Vietnam travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Vietnam, last updated by the FCDO on 21 September 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
No areas listed where FCDO advises against travel
The FCDO’s alert status for Vietnam names no areas where it advises against travel. The FCDO says no travel can be guaranteed safe. Read the full advice.
Latest FCDO update (21 September 2026): Addition of information about tropical storm season ('Warnings and insurance') page
FCDO notice
Tropical storm season
The tropical storm season runs from May to November. Tropical storms can cause serious travel disruption. Follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and Japan Meteorological Agency and follow the advice of local authorities.
See Extreme weather and natural disasters.
For more regular updates, English-news versions of local newspapers are available at VNexpress and Vietnam News
Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)
Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East
Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.
Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:
- check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
- check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
- review your travel insurance policy for coverage
- monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts
- be mindful of your permitted length of stay in Vietnam
Passport validity
To enter Vietnam, your passport must have:
- an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive
- at least 2 blank pages
- no damage – British nationals have been denied entry and exit due to passport damage
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
It is a requirement of Vietnamese authorities that visitors enter and exit Vietnam using the same passport.
Make sure you get your passport stamped.
Check the visa expiry date written in your passport is correct before leaving border control. If it is wrong, you could be accused of overstaying. Your passport is stamped upon entry which will specify the date by which you need to leave Vietnam.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 21 September 2026: Addition of information about tropical storm season ('Warnings and insurance') page
- 26 June 2026: New information about submitting a health declaration if you are travelling to or transiting through Vietnam ('Entry requirements' page).
- 21 April 2026: Addition of information about digital arrival card and updated information about road travel ('Entry requirements' and 'Safety and security' pages).
Plan your trip
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.