Vietnam’s hotel guest ID rules change on 15 November. Decree 392/2026/ND-CP, signed on 20 October, updates the list of documents hotels must check at check-in and sets out what to do when a guest has none. The answer is not to turn the guest away. The hotel can give them a room, then must tell the local police immediately. For owners and front-office managers, the change is about procedure: what the desk accepts, what it records, and who calls the police at 2am.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Decree 392/2026/ND-CP, Article 14, amending Article 44(2) of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP |
| Signed | 20 October 2026 |
| In force | 15 November 2026 |
| Applies to | All accommodation businesses: hotels, guesthouses, homestays and similar |
| Accepted ID | Can cuoc ID card, citizen ID card, passport, foreigner’s permanent or temporary residence card, other photo ID issued by a Vietnamese state agency |
| Removed | The old people’s ID card (CMND) is no longer listed |
| Guest with no ID | Room may be assigned; hotel must notify commune-level police or local station immediately |
| Notification deadline (unchanged) | Before 11pm; before 8am next day for arrivals after 11pm |
What changed
Decree 392 is a broad decree that amends rules on administrative procedures and business conditions in security and public order. For hotels, the key part is Article 14. It rewrites the guest ID duty in Article 44 of Decree 96/2016, the decree that sets security conditions for accommodation businesses.
There are two changes.
First, the list of documents now matches Vietnam’s new ID system. Hotels must check one of these:
- the can cuoc ID card;
- the citizen ID card (can cuoc cong dan);
- a passport;
- a permanent or temporary residence card, for foreigners;
- other documents with a photo, issued by a Vietnamese state agency, that prove identity.
The old people’s ID card is no longer on the list. Legal commentators read the last category to include documents such as a driving licence.
Second, the rule now says what to do when a guest has no ID. The hotel assigns the room, then notifies the commune-level police or the police station for the area immediately.
What stays the same
The rest of Article 44 is unchanged. Hotels must record guest details in a register or computer before the guest goes to the room. They must notify the police of Vietnamese guests, and file temporary residence declarations for foreign guests, before 11pm. Guests who arrive after 11pm must be notified before 8am the next day. Hotels that fail to notify can be fined, with fines rising with the number of guests not reported.
Our read
For most international-brand hotels, little changes. Foreign guests show passports, and Vietnamese guests now mostly carry the chip can cuoc card. Property management systems that already scan the citizen ID card will need only a label update.
The no-ID rule matters more for city hotels, airport hotels and budget properties with late arrivals. The decree removes any doubt that the desk may accommodate the guest. But it puts a clear, immediate duty on the night shift. A hotel that gives a room and does not call is in breach.
The removal of the old ID card from the list also matters. Front-desk staff who still accept a CMND out of habit should stop on 15 November, unless the guest has another accepted document.
What it means for you
1. Front-office managers
Update the check-in procedure and train night staff before 15 November. Write down who notifies the police for a guest with no ID, how, and how the call is logged.
2. Owners of budget hotels and guesthouses
Late walk-ins without ID are your biggest risk. Keep the local police station’s contact details at the desk and log each notification.
3. IT and PMS teams
Update ID type lists so staff can record the can cuoc card and other photo ID. Remove the old ID card option.
4. Hotel groups
Use the change to audit guest notification across your portfolio. Missed 11pm deadlines are a more common fine than ID checks.
FAQ
When do the new hotel guest ID rules start?
On 15 November 2026, when Decree 392/2026/ND-CP takes effect.
Which IDs can Vietnamese hotels accept?
The can cuoc ID card, the citizen ID card, a passport, a foreigner’s permanent or temporary residence card, or other photo ID issued by a Vietnamese state agency.
Can a hotel give a room to a guest with no ID?
Yes. After assigning the room, the hotel must notify the commune-level police or local police station immediately.
Is the old people’s ID card still accepted?
It is no longer named in the list of accepted documents.
Have the guest notification deadlines changed?
No. Notification is due before 11pm, or before 8am the next day for guests who arrive after 11pm.
