Emergency Travel Document in Vietnam: How to Get One
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🧭 Central VN Help5 min read

Emergency Travel Document in Vietnam: How to Get One

💡 An emergency travel document (ETD) is a temporary, one-trip document your embassy issues when your passport is lost or stolen abroad. In Vietnam, getting one takes three steps: file a police report at the local ward police station, contact your embassy or consulate, then visit the Da Nang Immigration Office at 78 Le Loi to have your exit stamp processed. Keep every stamped copy of the police report - every step depends on it.

Key takeaways

  • File a police report at the ward police station (cong an phuong) where the loss happened. Get a stamped copy: the Vietnamese Immigration Office and your embassy both require it.
  • Contact your embassy by phone, not in person: US, UK, AU, CA offices are in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. South Korea has a consulate in Da Nang itself (+84 23 6356 6100).
  • An ETD is valid for one trip out of Vietnam only. It does not replace your full passport and will not be accepted for re-entry. Apply for a full new passport at home.
  • After your embassy issues the ETD, bring it to the Da Nang Immigration Office at 78 Le Loi (phones: 0694 260 192 / 0906 091 269) so Immigration can process your exit paperwork.
  • Honest note: ETD processing times are set by your embassy, not by Vietnam, and can range from same day to several days. Call before assuming a timeline.

What is an emergency travel document?

An ETD is a temporary travel document issued by your government's embassy or consulate when your regular passport is lost, stolen or destroyed abroad. It is not a replacement passport: it is typically valid for one trip only - usually enough to return home or reach a country where you can apply for a full new passport.

The format varies by nationality. The US issues an Emergency Passport valid for direct return travel. The UK offers an ETD applied for online via GOV.UK. Australia and Canada issue emergency documents through their Hanoi and HCMC offices. South Korea issues a Travel Certificate from its Da Nang consulate.

What is the first step when you lose your passport in Da Nang?

Go immediately to the ward police station (cong an phuong) in the area where the loss happened. This is step one for every nationality. The Vietnamese Immigration Department needs the police report before processing any exit paperwork, and your embassy will require it too. Ask for a stamped copy of the report to take away with you.

Not sure which ward you are in? The Da Nang Visitor Center at 108 Bach Dang (phone 0236 3 550 111) can route you to the right station. You can call 113 for guidance, but operators speak Vietnamese only: asking your hotel reception to call is more reliable.

How do I contact my embassy from Da Nang?

Call the consular emergency line for your nationality. All lines below are available around the clock.

  • United States: Hanoi +84 24 3850 5000 / HCMC +84 28 3520 4200. State Dept 24/7 (from outside Vietnam): +1-888-407-4747.
  • United Kingdom: Call +84 24 3936 0500 (routes to FCDO 24/7 assistance). Apply for your ETD online from the GOV.UK portal once connected.
  • Australia: Hanoi +84 24 3774 0100 / HCMC +84 28 3521 8100. DFAT 24/7 Consular Emergency Centre: +61 2 6261 3305. A reported Australian passport is cancelled permanently, even if found later.
  • Canada: Hanoi +84 24 3734 5000 / HCMC +84 28 3827 9899. Emergency Watch and Response Centre 24/7: +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls accepted) or email [email protected].
  • South Korea: Da Nang Consulate General, Khue My, Ngu Hanh Son. Phone +84 23 6356 6100 (in hours). After hours: MOFA 24/7 Call Center +82 2 3210 0404 (Vietnamese interpretation available).

For other nationalities, call your country's embassy in Hanoi or HCMC and ask for the duty consular officer.

What does the Immigration Office do after I get an ETD?

Once your embassy issues the ETD, you must visit the Da Nang Immigration Office at 78 Le Loi (phones: 0694 260 192 / 0906 091 269). Immigration will match your ETD to your original entry record and issue the exit stamp so you can leave the country legally. Bring your stamped police report, your ETD, any remnants of your old passport, and your e-visa approval email or entry stamp copy.

The US Embassy confirms 78 Le Loi as the competent authority for all of Central Vietnam, covering Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue and surrounding provinces. Call ahead to confirm hours: typical hours are Monday to Friday 08:00-11:30 and 13:30-16:30, Saturday morning also available. Confirm before visiting, especially around public holidays.

Da Nang Immigration Office at 78 Le Loi: where you process your exit after getting an ETD. Open in Google Maps.

Useful phrases to say at the ward police station

Ward police offices operate in Vietnamese only. Show these on your phone screen or have your hotel write them down before you leave.

  • "Toi bi mat ho chieu." (I lost my passport.)
  • "Toi can bien ban co dong dau de nop cho dai su quan." (I need a stamped report to submit to my embassy.)
  • "Ho chieu bi mat tai [ten dia diem]." (The passport was lost at [name of place].)

Ask your accommodation to write the address of your nearest ward police station before you go out. If you have travel insurance, call your insurer's emergency line too: most policies require a police report for theft claims and some cover ETD fees.

What happens to your visa entry record after getting an ETD?

Your original e-visa or visa stamp was issued in your old passport. When you exit on an ETD, the immigration officer links your old entry record to the new document. Bring every piece of documentation you have: any pages salvaged from your old passport, your e-visa approval email, and a copy of your original entry stamp. This helps the officer match your records and avoids delays at the departure gate.

For a detailed checklist by nationality and the steps after a passport loss, see the Da Nang lost-passport guide. For broader help navigating life and legal situations in Central Vietnam, the Da Nang Help centre is the place to start.

FAQ

How long does it take to get an emergency travel document in Vietnam?

It depends on your nationality and the urgency of your case. The UK typically issues an ETD within 1-2 working days. The US may issue an emergency passport same day in genuine emergencies, or 3-5 working days otherwise. Call your embassy's emergency line as soon as the passport is missing: they will give you a timeline for your specific situation.

Does travel insurance cover the cost of an ETD?

Many travel insurance policies include a "loss of passport" or "travel documents" benefit that covers ETD fees and related costs. Check your policy wording carefully. You will almost always need the police report as evidence of loss. Call your insurer's emergency assistance line alongside your embassy: they can sometimes help speed things up.

Can I stay in Vietnam while waiting for my ETD?

Yes. Losing your passport does not cancel your visa or permitted stay. However, notify your accommodation and ideally the local ward police that your document is missing. If the process is likely to take longer than your permitted stay, contact the Da Nang Immigration Office at 78 Le Loi before your stay expires to discuss your situation.

What if I find my old passport after it was reported lost?

Contact your embassy immediately before using it. For Australian nationals, a reported passport is cancelled permanently and cannot be reactivated even if found intact: do not use it. For US and UK nationals, call your embassy to confirm the status before relying on the recovered document. Using a cancelled passport at a border crossing can trigger a serious delay or refusal.

Official sources

Written by Dao Huy (Lucas), a Vietnamese translator and English-speaking local in Da Nang. When paperwork or an emergency turns into a Vietnamese-language wall, I come with you in person and provide the signed translations that go with it. Get help in Da Nang → · Certified translation →

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