Travelers staying overnight in Vietnam with friends, relatives or private hosts should check that their stay is reported to local residence authorities under rules that took effect on July 1, 2026.
The change comes from Law No. 118/2025/QH15, which amended Article 30 of Vietnam’s Law on Residence. Vietnamese media and legal summaries report that the updated wording now focuses specifically on overnight stays. For a household, a household member is responsible for notifying the residence registration authority when another person stays overnight. If no household member is present, the person staying overnight is responsible for the notification.
The practical point for visitors is that a private overnight stay should not be treated as informal simply because it is not a hotel booking. Hosts may need the guest’s full name, date of birth, passport number or personal identification number, reason for staying, stay duration and the accommodation address. Reports are described as due before 11 p.m. on the first day of the stay, or before 8 a.m. the following day if the guest arrives after 11 p.m.
Hotels and registered accommodation remain the simpler option
Vietnam already requires foreigners to present passports or other travel documents to accommodation establishments so that temporary residence declarations can be made. The Vietnam Immigration Department’s e-visa site lists this as one of the obligations of foreigners entering and residing in Vietnam.
For hotels, licensed guesthouses, serviced apartments and many homestays, the process is usually handled by the property. Travelers should still make sure the accommodation is legally able to register foreign guests, especially when booking informal rooms, private rentals or small homestays outside major tourist areas.
Private stays need more planning
The rule is most relevant for visitors who plan to stay at a friend’s apartment, a partner’s family home, a relative’s house, a rented room arranged privately, or a non-commercial homestay. Before arrival, travelers should agree with the host who will make the notification and what documents are needed.
Reports in Vietnamese state-linked media say notification can be made directly with police, through official online channels or through the VNeID app. Foreign visitors should not assume they can complete the process themselves through VNeID; in many cases the Vietnamese host or the person managing the accommodation will be the practical route.
Possible fines and remaining uncertainty
Vietnamese media reports citing Decree 282/2025/ND-CP say individuals who fail to comply with stay-notification rules may receive a warning or a fine, while higher fines can apply to accommodation providers depending on the number of unreported guests. Enforcement details may vary locally, and public English-language guidance specifically for foreign tourists staying in private homes remains limited.
The original social-media discussion that flagged the issue is therefore plausible, but travelers should rely on official residence and immigration rules rather than informal forum advice. For short visits, the safest approach is straightforward: use registered accommodation where possible, and if staying in a private home, ask the host to complete the overnight stay notification on time.
Primary sources
Frequently Asked Questions
The updated stay-notification rule requires overnight stays at private residences to be reported. In practice, the host or household member should usually handle the notification, but travelers should confirm this before staying overnight.
Vietnamese media reports say the notification may require the guest’s full name, date of birth, passport number or personal ID number, reason for staying, stay duration and the accommodation address.
Hotels and licensed accommodation already handle temporary residence declarations for foreign guests. Travelers should present their passport when requested and use accommodation that is legally able to register foreign visitors.
Reports describe the deadline as before 11 p.m. on the first day of the stay, or before 8 a.m. the next morning if the guest arrives after 11 p.m.
