Vietnam visa guide and travel medical insurance
January 03, 2019
Vietnam is known for its mouth-watering cuisine and breath-taking views that for many years has been off the radar to tourists, but it is now gaining traction in being a popular travel destination in Southeast Asia. Vietnam is brimming with unforgettable experiences and incredible landscapes such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the idyllic Ha Long Bay. There’s a lot to get excited about when organizing your visit. To fully enjoy your trip, make sure you give yourself peace of mind and organize your travel insurance policy so you can relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that you have got all your bases covered.
Aside from finding the right cover for you, here are some other important travel tips to be aware of before you set off on your adventure:
Visa Information for Vietnam
Do I Need a Visa For Vietnam?
Yes
As an American Citizen, you are required to get a tourist visa when visiting Vietnam. To do this, you will need to fill out and submit your visa application on www.vietnamvisa.gobt.vn. You will be able to pick up your visa once you land in Vietnam, at the airport. You can only get a pick-up visa if you are travelling to Vietnam by air.
Travel Documents You Will Need:
A valid U.S. passport.
All passports must have a minimum of 6 months before expiration. That is 6 months from the date of your travel departure, and your passport should also have at least two blank pages for stamping.
Health and Medical Advice
Before jetting off on your travels, you should check for any health risks, required vaccinations and any epidemic breakouts occurring in Vietnam. It’s also a good idea to find out where the nearest hospital is in case of an emergency.
Do I Need to be Vaccinated When Travelling to Vietnam?
We would highly recommend that you get protected against Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B. Some travellers also get protected against Rabies, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Japanese Encephalitis. Most importantly, make sure your routine vaccinations are updated. The standard vaccines are:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis
- Influenza
- Polio
- Chickenpox
Book an appointment at your local practitioner or find your local Passport health clinic. You should book an appointment, at the latest, four to six weeks before your trip, giving enough time for the vaccinations to take effect.
Travel Health Updates in Vietnam
Before setting off on your travels, it’s a good idea to be aware of any outbreaks in Vietnam, in case you should avoid travel or need to have extra vaccinations.
Currently, there are no reported epidemics occurring in Vietnam.
To keep up to date on any breakouts, visit the CDC website.
Emergency Contact Information in Vietnam
No one ever wants to have to call the emergency services while they’re on vacation, but unfortunately accidents happen and it’s important to be prepared for when they do.
- Police emergency contact number in Vietnam: 113
- Fire emergency contact number in Vietnam: 114
- Ambulance and Medical contact number: 115
Vietnam Local Laws and Customs
- Vietnam is extremely strict on drug use and possession, punishments include lengthy prison sentences and even the death penalty if you are caught with any amount of Class A drugs.
- No photography is allowed at border crossings and military bases, you can be arrested if caught.
- When in religious or cultural sites you should respect the local customs and dress appropriately and modestly.
- There are restrictions on internet use which can affect access to social media websites.
- You are required to carry photographic ID with you at all times.
Safety and Security
Petty Theft
Popular tourist destinations and cities are subject to being hot pickpocketing zones where thieves will use a variety of methods to try and divert your attention. Be alert and keep your belongings with you at all times, especially in crowded areas, on public transport and popular tourist areas. It’s always a good idea to keep valuable belongings or extra spending money in a hotel safe, if you have one.
U.S. Embassy in Vietnam
U.S. Embassy Hanoi
7 Lang Ha Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone: +84-24-3850-5000
Useful Tips for Vietnam
Official Languages: Vietnamese
A lot of Vietnamese citizens living in the main cities and popular tourist areas will be able to understand and speak English. If you are heading to rural Vietnam or would like to learn some vocabulary, it’s a good idea to have Vietnamese phrasebook or app handy.
Currency: Vietnamese dong
Before your trip to Vietnam make sure to exchange enough Vietnamese dong for your spending requirements and to get the best exchange rates.
Vietnamese Plug Sockets: Type A, Type C and Type D
The standard voltage and frequency is 110 / 220 V and 50 Hz. We would recommend that you buy a plug adapter If you don’t have one already.
You will also need to buy a voltage converter or transformer as the standard Vietnamese voltage is higher than in the U.S (120 V). Its best to go for a converter which can also alter the frequency as the U.S. frequency rate is 10 Hz higher than in Vietnam and so may be dangerous to use without a converter.
© 2018 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. For informational purposes, UHG does not guarantee the correctness or completeness of the information.
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