Before you travel
Health preparation for Vietnam
Vietnam is frequently visited as part of a longer South East Asia itinerary, which can mean more varied accommodation, transport and food exposure than a single-country holiday.
Rural and mountainous regions in the north carry different considerations to the coastal and city areas further south.
Final vaccine and medicine recommendations always depend on your medical history, previous vaccinations, current travel health guidance, trip duration and planned activities. This page is general information, not a personal clinical recommendation — book a consultation so our pharmacist can assess your individual trip.
Personalised recommendations
Vaccines commonly discussed
No single list applies to everyone. Recommendations depend on your route, trip length, activities, health and previous vaccinations.
View the Asia regional travel-health guide
Hepatitis A&B CombinedMost travellers
Commonly recommended
£85 per dose (adult & junior)
TyphoidMost travellers
Commonly recommended
£38 per dose
RabiesSome travellers
Considered for rural travel, cycling or longer stays
£74 per dose / £222 for a full course
Japanese EncephalitisSome travellers
Considered for rural stays during transmission season
£109 per dose
DTPAll travellers
Booster if it's been over 10 years
£38 per dose
Mosquito-borne illness
Malaria risk and bite prevention
Low risk in the southern provinces of Tay Ninh, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Kon Tum and in other rural areas, where bite avoidance is advised. No risk in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the Red River delta, the coast north of Nha Trang or Phu Quoc. Tablets are only considered for special risk groups.
Risk can differ within a country and can change over time. A consultation assesses your exact itinerary and whether antimalarial medicine should be considered.
Read the malaria prevention guideBeyond vaccination
Practical advice for your trip
- Food and water hygiene, especially street food and rural areas
- Mosquito bite prevention for dengue as well as malaria
- Road safety, especially around motorbike traffic
Food, water and traveller's diarrhoea
Follow careful food and water hygiene where standards are uncertain. Vaccination does not replace these everyday precautions.
Climate planning
Varies by region — broadly, spring and autumn avoid the most extreme monsoon rains and heat.
Entry requirements
Check current visa requirements for UK travellers, as rules can change.
Entry and certificate rules can change. Check the latest official foreign travel advice on GOV.UK before departure, and see TravelHealthPro for country-specific health guidance. Yellow Fever vaccination is not currently administered at this clinic; where a requirement is relevant, the pharmacist can discuss your itinerary and explain that an authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre may be needed.
Common questions
Vietnam travel health FAQs
It's best to bring your full itinerary to your consultation, including all countries and roughly how long you'll spend in each, so your pharmacist can plan for the trip as a whole rather than just one destination.
If you feel seriously unwell
- If you are seriously unwell abroad, seek local emergency medical care immediately.
- If you are seriously unwell after returning to the UK, call 999 or go to A&E — always mention any recent travel.
- For urgent but non-emergency advice in the UK, call NHS 111 or contact your GP.