Should you get travel insurance for Vietnam?

Are you planning a trip to Vietnam or already in Vietnam? If you are, you'll likely be wondering whether or not you should get travel insurance and what insurance provider you should use. Well, here's the article that will help you decide. 

Why you should always get travel insurance 

Any backpacking trip or holiday, especially those overseas or to far-flung exotic places, has likely seen you invest a lot of your time and money. It can be heart wrenching when your travels are ruined by unforeseen events and exorbitant expenses. 

But travel insurance is the best way to cover yourself from any costs or losses you might experience if something does go wrong. From medical emergencies to lost luggage and stolen items to travel disruption, travel insurance can give you the peace of mind you need to be able to enjoy your trip to the fullest. So, if you really want to be able to enjoy any trip away you should really be making sure you secure some travel insurance. 

Moreover, travel insurance won't only cover you whilst you're away. Before you've even set foot on a plane, train or boat your travel insurance could cover you against cancellations occurring for all manner of reasons, such as accidents, family bereavement, redundancy, bankruptcy of your travel provider and illness. 

But don't be panicking if you're already out there living your best life on your trip away and are now thinking you need travel insurance, then there are plenty of providers that will cover you even after your trip has started. 

Despite all the benefits of travel insurance I must mention that travel insurance can't cover you against everything! Most travel insurance won't provide cover against costs incurred from: 

• Changing your mind 

• Reckless behaviours leading to accidents or losses - think drunken night out

• Undeclared pre-existing conditions 

• Travelling against official guidance - whether from a doctor or a government 

• High risk activities - unless additional cover is purchased 

• Items which exceed the claim limit of your policy 

Please note this isn't an exhaustive list and you should always check your travel insurance policy documents for the details and nuances of your exact policy. 

Why you should get travel insurance for Vietnam 

Now, you might have read all that and still be thinking, but I still don't think I need insurance for my trip to Vietnam. Well, I'd like to try and convince you otherwise.

Vietnam is a country full of adventure, excitement and chaos - that's what makes it one of the top attractions in South East Asia! It's not to say Vietnam is unsafe but to note that it is a country where things can (and do) go wrong. 

All across Vietnam mopeds and scooters are the primary form of transport whether you're driving your own, a passenger to an easy rider or getting on a Grab (Vietnam's answer to Uber) you'll get on a scooter at least once.

But, scooters pose a risk; especially in Vietnam's chaotic cities like Hanoi where there are roughly 8 million scooters on the roads. If anything happens to you whilst riding a scooter it could be serious and end up wracking an expensive accident with medical costs. Getting insurance will cover you against these and give you the peace of mind to get on a scooter and experience this integral part of Vietnamese culture. 

Hikes and treks are amazing experiences you can take part in across Vietnam as you explore the country's awe-inspiring national parks. Whether hiking up Fansipan - the highest mountain in all of Indochina -, exploring the caves of  Phong Nha by kayak or foot, or trekking between ethnic villages in Sapa there's so much Vietnam has to offer.

But, again, any slip or fall could be costly and insurance will really give you the opportunity to dive into these experiences with confidence!

Travel can also go wrong. You might have a bus, train or bus cancelled which means you have to stay in a place for longer than you expected. This can empty out your wallet if there are only expensive hotels around. But having insurance can mean you can recover at least some of this cost and limit the impact of cancelled travel arrangements on your trip. 

In summary, Vietnam is home to all kinds of adventure. Don't let a fear of expensive medical bills or travel disruption stimy your sense of adventure or your adrenaline fuelled adventures. Getting insurance can really give you the self of freedom to embrace Vietnam to the fullest. 

Why you should choose SafetyWing 

But what insurance should you get? SafetyWing is a great option for your next long term trip. It provides excellent medical coverage. It can cover: 

• Medically necessary treatment of unexpected illness or injury

• Ambulance and emergency transportation

• Emergency transportation to a better equipped hospital

• Emergency dental treatment

• And more 

It also has you covered for travel delays, lost luggage, personal liability and natural disasters. It can cover you for: 

• An unforeseen event in your home country for which you to need to go home 

• Unplanned overnight stays of up to 2 days

• Lost checked luggage

• Accommodation in a different place if a natural disaster 

• Evacuation from local political unrest

• Personal liability

• And more 

SafetyWing also has a number of benefits that make it an amazing option for your next long term trip; especially one to Vietnam. 

SafetyWing gives you the flexibility to buy their insurance even after you've set off on your trip. It also provides you with a single global policy which works on a pay as you go model which allows for continuous coverage in 180+ countries.

This means that if you decide whilst in Vietnam that you want to extend your trip or hop across the border into Laos or Cambodia you've got this flexibility built right into your insurance policy.

Pay as you go insurance also gives you the opportunity to cancel at anytime giving you the peace of mind that if your trip is working out you can head home and not be out of pocket after spending on an insurance policy that was going to be for multiple months but you've only used one. 

Another perk of SafetyWing, especially for the real long term traveller or nomad, is that for every 3 months you're away from home you have insurance cover for visits home that last up to 30 days (15 days for US residents). An excellent feature that means you can visit your loved ones without fear of exorbitant costs if anything is to go wrong. 

Most importantly, SafetyWing has the option to add more cover if you're looking to do adventure sports or want cover for your electronics. The Adventure Sports add-on means you can get cover for loads of extra activities, including:

• Cave diving 

• Dirt motorbiking

• Mountaineering at altitudes below 6,000 meters (Vietnam's highest peak is only just over 3,000 meters) 

• Quad biking

• Paragliding 

• Scuba diving

• Whitewater rafting 

• And more!

So, if you're an adrenaline junky they've got you covered. The Electronics Theft add-on means you are covered for some of the value of items, such as cameras, laptops, smartphones, drones and iPads, if they are stolen. Giving you further peace of mind if you've got to take your laptop or iPad away with you to work on your longer term trip!

All in all Vietnam is an amazing country to visit and is a place full of adventure, chaos and excitement, but as with any place it doesn't come without its risks. Insurance is a great option to allow you to really embrace all that Vietnam has to offer and SafetyWings has an amazing set of benefits which make it the perfect fit for any long term trip. 

If you like the sound of SafetyWing Insurance you can sign up using my affiliate link by clicking here and get yourself covered!

If you've got any other questions drop a comment on here or send me a message on my Instagram or TikTok! You can also find more useful tips, tricks and recommendations on my TikTok and Instagram!

Check out the products we recommend for any traveler (these are affiliate links):

• Worldpackers (code: SARAHOUTSIDE)

• SafetyWing

• Packing Cubes

• Universal Travel Adapter

• Hanging Wash Bag

• Noise Cancelling Headphones

• Loop Quiet Ear Plugs

• Kindle

• Backpacker Card Game

• Ubigi Code for 20% off 4FCAYMCM

I also have an affiliate link and discount code (SARAHOUTSIDE) for anyone who is looking for volunteer opportunities!