Vietnam travel insurance
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What travel insurance do I need for Vietnam?
If you’re travelling to Vietnam, take out travel insurance that protects your trip and covers all activities on your agenda.
Most policies will cover:
- Medical expenses and the cost of repatriation
- If your trip is cancelled before you depart or cut short in certain circumstances
- Loss or theft of your belongings and luggage
- Legal fees
Medical treatment
For the most up to date information about getting medical care in Vietnam’s rural and city hospitals and medical facilities, check the gov.uk website.
There’s a risk of Dengue fever and Zika virus, so pack mosquito repellent in your hand luggage.
Take out travel insurance that covers your medical care and declare all pre-existing medical conditions to your insurance provider. If you don’t, and the condition flares up while you’re away, you won't be covered for it.
Make sure your medical expenses include repatriation costs - you're a long way from home.
Adventurous sports insurance
Adventurous activities will usually need additional cover. The riskier the sport, the less likely your insurer is to cover it.
For those planning a cycling holiday to Vietnam, we checked Defaqto on 1 August 2019 and 96% of 1,136 annual travel insurance policies covered cycling.[2]
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
British passport holders visiting Vietnam can stay for 15 days without a visa. If you’re staying for between 15 and 30 days, then you’ll need to get an e-visa online. For anything longer, you'll need to visit the Vietnamese embassy before you travel
Riding on Vietnam’s roads
Read the FCO’s advice about riding a motorbike in Vietnam, and the associated crimes.
Lawfully, you must have:
- A helmet
- UK driver’s licence
- UK-issued International Driver’s Permit
- Third party insurance
If you don’t observe Vietnamese laws and are involved a traffic accident, you may not be able to claim for any legal, compensation or medical expenses you incur.
Single or annual cover
If Vietnam is your only holiday this year, single-trip travel insurance is the most cost-effective choice.
If you have several trips lined up, save time and money with annual travel insurance.
What is and isn’t covered
Cancelled travel plans
Travel insurance policies usually include some form of cover for cancellation and curtailment, or trip abandonment.
No-go regions
Your travel insurance policy may have personal accident and medical expenses cover following a terrorist incident.
Read your policy and check the FCO website for dangerous location alerts before you travel.
Money
Travel insurance policies often cover you if your money or cards are lost, stolen or damaged - as long as you didn't leave the money unattended, or not locked away somewhere safe.
Some insurers exclude cash though, and the amount you can claim varies between policies.
Touring around Asia
If you’re backpacking around South East Asia, compare worldwide insurance. It includes cover for Asia, Australia and New Zealand, which might work out cheaper. If you're heading away for longer than a month, you'll need backpackers insurance instead.
You should only use official exchange counters to get Vietnam Dong (VND). It’s illegal to exchange cash elsewhere, and there may be a high, artificial rate, meaning you’ll lose money in the exchange
Before you travel to Vietnam
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Vaccines
Read the NHS Fit for Travel website to decide if you need the additional Hepatitis A, B, Rabies and Typhoid jabs
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Passport
Check that your passport is going to be valid for at least six months from the date you plan to land in Vietnam. Read up on passport cover too
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Weather
Vietnam has a tropical monsoon season which sees localised flooding, flash floods and landslides. Read your policy to see what you’re covered for if you need to leave Vietnam early following bad weather
Travel insurance guides and tools
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[2]Last checked 1 August 2019