Vietnam health and safety

What UK government advice says about health, weather, theft, drinks, roads and local laws in Vietnam, in plain terms.

Everything on this page comes from UK government travel advice (FCDO), last updated 21 September 2026 and used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. It is written for British citizens. The US State Department and other governments publish their own advice, and where it differs from this page, follow yours.

Health

The emergency medical number is 115. Ask for an ambulance.
Take travel insurance that covers existing conditions, air ambulance, full medical bills and repatriation. The British Embassy does not pay medical bills or give medical assistance.
Check vaccine advice at least 8 weeks before you go. The health risks listed include the mosquito-borne diseases Zika, dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis, and air pollution.
Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Vietnam.
Some medicines are hard to find in Vietnam and many on sale are fake. Bring what you need.
It is illegal to carry more than 7 days of prescribed addictive or psychotropic medicine, which includes medicine for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Carry the prescription and a doctor's letter with your name, age, medicine, dose and the doctor's signature and address.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: health, checked September 2026.

Storms, rain and heat

Tropical cyclones affect the eastern coastal regions with strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and transport disruption. The season normally runs from May to November, but storms can happen at other times.
The rain season runs from June to September in the north and south, and from October to December in central Vietnam.
Seasonal flooding occurs in October and November in central Vietnam. It is also common in and around Hanoi, particularly along the Red River, and in the Mekong Delta. Flooding can block roads and cause landslides.
Heat and humidity can be severe, particularly in the rainy season.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Theft and scams

Petty theft and pickpocketing happen regularly. Bag-snatching from motorcycles is common: hold your bag in front of you or on the side away from traffic.
There is a risk of theft on buses and trains, particularly while you sleep on an overnight train. Petty crime typically rises around Christmas and the Tet Lunar New Year.
Never leave your passport as a deposit or guarantee, for example with a motorbike rental shop or a landlord. They can hold it against claimed damage.
Be cautious about offers of free bus transfers from airports and stations unless you arranged them in advance. They may be scams.
Use pre-arranged transport or licensed taxi apps such as Grab or XanhSM, and book the whole journey in the app. Metered taxis from larger firms are generally reliable.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Drinks

There have been deaths and serious illness from alcoholic drinks containing methanol, including drinks bought in licensed bars, shops and hotels in tourist areas. You cannot detect methanol by taste or smell.
Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight, and be wary of snacks, drinks and gum from strangers, which may contain drugs.
Avoid buying liquor or cigarettes from street vendors. Vapes are banned: you cannot buy them in Vietnam or bring them in.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Roads, buses and boats

To drive a car or motorbike in Vietnam the UK advice says you need both the 1968 version of the international driving permit and your UK licence, and third-party insurance is required. Rules for licences from other countries can differ, so check yours.
Helmets are required by law for drivers and passengers. Motorbike accidents are common and have killed and injured foreign visitors. Do not hire a motorbike if you are not an experienced rider.
Any alcohol found in a driver's system can lead to a fine and possible imprisonment. After an accident you can face criminal charges, have to pay compensation and be stopped from leaving the country during the investigation.
Bus and coach crashes are not uncommon and are more likely at night.
Check the safety record and registration of any boat and get a life jacket and a safety briefing. Consider safety standards carefully before an overnight boat trip on Ha Long Bay: overcrowding and poor standards have led to accidents, and some boats have sunk quickly.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Trekking, adventure and unexploded weapons

Visitors have died or been injured on adventure activities in rural and mountainous areas. The risks include dangerous terrain, remote areas that are hard for rescue services to reach, and flooding and landslides in the rainy season.
Stay on main routes, use a reputable guide (in some places it is illegal to go without one) and an approved operator, and check the forecast. Check that your insurance covers the activity.
Landmines and other unexploded weapons remain in former battlefields. Areas of particular risk include central Vietnam and along the Laos border. Mined areas are often unmarked.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Law and local rules

Carry photo ID at all times. A printed copy of your passport photo page and visa is accepted.
Penalties for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including cannabis, are severe whatever the amount, and can include long jail terms and the death penalty. Police raid nightlife venues suspected of drug dealing, and people present may be made to take a drug test.
Change money only at official exchange counters with a clear sign. Changing money elsewhere is illegal.
Cover your shoulders and knees at religious and cultural sites. Do not take photos near military bases. Villages close to the border may need permission from the provincial police.
It is illegal to buy, sell or collect protected wild animals or plants.
Vietnam has a single-party system and protests are not tolerated: avoid them. Authorities can block websites and social media and can review content on your devices, so do not expect internet privacy.
There are no criminal penalties for same-sex activity or changing gender. Same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Before you go

Check your own government’s advice within a week of departure, sign up for its alerts, and buy insurance that covers the activities you plan. This page is not medical or legal advice.

Sources

UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security. Open Government Licence v3.0. Written for British citizens. Page updated 21 September 2026. Checked September 2026.
UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: health. Open Government Licence v3.0. Written for British citizens. Page updated 21 September 2026. Checked September 2026.
UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: warnings and insurance. Open Government Licence v3.0. Written for British citizens. Page updated 21 September 2026. Checked September 2026.

