1. Conditions for acquiring Vietnamese nationality

Article 19 of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality regulations:

“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."

- Knowing enough Vietnamese to integrate into the Vietnamese community is the ability to listen, speak, read, and write in Vietnamese in accordance with the living and working environment of the person applying for Vietnamese citizenship.

- A person applying for Vietnamese nationality according to the provisions of Clauses 1 and 2, Article 19 of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality must be a person permanently residing in Vietnam and have been granted a Permanent Residence Card by a competent Vietnamese police agency. .

The permanent residence period in Vietnam of a person applying for Vietnamese nationality is calculated from the date that person is issued a Permanent Residence Card.

- The ability of the person applying for Vietnamese citizenship to ensure their life in Vietnam is proven by that person's assets, legal source of income or the guarantee of an organization or individual in Vietnam.

2. Cases of exemption from the conditions for naturalization in Vietnam

Clause 2, Clause 3, Article 19 of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality regulations:

“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.”

Thus, if a foreigner meets all the conditions for naturalization and is exempted from nationality (if any), he or she can naturalize in Vietnam.