Vietnam shares data across 4 ministries to track tourists and nomads

Vietnam tightens local oversight while keeping borders open

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has proposed replacing Decree 65/2015 with a coordinated system that pulls visa, residence, work permit and conference data into a shared framework across ministries and provincial authorities, according to reporting from late March 2026. The draft expands the role of commune and ward police in monitoring where foreigners live and how long they stay.

Follow-up reporting in mid-May 2026 confirmed that police nationwide had been instructed to sharpen forecasting and enforcement, with local officers taking a larger share of the work. The ministry held a meeting on foreigner management in Ho Chi Minh City on May 15, 2026 and is finalizing a draft amendment to Circular 53/2016, which governs temporary residence declaration procedures.

The shift comes as Vietnam logged more than 9 million foreign arrivals in early 2026, up 22.5% year on year, after 22.8 million arrivals in 2025. Officials say the e-visa framework stays open: 90-day validity, single or multiple entry, with no signal of new caps.

Who feels the change

Long-stay foreigners and frequent movers will see the most friction. Nomads bouncing between cities, expats renewing leases and business travelers attending conferences all fall inside the proposed coordination net, even when their paperwork is current.

Tourists should expect closer attention to hotel residence declarations and more visible local checks during stays. E-visa holders and visa-exempt visitors remain welcome, though their movements feed into the same monitoring system.

Practical steps for foreigners in Vietnam

The temporary residence declaration is the single most important compliance point. Vietnam's e-visa portal states accommodation operators must file the declaration after a guest arrives, so confirm with hotels, guesthouses and landlords that they've actually submitted it.

Other baseline requirements:

• Carry passport and residence documents when out, ready to show local police on request
• Enter and exit only through designated international border gates listed for e-visa holders
• E-visa fees stay at $25 single-entry and $50 multiple-entry, valid up to 90 days
• Keep work permits, business registration and conference invitations accessible if relevant

No final effective date has been published for the new decree, so the framework remains proposed policy rather than enforced rule.

Read our full Vietnam guide for the complete picture.