Hello Ozbarginers
I am about 4 weeks from my first trip overseas, to the country of Vietnam.
It has been a while since I have travelled out of the country. Second time to Vietnam.
As a foreigner do we need to carry our passports everywhere we go around Vietnam or can we leave it in the hotel room in a secured place vault or locked luggage.
Thank you with all the replies. Exciting… cant wait to get back into the groove of travelling again.
This. Also take a photo to keep on your phone as sometimes this is just easier to access than a photocopy (pants pocket vs deep inside backpack). But I’d still carry both.
building on this idea, send an email to yourself of all the pictures of your passport/licence etc. so they can be accessible from basically any device with an internet connection
i haven't been to Vietnam, but if its like any other Asian country you will need your passport to get into museums, anything official some tourist places, etc . if i were you, i would take your passport everywhere except for places to eat. make sure you keep a copy of your passport in your luggage as well
So museum in the morning, drop off the passport to the hotel, back out for lunch, get the passport again and then off to another museum?
i've never had to show my passport at any museum or 'official tourist' places in all parts of Asia I have travelled.
usually only have to show through immigration and hotels depending on country.
i had to show my passport in Manila at a museum, and Singapore.
Been to Vietnam more than 10 times, and in numerous places around South East Asia. I have never once been asked to show my passport outside of the usual hotels/airports.
Keep your passport locked in your hotel room, and keep a photocopy with you if it gives you peace of mind, but as above - I've never once had to show mine.
I thought the whole point of going to Asia was to “show yours”
What?
You must have your passport on you at all times when travelling. Keep it in your bra.
Do I need extra sized cups for that, asking for a friend.
Nah, you they should be right.
unless you keep it in the left one
Gonna have to get a Manssiere for my next trip then.
Most definitely. It's a must-have for German male tourists so try Amazon.de
What a load of rubbish
Been to many Asian nations as a tourist/business traveler (inc. Viet) . Unless it's a local legal requirement (think dictatorship) then I would never carry the original. Just keep a pic on your phone.
Have been to several 'Asian' dictatorship nations… can confirm, generally best not to have your passport on you as well.
It's all too likely to go missing when you hand it over to 'the police'..
Having several colour photocopies is often the best approach (stored in different locations, i.e. one in your pocket, one in a backpack).
You do sometimes need it in person, like if booking flights, or trains, or getting a SIM card, etc, etc, etc. But it's generally best to try with a photocopy first.. since sometimes it will work. If it doesn't, then you can always make a special trip back with your passport.
Storing your passport in the room safe at the hotel isn't always the best idea either.
Hotel safe's are notoriously not safe (after all, pretty much everyone that works at the hotel knows the master combination for it). I'd suggest keeping it within your luggage, have the luggage tied to something solid in the room (like the frame of the bed).
If someone is determined to rob you, you can't stop them. But you can make it annoying enough that they're likely to consider an easier target.
In the past I would've carried it with me only because then I knew it was safe. In later trips, I started either locking in it my luggage or room safe if available.
However, I just had a friend return from Fuji and complain that the hotel staff stole some items out of their luggage while they (friend) were away from the room.
Of the two above, I'd still choose room security as the staff stealing is (I believe and hope) the exception, not the norm.
I'd keep it locked up in the hotel in room safe (or locked up in my luggage - even if housekeeping is dodgy, they're less likely to wanna break into a locked luggage which draws attention to what they're doing) unless:
- local law requires ID to be carried (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_identity_ca…); or
- I'm in a place where I'm likely to be doing some duty free shopping & I will need to present my passport in store when I do (e.g. Japan).
I am about 4 weeks from my first trip overseas, to the country of Vietnam.
and
It has been a while since I have travelled out of the country. Second time to Vietnam.
Sorry first trip since 2019.
Second time in my life to vietnam
Along with a lot of people, I didn't need to show my passport in the majority of places in Vietnam.
However, I specifically recall needing it to go on a Ha Long Bay cruise; one of the people booked didn't have it and had a hassle with their photocopy to continue onboarding the boat.
I always carry it, in a zip lock bag (sometimes 2).
Been to Vietnam 10 years ago and never carried passport with me outside of airport. Heading back again in a month and it’ll live in the hotel safe again during my stay.
In Vietnam, the hotel tends to keep your passport at the front desk. They need to register your stay at the local police station each night.
You never need your passport for anything else once you're inside the country, except if you're wanting to rent a motorbike or something similar.
They need to register your stay at the local police station each night.
Why?
That's the law there. Even if you stay at a friend's house, they're supposed to register you as a 'visitor'.
