Brits travelling to Vietnam have been issued new advice by the Foreign Office to minimise their risk of having a passport taken off them.
The Foreign Office has alerted the holidaymakers that they cannot leave the Southeast Asian hotspot without a valid visa. Travellers must also enter and exit the country using the same passport, reports GB News.
The latest guidance follows incidents where tourists were unable to leave the country after their travel documents were confiscated.
These exit bans have led authorities to issue new reminders about Vietnam’s entry requirements.
The Foreign Office cautioned that “British nationals have been denied entry and exit due to passport damage”.
It advised: “Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
“You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
“It is a requirement of Vietnamese authorities that visitors enter and exit Vietnam using the same passport.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office added: “Vietnamese authorities may place an exit ban on certain individuals to prevent them from leaving the country.
“Your passport will be seized until the case is fully investigated. If you are unable to leave the country because of an exit ban, consult a lawyer and contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.”
Travellers should verify that the expiration date stamped on their passports upon entry is accurate before leaving border control. Anyone facing issues with their travel documents while abroad is encouraged to contact the nearest British embassy or consulate for assistance.
To prevent any complications at the borders, travelers should also review the list of goods they are allowed or prohibited from taking out of Vietnam.
The Foreign Office added: “You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. If you’re taking prescription medication into Vietnam, carry it in your hand luggage with a copy of the prescription.
“If it has a total import value greater than 100 US dollars, you must declare it at customs.”