Getting Married and the Marriage Laws in Vietnam

Most people living in Vietnam have the option to marry there and they must abide by the following:

• Neither the man nor the woman has a spouse under Vietnamese law.
• Both partners are mentally capable of making independent decisions.
• The woman is over 18 and the man is over 20.
• The couple does not have blood relatives in three generations.

The following people are NOT allowed to get married in Vietnam:

• Adoptive parents and adopted children, stepfather and daughter-in-law, stepmother and son-in-law, stepfather and his wife’s daughter, stepmother and her husband’s son.
• Same-sex couples (see our LGBT page for further information)

Civil or Religious Ceremony

It is possible to have both a civil or religious wedding ceremony in Vietnam. The civil ceremony must take place at the local Department of Justice in which the couple reside, while the religious ceremony can take place at a church or other venue including hotels.

The following documents are required:

• A completed marriage application form
• “Singleness Certificate” – an applicant must prove they are single or divorced or that their spouse is deceased. (This document must be provided by the Embassy or Consulate of their home country and this document must be dated no earlier than six months prior to the marriage documents being submitted.)
• Medical certificate – this can be issued by any doctor or hospital in Vietnam stating that the applicant is not suffering from any medical illness that impedes their decision to marry. It must also be dated no earlier than six months prior to the marriage documents being submitted.
• Certified copy of personal identity for Vietnamese citizens.
• Certified copy of household registration certificates or resident registration for Vietnamese citizens.
• Passport or resident card – foreigners and Vietnamese citizens residing abroad.
• Temporary/permanent resident card – foreigners residing in Vietnam.
• Application fee.

Important NB: You must have all marriage application documents translated into Vietnamese and you must bring TWO copies with you to submit. The only people who can submit the documents to the Department of Justice in the area of residence are the intended bride or groom or both.

Department of Justice Procedure

The Department of Justice will carry out the following procedure in the run up to your civil marriage and this will be carried out within 15 working days of receiving the documents for a marriage application:

• Applicant Interview – this is to make sure both applicants are both entering into marriage voluntary and assess their meaning of their relationship. The interview will be officially recorded in full and both parties must sign the completed document.
• Displaying of Banns – The couple’s marriage banns will be officially displayed at the People's Committee of Communes in the applicants’ place of residence. They will be displayed for seven consecutive days – This time is for any party to announce that the couple may not be fit to marry. If this does occur it is up to the People's Committee of Communes in the applicants’ place of residence to inform the Department of Justice.
• Decision - Within 25 working days after receiving the documents and fee the Department of Justice issues its decision.
• Civil Marriage - Once the marriage certificate has been signed by the Head of the Provincial People’s Committee, the Department of Justice will arrange a civil marriage within five working days.

Department of Justice – Hanoi
Address: 1B Tran Phu Street, Ha Dong District, Hanoi
Tel: (04) 33546163
Fax: (04) 33546155

Department of Justice – Ho Chi Minh City
Address: 141-143 Pasteur, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (08) 38290230
Fax: (08) 38243155

Department of Justice – Danang
Address: 16 Bach Dang Street, Hai Chau District, Danang
Tel: (0511) 3822822
Fax: (0511) 3895267

For more information on the marriage and family law in Vietnam Click here>>