How can a foreigner get a police clearance certificate (criminal record check) in Vietnam and have it legalized?

Many European visas require the 'Full Police Check / Record Certificate Type 2'. You'll need a translation into the target language, notarization in Vietnam, certification by Vietnam's MOFA (Consular Department), and consular legalization at the destination country's embassy in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. If getting the document proves difficult, some travelers use fixers for $300–800.

Step-by-step: 1) get a residence confirmation from your landlord or hotel; 2) prepare a copy of your passport (photo page + visa page); 3) apply at the local police office (address available via Google Maps), take a queue number, fill out the form on-site and pay a 200,000 VND fee — ready in 7 days; 4) with the certificate and passport, go to CIFA Da Nang for consular legalization (ask specifically for 'consular legalization') — takes about 2 weeks, or 4–5 days expedited, costing 120,000–1,000,000 VND depending on urgency; 5) the certificate is valid for 90 days, though for some countries this period 'freezes' once you leave Vietnam.

Applying for a Vietnamese police clearance certificate by power of attorney through another foreigner (not a Vietnamese citizen), while the applicant is still in the country, is uncertain — you need to check directly with the specific police office whether a proxy application is accepted and how to properly draft the power of attorney for this.