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Living or doing business in Vietnam can be a rewarding experience for foreign professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs. However, many foreigners feel immediate anxiety when they receive a notice or phone call from the Vietnamese police requesting them to “come and work” or “provide explanations.”
A common and urgent concern is:
If a foreigner is invited or summoned by Vietnamese police, what should they do?
The answer depends on understanding why the police are contacting you, what your legal status is, and how you respond at the earliest stage.
One important clarification is that a police invitation does not automatically mean arrest or criminal prosecution.
In Vietnam, police may contact foreigners for various reasons, including:
Verification of information
Clarification in a dispute or complaint
Witness statements
Preliminary assessment of a report
Immigration or administrative matters
Many foreigners panic unnecessarily, while others underestimate the situation. Both reactions can create legal risk.
Foreign individuals are commonly invited to work with police in cases involving:
Business or investment disputes
Alleged fraud or misrepresentation
Debt-related conflicts
Employment or labor issues
Personal disputes involving money or property
Immigration or residence compliance
In many cases, the issue begins as a civil dispute but may be assessed for criminal elements.
Before attending any meeting, foreigners should try to understand:
Which authority is issuing the invitation
The purpose of the meeting
Whether the matter is criminal, civil, or administrative
Whether you are invited as a witness or as a related person
This information helps determine the level of legal risk involved.
Ignoring a police invitation may be interpreted as:
Non-cooperation
Evasion
Flight risk
At the same time, attending without preparation can lead to:
Inconsistent statements
Unintentional self-incrimination
Misunderstandings due to language barriers
The correct approach is timely but prepared cooperation.
Foreigners may be involved in a police working session as:
A witness
A related person
A suspect or accused
Each status carries different rights and obligations. Without clarity, foreigners may:
Answer questions they are not required to answer
Provide incomplete or harmful explanations
Lose procedural protections
Legal advice is essential to understand your position.
In Vietnam, written records of police meetings are taken seriously.
Foreigners should:
Avoid speculation or assumptions
Stick to facts supported by documents
Request clarification if questions are unclear
Be cautious with verbal explanations
Statements made at early stages may later be used in investigations.
Language barriers are one of the biggest risks for foreigners.
If you do not fully understand Vietnamese:
Request interpretation or legal assistance
Avoid signing documents you do not understand
Ask for explanations of technical or legal terms
Misinterpretation can significantly alter the meaning of your statements.
In some cases, yes.
Depending on the nature of the matter, foreigners may face:
Requests for repeated working sessions
Temporary travel restrictions
Exit bans
Immigration complications
This is why early legal guidance is important—even when the invitation seems informal.
Foreigners often worsen their situation by:
Attending alone without legal advice
Over-explaining or volunteering unnecessary information
Attempting informal settlements without structure
Leaving Vietnam suddenly
These actions may raise suspicion or escalate the matter.
Foreigners should consider contacting a lawyer immediately if:
The matter involves money, assets, or business disputes
You are asked to provide detailed explanations
The invitation comes from criminal investigation authorities
Your immigration status or travel may be affected
Early legal support often prevents unnecessary escalation.
Police procedures in Vietnam are highly procedural and unfamiliar to many foreigners.
Lawyers experienced with international clients help by:
Explaining the legal context clearly
Preparing statements and documents
Attending meetings where permitted
Protecting procedural rights
Managing immigration and business risks
Handling police matters alone is risky, even for experienced businesspeople.
If the foreigner summoned by police is:
A director
A legal representative
A key employee or shareholder
The company may face:
Operational disruption
Banking or licensing issues
Reputational concerns
Separating personal issues from corporate exposure is a critical legal task.
DEDICA provides legal services for foreign individuals and foreign-owned businesses in Vietnam, including cases where clients are invited or summoned by Vietnamese police.
DEDICA assists clients by:
Assessing the nature and risk of police invitations
Clarifying legal status and rights
Preparing clients for working sessions
Representing or accompanying clients where appropriate
Managing criminal, civil, and immigration-related risks
DEDICA’s approach emphasizes early intervention, legal clarity, and practical protection for international clients.
Being summoned by Vietnamese police can be stressful—but it does not automatically mean criminal trouble.
For foreigners in Vietnam, the key principles are:
Do not ignore police invitations
Do not attend unprepared
Understand your legal status
Seek professional legal guidance early
With the right strategy and experienced legal support, most police working sessions can be handled safely and efficiently.
📞 Hotline: (+84) 39 969 0012 (Available via WhatsApp, WeChat, Zalo)
🕒 Working Hours: Monday – Friday (8:30 – 18:00)
Contact us today for a free initial consultation with our experienced lawyers!
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