Vietnam
Warnings and insurance
Tropical storm season
The tropical storm season runs from May to November. Tropical storms can cause serious travel disruption, 2025 has seen higher than expected rainfall in Vietnam. Follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and Japan Meteorological Agency and follow the advice of local authorities.
See Extreme weather and natural disasters.
For more regular updates, English-news versions of local newspapers are available at VNexpress and Vietnam News.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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Update history
2025-10-22 14:50
Updated information about bringing prescribed medicine into Vietnam (‘Health’ page).
2025-10-22 11:24
Updated information about brining prescribed medicine into Vietnam (‘Health’ page).
2025-10-07 10:54
Updated information about drink spiking and sexual assault, and that vapes and related products are banned in Vietnam (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-10-06 11:39
Additional information about tropical storm season ( ‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-08-29 16:30
Updated information about tropical storm season(‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-08-26 15:57
Updated information about visa requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-08-24 08:33
Storm Kajiki to make landfall around 13.00 on 25th August. Central and northern areas of Vietnam affected, including Hue, Hanoi and Danang (“Warnings and Insurance Page” & “Safety and Security Page”)
2025-07-28 16:24
Removal of information about Storm Wipha.
2025-07-21 06:20
Update regarding Storm Wipha. Northern Vietnam affected, including Ha Long Bay.
2025-05-09 16:42
Updated information about drug penalties including using cannabis, and random drug testing, and updated information about the Vietnamese legal system (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-11-27 14:54
Information added about the risks of methanol poisoning (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-09-19 15:35
Updated information on tropical storms ‘Warnings and insurance’ page
2024-09-09 11:40
Latest information about Typhoon Yagi (‘Warnings and insurance page’)
2024-09-08 06:52
Latest information about Typhoon Yagi (‘Warnings and insurance page’)
2024-09-06 04:16
Latest information about Typhoon Yagi (‘Warnings and insurance page’)
2024-09-04 15:31
New information about Typhoon Yagi (‘Warnings and insurance page’)
2024-08-20 13:58
Information on exit requirements that you cannot leave Vietnam without a valid visa and must enter and exit Vietnam using the same passport (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-08-14 14:21
Information on exit bans (‘Entry requirements’ page). More information on internet censorship, drug penalties, and tropical cyclones (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-08-02 12:06
Removal of information on Storm Prapiroon (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-07-22 16:56
Information that Storm Prapiroon is approaching and may impact the east coast of Vietnam. Follow the advice of local authorities, and check with your travel provider for any disruption (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-26 14:22
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2023-08-15 14:33
Information on E-visas being issued for stays up to 90 days and are valid for multiple entries (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-17 11:00
Information on Typhoon Talim (‘Summary’ page).
2023-07-07 11:36
Removal of information on former COVID-19 entry requirements on masks and automatic visa renewals (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-30 14:40
Updated information on visa exemption and tourist e-visas (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 10:43
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-06-16 10:19
Information on an increased police presence in Cư Kuin District in Dak Lak Province following a recent incident (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-03-02 09:32
Updated information on ETDs (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-02-28 12:07
Updated visa information and Emergency Travel Documents (‘Entry Requirements’ page) and information on Local Travel (‘Safety and Security Page’).
2022-09-30 14:17
Updated information that Typhoon Noru has cleared Vietnam’s Central Highlands provinces. Note many communities in the mountains have been cut off by landslides or washed-away bridges (‘Summary’ page).
2022-09-26 12:04
Addition of information on Typhoon Noru, forecast to make landfall in the central region of Vietnam 27-28 September (‘Summary’ page).
2022-09-09 10:38
Update to information on COVID-19 (‘Coronavirus’ page)
2022-06-23 16:43
Update to information on COVID-19 entry requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-05-16 13:25
Update to information on entry requirements. Removal of requirement to take a COVID-19 test prior to travel to Vietnam (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-28 12:20
Update to information on entry requirements. Removal of requirement to complete a medical declaration prior to travel to Vietnam. (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-26 10:39
Update to information on visas. Removal of information on domestic COVID-19 measures that no longer apply (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages)
2022-03-18 12:30
Update to information on visa waiver, COVID-19 test requirements on arrival in Vietnam and quarantine/self-isolation requirements (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)
2022-03-02 11:52
Update to information on COVID-19 test requirements on arrival in Vietnam and quarantine/self-isolation requirements (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).