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Maybe question the source that you got this from.

The immigration officer in Tan Son Nhat informed me that we can renew VEC at XYZ office.  I asked him about Cambodia visa run, and he in turn asked why I would want to do something like that when renewal at the office is much simpler, less expensive, and not tiring on the body.  We were 65 and 68 at the time.  He knew our ages because he had our passports in front of him and because we (he and I) were talking about my intention to stay for good.

As whether his advice is doable, I don't know.   Our frequent travel have so far precluded the need for a scheduled VEC renewal.

As whether a person gains "legal" residence status after staying longer than 183 days, I think that particular status is only for tax purpose and not a "you-can-stay-until-whenever-and-don't-need-to-renew-again" proclamation.  Note my emphasis on "I think".

My niece's partner, a retired German surgeon who has a practice here in Saigon since 2009, is a legal resident in VN.  He pays tax to VN, renews his residency every 3 years, and went back to Germany every year.  This anecdote may or may not not related to your question.

Was not meaning to imply that you get legal resident status in the country, only that by international law you can claim residency. So for example if you had a tax issue in your mother country that depended on resident status you could legally claim you were a resident of another country if you had stayed in that country for 184 days. This is where VN was getting in a bind. Not that VN cares perhaps. At one time I could renew my VEC in country all the time. Then in 2016 to my surprise the day it is due for renewal i am told they can now only do it once a year. Funny thing was they always asked me why I came a couple of days early when it was not due for renewal. "Because you guys change the rules every evening before you close....that is why".
At any rate I have never found anything that gave special privileges to those over 65. But a friend told me they had told him he never needed to leave the country because he was over 65. Sure would be nice as you get older and are attached to a bed pan, oxygen tanks etc!!!!

Vagabondone wrote:

Funny thing was they always asked me why I came a couple of days early when it was not due for renewal. "Because you guys change the rules every evening before you close....that is why".

The immigration officer at Tan Son Nhat told me I should renew one week before the expiration date.  One hand doesn't know what the other is doing.

Hi - I asked these questions on the blacklist thread but not sure everyone will read that. So just in case, I'm also asking here.

Has anyone been blacklisted without an overstay, expired work visa, legal dilemma with a Vietnamese person (e.g., nasty divorce)? Is it a good idea to take all of your stuff every time you leave the country? Or only when getting a new visa?

Has anyone received a new 12 month visa, tourist or business, after a first 12 month visa? Do you have to leave the country to acquire the second 12 month visa?

Is it possible to have a 12 month tourist visa and then apply for a 12 month business visa?

And, finally, is it possible to go to the main Vietnamese immigration office in  Hanoi and get a new visa without having to pay the agent markup?

A lot of questions, sorry! And thanks.