What documents are needed when entering or leaving the land border area?
Reply:
The land border area of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the land border area) includes communes and wards whose administrative boundaries partially coincide with the national land border.
On November 17, 2025, the Government issued Decree 299/2025/ND-CP amending the Decrees on border defense and national borders.
Accordingly, Clause 2, Article 1 of Decree 299/2025/ND-CP amends Article 6 of Decree 34/2014/ND-CP, which stipulates the documents required for entry into land border areas for Vietnamese citizens and foreigners as follows:
For Vietnamese citizens:
Vietnamese citizens entering land border areas must possess one of the following documents: Citizen Identity Card, Citizen Identity Card, Electronic Identity Card, or other identification documents as prescribed by law.
For foreigners
a) Foreigners residing or temporarily staying in Vietnam who enter land border areas (excluding tourist, service, and economic zones) must have a permit issued by the provincial police agency where they reside or temporarily stay, or by the provincial police agency of the land border area they are visiting, in accordance with the law. They must carry a passport or other valid international travel document, documents related to their residence in Vietnam, and must present them when requested by competent authorities;
b) Vietnamese agencies and organizations bringing foreigners into land border areas must have a letter of introduction from their managing agency or organization; accompanying officers must have the documents specified in Clause 1 of this Article, and the agency or organization must notify the Border Guard Command and the Provincial Police at the destination at least 24 hours in advance;
c) In cases where foreigners travel with delegations or high-level groups to land border areas, Vietnamese agencies and organizations (the inviting or working agency) must notify the Border Guard Command and the Provincial Police Department of the destination in writing, and simultaneously assign officers to accompany and guide them.”
