Travel insurance for Vietnam: coverage, costs & tips
For Vietnam you want emergency medical travel insurance with strong evacuation coverage, because serious cases are often moved to Bangkok or Singapore. OHIP pays almost nothing abroad. Motorbike travel is a common injury cause, so check how your plan treats it before you ride.
Key takeaways
- Serious cases in Vietnam are often evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore for care.
- OHIP reimburses little and never pays the hospital up front.
- Motorbike and scooter accidents are a frequent cause of claims.
- A high evacuation limit matters more here than in many destinations.
Vietnam is affordable, fascinating and easy to underestimate when it comes to medical risk. Care in the big cities is improving quickly, but for anything complex the regional standard-setters are still Bangkok and Singapore — and getting there is where costs can spiral.
Why coverage matters here
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have capable private hospitals and international clinics, but travellers with serious or complicated conditions are frequently evacuated to Thailand or Singapore for definitive care. That medical transport — sometimes by air ambulance — is one of the largest potential costs any traveller faces, and it is exactly what emergency medical travel insurance is built to cover alongside the hospital bill itself.
The OHIP gap
Ontarians who assume provincial coverage follows them will be caught out. OHIP largely stopped covering out-of-country care in 2020, and any small reimbursement is paid after you are home, never to the Vietnamese or regional hospital. Travel insurance covers the real bill and lets an assistance team coordinate and guarantee payment.
The motorbike reality
Renting a motorbike or scooter is a rite of passage in Vietnam — and a leading cause of traveller injuries. Emergency medical plans generally cover treatment after an accident, but operating a motorbike can carry conditions: the correct licence class and a helmet are commonly required for coverage to apply. Read the wording before you ride. Our optional Sports & Activities coverage can extend protection to activities a base plan limits.
What to look for
Give particular weight to the emergency evacuation and repatriation limit, not just the headline medical figure. Confirm 24/7 assistance you can reach from a smaller town — we offer around-the-clock help in multiple languages and can arrange the logistics of a transfer. Declare any pre-existing condition honestly and confirm you meet the stability period, which requires the condition to be unchanged for a defined window before departure.
When to buy
Buy your coverage when you book the trip rather than at the last minute. Early purchase puts the policy in place from the moment you commit money, and if you also want to protect prepaid, non-refundable costs against a cancellation or interruption, that is a separate coverage from the emergency medical plan. Choose which risks you want covered before you pay.
What drives the cost
Your premium depends on age, trip length, the coverage amount and your health. Travellers 60 and over complete a short medical questionnaire that sets the premium, not eligibility — TripCovered has no age limit, and travellers under 60 answer no medical questions. Match the policy length to your actual dates, and if Vietnam is part of a bigger year of travel, compare a multi-trip annual plan against single-trip options. Because an evacuation to another country can be the biggest cost here, pick a coverage limit that reflects that possibility rather than the lowest option.
Practical tips
Keep your policy number and the assistance line separate from your phone. If you are injured or fall ill, call assistance early — before bills accumulate — so they can arrange payment and, if needed, an evacuation. Save itemised bills, medical reports and any accident or police report. Be cautious with street food and water if your stomach is sensitive, since gastrointestinal illness is the most common minor claim.
Vietnam is a rewarding, budget-friendly destination with one expensive catch: serious care can mean a flight to another country. Before you go, compare your options and get a quote matched to your dates, your health and how you plan to travel.
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Purchase now →Frequently asked questions
Does OHIP cover medical treatment in Vietnam?
Not in any meaningful way. Ontario largely eliminated out-of-country coverage in 2020, and any reimbursement is minimal and paid after you return, never to the Vietnamese hospital. Emergency medical travel insurance covers the actual cost and arranges payment.
Why is medical evacuation coverage important for Vietnam?
For complex or serious conditions, the highest-standard care is often in regional hubs like Bangkok or Singapore rather than locally. Medical evacuation to reach that care is expensive, so a plan with a strong evacuation and repatriation limit is especially valuable here.
Does travel insurance cover motorbike accidents in Vietnam?
Emergency treatment after an accident is generally covered, but riding a motorbike or scooter can carry conditions such as holding the right licence and wearing a helmet. Review the wording and consider the Sports & Activities add-on before renting one.
TripCovered is a licensed insurance referral service operating in Ontario. Insurance is administered by North American Air Travel Insurance Agents Ltd., doing business as TuGo®, a licensed insurance broker in all provinces and territories. The issuer of the contract is Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. and Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. This website provides general information only and is not a contract of insurance. Always read your policy wording before you travel.