Travel Summary
- There are confirmed human cases of Swine Flu, Influenza A (H1N1), in Vietnam. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK department of Health website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk.
- Increased surveillance and control measures are in place in Vietnam to control the spread of swine influenza (H1N1). Please see the Health Section for further details.
- Typhoons and Tropical Storms commonly occur in Vietnam between June and December. In August,September and October 2008, Northern and Central Vietnam experienced torrential rain resulting in severe flooding including in Hanoi. This has caused considerable damage to local infrastructure, including road and rail links. If you are planning to visit Northern or Central Vietnam you should check with your tour operator before travelling to the affected areas. See the Natural Disasters (Tropical Storms) and Local Travel sections of this advice and Tropical Cyclones for more details.
- Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Vietnam have led to over 50 reported human fatalities. The last fatality was in April 2009. See the Health (Avian Influenza) section of this advice and Avian and Pandemic Influenza for more details.
- The HCMC and Hanoi Health Departments have suspended bottled water producers for violating regulations on safety and hygiene. Some bottles were found to contain Pseudomonas aerugionosa bacteria which can cause infections and sepsis in humans. See the Health section of this advice for more details.
- Dengue Fever is endemic to Vietnam and can occur throughout the year. See the Health section of this advice for more details.
- There is a low threat from terrorism in Vietnam. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- Around 100,000 British tourists visit Vietnam every year (source: Vietnamese Tourist Authority). Most visits are trouble-free and serious or violent crimes against foreigners are rare. 266 British nationals required consular assistance in Vietnam in the period 01 April 2006 – 31 March 2007. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Vietnam in 2006-07 were for replacing lost and stolen passports (36 cases) and dealing with hospitalisations (9) and deaths, mostly from natural causes (11 cases).
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
There is a low threat from terrorism in Vietnam. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.
Crime
Crime levels are low, petty street crime is increasing in the larger cities (such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) and tourist resorts. Several violent assaults against tourists were reported on Cat Ba Island (close to Ha Long Bay) and in Nha Trang (Central Vietnam). You should take sensible precautions. Do not walk in secluded locations alone, or with people you do not know. Petty crime is not confined to the backpacker district but also occurs in the main tourist shopping areas. Bag snatchers on motorbikes can also be a problem. You should avoid carrying handbags or wearing highly visible jewellery, especially necklaces, and expensive looking watches. When possible, leave passports and valuables in a hotel safe and only carry a photocopy of the data page of your passport. You should use taxis after dark to minimise the risk of robbery by cycle or motorbike drivers.
During the Monsoon season, which generally runs from October to February, heavy rains can result in flooding and landslides in some areas. It can sometimes take days for the water to recede completely, and transport links may become affected. Please check your travel arrangements prior to travel and expect some delays and difficulties moving around the country.
Unexploded mines and ordnance are a continuing hazard in former battlefields, particularly in central Vietnam and along the Laos Border. In 2008, there were a small number of incidents that have resulted in fatalities, in southern Vietnamese provinces neighbouring Ho Chi Minh City. You should not stray off main routes in rural areas and you should check with your tour operator before travelling to affected regions.
Tragic accidents have occurred during mountain climbing excursions in the north of the country, and you should ensure such activity is undertaken under the supervision of reputable guides.
You should be aware that transport infrastructure in Vietnam can be in poor condition. Provincial authorities have warned that the Dong Nai bridge (linking Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and other north-eastern provinces) is at risk of collapsing. Since 20 August 2007, vehicles seating seven or more passengers heading towards Ho Chi Minh City have been diverted to the Hoa An bridge to avoid overloading.
Some parts of Vietnam are fairly inaccessible. In others, widespread road construction makes driving hazardous.
For more general information see Driving Abroad.
There have been attacks against ships in the waters off Vietnam. Mariners are advised to be vigilant; reduce opportunities for attacks; establish secure areas onboard; and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.
Rail travel in Vietnam is generally safe (there was one serious accident in 2004). There are sometimes incidents of crime on trains and therefore you should remain vigilant.
Local laws and customs
When checking into a hotel, you will have to surrender your passport so that the hotel can register your presence with the local police. It is advisable to carry a photocopy of the data page from your passport, which can be used as proof of identity.
Foreign visitors to Vietnam are not permitted to invite Vietnamese nationals into their hotel rooms.
