Vietnam Vaccinations from India: Full Cost List & What You Need
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-18
Cross-checked against the WHO International Travel and Health guidelines, the CDC Yellow Book (2026 edition), and current prices at three major Indian travel-clinic chains in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Traveller reports from the last six months have been factored in, particularly around which shots Indian travellers get versus which ones they skip. For related planning, see our guide on Sea Backpacking Hub.
Here is the part nobody tells you clearly: for Vietnam, the only vaccine that is genuinely required is yellow fever, and only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. India is not on that list. Every other vaccine on the internet is “recommended,” which is medical code for “this is your call.” The good news is the call is not hard, and the cost is far less than most Indian travellers assume.
This guide gives you the actual India-side cost of each recommended shot, what to skip, where to get jabs cheaply in Indian metros, and what to do if you need antibiotics once you are already in Vietnam (yes, you can buy them over the counter in most pharmacies, and we will cover exactly how). Whether you are sorting out vaccinations needed for Vietnam from India for the first time or just refreshing an old checklist, the tier system below will save you from both overspending and under-protecting.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Is yellow fever vaccine mandatory for Indians going to Vietnam? | No. Only required if arriving from a yellow-fever country. | ₹0 (not needed) |
| Do I need typhoid before Vietnam? | Recommended. Single shot gives ~3 years of protection. | ₹800 (~$8.29) |
| Hepatitis A: needed? | Yes, recommended for all Indian travellers to SEA. | ₹1,500 (~$15.55) |
| Can I buy antibiotics over the counter in Vietnam? | Yes, most pharmacies sell them without prescription. | ₹184 (~50,000 VND or ~$1.91) |
| Cheapest place to get a pre-travel vaccine pack in India? | Government hospitals (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai) or government travel clinics. | ₹3,500 (~$36.28) |
The “full pack” line above is the realistic out-of-pocket floor in India for the four core recommended vaccines (typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B booster if needed, tetanus). Add Japanese Encephalitis or rabies and the total climbs.
The Real Risks (What to Worry About)
Before you spend a single rupee on vaccines, rank what is going to make you sick in Vietnam. The hierarchy is not what most people think.
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traveller’s diarrhoea (E. Coli, viral) | High | Low to Moderate | Bottled water, busy street food stalls, ORS on hand. |
| Hepatitis A (contaminated food/water) | Moderate | High | Vaccine + standard food hygiene. |
| Typhoid (contaminated food/water) | Low to Moderate | High | Vaccine + avoid raw vegetables washed in tap water. |
| Dengue (mosquito-borne, no vaccine for travellers) | Moderate | High | DEET 30%+ repellent daily, long sleeves at dusk, no standing water near hotel. |
| Rabies (stray dog or monkey bite) | Low | Severe | Avoid touching animals; pre-exposure vaccine only if rural trekking planned. |
| Japanese Encephalitis (rural, mosquito-borne) | Low for short trips | Severe | Vaccine only for rural stays over 1 month or rice-field trekking. |
| Malaria | Low in main tourist areas | Severe | Chemoprophylaxis only for remote forested border regions. |
| Yellow Fever | Zero (no risk in Vietnam, no requirement from India) | None | Skip the shot entirely. |
The pattern: food and water bugs are the dominant risk by frequency. Mosquito-borne illness is the highest-impact risk. Most of the “scary” vaccines (rabies, JE, yellow fever) are situational. Travellers who focus on Hep A, typhoid, and dengue prevention cover 90% of realistic scenarios.
What Vaccines You Need (and What to Skip)
The internet is full of long, intimidating vaccine lists. Here is the honest, India-specific breakdown.
Tier 1: Get These (Strongly Recommended)
Hepatitis A Two shots, six months apart, but even one shot gives strong protection for the trip. Standard in any travel clinic in India. Cost in India: ₹1,400 (~$14.51) to ₹1,800 (~$18.66) per dose. Worth every rupee because Hep A spreads through food and water, the exact vector that is hardest to control on the road.
