Vietnam is a vibrant country in southeast Asia, celebrated for its stunning landscapes, intriguing history - both ancient and recent - and blend of cultural influences. From the bustling streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the serene beauty of Ha Long Bay, and terraced rice fields in Sapa, Vietnam offers travellers an incredible, diverse experience.
For architecture enthusiasts, you're spoilt with a choice of ancient temples and pagodas, and also the preserved remnants of French colonial buildings. And if you love food (and who doesn't love food?), Vietnamese cuisine - particularly its fragrant street food - is out of this world. Couple this with friendly locals and affordable transport costs, and the result is an unforgettable destination for any type of traveller.
You have a few options for cover when travelling to Vietnam. These are some of the options available - but bear in mind you'll need a policy with worldwide travel insurance if you're selecting annual or backpacker:
Getting good medical care in Vietnam can be really expensive. Your policy should protect you financially for medical treatment to a certain limit.
You should make sure that your travel insurance covers you if you need to get home for medical reasons. The cost can be incredibly high if you're not covered and need to take an unplanned, urgent flight back to the UK. Not least because of the distance and flight time to get you back.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching is common, especially in tourist areas and during Christmas and Tet Lunar New Year seasons. Your policy can cover this, plus accidental damage or loss of property.
Transport cancellations and delays often lead to missed connections, or not being able to attend pre-booked accommodation or events. Travel insurance covers you for these problems.
You're also generally protected if you need to cut your trip short or cancel altogether for a reason listed on the policy. For example, you'll usually be covered if there's a death in the family.
If the FCDO advises against travel to your destination, but you go anyway, it's likely you won't be able to claim on your policy.
You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when applying for a policy. Not doing so could be particularly serious with the cost of healthcare in Vietnam, plus the cost of repatriation if you need it.
Standard policies don't normally cover sports or pursuits considered 'high risk'. You may need additional activity travel insurance to ensure you're protected.
Policies will generally exclude claims if an incident occurs while you're under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you need to cancel your trip, this is usually possible under conditions stipulated in your policy. But if you just change your mind about going on the trip, you're unlikely to be able to claim for this.
The healthcare available in Vietnam can vary. As much of the private healthcare in Vietnam is subsidised, the standard can be good, but the hospitals are often busy.
And as you might expect, city hospitals are generally of a better standard than those outside the cities. You might also struggle to find staff who speak English. But helpfully, the FCDO has a directory of medical facilities in Vietnam where some staff will speak English.
Private facilities tend to be of an excellent standard, but can be very costly for tourists. Private hospitals in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City are often staffed by doctors and medical professionals. Usually, they've completed their studies in the USA, Korea, Japan and France.
Your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) isn't valid in Vietnam. As such, treatments can cost hundreds or thousands. And if you don't have travel insurance, this will come out of your own pocket.
This is where travel insurance really comes into its own. If you have a medical emergency and need treatment, your travel insurance should cover the costs. This can save you from a huge bill for treatment, and urgent or unplanned travel home.
You can also call your insurance provider to help if you need immediate medical assistance. Check your policy for the number, and save it to your phone before you leave. You should also tell your insurer immediately if you're admitted to hospital
The emergency number for first aid in Vietnam is 115.
Travel Health Pro recommends most travellers get hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. It's also a good idea to get cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis.*
Check the vaccine requirements at least 8 weeks before you travel. Talk to your GP if you have any concerns or questions as to what’s required.
You can find more information on vaccine recommendations on the Travel Health Pro website, and in our guide to travel vaccinations.
*Correct November 2024
Before heading to Vietnam, be aware certain activities aren't generally covered by standard insurance. Check the T&Cs of your policy to see if you need additional cover. That way, you'll know that medical treatment is covered if you get injured.
You can usually add extras to your policy for a fee. These include:
Vietnam might not spring immediately to mind for a golfing holiday. But there's a huge range of courses and resorts on offer - around 80, in fact. The popularity of golf is growing too, with many more courses under construction. Vietnam's stunning and varied geography and coastlines make it a great backdrop for golf.
