Travel insurance: Vietnam

From the incredible countryside and colonial architecture to some of the world's best food, Vietnam is an Aussie favourite. Nevertheless, pickpocketing, street food and flight cancellations are just some of the reasons you should consider investing in a decent policy, giving you peace of mind and making sure you're covered should anything go wrong.

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Best travel insurance for Vietnam

While the best travel insurance to Vietnam will depend on each individual and what they are looking for, it's safe to say that the more comprehensive options provide you with better cover. The top 3 comprehensive options on Finder are listed below. This quote is based on a 3 week trip to Vietnam with a $200 excess for a 30 year old, priced on 12th June 2019.

Nevertheless, there are some features you may want to have when looking for travel insurance for Vietnam.

• Unlimited medical cover: It's really important that you get cover you can rely on as illnesses like gastro are common. Further to that, no one ever plans on getting seriously injured while on their trip, extended hospital stays can suck you dry - but not with unlimited medical cover!
• Luggage and personal effects: Petty crimes such as pickpocketing and theft are common in Vietnam. Safeguarding your belongings is important even if you secure your laptop in a locker at a hostel, thieves can still break into it. The best policies can cover you for this.
• Sports/Adventure activities: Whether you're hiking in Sapa or cycling through the countryside, Vietnam is a great place to explore. The best policies include sports and adventure activities or offer it as an add-on at least.
• Travel delays: Vietnam has so many places worth seeing which is why internal travel is so popular. If you're strapped for time you might even end up flying to Da Nang or Hue. These smaller airlines are notorious for schedule changes and delays which could seriously disrupt your trip and cost you loads, this is why you want an increased allowance for alternative travel expenses and travel delays.

Cheap travel insurance for Vietnam

If you're on the lookout for the cheapest travel insurance for Vietnam, it's likely that you will be covered for medical only and possibly some other limited benefits at best. While this might be all you are looking for, it's best not to base your decision solely on price. We've found 3 of the cheapest policies from our partners so you can see their benefits versus costs. This quote is based on a 3 week trip to Vietnam with a $200 excess for a 30 year old, priced on 12th June 2019.

While you may be after the cheapest policy, it's good to know that a more comprehensive option is generally not that much more expensive. From the table above you'll notice that the Essentials policy by Insure4less is only $3.32 more expensive than Tick's Basic policy - that's only 16 cents more per day for a more inclusive policy.

Travel insurance and motorcycles in Vietnam

Riding motorcycles and mopeds (scooters) in Vietnam is very popular amongst tourists but it's also very risky. You need to hold a Vietnamese licence if you ride a moped with an engine size greater than 50cc. Tourists are not eligible for this licence so if you get caught in an accident riding a moped without the right permits, your policy could be void.

Nevertheless, you can still ride as a pillion and be covered automatically by some insurers as long as the rider holds valid a permit to ride, wears a helmet and is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Many tourists travel the Hai Van Pass, a stunning 20-kilometre strip of road that joins the city of Da Nang and Lang Co in Hue Province. While this is undoubtedly an incredible road for motorcyclists to enjoy, it can be very dangerous, partly because it is 500 metres above sea level. If you do plan on travelling this route, make sure you purchase the right policy that includes motorcycle/moped riding.

Is travelling around Vietnam safe?

Vietnam is a relatively safe country, with many Australians receiving a warm reception from locals. However, there are several minor safety concerns that travellers should be aware of. With a bit of planning, precaution and common sense, your trip to the country can be smooth and incident-free.

• Theft. One of the major safety concerns for all foreigners is petty theft. Pick-pockets and other petty thieves target tourists on the streets. To ensure you are not a victim, always exercise caution while walking on the streets and keep your jewellery, cash and valuable documents well hidden. Wearing flashy jewelry or carrying a bag with you could be unsafe especially in overcrowded streets. Be sure to lock your belongings in a safe or to always lock your hotel room to avoid getting robbed.
• Pushy merchants. Be on the lookout for aggressive vendors. Although they pose little threat (they are just trying to sell you chewing gum fruit or other commodities) some travellers find this practice intrusive.
• Scams. Scams are quite uncommon, though it helps to be sharp and attentive to your surroundings to avoid being ripped off.
• Do not travel zones. Many travellers visiting Vietnam also go to Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar at the same time. If this is the case, be aware that there are 'do not travel' zones in specific areas due to various safety concerns. Travelling within these areas could void your policy.

Other than those few security concerns, the country is a safe destination and you can have a lot of fun visiting and experiencing the many sites Vietnam has to offer.

Protect yourself, get cover today

Any more questions?

• Can I buy travel insurance from Vietnam to Australia?

  You can buy a policy if you're an Australian resident already overseas and forgot to buy your policy before you left home. You can also buy a policy for inbound travel like if your family was visiting from Vietnam and you wanted to cover their trip while in Australia.

• Can I get travel insurance for Vietnam and Cambodia?

  A. Most insurance policies will cover you by regions. Vietnam and Cambodia fall under the "Asia" region which means you usually don't pay more to disclose that you're going to both countries. Japan and Indonesia are an exception to this as they don't fall under "Asia" which means the price of your premium may be affected. To be on the safe side, always disclose your intended destinations to avoid any nasty surprises, also, don't be stressed if you decide to duck into Cambodia for a couple of days on your trip in Vietnam.

• What do I do if I get scammed in Vietnam?

  A. Alert the police or proper authorities, and contact your insurer's emergency assistance line.

Picture: GettyImages

Gary Hunter

Gary Hunter is a writer at Finder, specialising in insurance. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Glasgow and has previously worked for Real Insurance as a content specialist.