More than 7,200 residents of HCM City are using ID numbers that have already been issued to someone else, the Thanh Nien (Youth) Newspapers reported.

The Vietnamese National ID numbers, which are supposed to be unique numbers issued to each of its citizens, are required for numerous administrative procedures and other commercial activities.

Citizens who share the same ID numbers reportedly experienced various kinds of trouble and complications in opening bank accounts, filing tax profiles and obtaining passports.

Captain Vo Thi Thanh, deputy chief of the HCM City's Police ID department, said an ID number that has already been issued could be given again by mistake by police officers who processed the files or due to errors made by citizens while filling the forms.

Thanh said citizens who shared the same ID number with someone else should contact their local police. The whole process to get a new ID number could take a week after they provide all the required documents.

He said a plan has already been set into motion to detect and replace all duplicate ID numbers. 

VNS