What kind of documents do Vietnamese citizens need when entering and exiting through the border gate?

According to Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, a Vietnamese citizen on entry or exit through an international border gate or a main border gate (bilateral border gate) must have one of the following papers:

- Diplomatic passport; official-duty passport; ordinary passport (collectively referred to as passport);

- Ship crewmember passport; border laissez-passer; entry or exit laissez-passer; border area entry or exit laissez-passer; repatriation laissez-passer; laissez-passer; people’s identity card, citizen identity card (for Vietnamese border inhabitants on the Vietnam-Laos or Vietnam-Cambodia border line);

- Another paper appropriate for entry or exit as prescribed by Vietnamese law or a treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party.

Concurrently, Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP also stipulates that a Vietnamese citizen on entry or exit through a secondary border gate must have one of the following papers:

- Border laissez-passer; entry or exit laissez-passer; border area entry or exit laissez- passer; repatriation laissez-passer; laissez-passer; people’s identity card, citizen identity card (for Vietnamese border inhabitants on the Vietnam-Laos or Vietnam-Cambodia border line);

- Another paper appropriate for entry or exit as prescribed by Vietnamese law or a treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party.

- A Vietnamese border inhabitant on entry or exit through a border crossing shall use papers in accordance with Vietnamese law or a relevant treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party.

View details at Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BQP of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, effective from March 19, 2016.

-Thao Uyen-

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