Vietnam to Link National Digital ID with Singapore and Laos, Streamlining Border Procedures

Vietnam plans to link its national digital ID app, VNeID, with Singapore's Singpass and Laos' LaeID, a move approved by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung on September 22. The decision outlines a framework for cross-border electronic identification, detailing scope, users, implementation roadmap, connection methods, and responsibilities of relevant agencies. The initiative aims to streamline immigration procedures by reducing repeated declarations and document checks, thereby cutting verification and processing times at border gates. Identification data from VNeID and partner countries' systems will be used for verification and cross-checking, helping travelers save time and costs. Pilot connections are planned at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. These pilots will focus on connecting and verifying electronic identification information for immigration procedures while ensuring security, data protection, and compliance with relevant laws. Based on pilot results, authorities will assess system effectiveness, compatibility, and stability, along with implementation challenges. These findings will inform improvements to connection models, procedures, and technical standards before wider deployment at other border gates in Vietnam and ASEAN countries. By October 30, 2026, the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Science and Technology are tasked with working with competent authorities in Singapore and Laos to connect VNeID with Singpass and LaeID, respectively. Procedures for Vietnamese citizens using VNeID in Singapore and Laos, and for travelers entering Vietnam using Singpass or LaeID, will also be developed. Technical documents for data sharing and integration, along with standards and requirements for connections with ASEAN electronic identification systems, will be prepared. The Ministry of Public Security will lead technical preparations, including testing environments, infrastructure, communication channels, servers, and monitoring tools. Integration with immigration systems will be coordinated with relevant agencies and the Singaporean and Lao sides. Functional, integration, performance, error-handling, backup, and service-recovery tests will be conducted before the pilot begins, alongside assessments of information security, cybersecurity, and personal data protection requirements. This testing and integration work is scheduled for completion by November 15, 2026. During 2026 and subsequent years, ministries and agencies will conduct, operate, and evaluate the pilots at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports. Data on transactions, authentication success rates, processing times, errors, and manual handling cases will be collected, along with feedback from citizens and businesses. The impact on immigration procedures, processing time reduction, and the feasibility of integrating electronic identification into existing border-control processes will be assessed. Results will be reported to the Prime Minister with proposals for official implementation and potential expansion to other ASEAN countries. The plan also encourages continued research into connecting VNeID with other ASEAN national electronic identification systems, fostering greater regional connectivity and facilitating people-to-people exchanges, trade, and investment.