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Asia and Oceania
Vietnam |
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| Still current at: 26 November 2009
Updated: 05 November 2009 |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary, the Serious Crime section, the Local Travel (Motorbikes) section, the Entry Requirements and the Natural Disasters section (Tropical Storm Mirinae). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
Travel Summary
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The typhoon season in Vietnam normally runs from June to December. Flooding and landslides can occur during this time. Please see Natural disasters section for more details
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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.
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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.
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Dengue Fever is endemic to Vietnam and can occur throughout the year. See the Health section of this advice for more details.
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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.
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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. 37 British nationals required consular assistance in Vietnam in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident: deaths (11 cases); hospitalisations (9 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (0 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (64 cases).
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We 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
Petty Crime and scams
Petty street crime is increasing in the larger cities (such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) and tourist resorts. Nha Trang beach also sees an increase in bag snatching during the summer months. 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.
When travelling by bus or train, remain vigilant against petty theft. Always use licensed taxis or pre-arranged hotel pick-up when transferring from airports. Do not accept offers of free transfers to hotels, as these are likely to be bogus.
Serious Crime
Violent assaults against tourists have been reported on Cat Ba Island (close to Ha Long Bay) and in Nha Trang (Central Vietnam).
There is low reporting of sexual assaults but we still advice tourists to travel with friends and take the normal precautions.
There have also been some reports of arguments over hotel or restaurant bills turning from arguments to attacks quickly.
Drugs
You should be aware of spiked drinks, particularly late at night in the bars. You are advised not to leave food or drink unattended or to accept food or drink from strangers.
Illegal drugs are increasingly available in major cities. You should be aware that drugs are likely to have been tampered with/spiked, they are also much stronger and of a higher potency in Asia than in Europe and tourists have suffered fatal overdoses in the past. Also criminal charges may be brought against anyone buying/selling/carrying drugs. Punishments can be severe.
Reporting crime
Police in Vietnam do not always produce lost/stolen reports. If pushed, the police should open a case file and no fee should be charged for this service.
Please note that the level of interpretation available at police stations can vary up and down the country and you may wish to consider bring a friend/pay a personal interpreter to accompany you to the police station. The Embassy and Consulate can provide a list of interpreters upon request.
Reporting serious crime
Please also note that reporting a serious crime can lead to counter-claims by the other party and full investigations of both parties' accounts of events can take time. However, please report any serious crime to the Police and to the Embassy/Consulate.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.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.
Travelling by Taxi
Taxis are a common mode of transport, but you should be vigilant and avoid using smaller unlicensed taxis.
Taxis are generally reliable, however, the meter should always be used and it is advisable to get the hotel/restaurant/bar to call you a taxi when you leave. There are many brands of taxi and the meters are set at different prices for the first km.
Taxis from Hanoi Airport should stick to the published set fee; those from HCMC should be registered and use the meter.
Motorbikes
Vietnam’s main mode of transport is the motorbike and everybody has one. However, the international driving licence does not cover Vietnam and a Vietnamese licence should be obtained. A helmet is a legal requirement.
There have been a number of road accidents involving British Nationals who have hired motorbikes. These can result in costly medical bills (as insurance usually does not cover it) and there have even been fatalities.
Before driving any vehicle you must obtain a Vietnamese driving licence from the Vietnamese Road Administration in Hanoi, (fax: +84 4 38571440) or, in Ho Chi Minh City, from the Department of Public Works and Transportation (tel: +84 8 3829 0451 or 0452, fax: +84 8 3829 0458).
Some parts of Vietnam are fairly inaccessible. In others, widespread road construction makes driving hazardous.
The standard of driving and vehicle maintenance is poor, including for public transport, and is the cause of many accidents and injuries. Pedestrians should take particular care crossing roads in major cities. Driving is erratic and sometimes dangerous.
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.
There are numerous coastline areas that have regular boat tours. Please check with your tour guide about the safety record and registration of boats before setting off and ensure you receive a full safety briefing when first joining any boat.
For more general information see River and Sea Safety.
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 generally 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 Your Trip.
Entry requirements
Visas
You must obtain a visa prior to travel unless, exceptionally, prior arrangements have been made (e.g. by your tour operator or if you are an officially sponsored visitor). You should check visa validity and conditions carefully. Vietnamese visas are usually valid for only one entry. Persons planning to leave Vietnam and re-enter from another country should be sure to obtain a visa allowing multiple entries. There are fines and/or imprisonment if you overstay your visa.
If you have your passport lost/stolen you will need to apply for both a replacement passport and a replacement Vietnamese visa from the Immigration authorities in order to leave the country. This can only be done during normal working hours and usually takes three to five working days. Neither the Embassy nor the Consulate General can expedite replacement Vietnamese visas.
Entry to Vietnam may be refused if your passport has less than one month validity from the date your Vietnamese visa expires.
You should retain the customs form on entry to Vietnam, as this is required for exit. If you lose this form you could be fined on departure and face the possibility of having your belongings confiscated.
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. Especially 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 street side 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 brand names. At the end of September 2008, nine 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.
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 in Vietnam 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).
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 have been a number of recent cases of British nationals who have been stopped at Moc Bai land border crossing into Vietnam.
Reports indicate that holding areas and hospitals are extremely basic and some rooms lack basic facilities (toilets/beds). Little English is spoken and it has been hard for British nationals to find out information about when they are likely to be discharged. The hygiene standard is low and it has been hard to obtain drinking water.
It can take up to 4-5 days for the tests to be returned as negative if the visitors came to Vietnam via land borders as tests can only be done at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This has resulted in British nationals being held for a long time in very uncomfortable conditions. We would therefore suggest arriving into one of the Vietnam's airports.
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 has further details. You should continue to monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. See our swine flu page. 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.
On 2 November 2009, Tropical Storm Mirinae resulted in the deaths of at least 90 people in the central regions of Phu Yen, Khan Hoa, Gia Lai and Binh Dinh.
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.
General
We 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.
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.
Money
You should bring enough money for your stay. US$ are widely accepted. However, it is near impossible to change VND into USD, without the use of flight tickets to demonstrate your onward destination. 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.
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Contacts
Vietnam, Hanoi, British Embassy
Address:
Central Building
4th floor
31 Hai Ba Trung
Hanoi
Telephone:
(+84) (4) 3936 0500
Fax:
(+84) (4)3936 0561 (for Embassy in general)
Email: behanoi@hn.vnn.vn
Office hours:
Office hours, Monday-Friday:
08:30-12:30 / 13:30-16:30 (Local time)
01:30-05:30 / 06:30-09:30 (GMT)
Website: http://ukinvietnam.fco.gov.uk/
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