Landlord kept my passport or deposit in Da Nang: your rights

💡 No hotel, landlord, or rental shop in Vietnam has legal authority to hold your passport. If someone is keeping it as a deposit or guarantee, you have the right to demand it back immediately. If they refuse, call the police on 113. Canadian and UK consular advice confirms: there is no legal reason for a private party to retain your travel document.

Can a landlord or hotel legally hold your passport in Vietnam?

No. Your passport is a document issued by your home country's government, not a financial asset a private party can seize. Under Vietnamese law, only police and immigration authorities have the power to temporarily retain a travel document, and only in prescribed legal circumstances. A hotel clerk, a landlord, or a motorbike rental shop has no such authority.

Both the Canadian and UK governments state this directly in their official Vietnam travel advice. The UK Foreign Office warns: "Do not give your passport to others as a guarantee, for example to motorcycle rental shops or landlords." Canada is even more explicit: "There is no legal reason for this. Never leave your passport or any other ID document with anyone. Ask for your documents to be returned to you as soon as check-in is complete."

Why do landlords and hotels ask for your passport?

The most common reason cited is Vietnam's temporary residence registration requirement. Accommodation operators are legally required to register guests' details with local police within 12 hours of check-in. For this, they need to see and copy your passport information, which is legitimate. Keeping the passport itself is not.

Other reasons are less legitimate: a landlord may want your passport as leverage against unpaid rent or property damage, and a motorbike shop may want it as a guarantee you will return the bike. Both practices put you at serious risk if the passport is damaged, lost, or used as a bargaining chip in a dispute. The solution is always the same: offer a clear photocopy and do not surrender the original.

What should you do if your passport is being held right now?

Stay calm and ask firmly in Vietnamese: "Xin hãy trả lại hộ chiếu cho tôi. Tôi có thể cung cấp bản sao." (Please return my passport. I can provide a copy.) Most hosts will comply when they understand you are informed of your rights. Other useful phrases: "Tôi muốn lấy lại tiền đặt cọc của mình." (I want my deposit back.) "Tôi cần gọi công an." (I need to call the police.)

If they refuse:

• Call the police on 113 and explain the situation. If you need help communicating, ask your hotel front desk or a Vietnamese-speaking person nearby.
• Contact the Da Nang Visitor Center at (0236) 3 550 111, which can help route you to the right authority. Confirm opening hours before visiting.
• Do not escalate physically. A passport is replaceable; your safety is not.
• If you genuinely cannot recover the passport, contact your embassy immediately. See the lost passport guide for embassy contacts by nationality.

A full step-by-step guide for documenting a dispute is at the Da Nang Help scam and fraud guide.

Can you get your rental deposit back in Vietnam?

Yes, but it is much easier if you have a written lease agreement in Vietnamese that specifies the deposit amount, the return conditions, and the notice period. Without written terms, a landlord can claim deductions for almost anything.

If your landlord refuses to return a deposit without a valid reason:

• Send a written message (Zalo or SMS) requesting the refund. This creates a timestamped record.
• Go to the ward police station (cong an phuong) for the ward where the rental property is located. Bring your passport, the lease or any written agreement, and any receipts for the deposit payment. The police can mediate or refer the matter for formal resolution.
• Practical note: small deposit disputes are rarely worth pursuing through civil court; police-mediated negotiation is faster and more common.

How can you protect yourself before paying a deposit?

Prevention is far easier than recovery. Before handing over any money:

• Get the rental terms in writing, ideally in Vietnamese with an English translation. Key terms: deposit amount, conditions for return, notice period, who pays utilities.
• Transfer the deposit via bank transfer or Momo, not cash; you will have a record.
• Take dated photos or a short video of the property's condition on move-in day and send a copy to the landlord in writing (Zalo, email) so the timestamp is on record.
• Never hand over your original passport. If a landlord insists, treat it as a red flag and look elsewhere.

For the full range of situations as a foreigner in Central Vietnam, visit the Da Nang Help centre.

FAQ

Is it legal for a hotel to keep my passport overnight?

No. A hotel may need to see your passport at check-in to register your temporary residence with local police, which is a legal requirement. Keeping the passport itself is not. Ask for it back as soon as registration is complete. If the hotel refuses, ask for the manager or contact the Da Nang Visitor Center at (0236) 3 550 111.

The landlord says keeping the passport is required for "tam tru" registration. Is that true?

No. Temporary residence registration (tam tru) requires your passport details, not the passport itself. The accommodation operator can register from a photocopy. You are entitled to keep the original at all times.

Can I offer a photocopy or driving licence instead of my passport as a deposit guarantee?

Always offer a clear photocopy of your passport rather than the original. A photocopy is sufficient for registration purposes. Avoid leaving any original identity document as a deposit. If a rental shop refuses anything other than the original passport, consider going elsewhere.

My landlord has kept my deposit and is not responding. Which police station do I go to?

Go to the ward police station (cong an phuong) for the ward where the rental property is located. Since mid-2025, Vietnam runs a two-tier local system with no district level, so the ward station is the correct first stop. Bring your passport, any written agreement, and proof of payment. The Da Nang Visitor Center at (0236) 3 550 111 can help you identify the right station.

Where can I get help with other emergencies as a foreigner in Da Nang?

The Da Nang Help centre covers the most common situations: lost passports, medical emergencies, motorbike accidents, scams, visa overstay, and more. In an emergency, call police on 113 or ambulance on 115.

Official sources

• UK Government, Vietnam travel advice: safety and security: official consular guidance warning against giving your passport as a guarantee to rental shops or landlords in Vietnam. Verified October 2026.
• Government of Canada, Vietnam travel advice: confirms "there is no legal reason" for hotels to hold your passport, and advises asking for documents back immediately after check-in. Verified October 2026.