Over the past few years, Vietnam has been consistently mentioned as one of Asia's most attractive destinations. Beyond its diverse landscapes, rich culinary culture, and reasonable travel costs, Vietnam's tourism appeal stems from progressive legislative policies implemented by the Government, such as expanding unilateral visa exemptions, issuing electronic visas (e-visas) to citizens of over 80 countries and territories with a maximum stay of up to 90 days, and permitting multiple entries. Thanks to these adjustments, aggregate data from the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) indicates that Vietnam achieved one of the fastest international visitor growth rates in the world during the first half of 2025. Alongside streamlined visa policies, expanding tourism infrastructure, friendly and hospitable locals, a generally stable public security environment remain key factors driving international tourists to choose Vietnam for extended stays, and even as a place to live and work long-term.

However, every nation maintains its own legal system, reflecting unique cultural and social values as well as distinct governmental regulatory priorities. Certain acts deemed ordinary or even lawful in a tourist's home country may result in administrative penalties or criminal prosecution when committed in Vietnam. The majority of violations by foreign visitors do not stem from malicious intent, but simply from a lack of prior acquaintance with Vietnam's specific legal provisions. This article aims to help foreign tourists identify common legal risks early and prepare accordingly to ensure a seamless and enjoyable journey in Vietnam.

1. Do not use, possess, or transport illegal drugs

Vietnam maintains strict legal policies regarding narcotics. Under Article 249 of the Penal Code, the illegal possession of narcotics—even without the intent to traffic, transport, or manufacture—can result in multi-year prison sentences once a specified threshold is reached. It is worth noting that this threshold is extremely low for common synthetic drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA; possessing just a few grams is sufficient to constitute a criminal offense. At the highest penalty threshold, drug-related offenses in Vietnam, including illegal possession, transportation, and trafficking, carry sentences of life imprisonment or the death penalty depending on the nature and quantity involved, accompanied by supplementary fines of up to VND 500,000,000. Not only possession, but acts of transporting, holding, or carrying items on behalf of others are subject to identical criminal prosecution, even if the individual was unaware of or intentionally refrained from inquiring about the contents being carried.

In practice, there are many cases where tourists out of goodwill agree to hold luggage or a small package for new acquaintances at airports, bus stations, ports, or border crossings. Should those items contain illicit substances, the carrier still faces criminal prosecution despite genuinely lacking knowledge of the contraband. Additionally, some travelers from jurisdictions where cannabis or certain stimulants have been legalized mistakenly assume similar laws apply in Vietnam. In reality, cannabis remains strictly prohibited under Vietnamese law, and its possession or use constitutes a legal violation.

2. Exercise caution regarding e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products

This is a relatively new regulation that many foreign tourists may not have updated yet. On 30 November 2024, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15, imposing a comprehensive ban on the production, sale, import, storage, transportation, and use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products across the entire territory of Vietnam, effective 01 January 2025. Vietnam is currently among approximately 40 countries enforcing a complete ban on these new-generation tobacco products, alongside several ASEAN neighbors including Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Brunei, and Cambodia.

In many countries, e-cigarettes are legally sold and widely used, so numerous tourists carry personal devices without realizing that possessing or using them constitutes a legal violation in Vietnam. Penalties for violating these regulations may include the confiscation of the devices and related products. Additionally, violators may face administrative fines, as these items are classified as prohibited goods for circulation in Vietnam.

3. Exercise caution when operating drones (flycams)

This is one of the infractions that foreigners, particularly photography enthusiasts and travel content creators, easily commit when traveling in Vietnam. Under Decree No. 288/2025/ND-CP and the 2024 Law on People's Air Defense, unmanned aerial vehicles are categorized into five classes based on maximum takeoff weight, with Class 1 (under 0.25 kg) and Class 2 (0.25 kg to under 2 kg) being the most common among tourists. The levels of legal obligation are regulated as follows:

Drones under 0.25 kg (under 250 g) operated for recreational purposes are exempt from flight-by-flight permit requirements, provided they strictly operate outside no-fly and restricted fly zones and remain within visual line of sight. From 0.25 kg and above, operators must obtain a specific flight permit for each individual flight operation, hold an appropriate operator license, and adhere to conditions such as maintaining visual line of sight. Furthermore, individual operators (except for drones under 0.25 kg) must be at least 18 years old, with zero blood or breath alcohol concentration and no drugs or addictive substances in their system. Notably, foreign nationals directly operating drones in Vietnam must be sponsored by a Vietnamese individual or organization.

An important point for tourists to keep in mind to avoid violations is the regulation on no-fly and restricted fly zones. These areas include: the vicinity of civil and military airports (extending approximately 3,000 m × 5,000 m from airport boundaries at altitudes below 120 m), defense facilities, military bases, headquarters of Party and State organs, the National Assembly, the Government, and foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam. Penalties for non-compliance include administrative fines, confiscation of equipment, and suspension or revocation of flight permits. If an infraction severely impacts national security or civil aviation safety, the offender may face criminal prosecution.

