Based on Article 19 of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, regulations on conditions for naturalization in Vietnam are as follows:

Article 19. Conditions for naturalization in Vietnam

1. Foreign nationals and stateless persons permanently residing in Vietnam who file applications for Vietnamese nationality may be permitted for naturalization in Vietnam if they satisfy the following conditions:

a/ Having the full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnam’s laws;

b/ Obeying the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respecting the traditions, customs and practices of the Vietnamese nation;

c/ Understanding Vietnamese sufficiently enough to integrate themselves into the Vietnamese community;

d/ Having resided in Vietnam for 5 years or more by the time of application for naturalization;

e/ Being capable of making their livelihood in Vietnam.

2. Those who apply for Vietnamese nationality may be permitted for naturalization in Vietnam without having to fully meet the conditions prescribed at Points c, d and e, Clause 1 of this Article if they fall into one of the following cases:

a/ Being spouses, natural parents or natural offsprings of Vietnamese citizens;

b/ Having made meritorious contributions to Vietnam’s national construction and defense;

c/ Being helpful to the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

3. Persons naturalized in Vietnam shall renounce their foreign nationality, except for those defined in Clause 2 of this Article in special cases, if so permitted by the President.

4. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality must have Vietnamese names. These names may be selected by the applicants and written in the decisions on naturalization in Vietnam.

5. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality may not be permitted for naturalization if such naturalization is detrimental to Vietnam’s national interests.

6. The Government shall specify conditions for naturalization in Vietnam.

Accordingly, knowing enough Vietnamese to integrate into the Vietnamese community is one of the conditions for foreigners permanently residing in Vietnam to gain Vietnamese citizenship.

However, foreigners permanently residing in Vietnam but do not know Vietnamese can still be granted Vietnamese citizenship if they fall into one of the following cases:

+ Be the wife, husband, biological father, biological mother or biological child of a Vietnamese citizen.

+ Have special meritorious contributions to the cause of building and protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland.

+ Beneficial to the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.