Lawmakers propose granting personal ID to stateless people of Vietnamese origin

At a National Assembly session on Thursday, Nguyen Thi Xuan, standing member of the National Defense and Security Committee, said the stateless people were the result of history, war and immigration, and there was no document to fully address this.

As there is no available data to prove their identity and history, their nationality cannot be determined, making them unable to be granted a temporary or permanent stay in the country, she added.

"They are an inseparable part of our people and need to be acknowledged by society and the state," she said.

Xuan said their situation caused difficulties for management and ensuring security and order, and they were prevented from gaining access to basic human rights like medical checks, job searches, education and social support.

Vu Xuan Hung, standing member of the National Defense and Security Committee, said surveys at five Mekong Delta localities revealed that around 25,000 people who fit the criteria have no personal documentation.

They have no house, no land, no paper, no job and are unable to enjoy the most basic benefits of society, according to survey teams.

These people live near rivers and lakes, and make a living by fishing, collecting scraps or other manual jobs. They also live in tents and on boats. As they have no documentation, they cannot use motorbikes or apply for jobs at any organization or institution.

"Granting people of Vietnamese origin personal ID cards is absolutely legitimate to ensure their basic rights," Hung said.

However, he noted that these people live in particular areas, like the border, the Central Highlands and major cities, where security and order needed attention.

He requested cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security to establish regulations to manage people of Vietnamese origins living in Vietnam.