Is travel insurance required to enter Vietnam?
Not as an entry rule for British citizen passport holders, according to the UK government. Its entry requirements page for Vietnam covers passports, visas, a digital arrival card and customs, and does not list travel insurance as a condition of entry. The page is written for travellers on a British citizen passport, so if another site says insurance is required for entry, check its date and confirm the rule for your own passport with an official source before you travel.
One newer change is worth knowing. The same page says that from 1 July, travellers to or through Vietnam may be asked to complete a health declaration, which may include proof of vaccinations. It tells travellers to check with their nearest Vietnamese embassy.
The page also mentions a digital arrival card. Since 15 April 2026, foreign nationals landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City are encouraged to fill one in online before arrival. It is not mandatory for now, but the page warns this may change at short notice.
Sources: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam, Entry requirements.
Why you still need it
The UK government says the British embassy does not pay medical bills and cannot provide medical assistance. Its advice is to have travel insurance that covers local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation, and to check that the place you are going can give you the care you may need. It says checking cover matters most for anyone pregnant or living with a health condition.
The UK government also says medical bills can be expensive, and tells people to read their policy carefully, especially how much cash must be advanced for care before reimbursement.
Sources: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam, Health; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam (updated 23 September 2025).
Health risks to plan for
The UK government lists the main health risks for visitors to Vietnam: mosquito borne diseases such as Zika, dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis; air pollution; and altitude sickness in parts of the country. It also says some medicines can be hard to find and many are fake, and that mental health support for foreign nationals is very limited.
Each of these is a reason to check what your policy covers before you go. Our guides to dengue fever in Vietnam and vaccines for Vietnam go into more detail.
What a policy should cover
UK travel advice for British travellers lists the things a policy for Vietnam should include:
- existing health conditions;
- an air ambulance, in case you need to be flown home;
- full medical cover;
- repatriation of your remains if you die;
- repatriation of your family if you have to go home because of illness or injury.
Beyond that list, think about what you will actually do. Trekking in the north, diving, or caving in the centre may need an activities add on. Check the policy wording for the name of the activity, not just a general phrase.
Driving licences can void your cover
The UK government is specific here. It says Vietnamese driving licences are mandatory for drivers of motor vehicles and for riders of motorcycles of 50cc or more, and that not following the rules may invalidate your travel insurance if you have an accident or injury. It also says the legal alcohol limit for driving is 0 mg/L, so any alcohol at all can put you outside the law.
Check the licence rules for your nationality with the authorities before you ride, and check that your policy names the vehicle category you will use.
Sources: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam (updated 23 September 2025).
Motorbikes: read the fine print
If a trip includes a scooter or motorbike, read the motorbike clause before you buy. Check whether the policy covers riding at all, whether it needs a licence that is valid in Vietnam, whether a helmet is a condition, and whether it treats a passenger differently from a rider. Keep a copy of your licence with your policy.
For road incidents, the UK government's guidance lists the details to record, such as the registration plate, the date, the time and the place, and gives 113 as the police number and 115 as the ambulance number.
Sources: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam (updated 23 September 2025).
Where travel cover stops
UK guidance for British nationals separates the two cases: visitors should arrange comprehensive travel insurance, and residents an appropriate health insurance policy. Check the longest single trip a policy allows, and whether cover ends if you become resident. For people moving to Vietnam to live or work, UK guidance points to a health insurance policy instead. Foreign employees on a fixed term labour contract of 12 months or more join the state scheme through their employer, except intra company transferees, people already at retirement age when they sign, and cases a treaty treats differently.
| Your situation | The usual fit |
|---|---|
| Holiday or short business trip | Travel insurance |
| A few months of travel | Long stay travel insurance; check the maximum trip length |
| Moving to live in Vietnam | Health insurance, local or international |
| Employed on a contract of 12 months or more | The state scheme through your employer, with a private plan as an option |
See our guide to social insurance in Vietnam for the longer stay options.
Sources: Viet Nam Social Security (Dak Nong office), New points of Law No. 51/2024/QH15 amending the Law on Health Insurance (Vietnamese); Vietnam Briefing, Vietnam's 2024 Social Insurance Law: Implications for Businesses, 9 August 2024; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam (updated 23 September 2025).
If you need care on your trip
The UK government's advice is to contact your insurance company quickly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment. It also helps to keep every receipt and to ask the hospital for a written report for the claim.
Before you fly
- Save your insurer's 24 hour emergency number and your policy number on your phone and on paper.
- Give a copy of the policy to a friend or relative at home, as the UK government suggests.
- Check your vaccines; our vaccines for Vietnam guide sets out what the CDC lists.
- If you take regular medicine, read the customs limits in our medication guide.
Our FAQ explains how this site works, and our family clinic picks show the clinics featured on this site.
This guide explains what to look for. It does not recommend any insurer or policy. Read the policy wording and ask the insurer about your own plans.
Sources: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam (updated 23 September 2025).
Common questions
- Is travel insurance mandatory for Vietnam?
- Not for British citizen passport holders, according to the UK government's entry requirements page for Vietnam, which does not list travel insurance as a condition of entry. The same UK advice tells those travellers to have it, and travellers on other passports should check the official rules for their own passport.
- Do I need travel insurance for Vietnam?
- UK travel advice for British travellers says yes. It says the British embassy does not pay medical bills, and it advises a policy that covers local treatment and medical evacuation.
- Does travel insurance cover motorbike accidents in Vietnam?
- It depends on the policy. Read the motorbike clause before you buy and check the conditions on licences, helmets and riding.
- Do I need a health declaration to enter Vietnam?
- You may. The UK government says that from 1 July, travellers may be asked to complete a health declaration that may include proof of vaccinations, and advises checking with a Vietnamese embassy.
- Is travel insurance enough if I live in Vietnam?
- Check the policy, including the maximum trip length and the residence rules. UK guidance for British nationals tells visitors to arrange travel insurance and advises people resident in Vietnam to hold health insurance.
Sources
- UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam, Entry requirements
- UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam, Health
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam (updated 23 September 2025)
- Viet Nam Social Security (Dak Nong office), New points of Law No. 51/2024/QH15 amending the Law on Health Insurance (Vietnamese)
- Vietnam Briefing, Vietnam's 2024 Social Insurance Law: Implications for Businesses, 9 August 2024