Decree 289/2026/ND-CP security and order at port border gates under Ministry of Public Security

DECREE
On management and assurance of security and order at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security

Pursuant to Maritime Code of Vietnam No. 95/2015/QH13;

Pursuant to the Law No. 63/2025/QH15 on organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the Law No. 06/2003/QH11 on National Boundaries, as amended and supplemented by the Law No. 66/2020/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law No. 32/2004/QH11 on National Security;

Pursuant to the Law No. 23/2004/QH11 on Inland Waterway Navigation, as amended and supplemented by the Law No. 48/2014/QH13; the Law No. 97/2015/QH13; the Law No. 35/2018/QH14; the Law No. 44/2019/QH14; the Law No. 84/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law No. 18/2012/QH13 on the Sea of Vietnam, as amended and supplemented by the Law No. 72/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law No. 37/2018/QH14 on the People’s Public Security Forces, as amended and supplemented by the Law No. 21/2023/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on Foreigners’ Entry in, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam, as amended and supplemented by the Law No. 51/2019/QH14; the Law No. 23/2023/QH15; the Law No. 103/2025/QH15 and the Law No. 118/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law No. 49/2019/QH14 on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, as amended and supplemented by the Law No. 23/2023/QH15 and the Law No. 118/2025/QH15;

At the proposal of the Minister of Public Security;

The Government promulgates the Decree on management and assurance of security and order at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

1. This Decree prescribes

a) Control procedures; inspection and supervision; issuance of shore passes for crewmembers, Embarkation permits and permits; management and control of security and order-related activities of Vietnamese and foreigners, Vietnamese ships, ships flying foreign flags (below collectively referred to as foreign ships) and other Vietnamese and foreign means of transport at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security, including My Tho, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Hau Giang ports (below referred to as port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security);

b) Responsibilities of ministries, sectors and the People’s Committees of Can Tho City, Dong Thap Province, Vinh Long Province, specialized state management agencies at ports for management and assurance of security and order at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

2. Exit, entry, transit, port transfer, and the export and import of goods in support of national defense and security tasks fall outside the scope of this Decree.

Article 2. Subjects of application

1. Vietnamese and foreign agencies, organizations, individuals, ships, and other means of transport entering, leaving, or operating at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

2. This Decree shall not apply to persons using and being transported by ships and other means of transport entering, leaving, or operating at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security for the performance of national defense and security tasks.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Decree, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. The port border gate police office means a specialized unit under the Ministry of Public Security that performs the tasks of controlling entry and exit, and managing, and ensuring security and order at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security in accordance with laws.

2. Specialized state management agencies at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security include: the maritime administration, inland waterway administration, border gate customs, the port border gate police office, health quarantine, animal quarantine and plant quarantine.

3. Control procedures at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security means the order and procedures, dossiers, requirements and conditions to be followed and met by persons carrying out procedures and The port border gate police office in order to allow Vietnamese people and ships to enter and leave the country; Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes; foreign people and ships to enter, leave or transit the country or transfer to another port at the port border gate.

Control procedures at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security include procedures for entry, exit, transit, transfer to port of departure and transfer from port of arrival.

4. Control procedures carried out online means control procedures carried out with electronic declarations by persons carrying out procedures and the port border gate police office.

5. Control procedures carried out manually means control procedures carried out with paper declarations by persons carrying out procedures and the port border gate police office.

6. Inspection and supervision at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security means the port border gate police office’s application of professional measures to check and assess the validity and legality of papers as well as activities of people and crafts entering and leaving a port border gate in order to maintain law and preserve security and order and prevent, detect, stop and handle illegal acts at the port border gate.

7. Permits referred to at Point a, Clause 1, Article 1 of this Decree means a type of paper granted by The port border gate police office to permit a Vietnamese or foreigner to embark a foreign ship or a foreigner to embark a Vietnamese ship anchored at the port to carry out press, scientific research or sightseeing activities; a Vietnamese or foreigner to operate a craft to draw alongside a foreign ship; a foreign crewmember to stay overnight ashore or to embark another ship anchored at the port.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Section 1

CONTROL PROCEDURES

Article 4. Application of control procedures to ships on entry or exit, or in transit or port transfer

1. Ships on entry and crewmembers and passengers on board shall, when entering the border sea area of Vietnam, carry out entry procedures at the first port of arrival.

