Vietnam draws travelers from every corner of the world, year after year. The new Asian lion is a very special destination for a genuine adventure — but it’s always wise to travel with as much safety as possible, so here are the main vaccinations to consider before traveling to Vietnam worry-free.
In this post
Mandatory vaccinations
Yellow fever
The only certificate currently required is proof of vaccination against yellow fever — and only for travelers arriving from countries where the disease is endemic (parts of Africa and South America). If you’re coming from Europe, North America, Australia or anywhere else in Asia, this doesn’t apply to you. If you are arriving from an endemic country, you may be asked for the vaccination certificate on entry.
COVID-19
Vietnam currently has no COVID-19 entry requirements: no vaccination certificate, no tests. If the authorities reintroduce any measure, we’ll update this page.
Recommended vaccinations
While no vaccinations are mandatory, there are vaccination recommendations against certain diseases present in Vietnam. Here’s a summary of the main ones. In our opinion, the best move is always to consult a travel health clinic and let a doctor guide you.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Typhoid fever
- Rabies
- Cholera
- Japanese encephalitis
- Quadrivalent meningococcal meningitis
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Tetanus/Diphtheria
Main mosquito-borne diseases in Vietnam
Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is essential when traveling through a country like Vietnam: the main diseases that can sour your trip and put your health at risk are transmitted by mosquitoes, and there’s no vaccine to shield you from them.
Dengue
Dengue is one of the main illnesses you can catch in this kind of tropical climate. One of this blog’s authors has already been through it, and we can assure you it’s no fun at all. On our trips around Vietnam we’ve met other travelers who suffered the same fate.
In general, the mosquitoes that transmit dengue live in urban and semi-urban areas and tend to bite during the day. Protect yourself and avoid an unpleasant experience that could ruin your trip and your health.
Malaria
Although malaria isn’t widespread in Vietnam, it still exists — mainly in rural areas near the borders with Laos and Cambodia.
As with dengue, the best protection is avoiding mosquito bites in the first place.
How to avoid mosquito bites in Vietnam
If, like us, you’re the kind of person mosquitoes find especially delicious, it’s nearly impossible to escape every bite — but it’s easy to keep them to a minimum. Here’s how we do it, so you can apply it on your own trips.
- Wear long sleeves, ideally in light colors
Pack lightweight clothing in your backpack or suitcase, light-colored if possible (dark colors attract them even more), and wear it whenever you think you might be in mosquito territory.
- Watch out for rush hour
Dawn and dusk are the key hours when, if you’re not careful, mosquitoes will basically eat you alive. At those times, long sleeves and repellent are essential unless you want a body covered in bites.
- Use a good repellent
And keep it in your daypack at all times, so it’s within reach when things start heating up. Use a tropical-strength repellent and mosquitoes will be just some of the many creatures that won’t want to come near you.
- Sleep under a mosquito net
Especially wherever there’s no air conditioning. There’s nothing more miserable than a mosquito whining in your ear all night long which — despite your useless efforts to end it — wins the battle and feasts on your blood.
Where and when should I get vaccinated?
Getting your vaccinations for Vietnam is simple: just book an appointment at your nearest travel health clinic — usually at your local hospital or through your regular doctor.
Do book well ahead, though: depending on where you live, the waiting list can be long, and some vaccines require several doses, so you’ll need some lead time for them to take effect — ideally 4 to 6 weeks before departure.
I didn’t have time to get vaccinated — what now?
Don’t worry. Remember that for Vietnam, vaccinations are only recommendations — so if you ran out of time, you can still go ahead with your trip as normal.
A quick tip before you continue
Don’t gamble with your health in Vietnam
A medical surprise far from home gets expensive. We always travel insured with Heymondo: medical cover, 24/7 assistance and protection against setbacks like delays or lost luggage.
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