Consular assistance in Vietnam

Australian citizens detained or arrested by local authorities have a right to consular access and should insist upon contact with the Embassy or Consulate-General - in EMERGENCY situations after hours the Embassy or Consulate-General After Hours Duty Officer should be contacted. However, Vietnamese officials may not always be prompt in advising the Embassy or Consulate-General that an Australian citizen has been detained and it may take a number of weeks before consular officials are granted access to visit Australian citizens who have been incarcerated.

When you travel in Vietnam, you are required to obey the local laws and regulations. Being Australian does not exempt you from local laws, whether they relate to drugs, religion or other matters. If you encounter serious problems while staying in Vietnam, you should seek assistance or advice from an Embassy or Consulate-General consular official. However, there are limits to services that these officials can provide and the assistance they can give you.

See also Assisting Australians overseas within limits