4. Do not photograph or film military facilities or special infrastructure

Filming, photographing, or mapping restricted defense and security locations, such as military barracks, naval ports, military bases, and designated land or maritime border areas, violates regulations on state secret protection and national defense facility safeguards. Many tourists merely wish to take landscape check-in photos, overlooking prohibition signs or failing to recognize that their location falls under restricted status, leading to legal violations. When non-compliant, visitors face administrative fines along with the seizure of recorded media and equipment; severe cases involving defense secrets may warrant criminal prosecution.

5. Always carry a valid passport or identification document

Under the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, foreign nationals traveling within Vietnam’s territory must carry a passport or valid international travel document along with relevant residence permits, and must present them upon request by competent authorities.

To avoid losing or damaging original passports, many foreign tourists leave their original documents at their hotels and carry only digital photos on their phones. This does not satisfy the legal requirement to present original documents during official inspections. Therefore, foreign visitors are strongly advised to carry notarized hard copies or original passports when going out, particularly when traveling far from urban centers or near border zones, to prevent administrative penalties and travel restrictions.

6. Refrain from participating in gambling in any form

Article 321 of the Penal Code stipulates that anyone who illegally gambles in any form involving money or property valued at VND 5,000,000 or more (or lower amounts if previously penalized administratively or convicted of a similar offense) may face fines from VND 20,000,000 to VND 100,000,000, non-custodial reform for up to 3 years, or imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years, with penalties increasing based on property value. Even amounts below the threshold can lead to administrative fines, as well as the confiscation of gambling proceeds and instruments.

Foreign tourists should also note that legal casino operations in Vietnam are strictly limited to licensed establishments and are applicable only to designated categories of individuals permitted by law. Outside of these authorized settings, all forms of gambling carry the risk of legal violation.

7. Do not participate in protests, unauthorized gatherings, or distribute information about such events

In many countries, the right to protest and assemble in public places is considered a constitutional right. In Vietnam, gathering in large numbers in public places must strictly comply with public order management regulations. Attending unauthorized public assemblies or sharing and circulating information regarding such events is considered a legal violation and may result in administrative sanctions. To avoid unnecessary trouble, foreign tourists should refrain from participating if they accidentally encounter large public gatherings, and exercise caution when posting or sharing related content on social media platforms during their stay in Vietnam.

8. Respect local culture, religious beliefs, and historical monuments

Acts of defacing, carving names, climbing on artifacts, vandalizing, or engaging in disrespectful speech or gestures at historical monuments and places of worship are subject to administrative fines and mandatory remedial action, such as restoring items to their original condition and compensating for damages.

The desire for "unique" photos sometimes leads tourists to unwittingly climb on artifacts, touch sacred items, or dress inappropriately at religious or spiritual sites, which can result in monetary fines and obligations to restore damaged artifacts or heritage sites to their original state.

9. Do not exchange foreign currency at unlicensed establishments

According to Decree No. 88/2019/ND-CP on administrative penalties in the monetary and banking sectors, only credit institutions, bank branches, or authorized agents licensed by the State Bank of Vietnam are permitted to exchange foreign currency. Penalties are categorized based on transaction values: a formal warning for amounts under USD 1,000; a fine of VND 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 for amounts from USD 1,000 to under USD 10,000; VND 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 for amounts from USD 10,000 to under USD 100,000; and VND 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 for amounts of USD 100,000 or more (or equivalent foreign currency value), along with the confiscation of all involved foreign currency.

Due to convenience or more attractive exchange rates, many tourists exchange money at jewelry shops, small hotels, or with private individuals rather than at licensed banks or authorized exchange counters. Foreign visitors are strongly advised to exchange currency exclusively at banks, airport currency exchange counters, or clearly authorized outlets displaying public exchange rate boards.

10. Strictly comply with traffic regulations

Effective 01 January 2025, Decree No. 168/2024/ND-CP significantly increased fine amounts for most common traffic violations. Notable penalties include: failing to wear a helmet on a motorbike is subject to fines of VND 400,000 to 600,000; driving under the influence of alcohol for motorbikes carries fines of VND 2,000,000 to 10,000,000 (and up to VND 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 for automobiles) along with driver's license suspension; running a red light carries fines of VND 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 for motorbikes and VND 18,000,000 to 20,000,000 for automobiles.

An extremely important point for foreign tourists to note is that under Circular No. 12/2025/TT-BCA, International Driving Permits (IDPs) issued by Vietnam are not valid for operation within Vietnamese territory. Foreign nationals wishing to drive legally in Vietnam must hold an appropriate driver's license recognized under Vietnamese law or convert their foreign driver's license to a Vietnamese license in accordance with legal procedures.

In practice, tourists can rent motorbikes or cars quite easily at tourist destinations without receiving comprehensive guidance regarding licensing requirements, leading to unlicensed driving. Additionally, unfamiliarity with local traffic culture makes visitors vulnerable to basic infractions. Foreign tourists violating driving license regulations in Vietnam face monetary fines as outlined above, as well as potential vehicle impoundment or license suspension.

Conclusion

Vietnam always welcomes international tourists and strives to foster a safe, friendly, and open travel environment. Acquainting oneself with fundamental legal regulations beforehand not only helps visitors avoid unwitting infractions, but also ensures a smooth and memorable stay. Should legal issues arise during your stay in Vietnam, consulting a lawyer or legal advisory firm will help protect your legitimate rights and interests.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information only and does not substitute for specific legal advice in any individual case.