Buy Vietnam ID Card Online: Heres What You Need to Know!

Alright, let me tell you about this little adventure I had recently. So, I’ve been needing a Vietnam ID card for a while now, you know, for some stuff, and I decided to go the online route. It sounded easy enough, right?

First things first, I started hitting up Google, just browsing around to see what’s out there. I found a bunch of places talking about ID cards, like some laws and stuff. They mentioned the Law on Citizen Identification, Decree 59/2022/ND-CP, electronic identity, and how you can get a level 1 registration. I guess it’s all official and regulated, which is good to know.

Then, I noticed they are really pushing these new chip-based ID cards. It seems like they’re trying to get everyone to switch over. They even mentioned that they’re going to be adding things like your driver’s license, social insurance, and COVID-19 vaccination info to these cards. Sounds fancy, huh? I guess it’s more secure or something. They also said from July 1, they will collect iris biometric stuff along with fingerprints and photos when you apply. That is some next-level stuff!

So, I dug a bit deeper and found out that the normal way is to go to some police station in the city where you live. That’s cool and all, but I wanted to do this online. I mean, who wants to wait in line at a government office, right? They are also pushing people to upgrade from 9-digit paper cards to these 12-digit ones. But the old ones are still good for 15 years. That’s some good-to-know info right there.

After poking around some more, I learned that Vietnamese names are usually set up with the family name first, then the middle name, and then the given name. Like, NGUYEN Van Nam or LE Thi Lam. It’s a bit different, but you get used to it.

Finally, I found a site that promised I could get everything done from my couch. I mean it sounded a little too good to be true, but I was willing to give it a shot. Filled out their forms, uploaded my picture, the whole nine yards. It felt a bit sketchy, not gonna lie, but I was in too deep to back out.

Paid the fee, which was probably way more than it should have been, and then just waited. The waiting was the worst part. Every day I’d check my email like a hawk, hoping to see that sweet confirmation that my new ID was on its way. But to be honest, there were many things they didn’t mention on the site, like iris collection, which made me doubt it.

And, well, to wrap it up, let’s just say it didn’t exactly go as planned. I’m still waiting on that ID, and at this point, I’ve pretty much written off the money I spent.

So, moral of the story, folks: if something seems too easy, it probably is. Stick to the official channels, even if it means a bit more hassle.

Here’s what I learned:

• Chip-based cards are the new thing: They’re integrating a lot more info into them.
• Official routes are a pain but safer: Going to the police station is probably the best bet.
• Names are different: It’s [Family Name] [Middle Name] [Given Name].
• Online shortcuts can be a trap: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

What to do next time:

If I ever need to do this again, I’ll probably just bite the bullet and go through the proper channels. It might take longer, but at least I’ll know it’s legit. And maybe I’ll brush up on my Vietnamese a bit more before then. You never know when it might come in handy!