That's the law there
I can't find it in any of their legislation.
Do you have a link ?
It may just be a ploy for identity theft.
@jv: I can't read vietnamese myself so the proper link is hard for me to find. This is the closest link I can find. It only talks about hotels/lodging.
I know if applies to private residences too.
Edit: Found a TripAdvisor link talking about the same thing and a link from a local lawfirm wiithin the thread outlining the requirements in vietnamese. There are other links in the thread too.
they're supposed to register you as a 'visitor'.
Customs already do that when you enter the country.
@jv: And accommodation in places like Vietnam and China have to register you as a guest with the local police - They do not keep your passport, but take your details at check in and fill it into a register they lodge with the police.
Correct. Everytime i come back to Vietnam and stay at my parents' house for a month, they still need to register me with the local police as a temporary visitor.
@jv: JV, are you looking for an argument or something?
My 3 most recent trips: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Vietnam all do it. Most have scanners tied in with their Department of Immigration.
I have no criminal record.
I visited Vietnam last Dec, the hotel only needed the passport during the check-in. Once processed they returned it to me and I just kept it in the room safe for the rest of the trip.
What to Do with Passport? Travelling to Vietman.
You need to get yourself a Pho (Passport hiding object) to store it in.
JV you have done it again
Passport is not really safe anywhere. I'd move around with a copy of it AND your visa page. I'd also split cards and money supply between hotel room and on-person.
I say this as someone who had their passport, phone and money stolen by a couple on a motorbike in a busy street in HCM. Trust no-one.
Love Vietnam - hate the motorbikes which travel and park where-ever they like - my favourite being their making another lane on the sidewalk to turn a one-way road into bi-directional - and whose riders travel at breakneck speed and whiz by you within nanometres.
I ended up stressed and grumpy in both HCM and Hanoi - they can stick their bikes right up their behinds.
Loved Vietnam overall, but reluctant to return due to the crime and the bikes.
how long was this ago?
You had bad luck, not really fair to tarnish a whole country based on your one experience. As above I've been to Vietnam so many times and haven't experienced anything like you describe.
Just returned from two weeks in Vietnam (our second trip). Had to show passport at airport to get through Immigration and every time you book into a hotel (where they take a photocopy). Apart from that, was never asked for them and kept them in our room. Most rooms have a locked safe. Also keep a photocopy of all travel documents in each suitcase. HCM is a big crazy city and with that comes crime. We found Vietnam to be friendly and safe.
P.S. Leave a good three hours if departing Hanoi… It might have been the time of night we were leaving but the airport was super busy. We had to show our passports at four different places, including at entry to the departure lounge where our hand luggage was checked after it had already being scanned by security.
The way we secure our documents and spare CCs
Go to an el cheapo shop and buy a money belt, such as:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Travel-Passport-Security-Cost-Effe…
or pencil case:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Quality-Student-Stationery-Student…
or maybe waterproof one:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Quality-Student-Stationery-Student…
or mesh storage bag:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Storage-Three-Dimensional-Wallet-T…
Cut straps off money belt.
Whatever you get, sew straps onto it to turn it into a mini backpack that you wear under your clothes AT ALL TIMES.
We use very thin shock cord so we can reach under clothes and pull it around to the front. Alternatively, pull up back of shirt and get your travelling companion to get out whatever is needed.
The waterproof one will make you sweat (but you sweat anyway in VN) but it will keep documents dry. However, don't trust waterproofing. In all cases (pun) keep everything inside 2 ziplock bags. Remember the news stories about people who have been turned back from Indonesia because their passports had the slightest damage including watermarks (both of these techniques are used by passport forgers to make them look used.)
https://au.news.yahoo.com/traveller-denied-flight-bali-passp…
We keep the following items in pouches:
https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/a-passengers-warning-a…
I feel like James Bond every morning while dressing as I slip into my "holster".
https://i0.wp.com/bamfstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2…
When I get home after an extended trip my back feels "strange" because the pouch isn't there any more.
You must keep your passport and other documents with you at all times. Do not trust hotel room safes. Almost no skill is required to pick them.
https://www.google.com/search?q=lock+picking+lawyer+hotel+sa…
I just read the webpage that I linked to for the photo of James Bond. I thought you might be interested in reading the page:
Our family travelled independently for a month in Vietnam and we were never required to show our passports. Btw the country is full of thieves and liars sooo be very careful carrying around anything of value.
make a photocopy of it and keep the photocopy with you. you can keep the original locked with your luggage or somewhere secure.