Standard travel insurance may cover a round or two as part of your holiday. But if you’re planning a golfing holiday with your own clubs and equipment, it could be worth looking into golf travel insurance as an extra. This can cover loss, theft or delay of your clubs, hiring replacement clubs, missed green fees... and even a round of drinks if you get a hole in one!
One-off activities will often be covered under a standard policy. Things like going on an organised tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels should be fine. But if you’re thinking of going to Halong Bay to kayak or explore the caves, check that this is OK with your insurer.
There’s no set list of which activities need extra cover across the board, so check your policy carefully. Not having the right cover could mean having to shell out for a huge medical bill or airfare home yourself.
You might be surprised to learn you can ski in Vietnam. But Fansipan mountain in Sapa, Northern Vietnam is the perfect winter sports holiday destination. With a peak height of 3,138 metres, it’s best to visit mid-December to early March when snow conditions are at their best. During this time, temperatures are between -4°C (25°F) and 4°C (40°F) - perfect for enjoying the fresh powdery snow.
If you’re planning on skiing or snowboarding, select 'winter sports' when getting a quote. This will give you the correcect ski or snowboarding insurance you need. You won’t be covered for injury or medical care should you need it. If you’re taking your own ski equipment, winter sports insurance covers lost, delayed, damaged or stolen items, which could save you a fortune.
No, UK citizens with a British passport don’t need a visa, but only if your trip is for less than 45 days.
If you want to stay longer than 45 days, you can:
The British Embassy will not assist with visa extensions.
To enter Vietnam, your passport must have:
Make sure you get your passport stamped! Check the visa expiry date written in your passport is correct before leaving border control. If it's wrong, you could be accused of overstaying. Your passport is stamped upon entry, which will specify the date by which you need to leave Vietnam.
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of the UK.
If you’re planning on seeing more of the country or travel around it, domestic flights are fairly inexpensive. But there’s also overnight buses and trains too. These are generally cheaper, and a good way to avoid eating into your daytime activities.
Visiting Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist and Confucian temples is a must. But dress respectfully when visiting any religious buildings. Cover your upper arms and legs. Also be aware you may need to remove your shoes and any hats before you go in.
There are also a few signs of disrespect in Buddhist culture you need to avoid. You mustn't touch anyone on the head. Also don't point the soles of your feet towards anyone, or towards any Buddhist statues.
Much like many parts of Asia, dignity and respect is important for Vietnamese people. It's crucial to 'save face' and avoid embarrassment or humiliation. Arguments and public outbursts are perceived as offensive, so try to avoid showing anger or frustration - even if things are going wrong while you travel.
Always ask permission before taking pictures or videos of people. Not doing so can be seen as intrusive. Also avoid taking pictures of any political demonstrations that might happen. This can get you into trouble with the protesters or authorities.
Aside from voiding your travel insurance in the event of a claim, punishments are some of the strictest in the world for drug taking or possession. Many tourists end up in jail, and the death penalty is in force for the most serious drug offences.
Food in Vietnam - particularly street food - is a huge part of the culture and identity. With so much on offer, you can really indulge yourself on your trip.
Most places serve noodles with chopsticks. Be aware that how you use and leave them means something:
Vietnam has restrictions on medicines it classifies as ‘addictive’ or ‘psychotropic’. These include medicines used to treat anxiety, depression, insomnia and other conditions. It's illegal to have more than the amount prescribed by a doctor for 7 days (addictive medicine) or 10 days (psychotropic medicine). You should carry the prescription with your medication, plus a letter from your doctor stating how much of the medication you need during your trip.
The letter can be in English and should:
If you’re unsure if your medication falls within these categories, or you need to bring more medication than is usually allowed, contact the Vietnam Embassy in the UK before travelling.
"Vietnam is a long-haul flight. And while there are direct flights available, other options will include stopovers, meaning more risk of delays, disruption and lost baggage.
Having travel insurance means you’re covered and compensated for things that might happen outside of your control while travelling to Vietnam. It also means you're covered for potentially expensive medical bills, and at worst a long and expensive early or unplanned flight home."
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