2. Foreign ships on exit and crewmembers and passengers on board shall, before leaving Vietnam’s maritime boundary, carry out exit procedures at the last port of departure.

3. Vietnamese ships on exit and crewmembers and passengers on board shall, before leaving the sea of Vietnam, carry out exit procedures at the last port of departure.

4. Ships in transit shall carry out transit procedures when entering the border sea area of Vietnam.

During the time of transit or transit trip, ship masters shall manage crewmembers, passengers and cargo on board, keep intact the immigration seals and dossiers; may not let persons embark or disembark their ships, other crafts draw alongside their ships and carry out other activities without permission of competent Vietnamese agencies, except officials, employees and crafts of specialized state management agencies at port, pilots, persons carrying out procedures and health workers who embark the ships to give emergency medical care to crewmembers or passengers.

5. Ships in port transfer shall carry out port transfer procedures before leaving a port border gate to another of Vietnam; port transfer procedures before arriving at a port border gate from another of Vietnam.

Article 5. Carrying out control procedures online

1. Subjects that may carry out control procedures online

a) Vietnamese ships on entry or exit; Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes;

b) Foreign ships on entry or exit or in transit or port transfer;

c) Ships granted by competent Vietnamese agencies permits to arrive at a port, including: Foreign nuclear-powered ships or ships transporting nuclear substances; Foreign ships arriving at ports to carry out scientific research, cultural, sports, fishery, rescue and salvage, salvage of sunk property, towing, construction, survey and repair of maritime facilities; Foreign ships entering the Vietnamese sea to carry out natural resource survey, exploration and exploitation and environmental activities.

d) Foreign crewmembers on board foreign ships on entry or exit or in transit or port transfer;

dd) Vietnamese fishing ships and Vietnamese crewmembers applying manual control procedures may shift to online control procedures when the port border gate police office and specialized state management agencies have adequate information technology infrastructure and satisfy specialized management requirements.

2. Online control procedures shall be carried out via the Vietnam National Single Window in accordance with the law on the national single-window mechanism.

3. In case the Vietnam National Single Window breaks down, the person carrying out control procedures shall carry out control procedures manually under Article 6 of this Decree.

Article 6. Carrying out control procedures manually

1. Subjects that may carry out control procedures manually

a) Vietnamese fishing ships;

b) Foreign ships that seek storm shelter or medical care for their crewmembers or passengers or having an accident in emergency cases;

c) Ships that cannot carry out control procedures online because the Vietnam National Single Window breaks down;

d) Vietnamese crewmembers;

dd) Vietnamese and foreign passengers.

2. Control procedures carried out manually for ships on entry and exit and in transit

a) Places for carrying out procedures:

At the head office or representative office of the maritime administration or inland waterway administration or on the ship in accordance with the law on management of maritime activities;

In addition to the cases of carrying out procedures on the ship in accordance with the law on management of maritime activities, the port border gate police office shall notify and reach agreement with the maritime administration or inland waterway administration to carry out control procedures on the ship in the following cases: There is a stowaway on board the ship; the ship shows apparent signs of violation of the law on security and order; there are grounds to believe that the declared information on crewmembers and/or passengers is incomplete and inaccurate; there are grounds to believe that crewmembers and/or passengers use forged passports or papers for international travel for entry, exit or transit.

b) The time limit for making and composition of dossiers must comply with the law on management of maritime activities;

c) Foreign crewmembers may present their seaman books upon entry or exit or transit in the following cases: They have no passports or papers valid for international travel; their passports or papers valid for international travel have expired.

d) When carrying out exit procedures for a ship, the person carrying out such procedures shall return to the port border gate police office all shore passes of crewmembers (if any), except crewmembers on board the ship prescribed at Point b, Clause 2, Article 10 of this Decree.

