exclusive to the registration of foreigners residing in VN.

Currently, under what looks very much like a beta-test-release, registration is voluntary.

VNeID - My wife uses it and I'll be glad to have it - @OceanBeach92107
A new how-to-apply video was posted to YouTube just yesterday.
"Foreigners living and working in Vi峄噒 Nam can now join the electronic identification system (e-ID). That may sound a little tricky but it's easier than you think. Watch our video to find out more." ()

Link to YouTube video, July 5th/2025, below.



This new initiative does not appear to be part of Vietnam's regular national identification system, to which all Vietnamese citizens are registered. It looks to be exclusive to the registration of foreigners residing in VN.

Currently, under what looks very much like a beta-test-release, registration is voluntary. - @Aidan in HCMC

I disagree with you.

The very first word you see printed in the video banner is "requirements" (for foreigners).

A later banner explains that the purpose of this VNeID is to establish the foreigners right to have the level 2 government identification required for numerous things such as banking (recent banking laws changes) AND application for other government services (presumably meaning a Temporary Resident Card, Permanent Resident Card or an application for citizenship, among other things).

I would bet money that after the 50 day period, no one will be able to apply for a TRC/PRC renewal without a VNeID.

This doesn't apply to anyone here on a tourist visa.

It also doesn't apply to anyone here on any sort of bogus TRC or bogus business visa or other illegal documentation as the approval process is going to flush them out from where they've been hiding.

I鈥檓 hoping the VNeID will simplify the TRC renewal process.

The scene at the Immigration Office on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai was chaotic, with a hundred or more people queuing up even before the doors opened at 7:30am; a rush to get inside; then a scrum to figure out what to do/where to go. When it was eventually my turn to be processed, I was聽 informed that since my TRC had been issued in Tay Ninh I鈥檇 have to try there but then a supervisor intervened on my behalf. Frankly, I鈥檓 not sure it was worth the effort for what claims to be an 鈥榦ptional鈥� item.

I鈥檓 hoping the VNeID will simplify the TRC renewal process.
The scene at the Immigration Office on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai was chaotic, with a hundred or more people queuing up even before the doors opened at 7:30am; a rush to get inside; then a scrum to figure out what to do/where to go. When it was eventually my turn to be processed, I was informed that since my TRC had been issued in Tay Ninh I鈥檇 have to try there but then a supervisor intervened on my behalf. Frankly, I鈥檓 not sure it was worth the effort for what claims to be an 鈥榦ptional鈥� item. - @CHRISLANGTON

We have a similar "optional鈥� situation in the USA: when we are applying for government benefits, our social security number is requested. The instructions will usually say that divulging the social security number is voluntary, but then it will say that the effect of not providing the social security number will mean that the benefit will be denied. I picture a similar situation after this 50-day transition. Anybody who chooses not to get the VNeID will probably have their application for TRC or PRC denied.

SWAG...

I respect those who fear the Government acting as Big Brother, be it in the UK, the US or Vietnam.聽 But let鈥檚 face it, the authorities here already have your passport number; a digital copy of your fingerprints and a retinal scan. Oh yes, and they have track of your cell phone SIM card; your bank details and your VN address. From my hospital record, I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if they know my blood type.聽

VNeID - My wife uses it and I'll be glad to have it
- @OceanBeach92107

FYI, here is the official government web page on which the above story was based:

(requires translation)

This might be unique to 膼脿 N岷祅g, but FYI:

My wife and I went to immigration early yesterday at 7:30 to wait for them to open at 8:00. However they ended up opening the doors at 7:40 and we were still the only people waiting.

When my wife told the officer that we were there to get my VNeID as a spouse with a TRC, he said that they would require a copy of our marriage license and a copy of my wife's ID. Neither of those things is listed on any official document, including the official police document here in 膼脿 N岷祅g.

But I always keep a digital copy on my phone and my wife of course had her ID with her. So the officer directed her across the street to a copy shop and she returned within 5 minutes with copies of both documents.

I'm guessing the same thing could happen if someone has a TRC based on a work permit. They might need a copy of the work permit and perhaps something from the sponsoring organization.

That last part is just speculation on my part. The officer asked a few questions about when we had met and when we got married and how long we had been in the city. I'm just guessing that the high level of fraudulent marriages is keeping them suspicious.

When the second officer showed up, he turned out to be someone we had met previously when we had gone into the office to ask about my next TRC renewal. He was very pleasant with us and even gave us his phone number to call if we had any problems after a reasonable time of waiting.

So we were in and out of there in less than 30 minutes and it would have been quicker if we had known we needed copies of the marriage document and my wife's ID.

By the time we left at about 8:10 there were four other people in line.

Absolutely no charge of course. Looking forward to the approval within the next week or so.

The "why should I ???" answer:

I'm locked out of using my Agribank account (couldn't use it for a GRAB payment) until I update my "biometric information".

Keep in mind, I opened this account in October 2022 with a spousal Temporary Resident Card and I've been able to freely use it to transfer funds between me and my wife; both directions.

(I received this notice in the Agribank app):

You have not updated your biometric information as required by Circular 17/2024/TT-NHNN and Circular 50/2024/TT-NHNN from the State Bank of Vietnam. To avoid disruptions in transactions on electronic channels, we kindly request that you update your biometric information. Thank you for using our services.

