Vietnam Travel Alert

On August 28,  2009, the State Department gave the following advice regarding threat to safety and security while traveling in Vietnam:

 Official U.S. personnel and tourists are sometimes not authorized to travel to certain areas of Vietnam deemed sensitive by the Government of Vietnam. These travel limitations may hinder the ability of the U.S. Government to provide assistance to private U.S. citizens in those areas.

U.S. citizens have been detained after traveling in areas close to the Vietnamese borders with China, Cambodia and Laos. These areas are not always marked, and there are no warnings about prohibited travel. Travelers should avoid such areas unless written permission is obtained in advance from local authorities.

Large gatherings, such as those forming at the scene of traffic accidents, can become violent and should be avoided.

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.

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Vietnam tries democracy activists Jan. 20, 2010
Human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh and three other activists go on trial in Vietnam on charges of subversion against the state. Read full article

UK concerned about Vietnamese pro-democracy activists.
Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis expressed concern at the imprisonment of four pro-democracy activists in Vietnam on Wednesday, 20 January, 2010.

He said that the verdicts were inconsistent with Vietnam's international human rights obligations and only serve to harm Vietnam's international standing. 

Read the statement:
"I am deeply concerned by the news today that prominent Human Rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, and his co-defendants, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Nguyen Tien Trung and Le Thang Long have been sentenced to long prison terms. 

These verdicts are inconsistent with Vietnam's international human rights obligations. Nobody should be imprisoned for peacefully expressing their opinions. Freedom of expression and the free flow of ideas are essential for a flourishing economy and society.  

Verdicts like these only serve to harm Vietnam's international standing." 

Travel Advisories
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs gives the following advice Australians who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas, organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy."

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office gives the following advice British people who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake."

The Canadian Foreign Affairs Office gives the following advice to Canadians who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. Out-of-country healthcare can be costly, and your health plan will cover only part of the bill at best. It is your responsibility to obtain supplementary travel insurance and understand the terms of your policy. Some credit card companies offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume that coverage is automatically included or that the card alone provides adequate coverage."

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade gives the following advice to New Zealanders: "New Zealanders travelling or resident in Vietnam should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies in place that include provision for medical evacuation by air."

The U.S. Department of State gives the following advice to Americans who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "We strongly urge you to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation and overseas medical services. Please keep in mind that Medicare does not cover any illness or injury that occurs outside of the United States."

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