3. Control procedures carried out manually for ships in port transfer

a) Places for carrying out the procedures: as prescribed in Point a, Clause 2 of this Article;

b) For ships transferring to port of departure:

The composition of dossiers and time limit for carrying out the procedures must comply with the law on management of maritime activities;

When carrying out the procedures for a ship, the person carrying out these procedures shall return to the port border gate police office all shore passes of crewmembers (if any), except crewmembers on board the ship prescribed at Point b, Clause 2, Article 10 of this Decree.

c) For ships transferring to port of arrival:

Within 2 hours after the ship arrives and is safely anchored at a pier; or within 4 hours after the ship arrives and is safely anchored at another position in the port waters, the person carrying out procedures shall submit a dossier of port transfer made by the port border gate police office of the port of departure to the port border gate police office or the border guard of the port of arrival;

Within 30 minutes, the port border gate police office of the port of arrival shall complete the checking of the dossier of port transfer and permit the loading and/or unloading of cargo onto and/or from the ship and other activities already planned.

4. Control procedures carried out manually for international tourist ships and crewmembers and passengers on board

a) Complying with the provisions of Clause 2 of this Article;

b) At least 12 hours before the ship arrives at the port, the international travel company receiving the tourists shall submit to the port border gate police office the following papers:

One original tour program of passengers;

One copy of the international travel business license (for the first-time reception of tourists at the port);

One original official letter responding to the applications for visas at the international border gate, issued by the Ministry of Public Security’s Immigration Department, except passengers holding passports bearing Vietnamese visa and exempted from Vietnamese visa (if there are passengers applying for visas at the port border gate);

If, for an objective reason, there is not enough time for submitting the above original official letter, based on the written request of the international travel company, the port border gate police office may permit the travel company to submit a faxed copy or photocopy for carrying out the procedures for passengers; within 3 days after submitting the faxed copy or photocopy, the travel company shall submit the original written response from the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security to a request for visa issuance at an international port of entry to the port border gate police office;

If the international travel company applies for visas for passengers at a port border gate but the ship arrives at another port border gate according to its itinerary, the port border gate police office of the port of arrival shall receive the official letter responding to the applications for visas at the international border gate issued by the Ministry of Public Security’s Immigration Department, and grant visas to the passengers under regulations, without requiring re-approval of these applicants

c) The port border gate police office shall grant visas to passengers on board the ship in accordance with the law on entry and exit;

d) For international passenger ships which have been licensed to transport domestic tourists between Vietnamese port border gates:

Before the ship embarks passengers, the person carrying out procedures shall submit to the port border gate police office one copy of the license granted by a competent Vietnamese agency for the ship to transport domestic tourists between Vietnamese ports; the travel company shall submit to the port border gate police office one original tour program of domestic tourists and one original passenger list;

Domestic tourists upon embarking the ship shall present to the port border gate police office passports or papers valid for international travel, for foreign passengers; Domestic tourists upon embarking the ship shall present to the port border gate police office People’s identity cards or citizen identity cards or identity cards or passports or other papers valid for passport substitution, for Vietnamese passengers.

5. Control procedures carried out manually for sail boats, sports boats, yachts and people on board

a) The places, composition of dossiers and time limit for carrying out the procedures must comply with Point a, Point b, Clause 2 of this Article;

b) People on board sail boats, sports boats or yachts who have no seaman passports or seaman books and do not belong to the crew complement prescribed by the maritime law must have passports or papers valid for international travel; and visas granted by a competent Vietnamese agency upon entry, except those who are eligible for visa exemption upon entry;

c) People on board sail boats, sports boats or yachts who have seaman passports or seaman books and belong to the crew complement prescribed by the maritime law shall follow the control procedures and procedures for going ashore applied to crewmembers.

6. Control procedures for Vietnamese fishing ships sailing to exploit aquatic resources in the sea outside the Vietnamese sea and crewmembers and passengers on board

a) Vietnamese fishing ships sailing to exploit aquatic resources in the sea outside the Vietnamese sea shall carry out exit procedures before leaving the Vietnamese sea and entry procedures when returning to the border sea area of Vietnam;

b) Places for carrying out the procedures: as prescribed at Point a, Clause 2 of this Article;

c) Composition of a dossier:

Papers to be submitted by the person carrying out exit procedures: 2 original general manifests, crew list, passenger list (if any), weapon and explosive declaration (if any), stowaway declaration (if any).

