Language
An official website of the United States government
An official website of the United States government
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
* New Exchange Rate: The U.S. Mission in Vietnam will change its consular exchange rate from US$1=24,000VND to US$1=25,000VND effective September 5, 2023.
Please make an appointment for all routine notary & passport services. You do not need an appointment if you are picking up passports, Federal Benefits checks/correspondence, or are submitting information in relation to a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
The U.S. Citizen Services (also called “American Citizen Services” or ACS) units of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City provide a variety of services, including but not limited to passport assistance, Consular Reports of Births and Deaths Abroad, and notarial services. If this is an emergency — such as a death, arrest or crisis involving an American citizen, please contact us.
If you can’t travel to one of our ACS sections, we may come to you in the form of our Consular Outreach Visits (please visit the section below).
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
International Parental Child Abduction
Vietnam is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between Vietnam and the United States concerning international parental child abduction. If your U.S. citizen child has been abducted from the U.S. to Vietnam, speak with a U.S. State Department officer to discuss your case.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport. In emergency situations where no commercial alternative is available, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can help receive and disburse funds sent from family, friend to U.S. citizens using the Department of State Overseas Citizen Services OCS Trust process.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
There is no Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office at the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam. The ACS staff is unable to answer inquiries about the preparation and filing of U.S. taxes.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
If you live in Vietnam and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in
Philippines.
The SSA FBU in Manila, Philippines provides a wide range of services for federal benefits. To receive assistance, please contact the FBU via their Online Inquiry Form. You may also contact the FBU by mail, phone or fax.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; we cannot vouch for this information.
Legal Assistance Medical Assistance Translators & Public Notary OfficesWe understand that the right to appear before a Vietnamese court requires membership in a local or provincial attorney association. Foreign legal firms are entitled to provide legal consultancy services and other services, but they are not permitted to practice criminal law in Vietnam. Also, they are not permitted to appoint their lawyers to participate in legal proceedings in the capacity of defense counsel or as the representative of a client before the courts in Vietnam. For advice and assistance in this area, it is advisable to contact the firms detailed below for their recommendation on Vietnamese lawyers practicing criminal law. Vietnamese lawyers’ understanding of English ranges from basic to good. American citizens are additionally advised to reach agreement on what services will be provided and what fees will be charged during the initial consultation with any lawyer.
The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the U.S. Consulate General in Vietnam assume no responsibility for the professional ability or reputation of the persons or medical facilities whose names appear on the following list. The list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. Many of the international medical facilities have foreign English-speaking doctors on staff. Please be aware that medical care in Vietnam generally falls below U.S. standards. Sometimes, even routine injuries or conditions may require medical evacuation to a regional medical center with higher standards. The telephone country code for Vietnam is 84.
Translators & Public Notary Offices
Individuals working for translation companies should have graduated from universities with English majors to be considered “certified translators.” Some translation companies also provide notarized translation services, which means that the company can translate documents and then have these translations certified by District Justice Offices.
Some notary offices may also offer notarized translation services, often by contacting certified translators for translation services and having the translation certified by District Justice Offices, and charge fees for these services.
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages. Depending on the local law, civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. If your marriage overseas was performed in accordance with local law, it is valid in the country where it took place. Whether your marriage is recognized elsewhere depends on the laws of that place.
If you get married abroad and need to know if your marriage will be recognized in the United States and what documentation may be needed, contact the office of the Attorney General of your state of residence in the United States.
In order for you to ‘pass’ your U.S. citizenship to your child you must meet certain requirements. These requirements change depending on whether the mother or the father is the U.S. citizen, and whether your child was born in wedlock or out-of-wedlock.
Renunciation of U.S. citizenship is a serious decision, and, if approved by the Department of State, is irrevocable. Potential renunciants are asked to carefully reflect on their decision. Renunciation applicants must have two interviews with a U.S. consular officer. The first interview is to discuss the process with a consular officer. The second interview, which must be in-person, is to collect payment and complete the process. Renouncing U.S. citizenship does not relieve the renunciant of existing U.S. tax obligations, legal matters, or criminal charges.
Please call: Hanoi: (024) 3850 5000 Ho Chi Minh City: (028) 3520 4200 or (028) 3520 4600
Outside of Office Hours, contact: Hanoi: (024) 3850 5000 Ho Chi Minh City: (028) 3520 4200 or (028) 3520 4600
Outside of Vietnam: Hanoi: +84 24 3850 5000 Ho Chi Minh City: +8428 3520 4200 or +8428 3520 4600
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
