Vietnam travel checklist (2026)

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Documents

Passport valid — at least 6 months from your date of arrival Essential Check the expiry date now, not the week you fly. Australian passport renewals take about 6 weeks.
Apply for your Vietnam E-visa (single or multiple entry) Essential Required for Australian passport holders. USD $25 (about AUD $38) Compare options →
Book proof of onward travel Checked by airlines at Australian check-in, not just on arrival.
Save digital copies of your passport and tickets Email them to yourself and save them offline in case your phone is lost.

Money

Sort a travel money card for VND Hotels, chains and mid-range restaurants take cards. Street food, markets and small shops are cash. Avoid the 3% fee most Australian banks charge. Compare options →
Plan your VND cash Cash for most day-to-day spending. Watch the zeros.
Check your bank app for a travel flag Reduces the chance of a fraud block on your first overseas purchase.
Remember: always pay in the local currency Declining dynamic currency conversion saves 3 – 7% on every card transaction.

Connectivity

Buy an eSIM for Vietnam Vietnam has some of the cheapest mobile data anywhere — an eSIM with 30GB often costs under AUD $12. Viettel has the best rural coverage. Compare options →
Check what your Australian plan charges to roam Under about four days, a roaming day pass often beats an eSIM.
Download offline maps and a translation pack English is good in tourism, limited in daily life here.

Health & cover

Take out travel insurance Essential No reciprocal health care agreement — Medicare covers nothing here. Compare options →
Check vaccinations with your GP Hepatitis A and typhoid commonly recommended. Rabies and Japanese encephalitis for longer or rural stays.
Check your medications are legal Bring what you need — pharmacy standards vary and counterfeit medication is a known problem.
Subscribe to Smartraveller for this destination Current advice: Exercise a high degree of caution. Official site →

Getting around

Plan your arrival transfer From Tan Son Nhat International Airport, about 8 km from the centre. Compare options →
Don't plan to drive in Vietnam This is the big one. Vietnam recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit. Australia only issues the 1949 Geneva Convention permit, so an Australian IDP is not legally valid in Vietnam. In practice this means most Australians cannot legally drive or ride here, and an accident will not be covered by your travel insurance. Compare options →

Before you go

Pack a Type A/C/F power adapter Most sockets take both flat and round pins, but not the Australian Type I plug. Bring a universal adapter.
Plan for bottled or filtered water only Don't drink the tap water. Bottled water is very cheap. Ice in cities is commercially produced and generally fine.
Save the local emergency number and the Australian consulate 113 police / 115 ambulance — Australian Embassy Hanoi — +84 24 3774 0100
Book anything that sells out Timed-entry attractions and popular tours often need booking weeks ahead. Compare options →

All set — you're ready to fly.

Have a great trip to Vietnam.

Your Vietnam trip checklist

Documents

Money

Connectivity

Health & cover

Getting around

Before you go

More Vietnam essentials

Save your trip

Documents

Money

Connectivity

Health & cover

Getting around

Before you go

More Vietnam essentials

Watching Vietnam?