Papers to be submitted by the person carrying out entry procedures: 1 original of each of the above papers.

Papers to be presented by the person carrying out exit procedures: the original license for the fishing ship to exploit aquatic resources in the sea outside the Vietnamese sea granted by the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance; ordinary passports and crew books of crewmembers; passports of passengers (if any);

Papers to be presented by the person carrying out entry procedures: ordinary passports and crew books of crewmembers; passports of passengers (if any);

The forms of the to-be-submitted papers must comply with the law on management of maritime activities;

The port border gate police office shall return to the person carrying out procedures the original of each of the papers already submitted and marked upon exit.

d) Time limit for carrying out procedures:

At least 12 hours before the expected time of exit of the ship, or after the time of entry of the ship, the person carrying out procedures shall submit and present to the port border gate police office the papers specified at Points c, Clause 6 of this Article;

Within 1 hour after fully receiving the papers submitted and presented by the person carrying out procedures, the port border gate police office shall complete the entry or exit procedures for the ship, crewmembers and passengers (if any).

Article 7. Time of completion of control procedures

1. For ships

a) The time when control procedures are regarded as having been completed online is the time when the person carrying out procedures is certified to have completed online the control procedures for the ship on entry or exit or in transit or port transfer;

b) The time when control procedures are regarded as having been completed manually is the time when the port border gate police office completes the verification of the general manifest, for a ship on entry, exit or in transit; the sealing of the port transfer dossier, for a ship transferring to a port of departure; the receipt and inspection of the port transfer dossier, for a ship transferring to a port of arrival.

2. For crewmembers and passengers

a) The time when control procedures are regarded as having been completed for foreign crewmembers carrying out control procedures online is the time when the person carrying out procedures is certified to have completed online the control procedures for the ship on entry or exit or in transit or port transfer;

b) The time when control procedures are regarded as having been completed for foreign crewmembers carrying out control procedures manually is the time when the port border gate police office completes the verification of the crew list;

c) The time when control procedures are regarded as having been completed for Vietnamese crewmembers and passengers is the time when the port border gate police office completes the verification of passports of crewmembers and passengers.

Article 8. Responsibilities in carrying out control procedures

1. Responsibilities of the port border gate police office

a) To carry out control procedures around the clock;

b) To receive and check the legality and validity of and verify under regulations papers submitted and presented by persons carrying out procedures;

c) After completing the control procedures, to return the papers to the persons carrying out procedures, except when there are decisions on seizure of exhibits and violating crafts having these papers in accordance with law in order to ensure the handling of violations, or to seize the papers until violators completely execute handling decisions of competent agencies;

d) To receive and settle according to its competence prescribed by law requests of persons carrying out procedures.

2. Responsibilities of a person carrying out procedures

a) To declare, submit and present papers prescribed in this Decree and relevant laws;

b) To comply with decisions and requests of the port border gate police office in accordance with law when carrying out control procedures;

c) Before, during and after carrying out control procedures, if detecting a stowaway, the ship master shall apply necessary measures depending on each case and specific conditions to make a dossier of the case, protect documents and material evidence, closely manage and supervise the stowaway, and promptly report it to the port border gate police office for handling in coordination with related agencies.

Section 2

PROCEDURES FOR GRANTING PERMITS

Article 9. Permits granted by the port border gate police office

1. Embarkation permits

a) Embarkation permits which are valid for 12 months, made according to Form No. 01 in the Appendix to this Decree;

b) Embarkation permits which are valid for 3 months, made according to Form No. 02 in the Appendix to this Decree.

2. Permits, made according to Form No. 03 in the Appendix to this Decree.

3. Shore passes of crewmembers, made according to Form No. 04 in the Appendix to this Decree.

Article 10. Grant of shore passes

1. Persons eligible for being granted shore passes

Foreign crewmembers working on board Vietnamese or foreign ships who have completed entry or port-of-arrival transfer procedures and wish to go ashore during the time the ships are anchored at a port border gate.

2. Validity of shore passes

a) Valid for only a single ship trip;

b) For foreign crewmembers on board a ship operating along a single route and a ship operating in the sea outside the port waters, at the request of the ship master, the port border gate police office may permit crewmembers to use their shore passes during multiple ship trips for no more than 1 month from the date of grant;

c) The person carrying out procedures shall retain the expired shore passes and return them to the port border gate police office.

