Vietnam’s transport ministry startled local passengers on Monday by announcing a new rule changing what kinds of documents would be accepted as valid identification at all Vietnamese airports, only to retract the rule 24 hours later, saying that ‘mistakes were made’ in the drafting of the controversial regulation.

According to Circular No. 45, signed by Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The and effective from January 15, 2018, documents including driver’s licenses, Party member cards, press cards and airport security cards would no longer be accepted as valid ID for passengers 14 years and above.

The same documents were also to be deemed invalid ID for foreign passengers when boarding domestic flights, according to the circular.

Vietnamese passengers are currently only allowed to use the following papers as identification to pass airport checkpoints: a valid passport, visa, or border crossing paper, a temporary residence card, ID card, military ID card or National Assembly delegate card.

Any valid ID must contain basic information including full names, dates of birth, places of residential registry and a stamped photo.

Foreign passengers can use a valid passport, border crossing paper, visa, or permanent or temporary residence card.

Flyers who lose their passport must obtain a paper from the consular agency of their country or written verification of their passport issued no later than 30 days from the day of travel.

‘Drafting errors’

The new rules were announced by local media on Monday afternoon, sparking outrage among some passengers, who said it was unreasonable to deem authorized papers with personal information and verified photos of the flyers, such as a driver’s license or Party member card, invalid.

In a surprising turn of events, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper later the same day that there had been ‘drafting errors’ that led to the omission of documents including a Party member card, press cards and driver’s licenses from the list of accepted documents.

“In the next couple of days, the Ministry of Transport will issue a document to rectify the circular,” Dong said.

The changes to the airport ID were originally proposed by the transport ministry-run Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

According to an official from the aviation authority, the proposal was initially intended to invalidate the ‘airport security card’ as an accepted airport ID, but there were errors in the final draft of the document.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam briefed the transport ministry on the so-called ‘mistakes’ late on Monday.