Travelling to Vietnam as Dual National (Passport Question)

Lgoose25 on 18/01/2018 - 23:46
Last edited 19/01/2018 - 17:02 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I am taking a vacation next month to Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore (In that order). I recently received my British Passport, but have previously been travelling on my Australian passport.

I'm led to believe, If I enter Vietnam on my British passport, I don't require a visa, as I'm staying for less than 15 days (roughly $100 worth). This is great as it pays for something like 90% of my accommodation costs, however, being a brand new passport, I'm concerned this may potentially raise a few eyebrows, and I've been told Vietnam's immigration aren't quite as understanding as our own here in Australia. There won't be a single stamp in my passport, as I'll be leaving and re-entering Australia on my Australian passport.

Is this worth the hassle for the saving? (Asked as a true Oz Bargainer).

Travel

Comments

  • whooah1979 on 18/01/2018 - 23:52
    +1

    a true Oz Bargainer).

    A true ozb wouldn't pay for a second passport when the one they already have works.

    We swapped passports once (not in Vn). Spent an hour waiting for customs to check its authenticity. Never again.

    • goose25 on 18/01/2018 - 23:57

      Good point, although I got it for ease of travel through Europe when I return there again soon.

      Do you mind if I ask where you had that experience?

    • Donaldhump on 19/01/2018 - 08:58

      I misinterpreted your post, I thought u meant don’t get a 2nd passport of a different nationality.

      However for people with one passport , a second one of the same nationality can come in handy

      Second passport allows many things

      The ability to leave a passport at an embassy to get a visa , and leave in the other in the mean time and return
      If one gets stolen you have the other
      Israeli stamp like issues

    • onetwothreefour on 19/01/2018 - 16:33
      +1

      British passports are cheaper than Australian and probably get you into more countries without needing to pay for a visa.

  • Hiroko on 19/01/2018 - 00:01
    +2

    went to vietnam for holiday a few years back with a brand new australian passport, got rushed through immigration swiftly… not sure if it had anything to do with the $10 note that accidentally fell into one of the passport pages.

    • SPCTRE on 19/01/2018 - 12:03
      +1

      lol "accidentally" ;)

  • retiredfeline on 19/01/2018 - 00:08

    I'll be leaving and re-entering Australia on my Australian passport

    You must do this anyway if you hold an Australian passport. Also, using the Internet VoA won't cost you $100, more like half.

    • dasher86 on 19/01/2018 - 08:52

      VOA is $25 USD stamp fee + introduction letter (i used these guys $6 http://vietnamvisapro.com/).
      It is a long line to get your VISA once you land, then another long line to get through immigration.
      I was probably on the last flight of the night. (landed 3 am Ho Chi Minch City).
      It took at least 1.5hrs to get through visa and immigration. To be fair the i think we would've waiting only 15 mins more if we hadn't gotten a VOA - the immigration line was taking that long, by the time we got our VOA the line had considerably shortened.
      Similar experience in Hanoi.

      From December 2017 aussie passport holders are eligble for e-visa
      http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/pages/… (below link can be found here - website looks dodged but works from other travelers i met)
      https://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ $25 USD stamp fee and straight through to immigration and no need for VOA.

      But nothing wrong with entering and exiting on your British passport.

      • retiredfeline on 19/01/2018 - 10:40
        +1

        Fortunately it only took about 30 minutes in Da Nang last year. Evisa is a better development.

  • tio on 19/01/2018 - 00:48
    +1

    I do this all the time, except I have ASEAN passport. With repect to any country, you'll need to enter and leave on the same passport. So using your Australian passport for Australia immigration as required, I don't see any reason by you can't use your British passport for entering and leaving VN.

    Regarding your concern about stamps, quite a few countries no longer stamp for border crossing, including Australia I believe. So not having any stamps in your passport shouldn't be an issue.

  • tomleonhart on 19/01/2018 - 04:30

    This is what I did in a trip.

    I exit Australia with my Australian Passport.
    Enter/exit Singapore with my Vietnamese passport
    Enter/exit Vietnam with my Vietnamese passport
    Enter/ exit Taiwan with my Australian Passport
    Enter/exit Hong Kong with my Australian

    Never been asked a question :-/

  • Donaldhump on 19/01/2018 - 08:53

    Yes use the British, if it raises suspicion then use the Aussie one with the exact same border guard.

    • goose25 on 19/01/2018 - 12:28

      My only issue with that is that I'd then require a Visa.

  • dasher86 on 19/01/2018 - 08:58

    I responded this up to but it thought it was PSA enough to post as a separate comment.

    From December 2017 aussie passport holders are eligble for e-visa
    http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/pages/… (below link can be found here - website looks dodged but works from other travelers i met)
    https://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ $25 USD stamp fee and straight through to immigration and no need for VOA.

  • djsweet on 19/01/2018 - 09:22

    I don't think using the British one would cause suspicion. I've done the same as you are doing but with a different country and I had no issues. Consider that even if you exited Australia on your British passport it wouldn't get stamped. Therefore, Vietnam is not necessarily expecting a stamp.

  • GG57 on 19/01/2018 - 09:37

    I assume you have a European Union passport, issued by the UK?
    Pretty sure the UK has not reverted to issuing their own passports …. yet.

    • Iangh on 19/01/2018 - 09:55

      So the EU decides who gets a British passport?

      • GG57 on 19/01/2018 - 10:34

        No, all countries that belong to the European Union issue EU passports, not their own passports, to facilitate 'Freedom of Movement', which allows citizens of the European Union (EU) to move to, live in, and in certain circumstances access the welfare system of the EU country to which they have moved. Freedom of movement is one of the founding principles of the EU.
        The issuing country (e.g. UK) decides if a particular applicant satisfies their citizenship status, to obtain a passport.

        • Iangh on 19/01/2018 - 12:01

          So the UK does issue their own passports.

    • goose25 on 19/01/2018 - 12:27

      Yes, it's an EU passport. You're right, the UK aren't issuing their own passports yet.

  • Love a bargain on 19/01/2018 - 15:58

    Use the UK passport, it's as if you are flying there from the UK with a new passport. No stamp should not be an issue.

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