What’s in a Name? A Vietnamese Mother’s Struggle to Register Her Child’s Foreign Name Sparks Debate

Imagine welcoming your newborn into the world, only to hit a roadblock when choosing their name.

That’s exactly what happened to T.N.T.T., a dual Vietnamese-foreign citizen living in Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Her story, recently shared with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, has sparked curiosity and questions among foreign readers about Vietnam’s naming laws.

T., married to a foreign husband, gave birth earlier this month in District 7. Like many parents, she dreamed of giving her child a meaningful name: “Mia,” paired with her husband’s surname. “It’s simple to write in Vietnamese and carries a sweet meaning in other languages,” she explained. Before the birth, T. even checked with a local civil servant, who gave her the green light. But when she arrived to officially register the name, she faced an unexpected rejection.

The reason? According to the official, Vietnamese law requires children with Vietnamese nationality to have Vietnamese names. Since T. is a Vietnamese citizen and gave birth in Vietnam, her child automatically qualifies for Vietnamese citizenship—and with it, a Vietnamese name. “They told me the name must follow Vietnamese grammar rules,” T. said, frustrated by the sudden change.

A Clash of Cultures and Citizenship

So, what’s the rule when a child is born to a Vietnamese mother and a foreign father? The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice clarified: it depends on the child’s nationality. If both parents—T. and her husband—agree in writing that their child should have Vietnamese citizenship, the name must be Vietnamese. But if they choose the father’s foreign nationality instead, a foreign name like “Mia” is fair game.

The catch? Switching to foreign nationality isn’t as simple as ticking a box. The couple must submit a written agreement, contact the foreign consular office in Ho Chi Minh City to confirm the child’s citizenship, and then register the birth at the district-level People’s Committee. It’s a process that blends bureaucracy with identity—and it’s left T. weighing her options.

What Does the Law Say?

Lawyer Hua Thi Thao from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association broke it down further. Under Circular 04/2020, Vietnamese citizens must have names in Vietnamese or one of Vietnam’s ethnic languages—no English or foreign names allowed. “If T. and her husband want ‘Mia’ as the name, they’ll need to opt for foreign nationality,” Thao explained. “It’s a clear choice: Vietnamese nationality, Vietnamese name; foreign nationality, foreign name.”

A Global Question in a Local Context

For foreign readers, this might sound surprising—or even restrictive. In many countries, parents have free rein to pick names from any culture or language. But in Vietnam, names are more than personal choices; they’re tied to national identity. So, when can a child born in Vietnam have a foreign name? Only if the parents officially choose foreign citizenship over Vietnamese nationality.

T.’s story isn’t just about paperwork—it’s a glimpse into the crossroads of tradition, law, and modern multicultural families. What would you do in her shoes? Stick to a Vietnamese name to honor her roots, or fight for “Mia” and a piece of her husband’s heritage? Let us know your thoughts as this debate unfolds!

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Source: Vietnam Insider