Your first 90 days in Vietnam: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The tạm trú declaration is per-stay, not once: every re-entry needs a fresh declaration, and missing records surface as fines or refusals when extending visas or applying for the residence card.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Khai báo tạm trú: temporary residence declaration to ward police, filed by the landlord or host
Within 12 hours of arrival at the accommodation (24 hours in remote areas)
Hotels declare guests automatically; private landlords file on the provincial xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn portal — the record is checked at extensions and residence-card applications.
Get your Mã số thuế cá nhân (Personal Tax Code)
Required for payroll, annual tax finalization, and increasingly for banking paperwork.
Employers register it for staff; otherwise self-registration at the local tax office or eTax portal with a passport.
Open a bank account
Passport plus a long-stay visa or residence card (some banks want 12-month validity or a work permit); a local number helps. Outbound transfers face documentation checks; Wise-to-local-card is the standard bridge.
Enrol in healthcare
Compulsory social/health insurance covers employees on Vietnamese contracts via the employer; other long-stayers rely on private or international policies and pay-per-visit clinics.
Sort your driver's license
US (1949-convention) IDPs are not recognized — Vietnam honors the 1968 convention; converting to a Vietnamese license requires a residence card or long-stay visa, and driving unconverted voids insurance.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Vietnam: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Vietnam?
Khai báo tạm trú: temporary residence declaration to ward police, filed by the landlord or host — Within 12 hours of arrival at the accommodation (24 hours in remote areas). Hotels declare guests automatically; private landlords file on the provincial xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn portal — the record is checked at extensions and residence-card applications. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Mã số thuế cá nhân and do I need one?
Mã số thuế cá nhân (Personal Tax Code) is Vietnam's personal tax/ID number. Required for payroll, annual tax finalization, and increasingly for banking paperwork. Employers register it for staff; otherwise self-registration at the local tax office or eTax portal with a passport.
Can I drive in Vietnam on a US license?
US (1949-convention) IDPs are not recognized — Vietnam honors the 1968 convention; converting to a Vietnamese license requires a residence card or long-stay visa, and driving unconverted voids insurance. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Vietnam?
Compulsory social/health insurance covers employees on Vietnamese contracts via the employer; other long-stayers rely on private or international policies and pay-per-visit clinics. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Vietnam's system treats foreign residents.