Job Discussion Forums

[saigon cowboy]

It's illegal in Vietnam.

Don't be surprised by a knock on the door by your local police department and asking for passports of everyone living there and if you are married.

It's happened to me several times.

I always told the truth and said no...not married, she's a girlfriend.

I'm sure if I lied they would want proof of marriage within 24 hrs.

It depends on the officer and his personal attitude. Not one of them has ever asked me for bribe money, and i never offer it either.

All it takes is some nosey neighbor asking the police to check on you, and they will.

Guest houses are the worst and police can show up at the most inconveniant time

Hotels normally screen the guests beforehand and you never see the police. The hotel receptionist will provide your status to them as required by law before you check in.

Private houses are the most safe, however the home owner risks a hefty fine if caught with unmarried couples living together on his property.

[lensman]

It�s also illegal in some states in the U.S. but it is not enforced.


Judging by your alleged �experiences� it�s the same in Vietnam.

[Boxcar Johnny]

[lensman]

It's NOT the same. Trust me. I think cases of harrassment are less than in the past, but dealing with the police and and bribes still exists, though I think less often.

And yes, there is a spy in every neighborhood. At least 1. Always watching you, and everyone else.



Interesting...but do you know of any cases where the LAW was enforced, as opposed to corrupt police attempting to extract money or favours?

[Boxcar Johnny]

[lensman]

Interesting...but do you know of any cases where the LAW was enforced, as opposed to greedy landlords and corrupt police attempting to extract money or favours?

You say the law has changed. What is the situation now? Is it still illegal?

One last question; how do you get quotes to come up in those nice white boxes?

.

[Boxcar Johnny]

[lensman]

On June 9, 2000, the Vietnamese National Assembly adopted the Marriage and Family Law of 2000.

http://family.jrank.org/pages/1744/Vietnam-Revised-Marriage-Family-Law-2000.html#ixzz0IJuC7aQ5&D

"Article II addressed the emerging phenomenon of cohabitation. Under the 1986 statute, such living arrangements were illegal. However, the 2000 reforms stipulated that although cohabitation between unmarried couples was no longer considered a criminal act, neither would such arrangements be recognized as equal to marriage between a husband and wife."

Cohabitation ceased to be illegal nine years ago. The O.P. is merely perpetuating an urban myth with his fanciful post.

The O.P. states �Not one of them has ever asked me for bribe money, and i never offer it either.�
You make no mention of being asked for bribes in that situation, nor have I heard of others being asked. Greedy landlords are an entirely different matter.

I am in Australia at the moment, but like you I have lived overseas for many years, and I do know how things work over there.
In two months I will be in Vietnam, hence my interest.

I still don�t know how to put quotes in little white boxes.

[Mojoski]

[Tanker]

[saigon cowboy]

Ok, thanks for the update. It's not illegal, but still not accepted by the majority.

Outside of HCMC it's worse. Hotels sometimes ask for a marriage certificate and my girlfriend just tells them we left it at home.

[mach114]

Go get your piece of paper. Life is so much easier when you have it. If you have been living together that long, then you might as well be married, you probably act like a married couple. Until then enjoy and expect to be harassed by the police just about everywhere you go. You are not going to seriously expect that laws be properly enforced.

[frogandeagle]

[inky]

This ONLY applies to foreigners wanting to room with Vietnamese nationals. It is meant to cut down on prostitution. Anyway, it is not nearly as bad as has been described here. There has usually been some other offending behavior (late-night noise, for example) to bring the neighbors/police in. The incidents described here are personal anecdotes, not necessarily the norm.

[Green Acres]

It's a problem, and any couple deals with it on a relative basis, depending on the district one lives in. Some districts may not be concerned, as it is usually the neighbors who will call the police into the fray.

Though it is no longer illegal, the police will often try to invoke the old law upon couples that are mixed racially. I know of several Vietnamese couples and many couples of people of non-Vietnamese origin who live together without any problems. The problem is almost always brought to the doorstep of non-Vietnamese males who have Vietnamese female partners. "inky" is right, as they are trying to crack down on prostitution -- but not really. They are basically saying that any Vietnamese woman with a foreign man is a prostitute, which is really in poor taste. For the neighborhood and the children growing up there, it is important that the Vietnamese female receive the full brunt of shame for her immoral act. The fact that the police will be brought in creates a losing situation that is not pleasant. This kind of pressure can also undermine a young relationship, and I've seen that happen too.

Most people (most Vietnamese) don't like this intrusion, but it comes with the territory, and there is nothing one can do about it other than sort the situation out before signing a lease agreement. If you have your partner stay with you, say one night a week, you may be able to avoid this scenario. As well, some areas (districts, wards) may not be concerned, especially if you visit their offices first and seek out their attitudes before moving into an apartment.