Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Japanese encephalitis for prolonged rural stays
- Rabies for extended stays
Notes
- Dengue endemic; mosquito-bite prevention.
Practical guidance
When to book the clinic
Book a travel-health clinic appointment 6 to 8 weeks before departure for Vietnam. Several recommended vaccines (Hepatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies pre-exposure) need a multi-dose schedule that does not compress; the full course can take 4 to 6 weeks. Yellow fever specifically takes 10 days to confer immunity and certificates are only valid 10 days after the shot, so this one is non-negotiable on timing.
Yellow fever specifics for Vietnam
Yellow fever proof is required only if you have transited or stayed in a yellow-fever-endemic country in the 6 days before arriving in Vietnam. If your itinerary is direct from a non-endemic country, no certificate needed; if you are routing via Brazil, sub-Saharan Africa, or northern South America, carry the ICVP.
What “recommended” actually means
The 4 recommended vaccines above are the CDC and WHO guidance for typical travellers to Vietnam. They’re not mandatory at the border; they protect against the diseases endemic to the region. Routine immunisations (MMR, dTaP, polio, COVID-19, annual flu) should already be current regardless of destination. Hepatitis A is the single highest-value travel vaccine for most destinations, transmitted through contaminated food and water, and worth getting even if you only plan to eat in established restaurants.
Cost and where to get them
UK NHS travel clinic is free for routine vaccines, charged at cost for travel-specific ones (yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies). US travellers should expect $100 to $300 per dose at a travel clinic; many are not covered by standard health insurance. Cheaper option in some destinations: get yellow fever locally at a government clinic on arrival ($20 to $50 in most South American and African capitals) if your itinerary allows the 10-day window before your next entry. Always ask for the official yellow ICVP booklet, not a generic clinic slip.
Related for Vietnam
More on Vietnam
Vietnam is broadly safe for travellers and consistently set at the standard tier of caution by every major foreign ministry. Violent crime against tourists is rare, but the country’s unique density of motorbike traffic makes road safety the dominant tourist injury risk by an order of magnitude. The other structural risks are typhoon-driven flooding on the central coast (the September 2024 Yagi response is the new federal baseline), drug penalties that include the death penalty, a small but persistent bag-snatching pattern in central Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and gastric illness for first-time visitors. This guide unpacks the e-Visa system, the Halong Bay overnight cruise standards, the Hue/Hoi An typhoon calendar, the Reunification Express, and the practical contacts that shape a Vietnamese itinerary.
Frequently asked about Vietnam
What vaccinations do I need for Vietnam?
Recommended vaccines for typical travellers to Vietnam: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Japanese encephalitis for prolonged rural stays, Rabies for extended stays. Yellow fever is required if arriving from a country with yellow-fever transmission. Routine immunisations (MMR, dTaP, polio, COVID-19, flu) should be current regardless of destination. Verify with a travel-health clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure.
Is yellow fever vaccination required for Vietnam?
Only if you have transited or stayed in a yellow-fever-endemic country in the 6 days before arriving in Vietnam. If your itinerary is direct from a non-endemic country, no certificate is needed.
When should I get my travel vaccinations for Vietnam?
Book a travel-health clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Several recommended vaccines (Hepatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis, rabies pre-exposure) need a multi-dose schedule that does not compress; the full course can take 4 to 6 weeks. Yellow fever specifically takes 10 days to confer immunity and certificates are only valid after that window.