Do I need travel insurance for Vietnam?
Yes, get travel insurance. Medical care in Vietnam is affordable but emergency evacuations and serious treatments cost thousands. A motorbike accident with surgery at a private hospital runs 2,000–5,000 USD. Medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore starts at 10,000 USD. Comprehensive travel insurance costs 5–15 USD/day and covers all of this.
Vietnam is a safe country to visit. It is not a dangerous place. But “safe” and “no need for insurance” are not the same thing. Here is the case for buying a policy.
The math
| Scenario | Cost without insurance | Cost with insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor visit, private clinic | 300,000–500,000 VND (12–20 USD) | 0 (after deductible) |
| Emergency room, minor injury | 1,000,000–3,000,000 VND (40–120 USD) | 0 (after deductible) |
| Motorbike accident, surgery, 3-day stay | 50,000,000–100,000,000 VND (2,000–4,000 USD) | 0 (after deductible) |
| Medical evacuation to Singapore | 300,000,000+ VND (12,000+ USD) | 0 (after deductible) |
| Stolen passport + emergency replacement | 500,000 VND + consulate fees | 0 (after deductible) |
The daily cost of comprehensive travel insurance is roughly equal to one bowl of phở. The potential cost of not having it is measured in thousands of dollars.
What to look for in a policy
- Medical coverage minimum 100,000 USD — enough for hospitalization and surgery at international-standard facilities
- Medical evacuation included — covers transport to Bangkok or Singapore if local care is insufficient
- Motorbike coverage — critical if you plan to ride. Default policies often exclude this. Buy the add-on or choose a provider that covers it.
- Repatriation — covers flying you home if needed
- Trip cancellation/interruption — covers non-refundable flights and hotels
The motorbike exception
This is the important one. The majority of serious injuries to tourists in Vietnam involve motorbikes. If you are going to ride a motorbike — even as a passenger on a GrabBike — your default travel insurance may not cover injuries from a crash. Check the policy exclusions specifically for motorbike/motorcycle riding. If it’s excluded, either buy the add-on or choose a different provider.
Where to buy
World Nomads and Safety Wing are the two most commonly recommended providers for Vietnam. Both offer motorbike coverage as an add-on. Coverage starts around 5–15 USD per day depending on your age and trip length.
If you already have travel insurance through a credit card, read the fine print — many card-provided policies have lower medical limits and stricter exclusions than standalone policies.