Is It Safe to Travel to Vietnam in 2026?
Vietnam - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of Mainland Southeast Asia. With an area of about 331,000 square kilometres and a population of over 102 million, it is the world's 16th-most populous country.
Is It Safe to Travel to Vietnam in 2026?
Vietnam is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise normal precautions in Vietnam. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on social media for updates. Review the Country Security Report and the CDC page for health information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers may encounter petty crime in urban areas, particularly in crowded markets and public transport, so vigilance is advised.
Business travelers can expect reliable infrastructure in major cities, though occasional bureaucratic delays may impact schedules.
Families with children should be cautious of healthcare access in rural areas and ensure safe drinking water to avoid waterborne illnesses.
Remote workers will find good connectivity in urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but should avoid rural areas where internet access may be unreliable.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Vietnam.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Vietnam has an overall threat severity of 1.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 3.5/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 19/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Dong (VND)
Language
Vietnamese
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Dengue: Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites.
- alertGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Vietnam
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Vietnam?
▶Is it safe to travel to Vietnam right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
▶What vaccines do I need for Vietnam?
▶Is Vietnam safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Vietnam?
More Vietnam Data
Not Free — 19/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.