Do you need to be vaccinated to go to Vietnam? Intending visitors do not have to be vaccinated as Vietnam still has no vaccination restrictions. However, visitors from selected countries are advised to receive yellow fever vaccines and any other vaccine recommended by their doctors before traveling.
Also, visitors who have received vaccinations against any virus, in particular, are advised to plan for their booster shots when required to sustain their immunity. Before leaving your country, speaking to your medical provider at least 6-8 weeks before your trip is advisable. The reason for such consultations is that human immunity takes time to build after receiving a vaccine, and the last thing you want is to arrive in Vietnam before they happen. Even if your trip will happen sooner, you should still consult your doctor and take the required vaccination for safety reasons.
Vietnam Health Risks
All travelers coming to Vietnam should be aware of all the potential and other health risks. Risk awareness helps travelers determine which vaccines they should take. It also ensures that they adhere to precautions regarding their hygiene, such as knowing the food and drinks to avoid or to consume less, hand washing, social distancing, and other conditions. Here are some of the health risks to know.
Cholera: The risk of contracting cholera in Vietnam is quite low because of massive improvements in sanitary conditions. Following basic hand washing practices is important to reduce the risk of cholera.
Insect-Borne Disease: There are various insect-borne diseases to keep in check, such as zika, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya, dengue fever, and many others in Vietnam. Visiting rural areas and vulnerable regions in the country significantly increases these risks, so visitors are advised to bring malaria tablets, sleep in mosquito nets, and use insecticides. For Japanese encephalitis, taking a vaccine is advisable.
Traveler’s Diarrhoea: There are known cases of visitors contracting traveler’s diarrhea after landing in the country from mild to severe cases. This can be accompanied by fever, vomiting, and other symptoms. To prevent this health risk, travelers are encouraged to wash their hands frequently and only drink treated water that is boiled or bottled. They are also advised to be cautious about their food and beverage. Sufferers of severe diarrhea should take medications as soon as possible.
Other health risks requiring vaccinations include shingles, meningitis, pneumonia, and Influenza. Contact your doctor for professional advice on whether you must be vaccinated against them.
Travel Precautions
Travelers should consult their doctors to know whether they need routine vaccinations before their departure. They should also be informed of the viruses they are prone to at specific times and places during the year. Here are some safety precautions to imbibe throughout their stay in Vietnam.
Safe Consumption
Enjoying the local cuisine in Vietnam is a wholesome experience but should be done in moderation. Consuming contaminated food and beverages can lead to severe consequences like traveler’s diarrhea and some other gastrointestinal ailments. Be mindful of what and where you eat.
Avoid Infested Areas
Avoid places or regions with a history of disease prevalence and insect infestations. Vectors like flies, ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes spread some viruses. Of the lot, mosquitoes are the biggest vectors of diseases like malaria and the Zika virus. Your internal and external environment should be devoid of stagnant water, and always sleep in mosquito-treated nets. Spraying the room with insecticides is also advisable.
Traveling With A Visa
Apart from the health precautions, you should also find out whether you need a visa for the trip.
Countries are divided into visa-exempt and non-visa-exempt countries. If you are from a visa-exempt country, you don’t need a visa to enter Vietnam unless you plan to stay for a long time. The average number of days a visa-exempt visitor can stay in Vietnam is between 14-30 days per visit. Consult the Vietnam visa exempt list to check for your country and how many days you can stay for. To re-enter, they must wait for a further 30 days at least.
How To Get A Visa?
If you are not from a visa-exempt country, you can get a visa online on Arrival, or at the embassy, depending on your nationality. For the online e-visa, do the following
Log onto VisaHQ
Select Vietnam as your destination
Select your citizenship
Choose e visa
Fill out the visa application form
Attach the necessary documents
Pay the visa fee
Submit for approval
The Vietnam e-visa will be mailed to your email once it is approved after 3 days.
Visa on Arrival
If you are eligible for a visa on Arrival because of your nationality, you can fly to Vietnam and apply for one at the airport. This visa is only issued at selected airports
Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong)
Daanang Airport (Da Nang)
Noi Ba International Airport (Hanoi)
Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
Do you need to be vaccinated to go to Vietnam? No, you don’t, as Vietnam doesn’t have any current vaccination restrictions. For long-stay visas, contact the Vietnamese embassy in your country.