As a foreign boat trying to enter Vietnam, you will have to deal with corruption and rely on the goodwill of government authorities (right down to the policeman who patrols the marina on a daily basis). Vietnam is under a communist regime and there are no laws for foreign yacht entry into the country, therefore technically it is forbidden. Ana Marina in Nha Trang has been declared a seaport and appears to have a system in place for getting foreign yachts into Vietnam. Shipping agents may be able to assist you with gaining entry elsewhere, but are only familiar with handling commercial shipping, therefore fees will likely be in line with commercial costs and are not regulated for private yachting.

PRE-ARRIVAL

Permission to visit any port must be obtained in advance from a Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad.  As permission must be given by several government departments, the procedure takes time and can be very expensive.

It is strongly advised to use a shipping agent to arrange the clearance procedures in order to have some measure of success.

PORTS OF ENTRY

Da Nang, Ho Chi Min City and Nha Trang are the only ports of entry open to foreign yachts. Ana Marina in Nha Trang does appear to have a system in place for getting foreign yachts into the country.

ARRIVAL FORMALITIES

Advance Notification:

When in radio range, call the Port Control and they will issue directions. It is likely you will be required to take a pilot on board.

General Process:

Remain on board until you have been given instructions by the authorities. There will likely be a great deal of form-filling.

All arrival documents must be submitted to the Port Authority (see documents).

If leaving the boat overnight to travel inland, it is necessary to have a guard posted.

Domestic Cruising:

Every region is an independent authority and going to multiple ports means multiple check ins and out. The clearance process is complicated and you are not allowed to handle it yourself, so a shipping agent must be hired.

Cruising between ports, however, does not appear to be an option at this time.

Last updated:  April 2023

Note: This information is based on communication with local shipping agents and local sailors in Vietnam. Many tell us that even if you do gain permission to enter the country, the likelyhood is it will be expensive and you will only be permitted to remain in the entry port and go no further with your boat.

See this report on Jack Omman’s experience visiting Vietnam in 2006.

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