Travel insurance for Vietnam, what actually matters

The four clauses that decide everything

1. Medical cover and evacuation. Private hospital care in Vietnam is good and not free, and a medical evacuation flight costs more than most trips. Look for strong medical limits and an assistance line that answers 24 hours a day, because that line, not the PDF, is what you use at 2am.
2. The motorbike clause. Many policies exclude motorbike injuries unless you hold a licence valid for that bike in Vietnam, and some exclude riding entirely, even as a passenger. If you plan any riding, check this clause by name, and know that an international driving permit must match the motorcycle category.
3. Activities and altitude. Trekking, diving, and Ha Giang loop style trips can sit outside a basic policy. Add the activity cover if your itinerary includes them.
4. The excess and the paperwork rule. The excess is what you pay first on every claim. Insurers pay against documents: keep hospital invoices, police reports for theft, and receipts from day one, not from the day you claim.