3. Procedures for granting shore passes

a) The person carrying out procedures shall register the crewmembers’ need to go ashore in the “Note” box of the general manifest;

If not yet registered in the general manifest, a crewmember who needs to go ashore shall ask the ship master to file a written request with the port border gate police office.

b) Upon fully receiving the requests for permission for crewmembers to go ashore, the port border gate police office shall grant shore passes at its office;

c) A fee shall be paid for a shore pass in accordance with the law on charges and fees.

Article 11. Grant of embarkation permits

1. Persons eligible for being granted embarkation permits

a) Embarkation permits valid for 12 months shall be:

Granted to Vietnamese and foreigners of agencies, organizations and enterprises who need to frequently embark foreign ships for working purposes for no more than 12 months, except officials and employees of specialized state management agencies at port.

b) Embarkation permits valid for 3 months shall be:

Granted to Vietnamese and foreigners of agencies, organizations and enterprises who need to frequently embark foreign ships, or foreigners to embark on Vietnamese or foreign ships for working purposes for no more than 3 months, except officials and employees of specialized state management agencies at port.

2. Validity of embarkation permits

a) Embarkation permits granted by a unit of port border gate police office are valid only at the port border gate under this unit’s management;

b) If the holder of an embarkation permit commits an illegal act when operating at the port border gate, the permit shall be revoked.

3. Procedures for grant of embarkation permits

a) The applicant for an embarkation permit or a representative of his/her managing agency or enterprise shall submit and present to the port border gate police office the following papers:

Papers to be submitted: a letter of introduction or official letter applying for an embarkation permit made by the managing agency or enterprise; 1 list of applicants, made according to Form No. 05 to the Appendix to this Decree; and one 2 cm x 3 cm color photo, particularly for applicants for permits valid for 12 months.

Papers to be submitted for foreigners: passport or paper valid for international travel;

b) Upon fully receiving the papers specified at Point a of this Clause, the port border gate police office shall grant an embarkation permit;

c) A fee shall be paid for an embarkation permit in accordance with the law on charges and fees.

4. An embarkation permit holder shall strictly observe the Vietnamese law and provisions of the permit.

5. The port border gate police office may refuse to grant an embarkation permit in the following cases and shall issue a written reply clearly stating the reason:

a) For national defense or security reasons;

b) The applicant’s exit is suspended; he/she uses fake or expired personal identification papers;

c) In case of necessity to ensure social order and safety or prevent and control an epidemic.

Article 12. Grant of permits to Vietnamese and foreigners to embark foreign ships, foreigners to embark Vietnamese ships anchored at ports; operators of Vietnamese or foreign crafts to draw alongside foreign ships; and foreign crewmembers to stay overnight ashore or embark other ships anchored at ports

1. Persons eligible for a permit

a) Vietnamese or foreigners embarking a foreign ship anchored at the port for carrying out press, scientific research or sightseeing activities;

b) Foreigners embarking a Vietnamese ship anchored at the port for carrying out press, scientific research or sightseeing activities;

c) Operators of Vietnamese or foreign crafts to draw alongside a foreign ship;

d) Foreign crew members wishing to stay overnight ashore or embark another ship anchored at the port.

2. Validity of permits

a) Permits granted to the persons specified at Points a, b and c, Clause 1 of this Article are valid for a single ship trip lasting no more than 10 days;

b) Permits granted to the persons specified at Point d, Clause 1 of this Article are valid for a single ship trip stated in the permit;

c) A permit holder may only embark the foreign ship specified in the permit, and shall present the permit and his/her personal identity paper with its number written in the permit to the control force of port border gate police office;

d) For officials and employees of agencies, enterprises, shipping agents working or having transactions with ships operating offshore, or workers on oil rigs, at the request of these agencies or enterprises, the port border gate police office shall permit the permit holders to embark all foreign ships anchored or operating in such area.

