How to File a Police Report in Da Nang as a Foreigner

💡 Go to the local ward police station (cong an phuong) where the incident happened. Bring your passport and a brief written account. Ask hotel staff or the Da Nang Visitor Center (0236 3 550 111) to help with translation. Always request a stamped copy of the report for your insurer and embassy.

Why do you need a police report in Da Nang?

A stamped Vietnamese police report is the document most travel insurers, banks, and embassies require when something goes wrong. Without it, a claim for a stolen phone, a pickpocketed wallet, or a lost camera is almost always rejected. If your passport was stolen, Vietnam Immigration also needs this report before it can begin exit or replacement paperwork. File the report even if recovery seems unlikely - the document is what matters, not the investigation outcome.

Is there a tourist police in Da Nang?

No. Da Nang does not operate a dedicated tourist police force in 2026. Foreigners use the regular ward police system, with the local cong an phuong for the neighbourhood where the incident occurred. The city-run Da Nang Visitor Center at 108 Bach Dang (tel. 0236 3 550 111) offers tourist assistance and can help direct you to the right station. Confirm opening hours before visiting, as these can change.

Where do you go to file a report?

Go to the ward police station (cong an phuong) closest to where the incident happened. Your hotel reception will usually know which station covers their street. If your bag was taken near My Khe Beach, go to the ward station for that area. If the incident happened in Hoi An, go to the nearest ward station there, not to Da Nang.

Since mid-2025, Vietnam operates a two-tier local government structure (city and ward, with the old district tier abolished). References to "district police" in older guides may point to reorganised offices. The ward station is now the correct first stop for most incidents.

If you are unsure which station to use, call the Visitor Center first (0236 3 550 111). Staff can help with basic language support and route you to the right office. If a stolen passport is involved, see the lost-passport guide for the full process.

What should you bring to the police station?

Bring the following when you visit:

• Your passport (or a clear photo of the data page if the original is missing or stolen).
• A brief written account - in English and ideally in Vietnamese - of what happened, when, and where.
• Any evidence: a photo of the scene, a receipt for the stolen item, or a bank SMS showing an unauthorised transaction.
• A Vietnamese-speaking helper if at all possible (hotel staff, a local guide, or a friend).

Expect the visit to take at least one to two hours. The officer will complete paperwork in Vietnamese. When done, explicitly ask for a stamped copy (ban sao co dau). The official stamp is what makes the document accepted by insurers and embassies. Without it, a plain printout may be rejected. The stamped report is also the core document for a travel-insurance claim in Vietnam.

What if there is a language barrier?

Most ward police officers work in Vietnamese only. The most reliable solution is to bring a Vietnamese speaker. Your hotel can often send a staff member or arrange an interpreter at short notice. The Da Nang Visitor Center (0236 3 550 111) is set up to help with exactly this kind of tourist-support routing.

If you arrive alone, write a short factual note in both English and Vietnamese before you go. A translation app such as Google Translate can produce a passable Vietnamese summary quickly. Print it out if you can - officers generally accept a typed, printed note.

For fraud or scam incidents the same process applies. See the scam help guide for what to expect. The Da Nang Help centre brings all local guidance together in one place.

FAQ

Can I file the report in English?

The official report will be completed by the officer in Vietnamese. Bring an English summary of events to help explain what happened. The stamped Vietnamese report is what your insurer or embassy will accept, so the language of the document itself will be Vietnamese.

What if I am in Hoi An rather than Da Nang?

The same ward-station rule applies: go to the local cong an phuong in Hoi An closest to where the incident happened. Hoi An has its own ward police stations. If you later need the Da Nang Immigration Office (78 Le Loi), that office covers all of Central Vietnam.

How long does filing a police report take?

Plan for a minimum of one to two hours. If there is a queue or the paperwork takes longer, it can run to three hours or more. Going early on a weekday morning is generally faster than arriving in the afternoon or on a weekend.

Will the police investigate and recover my stolen items?

Recovery of small stolen items (phones, cameras, cash) is realistically rare. The report is the administrative document you need for your insurance claim and embassy paperwork. Filing it promptly is worthwhile even without a realistic recovery expectation.

I was scammed by a vendor. Can I report it?

Yes. Go to the same ward police station. For a scam or fraud (not a violent crime), the process is identical to a theft report. The Visitor Center (0236 3 550 111) may also be able to route significant or organised scam cases to a consumer-protection channel. Filing a report is always the first step.

Official sources

• Da Nang City Government (English portal) - Visitor Center address (108 Bach Dang) and tourist assistance contact. Verified September 2026.
• U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, safety and security advice - Emergency numbers and guidance for foreigners. Verified September 2026.
• UK Government, Vietnam travel advice: getting help - Emergency contacts and consular guidance. Verified September 2026.