Hello and welcome to this week’s VN Foreigner Brief.

This paid edition focuses on short term enforcement activity and upcoming regulatory changes that affect daily life for foreigners in Vietnam, especially around travel, residence compliance, banking, tax planning, and workplace data protection. While none of these developments are sudden shocks, together they signal a more structured and actively enforced start to 2026.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Hà Nội police have announced time window traffic bans and diversions on January 14 and again from January 19 to January 25 to support activities linked to the 14th National Party Congress. Restrictions are expected along major corridors, with rolling closures, possible bus route changes, and heavier checks in central districts.

These measures are temporary but can cause significant delays, particularly during peak commuting hours and around government buildings. VietnamPlus reported on the announced restrictions and affected dates here.

Police units are stepping up immigration and residence management during the pre Tet security campaign. This includes checks related to temporary residence declarations and compliance at workplaces and rental properties. While the focus is typically on registration accuracy rather than random enforcement, landlords and employers are often the first point of contact.

If you have moved recently, changed jobs, or switched housing, this is a good time to confirm that your temporary residence registration has been properly filed.

The Ministry of Public Security, via Thai Nguyen Police, outlined the campaign here.

Vietnam’s official holiday guidance confirms a nine day Lunar New Year break for public employees from February 14 to February 22, 2026. While private companies and international schools are not required to follow this schedule exactly, many align operations around it to varying degrees.

In practice, banking, administrative services, shipping, and government processing often slow down well before the official break and resume gradually afterward.

Bao Chinh Phu published the official holiday guidance here.

Vietnam’s official guidance continues to frame the work permit as the core document proving legal work status and protecting labor rights. For teachers, the practical lesson is preparation. Schools and authorities may request documents with little notice, especially during inspections or contract renewals.

Maintaining clean digital copies of your passport, highest degree, background check, health check, teaching certificate, and any notarized or legalized documents can significantly reduce stress when verification is required.

Vietnam’s government work permit overview is available here.

New banking security rules under Circular 77/2025 take effect from March 1, 2026. These rules strengthen controls around mobile and online banking, with the goal of reducing fraud and unauthorized access.

For users, this may mean more frequent authentication prompts, mandatory app updates, and stricter device security requirements.

LuatVietnam summarized the new requirements here.

Vietnam has approved a revised Personal Income Tax law scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. While the main changes are months away, payroll teams and HR departments are expected to begin preparations early, particularly for higher income earners and expatriate compensation packages.

Foreign employees on expat contracts may see requests for updated information or explanations of how withholding and finalization will be handled under the new framework.

Bao Chinh Phu reported on the approval of the revised law here.

Early 2026 is shaping up as a period of active compliance rather than major legal disruption. Traffic controls, residence checks, and documentation reviews are largely procedural, but they can still affect daily routines if you are unprepared.

For foreigners living and working in Vietnam, the key themes are planning ahead, keeping paperwork organized, and allowing extra time around holidays and enforcement periods. Regulatory tightening in banking, data protection, and tax administration also means that updates, requests, and verification steps are increasingly normal rather than exceptional.

Staying informed and prepared remains the most effective way to reduce friction.