3. Permit-granting procedures:

a) The permit applicant or a representative of the managing agency or enterprise shall submit and present to the port border gate police office the following papers:

Papers to be submitted: a letter of introduction or an official letter issued by the managing agency or enterprise, a letter of invitation or a written request issued by the ship master; in case the agency or enterprise applies for permits for 2 or more persons: 1 list of applicants and their summary personal details, including name; nationality; place of birth; date of birth; position; serial number of people’s identity card or citizen identity card or identity card or passport or another paper valid for international travel.

Papers to be presented: For foreigners specified at Points a, b and c, Clause 1 of this Article: passport or paper valid for international travel; for Vietnamese specified at Points a and c, Clause 1 of this Article: people’s identity card or citizen identity card or identity card or passport or paper valid for passport substitution;

b) Upon fully receiving the papers specified at Point a of this Clause, the port border gate police office shall grant a permit;

c) A fee shall be paid for a permit in accordance with the law on charges and fees.

4. An embarkation permit holder shall strictly observe the Vietnamese law and provisions of the permit.

5. The port border gate police office may refuse to grant an embarkation permit in the following cases and shall issue a written reply clearly stating the reason:

a) For national defense or security reasons;

b) The applicant’s exit is suspended; he/she uses fake or expired personal identification papers

c) In case of necessity to ensure social order and safety or prevent and control an epidemic.

Section 3

MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF ACTIVITIES OF PEOPLE AND CRAFTS AT PORT BORDER GATES

Article 13. Vietnamese and foreigners operating at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security

1. Vietnamese embarking foreign ships, except on-duty officials and employees of specialized state management agencies at port, health workers embarking foreign ships for giving emergency medical treatment for crewmembers and passengers; and foreigners embarking foreign or Vietnamese ships for working or carrying out activities during the time the ships are anchored at the border gate port must have permits granted by the port border gate police office under Articles 11 and 12 of this Decree, and shall comply with the inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office.

2. Foreigners coming to work and operating at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security

a) Must have a passport or paper valid for international travel;

b) Shall comply with the inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office and specialized state management agencies at port and related forces;

c) At least 12 hours before a foreigner comes to work at the port, the receiving agency or enterprise shall send a written notice to the port border gate police office of his/her full name, nationality, serial number of passport or paper valid for international travel; name and address of the agency or organization with which the foreigner will work, starting and ending time of work; working agenda and working place at the port border gate.

3. Vietnamese and foreigners may not embark or leave the ship before and during the time the ship goes through entry or port-of-arrival transfer procedures, or during and after the ship goes through exit or port-of-departure transfer procedures, except officials and employees of specialized state management agencies at port, pilots, on-duty persons carrying out procedures, and health workers embarking the ship for giving medical examination and treatment for crewmembers and passengers.

4. For a ship going through online control procedures, immediately after the ship is safely anchored at the port, related Vietnamese and foreigners may embark and disembark the ship to carry out activities serving the loading and unloading of cargo and planned activities until the ship leaves the port.

5. Crewmembers and passengers who are ineligible for entry under Vietnamese law may not leave the ship, except the case prescribed in Article 15 of this Decree.

The ship master shall manage these crewmembers and passengers until the ship leaves the sea of Vietnam.

Article 14. Crewmembers and passengers on board ships who have not yet undergone entry or port-of-arrival transfer procedures but are sent for emergency medical care at Vietnamese health establishments

1. Before a ship arrives at the port, the person carrying out procedures shall notify the border gate police office of the port of arrival of the number and health conditions of crewmembers and/or passengers who need emergency medical care, and the time of arrival of the ship and its anchoring position.

2. After sending a crewmember or passenger for emergency medical care, the person carrying out procedures shall come to the port border gate police office to fully declare information on such crewmember or passenger for carrying out entry or port-of-arrival transfer procedures for him/her under this Decree and relevant laws.

3. If the crewmember or passenger will not return to the ship and wishes to exit via another border gate, before the ship leaves the port, the ship master shall make a written request for the crewmember or passenger to exit via another border gate and present his/her hospital discharge or transfer paper to the port border gate police office for carrying out procedures for his/her exit via another border gate under regulations.

4. In case a foreign crewmember needs emergency medical care at a health establishment outside the province or centrally run city where the ship is anchored, after sending him/her to the health establishment, the person carrying out procedures shall come to the office of the port border gate police to apply for a visa for such crewmember, in case he/she is ineligible for visa exemption upon entry into Vietnam.

