暗网禁区

I didn't have any problem with the app used during COVID. I see a number of people on social media who are alarmed about anything that will cause them to give up "privacy". I think that means they want to continue hiding out here...

Or maybe they value privacy?聽 Every time someone gives away private information they risk聽 becoming a target.聽 Information is currency, ask all the bots. Concern is rational and considering the value of what is being offered is not a bad thing.聽

The main issue with Vietnam is there is absolutely no sense of privacy at all, they teach young children not to share their info but as adults you can see even random bank tellers will write you on Zalo or SMS about fixing issues and they give private info there directly, i hope to see Vietnam become stricter on privacy laws in the future.

Or maybe they value privacy? Every time someone gives away private information they risk becoming a target. Information is currency, ask all the bots. Concern is rational and considering the value of what is being offered is not a bad thing. - @KKK36

Sounds like an excellent argument for leaving Vietnam. If the relationship with the government here holds little or no value, that absolutely sounds like justification to say bye.

What absolutely bugs me is when one of my fellow foreigners decides that it's not a worthwhile relationship, but they stay here anyway. They are the most miserable people I know. I get so tired of them yammering about how much they hate the government here in Vietnam while at the same time doing everything possible to stay here.

At no point did I say the issue was a VN government issue. I just pointed out that in my opinion having a concern for privacy was rational.聽 Whether or not you or I have the same concerns is immaterial.

My response would be the same in Australia and possibly more so in Trump's US.聽 聽But that is a different conversation, about power, not privacy.

At no point did I say the issue was a VN government issue. I just pointed out that in my opinion having a concern for privacy was rational. Whether or not you or I have the same concerns is immaterial.
My response would be the same in Australia and possibly more so in Trump's US. But that is a different conversation, about power, not privacy. - @KKK36

You wrote "Concern is rational and considering the value of what is being offered is not a bad thing.

I inferred that to mean that you don't assign much value to the new ability of foreigners to be integrated into the national identification system.

VNeID - My wife uses it and I'll be glad to have it - @OceanBeach92107

A new how-to-apply video was posted to YouTube just yesterday.

"Foreigners living and working in Vi峄噒 Nam can now join the electronic identification system (e-ID). That may sound a little tricky but it's easier than you think. Watch our video to find out more."聽 ()

Link to YouTube video, July 5th/2025, below.

This new initiative does not appear to be part of Vietnam's regular national identification system, to which all Vietnamese citizens are registered. It looks to be exclusive to the registration of foreigners residing in VN.

Currently, under what looks very much like a beta-test-release, registration is voluntary.

VNeID - My wife uses it and I'll be glad to have it - @OceanBeach92107
A new how-to-apply video was posted to YouTube just yesterday.
"Foreigners living and working in Vi峄噒 Nam can now join the electronic identification system (e-ID). That may sound a little tricky but it's easier than you think. Watch our video to find out more." ()

Link to YouTube video, July 5th/2025, below.



This new initiative does not appear to be part of Vietnam's regular national identification system, to which all Vietnamese citizens are registered. It looks to be exclusive to the registration of foreigners residing in VN.

Currently, under what looks very much like a beta-test-release, registration is voluntary. - @Aidan in HCMC

I disagree with you.

The very first word you see printed in the video banner is "requirements" (for foreigners).

A later banner explains that the purpose of this VNeID is to establish the foreigners right to have the level 2 government identification required for numerous things such as banking (recent banking laws changes) AND application for other government services (presumably meaning a Temporary Resident Card, Permanent Resident Card or an application for citizenship, among other things).

I would bet money that after the 50 day period, no one will be able to apply for a TRC/PRC renewal without a VNeID.

This doesn't apply to anyone here on a tourist visa.

It also doesn't apply to anyone here on any sort of bogus TRC or bogus business visa or other illegal documentation as the approval process is going to flush them out from where they've been hiding.

I鈥檓 hoping the VNeID will simplify the TRC renewal process.

The scene at the Immigration Office on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai was chaotic, with a hundred or more people queuing up even before the doors opened at 7:30am; a rush to get inside; then a scrum to figure out what to do/where to go. When it was eventually my turn to be processed, I was聽 informed that since my TRC had been issued in Tay Ninh I鈥檇 have to try there but then a supervisor intervened on my behalf. Frankly, I鈥檓 not sure it was worth the effort for what claims to be an 鈥榦ptional鈥� item.

I鈥檓 hoping the VNeID will simplify the TRC renewal process.
The scene at the Immigration Office on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai was chaotic, with a hundred or more people queuing up even before the doors opened at 7:30am; a rush to get inside; then a scrum to figure out what to do/where to go. When it was eventually my turn to be processed, I was informed that since my TRC had been issued in Tay Ninh I鈥檇 have to try there but then a supervisor intervened on my behalf. Frankly, I鈥檓 not sure it was worth the effort for what claims to be an 鈥榦ptional鈥� item. - @CHRISLANGTON

We have a similar "optional鈥� situation in the USA: when we are applying for government benefits, our social security number is requested. The instructions will usually say that divulging the social security number is voluntary, but then it will say that the effect of not providing the social security number will mean that the benefit will be denied. I picture a similar situation after this 50-day transition. Anybody who chooses not to get the VNeID will probably have their application for TRC or PRC denied.

SWAG...

I respect those who fear the Government acting as Big Brother, be it in the UK, the US or Vietnam.聽 But let鈥檚 face it, the authorities here already have your passport number; a digital copy of your fingerprints and a retinal scan. Oh yes, and they have track of your cell phone SIM card; your bank details and your VN address. From my hospital record, I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if they know my blood type.聽

VNeID - My wife uses it and I'll be glad to have it
- @OceanBeach92107

FYI, here is the official government web page on which the above story was based:

(requires translation)

This might be unique to 膼脿 N岷祅g, but FYI:

My wife and I went to immigration early yesterday at 7:30 to wait for them to open at 8:00. However they ended up opening the doors at 7:40 and we were still the only people waiting.

When my wife told the officer that we were there to get my VNeID as a spouse with a TRC, he said that they would require a copy of our marriage license and a copy of my wife's ID. Neither of those things is listed on any official document, including the official police document here in 膼脿 N岷祅g.

But I always keep a digital copy on my phone and my wife of course had her ID with her. So the officer directed her across the street to a copy shop and she returned within 5 minutes with copies of both documents.

I'm guessing the same thing could happen if someone has a TRC based on a work permit. They might need a copy of the work permit and perhaps something from the sponsoring organization.

That last part is just speculation on my part. The officer asked a few questions about when we had met and when we got married and how long we had been in the city. I'm just guessing that the high level of fraudulent marriages is keeping them suspicious.

When the second officer showed up, he turned out to be someone we had met previously when we had gone into the office to ask about my next TRC renewal. He was very pleasant with us and even gave us his phone number to call if we had any problems after a reasonable time of waiting.

So we were in and out of there in less than 30 minutes and it would have been quicker if we had known we needed copies of the marriage document and my wife's ID.

By the time we left at about 8:10 there were four other people in line.

Absolutely no charge of course. Looking forward to the approval within the next week or so.