Vietnam is known around the world certainly for its recent history, namely the Vietnam war where the North Vietnamese defeated American and South Vietnam. Although Vietnam struggled in the aftermath of the war, the situation in the country is constantly improving with more tourists arriving every year and more investments made in the country. There are some of the most incredible sights to be witnessed in Vietnam such as Ha Long Bay, Phu Quoc Island or the many incredible rice terraces spread throughout the country.

Travelling info

All visitors travelling to Vietnam are required to have a valid passport. Most countries are eligible for visa on arrival whilst some are exempt from the requirement of a visa and may enter the country for 15 up to 30 days. After that period a visa is required. (List of countries in sources). Those who choose to drive in Vietnam must have a valid driving permit and an international driving permit. Beware that an IDP is only a translation of the original document and does not substitute for it.

Travelling hazards

Traffic in Vietnam is chaotic. Traffic accidents occur frequently. The most common victims are motorbike riders and pedestrians. At least 30 people die each day from transportation-related injuries and many more are injured, often with traumatic head injuries. Traffic accident injuries are the leading cause of death, severe injury, and emergency evacuation of foreigners in Vietnam. Traffic accidents, including those involving a pedestrian and a motorized vehicle, are the single greatest health and safety risk you will face in Vietnam. Traffic rules are often disregarded particularly by motorcyclists. The number of stop lights is increasing in the country however very few drivers obey these. If you are walking, you should be careful, as sidewalks are extremely uneven and congested, and drivers of bicycles, motorcycles and other vehicles routinely ignore traffic signals and traffic flows and even drive on sidewalks. For safety, you should always look carefully in both directions before crossing streets, even when using a marked crosswalk with a green “walk” light illuminated.

Environmental hazards

Vietnam is a vast country spanning from the southern tip of Indochina all the way to the Chinese border in the North. A large portion of the country is covered in the rainforest which is inhabited by various large and small animals which are dangerous for people. Indochinese leopards and tigers inhabit Vietnamese jungles. There have been only a few scattered sightings of tigers or even tiger tracks in Vietnam since 1990. But during the Vietnam wars, it was claimed that tiger populations and tiger attacks increased dramatically due to the many unburied bodies. Leopards are even rarer however encountering such large predator may be dangerous. Asiatic black bears roam Vietnamese forests. Black bears are known to be the most aggressive and bold of their species. Although attacks are rare, these animals are far more likely to attack than their brown bear cousins. There are two species of crocodile that can be found throughout Vietnam: the Siamese crocodile and the saltwater crocodile. However, due to overhunting and habitat destruction, both species are rarely found in the wild in Vietnam. Saltwater crocs are the largest crocodile species in the world, reaching lengths of up to 20 feet, with the largest specimens weighing in at over a ton. As the name suggests, these crocodiles inhabit salty, primarily brackish, waters. The Siamese crocodile is a much smaller species of freshwater crocodile that reaches a maximum length of about 13 feet. Large populations of Siamese crocs are domestically bred and raised throughout parts of Vietnam as a source of food, clothing and other crocodile products. There are 37 venomous snake species in Vietnam. Most of these are kraits, cobras, pit vipers and sea snakes. Although there is much more non-venomous than venomous snakes, it is still strongly advised to avoid contact with all snakes as an untrained eye won’t be able to tell them apart, particularly when there are so many of them. Swimming in Vietnam is generally safe and considering that the coastal water temperatures almost never drop below 20 degrees, swimming is very popular. Shark attacks do happen however these are very rare and usually happen far out in the sea rather than in shallow waters near beaches.
Natural hazards include rare earthquakes and typhoons which usually happen in the period spanning from May to January with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta Almost every year Vietnam is devastated by storms, floods and typhoons that kill hundreds of people and cause millions of dollars of damage.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Vietnam. The government of Vietnam requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. There are other vaccinations which are not required but recommended. These are the routine vaccines also known as MMR vaccines, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies vaccine. There is no vaccination against malaria however there is another way to protect against it. Malaria is contracted through mosquito bites, therefore, preventing mosquito bites by using bug repellants or bug nets is the best way to avoid malaria. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which should be accessible after consultation with a physician. Vietnamese public healthcare sector is currently facing the following challenges: Most hospitals are outdated and face chronic overcrowding. Hospitals in major cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi often do not have the capacity to serve both local and provincial patients. Thankfully, the standard of private hospitals in Vietnam is excellent and more or less in line with standards that expats would be used to. Private hospitals in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City are often staffed by doctors and medical professionals from the USA, Korea, Japan and France.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Despite the high crime rating for Ho Chi Minh City, most visitors feel relatively safe. Random violent crime against foreigners is relatively rare, and the level of crime is comparable to other cities of a similar size throughout Asia. Visitors regularly fall victim to property crimes, which are usually non-confrontational crimes of opportunity. Pickpocketing, purse slashing, bag snatching, and the theft of valuables is a common occurrence, particularly in areas frequented by tourists and business travellers. Maintaining an extremely high level of 360-degree situational awareness and alertness is critical to reducing the likelihood of becoming a victim of petty street crime. While violent crimes i.e. homicide, armed robbery, the kidnapping of foreigners remain relatively rare, the four to six weeks prior to the Tet holiday, typically see a surge in crime. This occurs because individuals preparing to return to their families and villages for the holiday may seek to obtain high-value gifts or cash to satisfy traditional gift-giving requirements. During the one week, national Tet holiday, police and public security agencies remain at full operational staffing in order to maintain peace and order in crowded public spaces and to respond to the increase in residential burglaries and domestic disputes. There is no terrorism risk in Vietnam. Drug laws in Vietnam are very strict. Penalties for drug offences are severe. Under the Vietnamese penal code, a person caught in possession of even a small amount of heroin can be sentenced to death. There are over two dozen foreigners currently serving life sentences or facing the death penalty for drug trafficking offences.

Summary

Vietnam is certainly a place to visit offering natural beauty, incredible culture, cuisine and many Vietnam war museums around the country. Experience an incredible holiday for a reasonable price. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.myvietnamvisa.com/visa-requirements.html
https://www.myvietnamvisa.com/vietnam-visa-exemption.html
(Vaccination)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/vietnam
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever#5291