Should you get travel insurance for Vietnam?
There’s nothing worse than an accident or illness disrupting your holiday, especially if it leaves you with significant out-of-pocket costs. For any holiday — not just to Vietnam — travel insurance provides cover for many unforeseen circumstances, such as injury or illness.
Crime, especially petty theft and scams, can occur in Vietnam, according to the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website. Severe weather and natural disasters, such as typhoons, storms, flooding, and landslides are also frequent in the rainy season (June to November). When these natural disasters strike, they can heavily impact local infrastructure and disrupt transportation and other services. Most travel insurance policies cover you for cancellations and travel disruptions caused by weather.
It’s also important to note that because Vietnam is a non-English-speaking country, travellers can sometimes feel overwhelmed when accidents or illnesses occur. Having a travel insurance policy with a 24/7 helpline may give you some peace of mind.
How to choose the right travel insurance for Vietnam?
When planning a trip to Vietnam, selecting the cheapest travel insurance option may not always give you the right level of coverage for your needs.
For example, when comparing travel insurance with Canstar, you can search for policies that cover you for travel to Vietnam, and see the limits that each policy provides for overseas medical and hospital cover, as well as cancellations and lost luggage. Policies with higher limits for cancellation and lost luggage may be more expensive, but may also provide more peace of mind, depending on how much you have paid for your trip.
You can also filter your results to show policies that cover for a range of options that may be applicable to your trip (for example, if you plan to go kayaking in Ha Long Bay or scuba diving in Da Nang). Cover for these activities may not be standard and may need to be added on.
What does Vietnam travel insurance cover?
When you’re looking for travel insurance for Vietnam, cover typically includes the following:
- Medical or dental emergency: Hospital admission, emergency care and medical evacuation.
- Lost or stolen luggage, passport or other items: Replacing luggage and travel documents is one of the most common reasons for filing a travel insurance claim.
- Cancelling your trip unexpectedly: Cancellation due to illness, accident, revoked holiday leave or a natural disaster at home or at your intended destination.
- Legal liability: If you break a local law and need a lawyer/interpreter (e.g. if you injure someone or are held accountable for damaged property).
- Optional extras: Some policies offer a variety of useful extras depending on which one you get, such as rental vehicle excess waivers, cover for kennels and catteries for your pets at home, and even cover if you suffer a loss of income or a permanent disability while overseas.
- Repatriation: If tragedy strikes while you are away, repatriation covers the cost of flying your body and belongings back home to Australia. Some policies also include a separate sum for funeral expenses.
What doesn’t Vietnam travel insurance cover?
There are a number of common exclusions, as well as things that could void your cover, such as:
- Riding without a helmet: If you plan to ride a bicycle, scooter or motorcycle while in Vietnam, your travel insurance will not cover you if you’re found to be riding without a helmet.
- Being under the influence: Likewise, claims relating directly to drugs or alcohol or incidents befalling travellers under the influence of these substances will likely not be covered.
- Pre-existing conditions: While you can sometimes pay a bit extra to get them covered, an exclusion may apply if, at the time of purchasing the policy, you were aware of something that could lead to you making a claim under the policy and didn’t inform the insurer. It’s worth checking the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of your policy to find out if you’re covered for your condition.
- Unreported and unattended items: You can be covered if your possessions are stolen or lost accidentally, but leaving them unattended will often void your cover. In the event that your possessions are lost or stolen, you need to report the loss to local authorities within 24 hours, and then inform your insurance provider as soon as possible. Your policy will typically state the timeframe in which you must report to your insurance provider.
How much does travel insurance cost for Vietnam?
At the time of writing, basic travel insurance for Vietnam can start from around $78 for basic cover for a 30-year-old traveller for two weeks in Vietnam, with $200 excess (as of October 2026). The price can vary from there, depending on the level of cover and optional inclusions that you need. You can compare travel insurance with Canstar to find cover that suits your particular needs and budget.
What activities are covered in Vietnam?
When comparing travel insurance for Vietnam, it’s important to ensure that your policy has all the inclusions you’ll need. It’s possible to purchase travel insurance that covers water sports, but don’t assume that these come standard with every policy. If you’re planning on doing any activities that have a higher degree of risk, you’ll need to make sure that your policy covers them, or that you can purchase cover as an optional extra.