We had gone to the local bank branch, attempting to do the update with my passport, but they said that's no longer acceptable.

So, I go into my app settings to update my biometrics and this is what I see:

So those are my two options: Use a citizen ID card (which of course, I don't have) OR, use a VNeID

I applied for mine last Friday, so I expect to get my approval code in a few working days.

I can just imagine that there will be other situations in the future where the VNeID will be the only acceptable identification when dealing with the government.

My VNeID was approved today.

The app is available in six languages:

English

French

Korean

Japanese

Russian

Chinese

The very basic function is the ability to pop up a QR code for the account, but you do have to go into settings to turn that on.

I'm still waiting to be 1) notified about this officially 2) establish any benefits apart from TRC renewal which isn't due until 2027 (recently renewed via wife's VNeID account)

I am willing to bet that Sacombank won't accept this ID formally. I went in recently to inform them of fraudulent transactions on my account and they wouldn't block/cancel my debit card without first seeing my Passport even though I had my TRC and Driving Licence with me! A photo of my passport was rejected too.

Finally, is this registration done at the police station rather than immigration office?

I'm still waiting to be 1) notified about this officially ... is this registration done at the police station rather than immigration office? - @QPR_FC

I can't tell you "officially"

I'm still waiting to be 1) notified about this officially 2) establish any benefits apart from TRC renewal which isn't due until 2027 (recently renewed via wife's VNeID account)聽

It appears that the biometrics from the VNeID registration are set to be implemented at airports around the country:

Biometric check-in procedures to be applied nationwide | Vietnam Today YouTube Channel

"The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam is deploying electronic identification, authentication and biometric recognition for flight check-ins. Biometric check-in is being introduced in 3 phases. It has already been deployed at major international airports such as Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh, Phu Bai and Cat Bi. By mid-September, it will be expanded to 11 more airports."

The video clearly shows the VNeID logo at the electronic check-in interface

I am willing to bet that Sacombank won't accept this ID formally. I went in recently to inform them of fraudulent transactions on my account and they wouldn't block/cancel my debit card without first seeing my Passport even though I had my TRC and Driving Licence with me! A photo of my passport was rejected too.

As with all changes of this sort, it's inevitable that there is a period of adjustment before it is universally accepted.

My actual VNeID digital app contains a digital copy of both my passport and my TRC.

Finally, is this registration done at the police station rather than immigration office? - @QPR_FC

At the immigration office.

If you ask at the police station about how to do this, they will direct you to go to the local immigration office.

As soon as I locate my copy of the letter that the police gave me with instructions, I will add it into this thread.

(Google Translation)

DA NANG CITY POLICE STATION, HOA KHANH INDUSTRIAL PARK - LIEN CHIEU

NO. 235TB-CAKCN

Re: Instructions for implementing level 02 electronic identification registration for foreigners

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Independence - Freedom - Happiness

Da Nang, July 2, 2025

To: Agencies and enterprises in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Hoa Khanh Industrial Park expansion and Lien Chieu Industrial Park.

The Hoa Khanh - Lien Chieu Industrial Park Police Station informs local agencies and businesses about instructions for registering level 02 electronic identification for foreigners, as follows:

1. Subject of implementation

Foreigners legally residing in Vietnam have been granted permanent residence cards or temporary residence cards in Vietnam.

For foreigners who are from 6 years old to under 14 years old, the person under guardianship or representative must be accompanied by their guardian or representative.

2. Documents to prepare

- Passport or valid international travel document;

- Permanent or temporary residence card (valid);

- Documents proving that the person is a representative or guardian (in case the foreigner is from 6 to under 14 years old, a ward or a representative);

Mobile phone number in Vietnam (in case of foreigners who are from 6 to under 14 years old, guardians, or representatives, the guardians or representatives must use their own mobile phone number to declare); Email address.

(ADDED NOTE: As previously mentioned in this thread, in order to register with VNeID based on my 3-year spousal TRC, I was required to present a copy of our marriage certificate as well as a copy of my wife's Vietnam ID card)

3. Place of implementation

- Da Nang Immigration Department: 78 Le Loi, Hai Chau ward, Da Nang city.

4. Working time

- From Monday to Saturday morning every day of the week.

5. Resolution period

No more than 03 working days for cases of granting level 02 electronic identification accounts with information on facial photos and fingerprints in the National Database on Immigration.

- No more than 07 working days for cases of granting level 02 electronic identification accounts without information on facial photos and fingerprints in the National Database on Immigration.

6. Resolution results

- The results of granting or refusing to grant level 02 electronic identification to foreigners will be notified via the National Electronic Identification Application (VNeID), mobile phone number or email address.

Therefore, the Hoa Khanh - Lien Chieu Industrial Park Police Station informs local agencies and enterprises to grasp information and implement./.

Receiving place:

- As above;

-Lani: Industrial Park Manager.

CHIEF

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Minh Tuan

Why VNeID Will Be Necessary For EXPATS with TRC & PRC Starting October 1ST:

. Good news: less coffee money. Bad news: if you insist on not getting a VNeID, you'll be locked out of the system the next time you need to submit a document somewhere.