Vietnam has become one of the fastest-growing destinations for Australian travellers — from the street food of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Long Bay, the central coast and the Mekong Delta. It also spans a wide range of environments, which means your travel health needs depend heavily on your route.
This guide covers the travel vaccinations and health precautions Australians should consider for Vietnam. It is general information only — personalised advice depends on your itinerary, activities and health history.
Do you need vaccinations to travel to Vietnam?
Vietnam has no mandatory vaccination requirements for Australians, aside from a yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a yellow fever country. The vaccines below are recommended to protect your own health rather than to meet entry rules.
Recommended vaccinations for Vietnam
For almost every traveller
- Hepatitis A — spread via contaminated food and water; recommended for essentially all travellers.
- Typhoid — common in Vietnam and recommended for most trips, particularly smaller cities, rural areas and adventurous eating.
- Routine vaccines — tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, MMR and seasonal influenza should be current.
Depending on your trip
- Hepatitis B — for longer stays, or if tattoos, piercings, medical/dental care or new sexual partners are possible.
- Japanese encephalitis — endemic across Vietnam; worth considering for longer stays and rural or rice-growing areas (see below).
- Rabies — consider if you’ll be around animals, in rural areas, cycling/motorbiking, or travelling with children.
- Meningococcal meningitis — considered for some travellers to Vietnam; ask at your consult.
- Chikungunya and mpox — considered for some travellers depending on itinerary and personal circumstances.
- Dengue — worth discussing for some travellers to Vietnam, depending on your trip and dengue history; see the dengue section below.
Japanese encephalitis: a Vietnam-specific consideration
Japanese encephalitis is a serious viral brain infection spread by mosquitoes, and it is endemic throughout Vietnam — with higher risk in rural and rice-farming regions. Short urban trips are lower risk, but the vaccine is commonly recommended for longer stays, rural travel, or anyone spending significant time outdoors in agricultural areas. It’s a key reason a Vietnam consult is worthwhile rather than assuming “just hep A and typhoid.”
Malaria and dengue
Malaria risk in Vietnam is now quite localised — antimalarial tablets are not needed for the major cities including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, or the main coastal tourist destinations. Risk remains in certain districts of a few provinces, such as Lai Chau in the far north-west, Gia Lai in the central highlands and inland parts of Khanh Hoa. Whether you need tablets is an itinerary-by-itinerary decision — bring your full travel plan to your consult.
Dengue is widespread in Vietnam, including in urban areas, and peaks in the wet season. Ho Chi Minh City has had a significant dengue increase during 2026 and, at the time of review in September, case numbers were still climbing rather than easing. Dengue vaccination is worth discussing for travellers heading there, and it is worth considering for Vietnam generally. There is no specific treatment, so mosquito-bite prevention is essential: repellent with DEET or picaridin, long loose clothing, and screened or air-conditioned accommodation. Ask a travel doctor whether the dengue vaccine (Qdenga) suits you, and read our guide to the dengue vaccine for who it is recommended for.
Food and water
Vietnam’s food is a highlight, but travellers’ diarrhoea is the most common illness. Drink sealed bottled or boiled water, be cautious with ice, raw herbs/salads and unpeeled fruit, and choose busy, high-turnover food stalls and restaurants. A travel doctor can prescribe a treatment kit to carry with you.
When to see a travel doctor
Book your pre-travel consultation 6 to 8 weeks before you fly, since several relevant vaccines (including Japanese encephalitis) involve more than one dose or need lead time. Even close to departure, a consult is worthwhile.
At Travel Doctors Brisbane in Bulimba, we tailor recommendations to your specific Vietnam itinerary, prescribe antimalarials and treatment kits where appropriate, and issue yellow fever certificates if your wider trip needs one. See our Vietnam destination health advice, browse our travel health services, and book your consultation.
This article is general information only and was reviewed against our subscription travel health database in October 2026. It does not replace personalised medical advice. Vaccination needs and disease risks change and depend on your itinerary, season, length of stay and health history — always confirm with a travel health professional and Smartraveller before you travel.