What Vietnamese documents do I need to register an account?
To register for an online game account in Vietnam, you generally do not need to upload a physical document to the game server itself. Instead, you need a Verified Vietnamese Mobile Phone Number.
This phone number acts as your digital identity. Therefore, the "document" you need is actually the document required to register a legal SIM card in Vietnam.
The "Chain of Verification"
The system works on a chain of trust:
You present a physical ID (CCCD or Passport) to a telecom provider (Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone).
The Telecom Provider verifies your identity and issues a SIM card linked to your ID.
The Game Publisher sends an OTP (One-Time Password) to that phone number to verify your account.
By linking your game account to your phone number, the government and game publishers can indirectly verify your identity without you having to upload sensitive ID photos to every new game you play.
1. Requirements for Vietnamese Citizens (Locals)
For Vietnamese nationals, the primary document required is the Citizen Identity Card (Căn cước công dân - CCCD).
The Document: Chip-Embedded CCCD
This is the gold standard for identity in Vietnam. It contains your personal information, biometric data, and a QR code that can be scanned for verification.
Primary Use: You must use your CCCD to register your mobile phone number. Since Decree 147 mandates that game accounts be authenticated via mobile number, your CCCD is effectively the root of your game account.
Secondary Use: For "G1" games (massive multiplayer online games like League of Legends, FIFA Online, or MMORPGs), the game publisher is legally required to store your specific personal data, including your Full Name, Date of Birth, and ID Number (Số CCCD). You will likely need to type this number into the registration form.
The Electronic Alternative: VNeID
Vietnam is rapidly rolling out VNeID, the national electronic identity application.
Level 2 VNeID Account: This is legally equivalent to a physical CCCD.
Future Integration: Moving forward, many game publishers and platforms are integrating "Login with VNeID." If you have this app activated on your phone, you may be able to skip SMS verification and log in directly using your digital citizen identity.
For Minors (Under 14/16 Years Old)
If you are too young to have your own CCCD or bank account:
Guardian's Documents: You must register the account using the CCCD and Phone Number of a parent or legal guardian.
Decree 147 Rule: The law explicitly states that for players under 16, the account must be registered with the information of their parents or legal guardians. The guardian is then responsible for supervising playtime and content.
2. Requirements for Foreigners (Expats & Tourists)
If you are a foreigner living or traveling in Vietnam, you can still play Vietnamese online games, but the "document" requirement is slightly different.
The Document: Valid International Passport
You cannot use a foreign driver's license or a foreign national ID card. The Passport is the only accepted document for foreigners to interact with Vietnamese digital services.
How to Register as a Foreigner
Since you do not have a Vietnamese National ID number, you cannot fill in the "CCCD" field that some registration forms might request. Here is the standard workaround:
Get a Local SIM: Take your Passport and Valid Visa/Entry Stamp to a store (Viettel, Vinaphone, or FPT Shop). Register a legal SIM card in your name. Do not buy a "trash SIM" (sim rác) pre-activated by someone else, as these will likely be blocked, causing you to lose your game account.
Use the Phone Number: Use this Vietnamese number to receive the OTP for game registration.
Manual KYC (If Required): If a specific game (usually Esports titles) requires strict identity verification and asks for an ID number, you can often enter your Passport Number. If the automated form rejects it (because it expects a 12-digit numeric CCCD), you may need to contact the publisher's customer support (CSKH) and submit a photo of your passport information page to verify your account manually.
3. Understanding Game Classifications (G1, G2, G3, G4)
Not all games require the same level of documentation. Vietnam classifies games into four categories (G1-G4), and the strictness of registration depends on the "G" level.
G1 Games (Highest Requirement)
Definition: Games where multiple players interact with each other and a game server simultaneously (e.g., PUBG Mobile, Lien Quan Mobile, Genshin Impact).
Requirement: Strict identity verification. You must provide:
Full Name (as on ID)
Date of Birth (to enforce playtime limits)
Address
ID Number (CCCD or Passport)
Phone Number (verified via OTP)
Note: Providing fake info here puts your account at risk of deletion during periodic "sweeps" by the Ministry of Information and Communications.
G2, G3, G4 Games (Lower Requirement)
Definition: Single-player games, download-only games, or simple interaction games (e.g., Chess, simple puzzles, offline strategy).
Requirement: Usually just a verified phone number or a social media login (Facebook/Google) is sufficient. However, under the new Decree 147, even social media accounts used for login must be verified with a phone number.
4. Why Do They Need My Documents? (The "Real Name" Policy)
Vietnam enforces a "Real Name" policy for three main reasons:
Age Verification: To enforce strict playtime limits. Players under 18 are legally restricted to 60 minutes per game per day and a total of 180 minutes per day across all games from one publisher.
Anti-Gambling: Vietnam prohibits online gambling. Identity verification ensures that game currencies (virtual items) are not converted back into real money (fiat currency) for money laundering.
Accountability: To prevent cyberbullying, fraud, and scams by linking every avatar to a real human identity.
5. Summary Checklist: What to Prepare
Before you sit down to register for a Vietnamese game server (like VNG, Garena, or Gamota), ensure you have these items ready:
| User Type | Essential Document | Essential Tool | Optional / Advanced |
| Vietnamese Citizen | CCCD (Chip-based) | Vietnamese SIM (Registered to your CCCD) | VNeID App (Level 2) |
| Foreigner | Passport (Valid) | Vietnamese SIM (Registered to your Passport) | ZaloPay / Momo (Linked to bank for in-game purchases) |
| Minor (<16) | Parent's CCCD | Parent's Phone (For OTP) | Birth Certificate (Rarely needed, but good for disputes) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use a fake ID number generator to register?
No. Major publishers like VNG and Garena connect to the national population database or use syntax checking. Using a fake number will lead to an "Invalid ID" error. Even if it works initially, you will be unable to recover your account if you lose your password, as you cannot prove ownership without the original document.
2. Can I play Vietnamese games if I don't live in Vietnam?
Yes, but it is difficult. Many Vietnamese game servers are "region-locked" (Geo-IP block). You may need a VPN to access the login page. Furthermore, you will still need a Vietnamese phone number for OTP verification. Roaming SMS can be unreliable, so many overseas players ask friends in Vietnam to help verify the account.
3. Do I need a Vietnamese bank account to register?
You do not need a bank account to register (create) an account. However, you will need a local payment method to buy in-game items (skins, battle passes). Vietnamese games accept Momo, ZaloPay, ViettelMoney, and local ATM cards. International Visa/Mastercards are accepted but often have higher failure rates on local payment gateways.
4. Is my personal data safe with Vietnamese game publishers?
Vietnamese law (Decree 13 on Personal Data Protection) requires companies to store your data securely within Vietnam. However, data breaches can happen. It is safer to verify using just your phone number (tokenized verification) whenever possible, rather than uploading a direct photo of your ID card to a game portal.
5. What happens if I am a foreigner and my Passport expires?
If you registered your SIM card with a passport that has now expired, your telecom provider may block your number until you update your details. If you lose your phone number, you lose access to the OTPs needed to log into your game. Always update your passport details with your mobile network provider (Viettel/Vinaphone) first to keep your game account safe.
