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Vietnam travel insurance
Vietnam travel insurance
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettEasily compare Travel Insurance
Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
Do I need travel insurance in Vietnam?
Long story short
Travel insurance is just as important as your visa
There’s no reciprocal health care agreement for Australian visitors to Vietnam, so while travel insurance isn’t mandatory, it can help save you from hefty medical bills in Vietnam.
Some of your holiday activities might need extra coverage
Riding a scooter, sailing in Lan Ha Bay or trekking through caves? Make sure your policy covers you for adventure activities before you go.
Travel insurance costs vary for Vietnam trips, but it’s worth it
Vietnam travel insurance starts from around $88 for a comprehensive policy, but that’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.1Prices from our website on May 2026 for comprehensive cover, $200 excess for one person aged 30, travelling to the Vietnam 24th – 30th May 2026. Cover for trip cancellation $10,000, cover for luggage $5,000 and no pre-existing medical conditions. Prices are indicative only.
Do I need travel insurance in Vietnam?
Travel insurance for Vietnam isn’t mandatory, but it’s highly recommended. You might not get stopped at the border without it, but it can safeguard your trip against lost luggage and big hospital expenses, especially since there’s no free healthcare for Australians visiting Vietnam.
While you’re admiring the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An or lost amongst the towering, lush limestone pillars of Ninh Binh, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the last thing you’ll be thinking about is what could go wrong. Making sure you’ve got appropriate travel insurance means you only have to think about surprises of the good kind, like discovering Vietnamese iced coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá) for the first time.
What activities are covered under travel insurance for Vietnam?
Travel insurance for Vietnam includes benefits for medical evacuations, cancellation cover and more, which can help keep you protected for activities like scooter or moped riding, water-based activities, guided tours and pre-booked sightseeing experiences. Depending on the full details of your policy, you could be covered for all your activities, or you might need some specific extra coverage on top.
Take the scenic route through the Hai Van Pass
Just outside Hoi An, the Hai Van Pass is one of Vietnam’s most scenic roads. With hairpin turns and stunning coast views, it’s a short drive that many travellers want to experience for themselves. If you’re keen to ride it yourself, make sure your travel insurance covers scooters or mopeds and that you meet the conditions within this extra cover, like holding a valid temporary Vietnamese driver’s license and wearing a helmet.
Shop like a local at the Mekong floating markets
Exploring the Mekong River’s floating market is a must-do for any visitor – as long as you’ve got travel insurance that covers you for boat-based transport or any guided tours you might take. These floating markets happen throughout the day with traders selling fresh produce, coffee, and even hot bowls of pho straight from their floating restaurants.
Sail across Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay, with its towering limestone cliffs and hidden beaches, is just as stunning as the more well-known UNESCO site, Halong Bay (and a little less crowded). Here you can kayak, snorkel or sail around its 400 islets scattered across the bay area fringed by small, beautiful beaches. If you’ve got some exciting water-based activities planned, check whether your policy covers you or whether you need extra adventure cover to enjoy the bay worry-free.
Explore the past at the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels are infamous for their role during the Vietnam War. Located just outside of Ho Chi Minh City, these tiny, complicated underground tunnels played a crucial role for Viet Cong soldiers. You can crawl through sections, learning firsthand how soldiers lived and moved undetected. Just make sure you’ve got travel insurance with you in case you can’t make it to your pre-booked tour or if something happens while you’re crawling through the tight space of the tunnels underground.
Helpful tip
If you’re heading to District 1 and want to beat Ho Chi Minh City’s peak-hour traffic, you can book a scooter through local ridesharing apps like Grab (Uber no longer exists in Vietnam) and let a local driver take you around. However, if you’re feeling extra adventurous and plan on weaving through the traffic yourself, you’ll need a temporary Vietnamese driver’s licence (which converts your Australian licence), even on scooters.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
What does travel insurance for Vietnam usually include?
Travel insurance for Vietnam typically includes coverage for things like overseas medical expenses, cancellation cover and personal belongings. In most cases, you’ll find that your travel insurance policy has exclusions for ignoring travel warnings, breaking local laws or trying to claim for something outside your policy’s coverage areas.
Typically included
Medical expenses: Medical care costs or emergency assistance will be covered within your policy
Personal effects: If your valuables or luggage are lost, stolen or if your luggage is delayed
Trip cancellation costs: If prepaid tours or flights are cancelled for reasons out of your control
Rental vehicle excess: With the right level of cover, a rental car excess could be covered
Typically not included
Breaking local laws: If you ignore or break a local law, like not wearing a helmet on a scooter, you likely won’t be covered
Being under the influence: Incidents that occurred under while the influence of alcohol or drugs will likely not be covered
Extra coverage activities: If you try and claim for activities not listed in your policy or that you need extra coverage for
Ignoring travel warnings: If Smartraveller upgrades a travel alert to ‘Do not travel’, you’ll likely not be covered for claims
How much does travel insurance for Vietnam cost?
As of May 2026, comprehensive travel insurance for a week-long trip to Vietnam can start at around $88 for one person.2Prices from our website on May 2026 for comprehensive cover, $200 excess for one person aged 30, travelling to the Vietnam 24th – 30th May 2026. Cover for trip cancellation $10,000, cover for luggage $5,000 and no pre-existing medical conditions. Prices are indicative only. The exact cost of your travel insurance will depend on a range of factors, such as your age, trip length, policy, excess amount, extra coverage (like adventure activities) and if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
For a small portion of your budget for your trip, getting travel insurance to help cover you for common travel mishaps can become priceless for your peace of mind. With cover in your back pocket, you can focus on tracking down the best street food instead of stressing over hypotheticals.
