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Insurance on a tour: what is covered, what is not
A tour in Vietnam can involve two insurance policies: the one the operator must buy for you during the programme, and your own travel insurance. They do different jobs, and the gaps between them are where travellers get caught.
Contents
Two kinds of insurance on one tour
| Operator's insurance | Your own travel insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Required by | Article 37 of the Law on Tourism: insurance for tourists during the programme, unless the tourist already has insurance for the whole programme | Nobody, but the UK Foreign Office advises it for every trip |
| Covers | Set by the operator's policy; ask for the insurer and the cover | Set by your policy; typically medical treatment, emergency transport, repatriation and, if chosen, cancellation |
| Period | The days of the tour programme | Your whole trip, including days before and after the tour |
| Where it is shown | The insurance clause required in the contract | Your policy documents |
An operator that does not buy the required insurance faces a fine of 40 to 50 million dong under Decree 45/2019/ND-CP. The contract must contain terms on insurance, so ask what the policy is before you rely on it.
Sources: Law on Tourism 2017, Article 37 — duties of travel businesses; Law on Tourism 2017, Article 39 — travel contracts; Decree 45/2019/ND-CP on administrative penalties in tourism (full text); UK Foreign Office — foreign travel insurance · last checked .
What your own policy should cover
The UK Foreign Office guidance on travel insurance is a useful checklist whatever your nationality. It warns that emergency costs abroad can reach thousands of pounds, giving examples of 25,000 pounds or more for a broken leg and 150,000 pounds or more for a hospital stay in the United States. A policy should cover:
- Medical treatment in state or private hospitals, and emergency transport such as ambulances, which may be charged separately.
- Repatriation if you need to come home after treatment and cannot use your ticket, and if you or a family member dies abroad.
- A 24-hour assistance line.
- The whole length of the trip and every country on it, including transit countries.
- Supplier or airline failure, if you want that cover; check whether it is included.
The same guidance says to buy insurance as soon as you book, so that cancellation cover starts before anything can go wrong.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — foreign travel insurance; UK Foreign Office — foreign travel checklist · last checked .
Common exclusions
| Exclusion | What the UK guidance says | Why it matters on a tour |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol and drugs | Events after excessive alcohol or recreational drug use are often not covered | Boat parties, night markets and long dinners are part of many programmes |
| Pre-existing conditions | You must declare conditions, pending treatment or tests; not declaring may invalidate the policy | Trekking, heat and long transfers can aggravate existing conditions |
| Adventure activities | Bungee jumping, jet skiing, skydiving and similar activities are usually not in standard policies | Canyoning, caving, kayaking and climbing appear on many itineraries |
| Quad bikes and mopeds | Usually not covered | Motorbike tours and scooter rentals are common in the region |
| Travel against official advice | Travelling where the Foreign Office advises against all or all but essential travel may invalidate the policy | Check advice for border areas on multi-country routes |
Sources: UK Foreign Office — foreign travel insurance · last checked .
Activities that need a closer look
- Motorbikes in Vietnam. The UK Foreign Office says riding a motorbike in Vietnam is much riskier than in the UK, advises against hiring one unless you are an experienced rider, notes that helmets are legally required for riders and passengers, and that riding without third-party insurance is illegal.
- Overnight boats. For trips on Ha Long Bay it advises checking the boat's safety record, registration and staff certification, getting a full safety briefing and wearing a life jacket.
- Mountain treks. It reports deaths and injuries in rural and mountainous areas, advises taking a reputable guide, notes that some places require one by law, and warns about flooding and landslides in the rainy season.
- Diving in Thailand and Cambodia. Check the operator's credentials, your insurance conditions, oxygen on the boat and access to a hyperbaric chamber.
- River activities in Laos. Tubing, rafting and kayaking carry risks from strong currents and hidden obstacles; check lifejackets are provided. The Foreign Office also advises making sure your insurance covers motorcycle accidents.
If an activity is on your itinerary, it should be named in your policy or in the list of covered activities. If it is not, ask the insurer before you travel, not after the accident.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security; UK Foreign Office — Thailand safety and security; UK Foreign Office — Cambodia safety and security; UK Foreign Office — Laos safety and security · last checked .
Cancellation and the tour contract
Cancellation cover pays for losses you cannot recover from the company, for reasons the policy lists. That makes the tour contract part of your claim: insurers usually expect you to contact your travel provider first, and only the insurer decides whether to accept the claim. Keep the cancellation table, the company's written answer and the refund it paid, if any.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — about travel advice: changing or cancelling plans · last checked .
Making a claim
- Contact the insurer's assistance line as soon as possible for medical problems; many policies need approval before treatment that is not an emergency.
- For theft or crime, report to local police and ask for a statement or crime report; you may need it for the claim.
- Keep receipts, medical bills and the guide's or company's written account of what happened.
- Ask the tour operator for its own insurer's details if the incident happened during the programme.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — victim of crime abroad; UK Foreign Office — Vietnam getting help · last checked .
Common questions
Questions readers ask
If the operator insures me, do I still need travel insurance?
Yes, in most cases. The operator's cover runs only during the programme and on its own terms. Your policy covers the rest of the trip and things like repatriation and cancellation.
Will my policy cover a motorbike tour?
Standard policies usually exclude mopeds and similar vehicles. Ask the insurer in writing, and check the licence and helmet conditions it sets.
Do I have to tell my insurer about a medical condition?
Yes. The UK guidance says not declaring existing conditions, pending treatment or tests may invalidate the policy.
What paperwork do I need after a theft on a tour?
A police report or statement, the receipts for what was lost, and a note from the guide or company. Report before you leave the country.
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