Article 15. Foreign crewmembers and passengers ineligible for entry in accordance with Vietnamese law but in need of emergency medical care at Vietnamese health establishments

1. After sending a crewmember or passenger for emergency medical care, the ship master shall send to the port border gate police office a document containing the following details:

a) Full information and health conditions of the crewmember or passenger;

b) Commitment to pay all expenses related to the medical treatment of the crewmember or passenger, supervision by related Vietnamese agencies and travel out of the Vietnamese territory of the crewmember or passenger after he/she is discharged from hospital.

2. The port border gate police office shall receive the document of the ship master and make a dossier of the case, and shall not carry out entry procedures for the crewmember or passenger; notify the case to the related agencies, and appoint a border guard officer to supervise the crewmember or passenger during the time of medical treatment.

3. During the time of medical treatment, the crewmember or passenger may not leave the health establishment without permission and shall be placed under the inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office.

4. When being discharged from hospital, the crewmember or passenger shall be forced to leave the country

a) If the ship has not yet departed, the port border gate police office shall coordinate with the person carrying out procedures to take the crewmember or passenger back to the ship for exit together with the ship;

b) If the ship has departed, the crewmember or passenger shall be forced to exit via another border gate as prescribed by Vietnamese law.

Article 16. Foreign crewmembers going ashore

1. During the time a ship is anchored at a port border gate, foreign crewmembers may go ashore everyday within the province or centrally run city where the ship is anchored until 24:00 hours, without having to apply for a visa, but must carry along a shore pass granted by the port border gate police office under Article 10 of this Decree.

2. A crewmember may go ashore after entry and port-of-arrival transfer procedures have been completed for the ship and shall come back to the ship before the time exit or port-of-departure transfer procedures are carried out for it.

Particularly for a ship for which port control procedures are carried out online, crewmembers may go ashore immediately after the ship is anchored safely at the port.

The ship master shall take responsibility for delays in carrying out exit or port-of-departure transfer procedures due to the late return of a crewmember going ashore.

3. Crewmembers going ashore or exiting at another border gate:

a) When going ashore within the province or centrally run city where the ship is anchored:

A crewmember shall carry along the shore pass and personal identification paper already declared and presented upon carrying out entry procedures; obey the instructions and submit to the inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office, and comply with relevant Vietnamese regulations.

If wishing to stay overnight ashore, a crewmember shall obtain a written request from the ship master and be granted a permit by the port border gate police office under Article 12 of this Decree;

b) When going ashore outside the province or centrally run city where the ship is anchored or exiting via another border gate:

A crewmember must have a visa, unless he/she is exempt from the visa requirement and shall comply with the law on entry and exit. The port border gate police office shall grant visas in accordance with the law on entry and exit.

In case a crewmember has no passport or paper valid for international travel or has an expired one, he/she may use his/her seaman book for entry and exit.

4. A crewmember going ashore who commits an illegal act shall be handled in accordance with Vietnamese law.

Article 17. Ships and other crafts operating at port border gates

1. Vietnamese ships on exit or entry; and foreign ships on exit, entry or in transit or port transfer must obtain permission of competent Vietnamese agencies and shall go through the designated border gates, navigable channels or routes or areas of transit.

2. Vietnamese and foreign crafts, except those of specialized state management agencies at port, pilotage crafts and towing crafts on duty, may not draw alongside ships before and during the time such ships undergo entry or port-of-arrival transfer procedures or during and after such ships undergo exit or port-of-departure transfer procedures.

For ships for which control procedures are carried out online at a seaport, right after they are safely anchored at the port, related Vietnamese and foreign crafts may draw alongside these ships to carry out activities serving cargo loading and unloading and other activities as planned until such ships leave the port.

3. Other crafts leaving, entering or operating in port border gates must comply with this Decree and relevant regulations; and submit to the control, inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office and related forces.

Article 18. Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts entering or leaving port border gates

1. Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts entering or leaving port border gates

a) Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes shall undergo port arrival and departure procedures in accordance with the law on management of maritime activities, and submit to the control, inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office during the time they are anchored at port border gates;

b) Inland waterway crafts shall register their arrival and departure and submit to the control, inspection and supervision by the port border gate police office during the time they are anchored at port border gates.

