AnkyroTravel insuranceVietnam
Travel insurance for Vietnam.
Vietnam doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But private hospitals cost a lot, and a motorbike crash can stop you leaving the country. Here is what to know.
The rules
What Vietnam asks of visitors.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Entry rules change, so check again before you fly.
- Visa-free and e-visa: no insurance asked
Some passports, like the UK, get up to 45 days visa-free. The e-visa gives 90 days with multiple entries. Neither lists travel insurance.
Source: gov.uk - New arrival card in 2026
Since 15 April 2026, travellers landing at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City are asked to fill in a digital arrival card. It is not mandatory yet.
Source: gov.uk - Medicine limit: 7 days
Carrying more than 7 days of addictive or psychotropic medicine is illegal. Bring a doctor’s letter that says how much you need.
Source: gov.uk - Driving: permit, helmet, insurance
You need an International Driving Permit (1968 version) and your licence, even on a motorbike. Helmets are the law, and driving without third-party insurance is illegal.
Source: gov.uk - After a crash: you may not leave
If you are in a road accident, you can face charges, pay compensation and be stopped from leaving until police finish.
Source: gov.uk
What care costs
If something goes wrong, this is the bill.
What a visitor pays without insurance. Prices vary by hospital and change every year.
- Payment before treatment
Public and private hospitals in Vietnam may ask you to pay before they treat you. Carry a card with a high limit, or have your insurer guarantee the bill.
Source: travel.gc.ca - Private hospitals: better, but costly
Private clinics and hospitals are usually better equipped, with staff who speak English or French. Their services can be expensive.
Source: travel.gc.ca - Evacuation to a nearby country
A serious illness or injury may need an evacuation to a neighbouring country. Canada’s travel advice calls this very expensive.
Source: travel.gc.ca
What to look for
Choosing travel cover for Vietnam.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Motorbike cover
Many plans pay only if you held a licence for that bike, an International Driving Permit and a helmet. Read the clause before you ride.
- Evacuation abroad
Serious cases can need a flight to Bangkok, Singapore or home. Check the plan pays for an air ambulance.
- Third-party liability
After a crash you may have to pay the other people involved. Personal liability cover helps.
- Existing conditions
Check your existing conditions are covered, or declared, before you travel.
Before you land
Sort these before you fly.
- Emergency number
Call 115 for an ambulance. Then call your insurer’s 24/7 line.
- Bring medicine papers
Carry your prescription and a doctor’s letter, and no more than 7 days of restricted medicine.
- Mobile data
Set up an eSIM before you fly, so you can call your insurer from the airport in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Renting a motorbike without an International Driving Permit. The claim can be refused, and it is illegal.
- 02Buying a plan with no evacuation cover. Serious cases can need a flight to Bangkok or Singapore.
- 03Packing a month of an addictive or psychotropic medicine. Over 7 days of it is illegal in Vietnam.
Travel insurance stops when the trip ends, and most visas for living in Vietnam don’t accept it. See what Vietnam asks of residents.
Questions
People also ask.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Vietnam?+
No. Visa-free entry and the e-visa don’t ask for it. It is still strongly advised, as you pay hospital bills yourself.
Do I need insurance for a Vietnam e-visa?+
No. The e-visa doesn’t list it. It gives up to 90 days with multiple entries.
Does travel insurance cover motorbike accidents in Vietnam?+
Only if your plan includes motorbikes and you rode legally: an International Driving Permit, your licence and a helmet.
Do hospitals in Vietnam ask for payment upfront?+
They may. Public and private hospitals can ask for payment before treatment, so carry a card or call your insurer to guarantee the bill.
Other trips
Going somewhere else?
Visiting Singapore? Care is excellent and expensive. Living here and going abroad? MediShield Life does not pay overseas. Here is what to check.
02Schengen visaA Schengen visa needs travel medical cover of at least 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen country, with repatriation. Here is what passes, and what doesn’t.
03MalaysiaVisiting Malaysia? Public hospitals charge foreigners full price. Living here and going abroad? Your cover at home stays at home. Here is what to check.
04ThailandThailand doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But hospitals want a payment guarantee before they treat you, and private care is not cheap. Here is what to know.
05JapanJapan doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But visitors pay the full bill, and unpaid bills can get you refused entry next time. Here is what to know.
06USA visitorsThe US doesn’t ask visitors for insurance. But a few days in hospital can cost more than a car. Here is what care costs, and what a visitor plan must cover.
07Bali and IndonesiaIndonesia doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But a broken leg in Bali can cost over 160 million rupiah, and serious cases can need a flight out. Here is what to know.
08Dubai and the UAEDubai’s law says visitors must be insured, and the 5-year tourist visa asks for proof. Care is good but private, and an unpaid bill can stop you leaving.
10SpainPublic care in Spain is free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, dental care and the flight home are not. Here is what the card leaves to you in Spain.
11MexicoMexico doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Private hospitals in big cities are good, but most want payment first, and Medicare won’t pay.
12FranceCare in France is not free, even with an EHIC or GHIC. You pay upfront, claim back part, and the flight home is never covered. Here is what to check.
13ItalyThe EHIC and GHIC work in Italy’s public system, but you still pay fees, most medicines and any private doctor. Here is the Italian bill the card leaves you.
14GermanyWith an EHIC or GHIC, most care in Germany costs little. Private extras, mountain rescue and the flight home are on you. Here is what to check.
15PortugalPublic care in Portugal is mostly free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, medicines and the flight home are not. Here is what to check before you fly to Portugal.
16Costa RicaCosta Rica doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Only first emergency care is free, private clinics want payment first, and extensions have their own rules.
17ColombiaMost tourists need no visa and no policy for Colombia. If you do need a visa, insurance is part of it. Private clinics want payment first.
18South KoreaKorea doesn’t ask tourists for insurance, and the national scheme is not for short trips. Hospitals expect you to pay on the spot, then claim.
19Australia working holidayThe 417 and 462 visas don’t make you buy health insurance. But you pay every medical bill yourself, unless your passport gets you limited Medicare. Here is who is covered and what to buy.
20New Zealand working holidayMost working holiday visas for New Zealand require medical and hospital insurance for your whole stay, and you can be asked for proof when you land. Here is who is exempt and what to buy.