Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Vietnam, prioritised.
Vietnam's private insurance market has developed rapidly since 2010. Mandatory insurances: BHXH social insurance and BHYT health insurance for all formally employed workers; vehicle liability insurance for motorbike and car owners; employer liability. The public healthcare system is functional but limited in quality at higher levels — international private health insurance is essential for most expats. Other insurance products (life, home contents, travel) are optional but increasingly available. Major local insurers: Bảo Việt (state-backed, largest), PVI Insurance, PTI, Bảo Minh. International insurers with Vietnam presence: AXA, Chubb, AIA, Prudential, Manulife, Dai-ichi Life. Comparison: The expat insurance market is best navigated through international brokers (Pacific Cross, Cigna, Bupa, Allianz) for health, and local agents for motor and property.
Legally Mandatory
- - BHXH (Social Insurance) — mandatory for all employees on formal labour contracts
- - BHYT (Health Insurance) — mandatory for all employees; students must enrol in student BHYT
- - Third-party motor insurance (Bảo Hiểm Trách Nhiệm Dân Sự) — mandatory for all registered motorcycles and cars
- - Employer Liability Insurance — required for employers in certain regulated sectors
International Health Insurance
Comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, emergency, dental, maternity and medical evacuation coverage at international private hospitals in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. Includes direct billing at Vinmec, FV Hospital, Hanoi French Hospital and international clinic networks.
Who needs it: All expats, particularly those who will use international private hospitals rather than (or in addition to) the public BHYT system.
Annual cost: USD 1,200–3,500/year for single adult (age 30–40, basic plan). USD 2,500–6,000/year for a family. Premiums increase significantly with age and level of coverage.
Request direct billing at Vinmec and FV Hospital before purchase — not all plans have Vietnam direct billing. Confirm: mental health coverage, maternity (often 12-month waiting period), pre-existing conditions, medical evacuation to Singapore/Bangkok. BHYT and international insurance can coexist — BHYT covers public hospital at low cost; international covers private. For evacuation: AEA (SOS), International SOS and FV Hospital have air ambulance services.
Compulsory Motorbike / Vehicle Liability Insurance
Third-party liability cover for bodily injury and property damage caused to third parties. Mandatory for all registered motorcycles and cars under Decree 67/2023/ND-CP.
Who needs it: Every owner of a registered motorbike or car in Vietnam. Without it: fines of VND 100,000–400,000 at police checkpoints.
Annual cost: Motorbike under 50cc: VND 66,000/year. Motorbike 50–175cc: VND 78,000/year. Car below 6 seats: VND 417,200–835,600/year depending on use and engine size.
This is a minimum legal requirement only. Provides no own-damage cover. Strongly supplement with comprehensive motor insurance (bảo hiểm vật chất xe) if your vehicle has any significant value — and especially if you are riding a motorbike in Vietnam's high-accident traffic environment.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
Dedicated air ambulance and medical repatriation coverage to Singapore, Bangkok or home country for serious conditions that cannot be adequately treated in Vietnam.
Who needs it: All expats, particularly those outside HCMC/Hanoi with limited access to international-standard hospitals.
Annual cost: Standalone: USD 200–500/year. Usually included in comprehensive international health plans.
Serious cardiac, neurological and trauma cases in Vietnam often require evacuation to Bangkok's Bumrungrad/Samitivej or Singapore's Mount Elizabeth for definitive treatment. Air ambulance cost without insurance: USD 30,000–80,000. This is the most important insurance decision you make before moving to Vietnam.
Comprehensive Motor Insurance (Own Damage + Third Party)
Covers both own vehicle damage from accidents, theft, fire and natural disasters, PLUS third-party liability above the mandatory minimum.
Who needs it: Motorbike riders with a bike worth more than VND 10,000,000; all car owners.
Annual cost: Motorbike (comprehensive): VND 600,000–2,000,000/year depending on bike value. Car: 0.5–1.2% of vehicle value per year (e.g., VND 9,000,000–20,000,000/year for a VND 800,000,000 car).
Critical: verify whether your policy covers you if you ride WITHOUT a valid Vietnamese motorbike licence — most policies exclude this. Ensure your licence category matches your bike engine size.
Home Contents Insurance
Covers theft, fire, water damage and accidental damage to personal belongings, electronics, furniture and valuables in your rented or owned home.
Who needs it: Expats renting furnished or semi-furnished apartments; those with high-value electronics, jewellery or equipment.
Annual cost: VND 500,000–2,000,000/year depending on coverage amount. International home contents via Cigna/Bupa: USD 200–500/year.
Standard Vietnamese rental contracts do not include contents insurance. Flooding is a real risk in HCMC and Central Vietnam — check flood coverage explicitly. Check what is excluded: many local policies exclude electronics over VND 20,000,000 unless specifically declared.
Travel Insurance
Covers trip cancellation, medical emergencies, lost luggage and flight delays for international travel from Vietnam.
Who needs it: All expats travelling internationally from Vietnam — especially those who travel frequently.
Annual cost: Annual multi-trip: USD 150–500/year. Single trip: USD 20–100 per trip depending on destination and duration.
Check whether your international health insurance already includes travel coverage — many comprehensive international plans include emergency medical for international travel. Confirm Schengen-compliant coverage for Europe trips. Vietnam-based travel insurance is cheaper than home-country equivalents.
Life Insurance
Term or whole life insurance providing a death benefit and sometimes investment or savings component. Major providers include large Vietnamese and international life insurers.
Who needs it: Expats with dependants in Vietnam or at home who rely on their income; those planning long-term Vietnam residence.
Annual cost: USD 500–3,000/year for term life (USD 500,000 cover, age 35–45). Investment-linked products: higher premiums.
Be cautious of investment-linked insurance products (ILP) sold aggressively by commission-based agents — separate insurance and investment decisions. Term life is simpler and cheaper for protection needs. Medical underwriting required — pre-existing conditions may be excluded.
Comparison sites
Never arrive in Vietnam without international health insurance — even for a "short-term" stay. Expats on tourist/e-visas are not covered by BHYT.
Confirm direct billing with your specific target hospitals BEFORE purchasing a policy — call the hospital and your insurer.
Renew motorbike/car insurance annually and carry the certificate — spot checks by traffic police are common.
For comprehensive motor insurance: photograph pre-existing damage on a vehicle before insuring it.
BHYT card gives access to public hospitals at subsidised rates — if enrolled, use it for routine care and save international insurance for serious conditions.
Check whether your employer provides any group health insurance — this is common at multinationals and supplements your international plan.
Medical evacuation to Bangkok is typically faster and smoother than Singapore from HCMC — confirm your insurer's preferred evacuation route.
Annual premium increases are common at renewal — compare alternative providers rather than auto-renewing without checking the market.
Insurance
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