2. Upon their departure from and arrival at and during their operation in a port border gate, masters of Vietnamese seagoing ships operating on domestic routes and inland waterway crafts shall provide the port border gate police office with information on crafts and cargo and other information relating to security and order when so requested.

3. Places for carrying out procedures and registering arrival and departure

Head offices or representative offices of maritime administrations or inland waterway administrations.

4. Time limits for carrying out procedures and registering arrival and departure

a) For Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes, such time limit must comply with the law on management of maritime activities;

b) For inland waterway crafts:

Within 2 hours after an inland waterway craft is safely anchored at a pier; or within 4 hours after an inland waterway craft is safely anchored at another place within the port waters, the master or owner of the ship or authorized person (below referred to as the registrant) shall register the arrival for the ship to enter the port.

At least 1 hour before an inland waterway craft is expected to leave the port border gate, the registrant shall register the departure for the craft to leave the port.

Within 30 minutes after receiving all the papers submitted or presented by the registrant under Clause 5 of this Article, the port border gate police office shall complete the registration of arrival or departure for the inland waterway craft and return one of each of such papers appended with the arrival or departure control mark as specified at Point a, Clause 5 of this Article.

5. Papers to be submitted or presented by registrants to the port border gate police office upon carrying out procedures and registering arrival or departure for Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts

a) Papers to be submitted:

For Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes, such papers must comply with the law on management of maritime activities.

For inland waterway crafts: 2 originals of the crew list and 2 originals of the passenger list (if any);

b) Papers to be presented:

For crewmembers: seaman books or seaman passports.

For passengers (if any): passports or papers valid for international travel or people’s identity cards or citizen identity cards or identity cards.

6. When carrying out procedures, registering, inspecting or supervising Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts, the port border gate police office may inspect:

a) Logbooks;

b) Papers related to cargo, if any, on Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts, including cargo transportation contract; cargo purchase and sale contract and added-value invoice or delivery note-cum-internal transportation document; and transportation permit granted by a competent Vietnamese agency, for cargo subject to conditional transportation upon detecting indications of a violation;

c) Persons carrying out procedures or registrants shall produce the papers specified at Points a and b of this Clause at the request of the port border gate police office.

7. For Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts for which arrival or departure registration procedures are carried out via the Vietnam National Single Window under the National Single-Window mechanism, the registrant is not required to submit the papers specified at Point a, Clause 5 of this Article but shall only present the papers specified at Point b, Clause 5 of this Article.

8. In the process of registration, control, inspection and supervision, if detecting apparent signs of violation committed by Vietnamese seagoing ships operating along domestic routes and inland waterway crafts, or if having grounds to believe that the declared information on crafts, crewmembers, passengers or cargo is insufficient or inaccurate, the head of the port border gate police office shall issue a decision to conduct physical inspection at the crafts and take responsibility before law for his/her decision.

Chapter III

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 19. Effect

This Decree takes effect on October 01, 2026.

Article 20. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Public Security

1. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors and the People’s Committees of Can Tho City, Dong Thap Province, and Vinh Long Province in implementing measures to ensure security and order and conduct immigration control at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

2. To direct the port border gate police force to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations in ensuring security and order and formulating and implementing regulations on coordination at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security; to implement the application of science and technology to controlling exit and entry, granting permits, and reforming administrative procedures, thus creating favorable conditions for persons and crafts leaving, entering and operating in port border gates.

Article 21. Responsibilities of the People’s Committees of Can Tho City, Dong Thap Province, and Vinh Long Province and related ministries and sectors

1. The People’s Committees of Can Tho City, Dong Thap Province, and Vinh Long Province shall, within the scope of their respective functions, tasks, and powers, direct functional agencies and units to coordinate with the specialized state management agencies in the management and assurance of security and order at, port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

2. Relevant ministries and sectors shall, within the scope of their respective functions, tasks, and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in management and assurance of security and order at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security; direct subordinate agencies, units, and forces to coordinate closely with the border gate police office in ensuring security and order at port border gates under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security./.

* All Appendices are not translated herein.