smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Vietnam
| Vietnam overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 16 May 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
![[top]](/zwiki/images/page_top.gif)
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We continue to receive reports that terrorists in South East Asia are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Internal conflict is rare in Vietnam, although some localised violent clashes between protesters and police in the Central Highlands region have in the past resulted in a small number of casualties.
We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Vietnam because of the risk of criminal activity. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety and security risks.
Street crime and harassment occur, especially in larger cities. Aggravated theft and assault occur, particularly in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Sapa (particularly on the train to/from Lao Cai) and Cat Ba Island (near Ha Long Bay). Petty theft is also common on crowded trains and buses.
Snatch-and-grab crimes against pedestrians by thieves on motorcycles have resulted in occasional injury to victims.
Foreigners have been robbed and sexually assaulted after accepting spiked food and drinks. Due to the risk of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
If you plan to visit the Long Tan Cross site in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, you should note that the site is located on non-public land and visitors are required to follow certain procedures to access the site. See the Embassy's website for further information.
Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Vietnam. See our advice on shipping and ports for further information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website.
Traffic conditions throughout Vietnam are hazardous and road accidents, resulting in death or injury, are common. Driving standards and vehicle and road maintenance are generally poor. Australian tourists have suffered serious injuries from road accidents in recent years. Motorcycle and intercity bus travel have particularly high accident rates.
Streets are crowded in major cities and road rules are routinely ignored. Be very careful when crossing busy streets as traffic can appear from any direction.
Travellers should be aware that transport infrastructure in Vietnam can be in poor condition. Provincial authorities have warned that the Dong Nai bridge (linking Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and other north-eastern provinces) is at risk of collapsing. Beginning 20 August 2007, vehicles seating seven passengers or less heading towards Ho Chi Minh City will be diverted to the Hoa An bridge to avoid overloading.
Travel is restricted near military installations and in some parts of the Central Highlands and some border areas.
Unexploded landmines and ordnance are a continuing hazard in former battlefields, particularly in central Vietnam. Mine-free roads and paths are well marked.
Tour operators might not meet the safety standards expected in Australia, especially for adventure sports such as mountain climbing.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Flooding and landslides may occur during the rainy season (June-December) and may restrict overland travel and disrupt essential services. Typhoons are also common during this period. Please see our separate travel bulletin on Severe Weather for further information. Travellers should follow instructions from local authorities and monitor local media and weather reports. The areas most affected by typhoons are the coastal provinces at the North and Central Regions. However, typhoons in the south, though less frequent, still occur. Flooding is common in and around Hanoi and in the Mekong River Delta regions in the south.
All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash in US dollars. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work in Vietnam.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Vietnam, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for serious crime, such as rape, espionage and hijacking, include the death sentence.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death sentence. Vietnamese authorities have announced increased security and investigative measures to combat drug trafficking.
Drivers of motor vehicles and riders in charge of motorcycles of more than 50cc engine capacity are required to hold the appropriate Vietnamese motor vehicle driver's licence or motorcycle rider's licence. It is compulsory to wear a helmet when riding on a motorcycle.
Photography of, or near, military installations is generally prohibited. You should also avoid taking photographs during demonstrations.
It is against the law for you to export antiques from Vietnam without a permit. The Ministry of Culture can provide further advice and any permit that may be necessary for export.
Non-marital sexual relationships and co-habitation between Vietnamese citizens and foreigners is illegal in Vietnam. Permission for foreigners to marry a Vietnamese citizen must also be granted by Vietnamese authorities. Any children born in Vietnam to unmarried parents cannot have the father's name on the birth certificate.
All most all forms of gambling (other than at licensed casinos) are illegal in Vietnam and can incur heavy fines.
All foreigners are required to register their place of residence with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Foreigners staying with family or friends in a private home must comply with this requirement. Failure to do so could result in fines. If you are staying at a hotel, this is done as part of the normal check-in process.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Vietnam does not formally recognise dual nationality. This may limit our ability to provide consular assistance to Australian/Vietnamese dual nationals who are detained or arrested.
If you are an Australian/Vietnamese dual national, you may be subject to compulsory military service while in the country. For further information, contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam before you travel.
Our brochure on Travel Information for Dual Nationals provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam for the most up to date information.
You must obtain a visa prior to arrival in Vietnam. Persons attempting to enter Vietnam without a valid visa are generally sent back to their last port of departure by Vietnamese authorities. You should review all visa conditions and carefully note any conditions listed on the immigration stamp which you will receive on arrival.
Your passport must have at least six months remaining validity at the time of arrival in Vietnam. If you lose your passport which contains your visa for Vietnam or the visa document issued by Vietnamese authorities, you will need to obtain an exit visa from a Vietnamese immigration office. Vietnamese authorities will not permit you to depart Vietnam until the exit visa is issued. Processing may take up to 4 working days and a fee is payable.
Local authorities remain concerned about the spread of avian influenza and travellers may be required to undergo temperature screening on arrival in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Depending on the outcome of the tests, you may be required to undergo further medical examinations which could interrupt your travel plans.
If you are staying with a Vietnamese family in a private home, the head of the household must register you with the District Public Security authorities. The registration process should be commenced at least a week prior to your arrival. If you are staying in a hotel, registration is done by the hotel and you will be required to provide your passport to the hotel for this purpose.
Make sure you keep your arrival/departure customs declaration form as you will need it when leaving the country. If lost, it can be replaced at exit ports, but may require payment of a fee.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for staying healthy while travelling overseas.
The standard of medical facilities and care in Vietnam varies. Foreign private medical clinics are available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City but may not meet Australian standards. Medical facilities and care at most public hospitals, especially in areas outside Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, are poor and medical evacuation to a major centre may be required for even relatively minor operations. Doctors and hospitals expect cash payment prior to providing medical services, including for emergency care.
Air evacuation to Bangkok by air-ambulance from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City may be required in cases of serious illness or accident. Costs would start at A$12,000 and could cost as much as A$25,000.
Hyperbaric chambers are located in Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Vung Tau.
The mosquito-borne illness dengue fever occurs in Vietnam, particularly in the south. The number of cases of dengue fever in the south doubled in 2006 with the number of deaths also increasing. We recommend you take measures to avoid mosquito bites including using insect repellent at all times.
The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis also occurs in Vietnam. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is currently unavailable in Australia. The Department of Health and Ageing is working with vaccine suppliers to make a vaccine available as soon as possible. For further details see the Department of Health and Ageing's website or consult your doctor.
Outbreaks of water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis, and meningitis) occur from time to time. We encourage you to discuss your vaccination requirements with your doctor before travelling.
On 6 November 2007, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of cholera in the capital Hanoi and surrounding Northern Provinces.
We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food, and avoid unpasteurised dairy products. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
Avian influenza. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed human deaths from avian influenza in Vietnam. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Vietnam for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to Vietnam for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.
If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Vietnam should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Vietnam should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice.
The Australian Government has decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at most of its overseas missions. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas. It is the responsibility of individual Australians to secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza), if required.
In Vietnam, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian Embassy,
8 Dao Tan Street
Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Vietnam
Telephone +84 4 831 7755
Facsimile 84 4 831 7711
Website http://www.vietnam.embassy.gov.au
Australian Consulate-General,
5th floor, The Landmark Building
5B Ton Duc Thang Street
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Telephone +84 8 829 6035
Facsimile +84 8 829 6031
Website http://www.hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au
If you are travelling to Vietnam, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
