By Nguyễn Lê Bảo Ngọc (Ngọc Prinny) · Reviewed by Ls. Lê Thị Kim Dung & Ls. Nguyễn Văn Điệp
📖 Etymology Corner: "Identity" — Being the Same as Oneself
The word "identity" comes from the Latin identitas, derived from idem — meaning "the same." At its philosophical core, identity is the property of being oneself, continuously and recognisably, across time. A name is one of the most powerful expressions of that continuity: it is what others call you, how institutions recognise you, and — for many people — a fundamental part of how they experience themselves. When a name no longer fits who a person is, it is not a trivial inconvenience. It is a daily dissonance. Official Letter 105/HCTP-HT from the Department of Administrative Justice (Ministry of Justice), issued on 14 January 2026, takes a careful, humane step toward recognising that dissonance — and providing a legal path to address it. 📝🧡
🎬 In a Nutshell
This is a nuanced legal guidance document addressing a genuinely complex human situation: people who have undergone surgery that changes their physical appearance and who then seek to update their civil records — particularly their name and middle name.
Vietnamese law in this area is at an in-between stage. There is an existing legal framework for some situations, no framework yet for others, and a draft law in progress. Official Letter 105/HCTP-HT navigates this landscape carefully, clarifying what is possible right now and what must wait for legislation still being developed.
The guidance treats people with dignity throughout. Let's walk through it clearly.
📋 Section 1: The Two Legal Tracks — A Crucial Distinction
Vietnamese civil law recognises two related but legally distinct concepts, both found in the Civil Code 2015:
Track A — Gender redetermination (xác định lại giới tính, Article 36): This covers cases where a person was born with a congenital defect (a biological ambiguity or undefined sex at birth) and undergoes medical intervention to correct or clarify it. The legal basis for civil status changes here already exists — Decree 88/2008/NĐ-CP provides the procedure for updating civil records in these cases.
Track B — Gender transition (chuyển đổi giới tính, Article 37): This covers people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, who undergo procedures based on that identity. The Civil Code 2015 recognises this as a right in principle, but it explicitly requires a dedicated law to govern it. That law — the Draft Law on Gender Transition — has not yet been passed. As a result, there is currently no legal basis for updating civil registration records (including gender marker on the household registration) in these cases.
Official Letter 105 is honest and clear about this gap: the legal framework for Track B civil status changes does not yet exist, and the Department cannot direct authorities to act without it.
✨ Section 2: The Opening — Name Changes Are Different
Here is where Official Letter 105 offers something meaningful and practically important.
Even for people on Track B — those whose full civil status change must wait for the Gender Transition Law — there is a separate, already-existing legal route for changing one's name and middle name (thay đổi chữ đệm, tên).
This route does not depend on the Gender Transition Law. It flows from Article 28, Clause 1(a) of the Civil Code 2015, which allows any person to change their name when they can demonstrate that:
- The use of their current name causes confusion (nhầm lẫn), or
- It affects their honour, rights, or legitimate interests (ảnh hưởng đến danh dự, quyền và lợi ích hợp pháp)
Official Letter 105 clarifies that a person who has undergone appearance-altering surgery may meet this standard — if their old name no longer reflects who they appear to be, if it creates daily confusion or difficulty, or if continuing to use it harms their dignity or legal interests.
This is not automatic. The person must demonstrate the reasonableness of their request. But the legal door is open, and the Department's guidance says it should be considered and processed properly.
🔧 Section 3: The Process — Where to Go and What Happens
For people seeking a name/middle name change under this guidance:
Step 1: Submit an application to the provincial Department of Justice (Sở Tư pháp) of the relevant province or city.
Step 2: The Department of Justice reviews whether the application demonstrates a valid basis under Article 28.1(a) — specifically, whether the use of the old name genuinely causes confusion or affects the applicant's honour, rights, or legitimate interests.
Step 3: If the basis is established, the Department of Justice directs the competent civil registration authority (cơ quan đăng ký hộ tịch) to process the name change according to applicable law.
In the specific case that prompted Official Letter 105, the Department of Administrative Justice forwarded petitions to the An Giang provincial Department of Justice and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice for handling.
⚖️ Section 4: What This Guidance Does and Does Not Do
It is important to be precise about the scope of Official Letter 105, both for legal accuracy and out of respect for the people it affects.
What it does:
- Clarifies that name/middle name changes are available to people who have undergone appearance-altering surgery, where the standard under Article 28.1(a) is met
- Confirms that this route exists independently of the pending Gender Transition Law
- Directs the relevant provincial authorities to receive and process such applications properly
What it does not do:
- Create a new right that did not previously exist — Article 28.1(a) was already part of the Civil Code
- Allow gender marker changes on civil registration documents for Track B individuals (that must wait for the Gender Transition Law)
- Guarantee approval of every application — each case is assessed on its specific facts
- Replace or pre-empt the Gender Transition Law that is still being drafted
The guidance is an interpretation and a clarification, not new legislation. It works within the existing legal framework to ensure that framework is applied thoughtfully and humanely.
🏠 Real-Life Examples
Example 1 — The daily confusion: 🪪 A person whose legal name is a traditionally male name has undergone surgery and now presents as female in all daily contexts. Every time they present their ID card or household registration, there is visible confusion — questions asked, stares received, situations where their legal name contradicts every other aspect of how they are known in their community. This confusion, and the effect on their dignity and daily legal interactions, may well satisfy the standard of Article 28.1(a). An application to the provincial Department of Justice for a name change would be appropriately considered.
Example 2 — The professional context: 💼 A professional whose name on all their qualifications and work documents is distinctly gendered — and whose changed appearance now creates routine confusion in professional settings — can articulate how this affects their legitimate professional and legal interests. Again, a properly documented application to the Department of Justice could proceed.