Photography of or near, military installations is generally prohibited.
For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
Visas
You must obtain a visa prior to travel unless, exceptionally, prior arrangements have been made (by your tour operator or if you are an officially sponsored visitor). You should check visa validity and conditions carefully. They are usually valid for one month. There are fines and/or imprisonment if you overstay your visa. Entry to Vietnam may be refused if your passport has less than six months validity.
Entry to Vietnam may be refused if your passport has less than six months validity.
You should retain the yellow customs form on entry to Vietnam, as this is required for exit. If you lose this form you are likely to be fined on departure.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Health
There has recently been an increase in the number of dengue haemorrhagic fever cases in Vietnam due to some unseasonal periods of heavy rain, and there have been a number of serious cases, some of which have resulted in fatalities. Dengue fever – which, like malaria (which also occurs in Vietnam), is transmitted by mosquitoes – is also prevalent in urban areas.
There are no vaccinations against these diseases but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. You should visit your GP in advance of your visit to discuss malaria prevention tablets.
There are wild dogs in Vietnam, and there have been reports of rabies in Lai Châu province (north Vietnam). You should take particular care in rural areas.
During the Monsoon season, which generally runs from October to February, heavy rains can result in flooding in some areas. It can sometimes take days for the water to recede completely. Espcially during this time (though it can be a problem all year), some drainage and sewage systems do not work as effectively as they could. This may result in a greater risk for certain water-borne diseases such as cholera (a food and water-borne disease) and dengue (due to an increase in mosquito activity around pools of stagnant water). In 2008, cases of cholera were reported throughout Vietnam, including in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Please see the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website for advice on preventative measures you can take to avoid these diseases.
Hygiene standards in restaurants vary. Beware of food from streetside vendors, which might be contaminated. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Vietnam you should seek immediate medical attention.
You should not drink wine without brandnames. At the end of September 2008, 9 Vietnamese nationals in Ho Chi Minh City died as a result of fatal levels of methanol in certain brands of rice wine.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 280,000 adults aged 15 or over in Vietnam were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
The HCMC Health Department has suspended 29 bottled water producers and the Hanoi Health Department has suspended four producers for violating regulations on safety and hygiene. Some bottles were found to contain Pseudomonas aerugionosa bacteria which can cause infections and sepsis in humans. Despite being suspended, it has been reported that some of the companies are still supplying water to customers.
The suspended bottled water brands are:
HCMC: Aguavida of Thuan Huy Company; Golf of Tan Tan Duc Company; Aquaphar of Tam Dang Company; Blue of Van Tai Enterprise; Aquaran of Lien Phu Phat Company; Dowaco of Dong Xuan Company; Sanawa of Van Phat Company; 079 of producer Ha Van Van; Rivera of producer Nhu Hao; Demyr of The Xuong Company; Avid of Tran Thuan My Company.
Hanoi: Quang Tuan producer, Gia Binh Company, A&B Vietnam Company and an unnamed producer on Phuong Khoang Street in Tu Liem District.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Vietnam and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see Travel Health and for food/drink hygiene see the Eat and Drink Safely.
Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)
There have been confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine influenza virus in Vietnam. Increased surveillance and control measures are in place. All travellers arriving at airports on international flights will be thermally scanned and will be required to complete a questionnaire about their recent medical history. Any passenger arriving in Vietnam from an international flight, or across a land border, who has a body temperature of over 38°C will be sent to a local hospital for isolation and testing for the H1N1 virus. The test results should be processed within 24 -48 hours. If the results are positive, they will be treated in isolation until they can be discharged (usually 5- 7 days later).
Whilst some countries have stopped testing every person who has a body temperature of over 38 Degree Celsius (due to the very high number of cases), Vietnam will continue blood testing of all passengers from international flights who disembark with a high body temperature. Vietnam will maintain high inspection measures at all borders.
A number of passengers with a high temperature have been held in quarantine for 24-48 hours whilst the Vietnamese authorities have taken blood samples and waited for test results. Even when the body temperature has returned to normal and no other symptoms have appeared, the authorities have not released people until the test results have been returned negative for H1N1. If you are in this situation, please offer the authorities your full cooperation and be patient.
