Foreign Office warns UK tourists face 'being prevented from leaving'

The Foreign Office has warned UK tourists face being "banned" from leaving in Vietnam over a passport issue. Tourists and holidaymakers jetting off abroad and out of the European Union have been warned by the FCDO.

"If you transfer from an international flight to a domestic flight in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you must go through immigration and enter Vietnam. You must do this even if your final destination is outside Vietnam," the Foreign Office has warned holidaymakers in the Far East.

It said: "Vietnamese authorities may place an exit ban on certain individuals to prevent them from leaving the country. Your passport will be seized until the case is fully investigated. If you are unable to leave the country because of an exit ban, consult a lawyer and contact your nearest British embassy or consulate."

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An exit ban can relate to investigations into an individual, their family or an employer, criminal and civil matters, such as business disputes or motor vehicle accidents and employment without a work visa or unpaid financial debts, it says.

The Foreign Office warned: "Check with your airline before departing." It went on to warn: "There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Vietnam. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

If you’re taking prescription medication into Vietnam, carry it in your hand luggage with a copy of the prescription. If it has a total import value greater than 100 US dollars, you must declare it at customs." If you’re taking cash into or out of Vietnam, you must declare amounts over 15 million Vietnamese dong and 5,000 US dollars (or the same value in other currencies).

If you’re leaving the country with more than these amounts, declare the money at customs and show either confirmation you’re carrying cash abroad, issued by an authorised credit institution and written approval to carry cash, issued by the State Bank of Vietnam.