Privileges and immunities relating to consular posts in Vietnam

Specifically, according to the Ordinance on the privileges and immunities relating to diplomatic missions, consular posts and representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam 1993, privileges and immunities relating to consular posts in Vietnam are specified as follows:

- The consular post shall have the right to use the flag and emblem of the sending State on the premises of the consular post, in the residence of the head of the consular post and on his means of transport when used on official business.

- The consular premises shall be inviolable.

- Vietnamese State shall take appropriate measures to protect the consular premises against any intrusion or damage.

- The Vietnamese authorities may enter the premises only with the consent of the head of the consular post or of his designee or of the head of the diplomatic mission of the sending State. The consent of the head of the consular post may, however, be assumed in case of fire or other disasters requiring prompt protective action.

- The premises of the consular post, their furnishings and other property thereon and its means of transport shall be immune from any form of requisition for purposes of national defense, security or public utility. If expropriation is necessary for such purposes all possible steps shall be taken to avoid impeding the performance of consular functions, and prompt, adequate and effective compensation shall be paid to the sending state.

- The consular premises and the residence of the head of the consular post shall be exempted from dues and taxes, other than such as represent payment for specific services rendered. The consular archives and documents shall be inviolable.

- The consular post may levy in Vietnam the fees and charges provided by the law and regulations of the sending State for consular acts, the sums collected in the form of the fees and charges as mentioned above shall be exempt from all dues and taxes of Vietnam.

-  The consular post may for official purposes communicate freely with the Government and the diplomatic missions and other consular posts of the sending State. In so doing, it may employ all appropriate means, including diplomatic or consular, couriers, code or cipher.

However, the consular post may install and use a wireless transmitter for the purposes of communication only with the consent of the Vietnamese Government.

- The official correspondence of the consular post shall be inviolable.

View the privileges and immunities relating to consular posts and members thereof in Vietnam at: The Ordinance on the privileges and immunities relating to diplomatic missions, consular posts and representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam 1993 takes effect from September 07, 1993.

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