← Vietnam map

Vietnam health and safety

What UK government advice says about health, weather, theft, drinks, roads and local laws in Vietnam, in plain terms.

Health

The emergency medical number is 115. Ask for an ambulance.
Take travel insurance that covers existing conditions, air ambulance, full medical bills and repatriation. The British Embassy does not pay medical bills or give medical assistance.
Check vaccine advice at least 8 weeks before you go. The health risks listed include the mosquito-borne diseases Zika, dengue, malaria and Japanese encephalitis, and air pollution.
Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Vietnam.
Some medicines are hard to find in Vietnam and many on sale are fake. Bring what you need.
It is illegal to carry more than 7 days of prescribed addictive or psychotropic medicine, which includes medicine for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Carry the prescription and a doctor's letter with your name, age, medicine, dose and the doctor's signature and address.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: health, checked September 2026.

Storms, rain and heat

Tropical cyclones affect the eastern coastal regions with strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and transport disruption. The season normally runs from May to November, but storms can happen at other times.
The rain season runs from June to September in the north and south, and from October to December in central Vietnam.
Seasonal flooding occurs in October and November in central Vietnam. It is also common in and around Hanoi, particularly along the Red River, and in the Mekong Delta. Flooding can block roads and cause landslides.
Heat and humidity can be severe, particularly in the rainy season.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Theft and scams

Petty theft and pickpocketing happen regularly. Bag-snatching from motorcycles is common: hold your bag in front of you or on the side away from traffic.
There is a risk of theft on buses and trains, particularly while you sleep on an overnight train. Petty crime typically rises around Christmas and the Tet Lunar New Year.
Never leave your passport as a deposit or guarantee, for example with a motorbike rental shop or a landlord. They can hold it against claimed damage.
Be cautious about offers of free bus transfers from airports and stations unless you arranged them in advance. They may be scams.
Use pre-arranged transport or licensed taxi apps such as Grab or XanhSM, and book the whole journey in the app. Metered taxis from larger firms are generally reliable.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Drinks

There have been deaths and serious illness from alcoholic drinks containing methanol, including drinks bought in licensed bars, shops and hotels in tourist areas. You cannot detect methanol by taste or smell.
Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight, and be wary of snacks, drinks and gum from strangers, which may contain drugs.
Avoid buying liquor or cigarettes from street vendors. Vapes are banned: you cannot buy them in Vietnam or bring them in.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Roads, buses and boats

To drive a car or motorbike in Vietnam the UK advice says you need both the 1968 version of the international driving permit and your UK licence, and third-party insurance is required. Rules for licences from other countries can differ, so check yours.
Helmets are required by law for drivers and passengers. Motorbike accidents are common and have killed and injured foreign visitors. Do not hire a motorbike if you are not an experienced rider.
Any alcohol found in a driver's system can lead to a fine and possible imprisonment. After an accident you can face criminal charges, have to pay compensation and be stopped from leaving the country during the investigation.
Bus and coach crashes are not uncommon and are more likely at night.
Check the safety record and registration of any boat and get a life jacket and a safety briefing. Consider safety standards carefully before an overnight boat trip on Ha Long Bay: overcrowding and poor standards have led to accidents, and some boats have sunk quickly.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Trekking, adventure and unexploded weapons

Visitors have died or been injured on adventure activities in rural and mountainous areas. The risks include dangerous terrain, remote areas that are hard for rescue services to reach, and flooding and landslides in the rainy season.
Stay on main routes, use a reputable guide (in some places it is illegal to go without one) and an approved operator, and check the forecast. Check that your insurance covers the activity.
Landmines and other unexploded weapons remain in former battlefields. Areas of particular risk include central Vietnam and along the Laos border. Mined areas are often unmarked.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Law and local rules

Carry photo ID at all times. A printed copy of your passport photo page and visa is accepted.
Penalties for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including cannabis, are severe whatever the amount, and can include long jail terms and the death penalty. Police raid nightlife venues suspected of drug dealing, and people present may be made to take a drug test.
Change money only at official exchange counters with a clear sign. Changing money elsewhere is illegal.
Cover your shoulders and knees at religious and cultural sites. Do not take photos near military bases. Villages close to the border may need permission from the provincial police.
It is illegal to buy, sell or collect protected wild animals or plants.
Vietnam has a single-party system and protests are not tolerated: avoid them. Authorities can block websites and social media and can review content on your devices, so do not expect internet privacy.
There are no criminal penalties for same-sex activity or changing gender. Same-sex marriage is not recognised in law.

Source: UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security, checked September 2026.

Before you go

Check your own government’s advice within a week of departure, sign up for its alerts, and buy insurance that covers the activities you plan. This page is not medical or legal advice.

Sources

UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: safety and security. Open Government Licence v3.0. Written for British citizens. Page updated 21 September 2026. Checked September 2026.
UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: health. Open Government Licence v3.0. Written for British citizens. Page updated 21 September 2026. Checked September 2026.
UK FCDO travel advice for Vietnam: warnings and insurance. Open Government Licence v3.0. Written for British citizens. Page updated 21 September 2026. Checked September 2026.