There are medical officers based at all international borders in Vietnam, they will check body-temperature and send people who require testing to the nearest hospital. Depending on where the border is, samples may need to be sent to a major city or town to be processed. Therefore, anybody with a high fever entering Vietnam could be subject to quarantine for 48 instead of 24 hours. If the test results are positive, they will be sent to the nearest hospital for isolation and treatment.
If you develop any symptoms of Swine flu whilst in country (the initial symptoms of this flu virus are like those of the regular flu virus: fever, muscle aches, runny nose, and sore throat. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea may be more common with this swine flu than with the regular flu) immediately register for a health check. Your hotel reception will be able to assist with this. The hotel will then contact the local health service who will arrange for the necessary tests. You may be requested to self-quarantine in the hotel for 7 days. During this time, if the symptoms persist or get worse you should report this immediately to the hotel who will arrange medical assistance.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. You should continue to monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu is also available on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
There have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in poultry in at least 15 of Vietnam's 64 provinces. In February 2009 a number of provinces across Vietnam were affected, prompting the Vietnamese government to announce emergency measures to prevent the spread of the disease from poultry to humans. Reports from the WHO show that Bird Flu outbreaks in Vietnam have led to over 100 cases, of which over 50 have been fatal (most recently in April 2009). They are believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry.
The risk from Avian Influenza is believed to be low, provided you avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the Avian Influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form easily transmissible between people.
British nationals living longer term in an Avian-Influenza affected region should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare and ensuring travel documents are up to date.
You should read this advice in conjunction with the Avian and Pandemic Influenza.
Natural disasters
Tropical Storms
The typhoon season in Vietnam normally runs from June to December. Flooding and landslides can occur during this time.
We advise residents of Vietnam to continue to monitor the weather reports and to think about limiting movement around the country. In rural/isolated areas, you may wish to take precautions in case the weather makes it difficult for you to leave your home.
Visitors to Vietnam: Please check your travel arrangements prior to travel and expect some delays and difficulties moving around the country. We recommend that independent travellers take every precaution not to visit extremely isolated or rural areas. Please ensure your friends/family have a copy of your proposed travel itinerary and you stay in regular contact with them to prevent unnecessary concern.
You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). You can also access http://www.nhc.noaa.gov for updates. Please also see Tropical cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a typhoon.
Central and North Vietnam are most affected by seasonal storms and typhoons.
Tropical Storm Mekkhala and Typhoon Hagupit brought torrential rain and strong winds to Central Vietnam in September 2008. This resulted in a number of deaths.
On 3 October 2007 Tropical Storm Lekima made landfall on the Vietnam coast near Dong Hoi. There were a number of fatalities and thousands of people made homeless. There were landslides and flash floods in the affected areas and severe damage to infrastructure.
Provincial areas are often affected by flooding, which may result in disruption to infrastructure and possible loss of life. You should check with your travel agent before travelling to affected areas.
Vietnam, particularly the Central Region and Mekong Delta, is subject to sporadic serious flooding in the monsoon season. (The timing of this varies across the country but is usually from June to October). This can cause considerable damage to the infrastructure and on occasions has left whole areas isolated, including border-crossing points into Laos.
On 8 August 2008, northern Vietnam experienced severe flooding, particularly in the Lao Cai and Yen Dai provinces, resulting in approximately 200 Vietnamese fatalities.
Over the weekend of 31 October 2008 heavy rains caused flash floods in Hanoi and other areas in central and northern Vietnam. The floods were mostly prominent in the outskirts and residential areas but they resulted in 59 fatalities and many people were unable to leave their homes/hotels.
If you are planning to visit Northern or Central Vietnam you should check with your tour operator before travelling to the affected areas.
General
InsuranceWe recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance (including medical evacuation) before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more details see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How We Can Help.
Consular registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Consular Assistance
Providing prompt consular assistance is difficult outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City because of Vietnam’s poorly developed infrastructure. It is essential that you have comprehensive travel/medical insurance.
Registering with the British Embassy
If intending to stay for more than one month you should register with the British Embassy in Hanoi or the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
Money
You should bring enough money for your stay. US$ are most widely accepted. Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, but outside main centres you may find cash the only acceptable currency and find it difficult to cash travellers’ cheques. ATM distribution is still poor and limited to the major cities and tourist areas. It is possible to have funds transferred to Vietnam via international money transfer companies.
Foreign passport holders can exchange up to US dollars 500-worth of Vietnamese dong back into US dollars on departure.