‘When traveling to Vietnam, always carry some cash, as many local markets and smaller vendors don’t accept cards. If you plan to get your everyday fix of banh mi from authentic street food stalls, make sure to convert your Aussie dollars into Vietnamese đồng, though US dollars are also widely accepted in tourist areas. This is your chance to become a millionaire (in đồng, that is)!‘
Tina Sendin
Digital Writer, iSelect
Are there any safety issues to think about when travelling to Vietnam?
When travelling to Vietnam, you should be aware of the range of insect-borne diseases you could be vulnerable to, the level of medical care quality and the increased medical costs that could arise. You should also understand the heightened risk of traffic accidents (whether you’re the driver or even a pedestrian) and the threat and common occurrence of petty thefts that tourists can be susceptible to.
Insect-borne diseases
There aren’t any mandatory vaccinations for travel to Vietnam, other than possibly yellow fever, but it’s still important to stay vigilant. Vietnam has a number of insect-borne diseases like zika virus and malaria, which are spread by mosquitoes, fleas and flies. Make sure to load up on insect repellent, wear long sleeves and talk to your doctor about any precautionary vaccinations before you go.
Scooter and motorbike accidents
Vietnam’s roads are a wild ride, and with scooters everywhere, road accidents become all too common. It’s really important to be alert on the road at all times. Even if you’re just walking, be very careful when crossing the road or just try to avoid busy streets if you don’t feel confident.
Petty theft
Petty theft, like bag slashing or snatch-and-grabs on motorcycles, is unfortunately common in Vietnam, especially in tourist hotspots or crowded areas. To make sure your items aren’t an easy target, hold them in front of you or on the opposite side of traffic and try to carry only what’s necessary with you.
Medical treatment
Vietnam’s medical facilities aren’t quite the same as you’d find at home in Australia. So, if there is a medical emergency, you might need to be transported to a major medical centre, even for a minor incident. If the worst-case scenario does happen and you need to be evacuated, travel insurance help can save you from a huge hospital and medical transport bill.
Frequently asked questions
Which companies offer travel insurance for Vietnam?
Many Australian travel insurers offer policies for trips to Vietnam, such as Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Fast Cover, 1Cover and Allianz. These insurers should offer coverage for standard travel inclusions like medical assistance, travel documents and personal liability, and extra coverage options. iSelect partners with several of these providers but the exact ones available to you will depend on your trip needs and eligibility.
Some brands that iSelect can help you compare include:
- Fast Cover
- Huddle Insurance
- Insure4less
- InsureandGo
- ReadySet Travel Insurance
- Southern Cross Travel Insurance
- Tick Travel Insurance
- Travel Insurance Saver
- Travel Insuranz
- Travel Protect
- WAS Insurance
- World2Cover
- Zoom Travel Insurance
Other travel insurers in the market include:
- 1Cover
- Allianz
- Blue Insurance
- Budget Direct
- Bupa Travel Insurance
- Cover-More
- Everyday Travel Insurance
- Medibank
- Nib
- RACV Travel Insurance
- Travel Insurance Direct
Note: iSelect does not compare all travel insurance providers in the market, or all products offered by our partners in your area.
What travel insurance do I need for Vietnam?
Many Australians opt for a comprehensive international travel insurance plan when travelling to Vietnam. Comprehensive plans are the level of cover recommended by the Australian Government’s Smartraveller. They include coverage for medical expenses, travel delays, lost luggage and cancellations that might occur.
The level of coverage you need for your trip to Vietnam depends on your trip plans and the type of traveller you are. If Vietnam is one destination on your Asian backpacking trip from Thailand to Bali, then a more budget-conscious medical-only plan might suit you. But if you’ve got pre-booked accommodation, tours and a range of activities on your list, you might find a comprehensive cover (possibly with some extra activity coverage) more suitable.
For frequent flyers, annual multi-trip insurance policies could be a more financially smart choice than single-trip policies. These plans cover you for as many trips as you need to take over a 12-month period. You just need to make sure each trip falls within the duration limit to be covered.
Does travel insurance for Vietnam cover COVID-19?
Some travel insurance policies include COVID-19 cover, but the exact benefits and conditions vary by the travel insurer you’re with. Some might cover any additional expenses that pop up while you’re in isolation while others might cover you for any cancellations due to contracting the virus.
Get travel insurance for Vietnam to cover the ‘what-ifs’
You’ve sorted out your flights, planned where you want to go, and maybe even practiced your best ‘cái này bao nhiêu?’ (how much is this?) for the market haggling to come. Now all that’s left is your travel insurance. Whether it’s some street food gone wrong or a crazy scooter mishap, your travel insurance policy can help have your back when unexpected events happen. Head to iSelect to start comparing online from a range of brands and policies to find your Vietnam holiday match.
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Save time and effort by comparing a range of travel insurance policies with iSelect
iSelect does not compare all travel insurers or policies in the market. Travel insurance is only available through our website and not all policies are available at all times or in all areas. Not all policies available from our partners are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements and customer circumstances not all policies compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.
iSelect General Pty Limited ABN 90 131 798 126, AFS Licence Number: 334115. Any advice provided by iSelect is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice iSelect gives you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on iSelect’s advice or purchasing any policy. You should consider iSelect’s Financial Services Guide which provides information about our services and your rights as a client of iSelect. iSelect receives commission for each policy sold.