Example 3 — Track A, full update: ✅ A person who underwent corrective surgery for a congenital biological ambiguity can pursue both a name change and a full civil registration update (including gender marker) through the existing Decree 88/2008 pathway. For them, Official Letter 105's clarification on name changes is relevant but the broader civil record update is already available.
🤔 Did You Know?
Vietnam's Civil Code 2015 was notably forward-looking when it included Article 37 recognising the right to gender transition in principle — even while leaving implementation to future legislation. That legislative future is still being written. The Draft Law on Gender Transition has been under development and consultation for several years. Its eventual passage will be a significant milestone — not only for civil registration purposes but for healthcare access, employment protections, and other domains where legal gender recognition matters in everyday life. Official Letter 105 is one small step on a longer road. 📚
🌿 Law in Nature — The Chrysalis Parallel
A chrysalis is neither caterpillar nor butterfly. It is a form in transition — biologically real and significant, but not yet fitting neatly into either category of the system that preceded it. Vietnam's legal framework for people who have undergone appearance-altering surgery is currently in a chrysalis state: the Civil Code has acknowledged a right, a law is being drafted to give it full form, and in the meantime, thoughtful guidance like Official Letter 105 tries to ensure that people are not left entirely without legal recourse during the in-between time. The law is catching up. That process takes time. The guidance helps cushion the wait with practical humanity. 🦋
💡 Tips for People Navigating This Situation
Document your reasoning carefully: An application under Article 28.1(a) needs to demonstrate why the current name causes confusion or affects your honour, rights, or legitimate interests. The more specific and documented your evidence — situations where confusion arose, professional or administrative impacts — the stronger your application.
Know your track: If your surgery addresses a congenital biological condition (Track A), the full civil status update pathway under Decree 88/2008 may be available to you. Consult a legal professional to assess your specific situation.
For Track B individuals: The name/middle name change is what is currently available to you through this guidance. The broader civil registration update — including gender marker — must await the Gender Transition Law. Follow developments in that legislative process and connect with advocacy organisations that track it.
Where to apply: Your application goes to the provincial Department of Justice (Sở Tư pháp) of the province or city where your household registration is held. They will assess the application and direct the appropriate civil registration authority.
Seek legal advice: Every situation is factually different. A legal professional can help you assess whether your circumstances meet the Article 28.1(a) standard and how to present your application most effectively.
📝 Quick Quiz — Know the Framework
Question 1: Under current Vietnamese law, which group can update their full civil registration records (including gender marker)?
a) Anyone who has undergone appearance-altering surgery · b) Only those whose surgery addressed a congenital biological condition, under Decree 88/2008 · c) Anyone with a doctor's certificate · d) No one — all changes are blocked
Question 2: What legal basis allows name/middle name changes for people who have undergone appearance-altering surgery?
a) The Gender Transition Law · b) Decree 88/2008 · c) Article 28.1(a) of the Civil Code 2015 — if the old name causes confusion or harms legal interests · d) There is no legal basis currently
Question 3: What must a person demonstrate to obtain a name change under Official Letter 105's guidance?
a) Nothing — it is automatic after surgery · b) A medical certificate from a licensed surgeon · c) That their old name causes confusion or affects their honour, rights, or legitimate interests · d) Approval from their household registration authority
Question 4: Why can gender marker changes NOT currently be processed for people whose surgery relates to gender identity (Track B)?
a) Vietnamese law does not recognise gender identity · b) The required Gender Transition Law has not yet been passed, so there is no legal basis for the civil status update · c) The Civil Code does not mention gender transition · d) Only courts can make this change
🗣️ Call to Action
Are you or someone you know navigating this area of Vietnamese law? Do you work in civil registration, legal aid, or social support for people facing these situations? 💬
This is an area where clear, accessible legal information genuinely matters — where knowing your rights can make a real difference in someone's daily life. Share this post with legal professionals, civil society organisations, and anyone who needs to understand what the current framework offers and where its limits lie.
And if you have questions about your specific situation, please reach out to a legal professional who can advise you properly based on the full facts of your case. 📤
🚨 Fun But Serious: A Brief Legal Disclaimer 🚨
This article covers a sensitive area of law at a moment when the legal framework is still developing. A few important notes:
- This article explains Official Letter 105/HCTP-HT as issued — legal guidance can evolve, and the Gender Transition Law may change this landscape significantly once passed 🗺️
- Every person's situation is unique. Whether your circumstances meet the Article 28.1(a) standard is a factual question that requires individual legal assessment 🦄
- For personal legal advice, please consult a qualified professional 🧙♂️ — may we suggest Thầy Điệp & Associates Law Firm
- Need certified document translations or notarisation for your application? Thu Thiem Notary Office is available 🖊️
Full disclaimer: ngocprinny.blogspot.com/2024/08/disclaimer.html
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If you're reading this at night — sweet dreams, and may the law always have a place for who you truly are 🌙✨
If you're reading this in the morning — wishing you a day full of clarity, dignity, and people who see you clearly ☀️🤝
If you're reading this at lunch — enjoy every bite, and may your paperwork always be as straightforward as this meal 🍱📋
Whenever you're reading this — may the law catch up to you, and may the wait be as short as possible 🌸⚖️
Author: Nguyễn Lê Bảo Ngọc (Ngọc Prinny) | Reviewed by Ls. Lê Thị Kim Dung & Ls. Nguyễn Văn Điệp
#CivilRights #VietnamLaw #NgocPrinny #NameChange #CivilCode2015 #LegalRights #delulu_vn #GenderLaw #HộTịch #HumanRights #VietnamLegalUpdate2026 #LegalAccess