Typhoid (Typhi) Single shot (Typbar or Peda-typh), gives about three years of protection. Injectable is more effective than the oral vaccine, and the shot is what most Indian travel clinics stock. Cost in India: ₹700 (~$7.26) to ₹900 (~$9.33). Travellers report that even in backpacker hostels, food hygiene is usually good, but a single contaminated salad or cut fruit can ruin two weeks. Skip the shot and you are gambling on every meal.
Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td booster) If your last Td was over 10 years ago, get a booster. Cost in India: ₹150 (~$1.55) to ₹300 (~$3.11) at any government or private clinic. Cheap, no side effects for most, and you will need it again in life anyway.
Tier 2: Consider These (Situational)
Hepatitis B Three-shot series. Most Indians under 30 got this as part of routine childhood immunisation. If you are not sure, a quick HBsAb antibody test at any pathology lab costs ₹400 (~$4.15) to ₹600 (~$6.22) and tells you if you need the booster. The full three-dose series runs ₹1,800 (~$18.66) to ₹2,400 (~$24.88) total in India.
Japanese Encephalitis Only worth the ₹2,500 (~$25.91) to ₹3,500 (~$36.28) per dose (two doses required) if you are doing extended rural trekking, rice-field homestays, or stays over one month in northern Vietnam during transmission season (May to October). Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City tourism routes carry near-zero risk. Skip it for a standard two-week trip.
Rabies (pre-exposure) Two doses, cost ₹350 (~$3.63) to ₹500 (~$5.18) each at government clinics. Recommended only if you are planning motorbike rides through rural areas where stray dogs are common, or if you are the kind of traveller who wants to pet every monkey in Sapa. Post-exposure treatment in Vietnam is widely available but expensive, so the math is not obvious for everyone. We discuss this in our motorbike safety guide.
Malaria prophylaxis Most of the tourist trail (Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Sapa, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Phong Nha, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh) is not malaria-endemic. CDC and WHO both list Vietnam as having low malaria risk outside remote forested border areas. Standard tourist itineraries do not need prophylaxis. If your trip includes deep jungle or border regions, talk to a travel medicine specialist; the decision is specific enough that generic advice fails.
Tier 3: Skip These
Yellow fever Not required for Indian passport holders entering Vietnam. Only mandatory if you have transited through a yellow-fever country in the past six days. Skip it, save ₹4,000 (~$41.46) to ₹6,500 (~$67.37), and use the money for a better pair of sandals.
Cholera The oral cholera vaccine (Shanchol) is given as a last-resort option for aid workers in outbreak zones, not for general tourists. Skip it.
Prevention and Preparation (Before You Leave India)
1. Book a Travel Clinic Appointment, Not a General Physician
Travel clinics in Indian metros stock the right vaccines (especially typhoid Typbar, JE, and the imported Hep A brands) and know the current WHO recommendations. Random GPs often push outdated or excessive vaccine lists. Government-run travel clinics and hospital-based immunisation units in major metros (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai) are reliable options.
2. Carry a Vaccination Record
Vietnam immigration does not routinely ask for yellow fever certificates for Indian passport holders, but carrying your yellow WHO booklet is useful for any future trip and for any post-exposure treatment (especially rabies, where documentation of pre-exposure doses changes the post-bite protocol).
3. Stock a Personal Medicine Kit
Do not rely on buying everything abroad. Carry from India:
- ORS sachets (10 to 15, costs ₹2 (~$0.02) each, lifesaving if traveller’s diarrhoea hits)
- Loperamide (2mg, for emergency diarrhoea control)
- Paracetamol 500mg
- Domperidone for nausea
- A broad-spectrum antibiotic your doctor has prescribed for self-treatment of traveller’s diarrhoea (typically Azithromycin 500mg, three-day course). Bring it, but understand the rules for buying in Vietnam below.
- DEET 30%+ repellent (Indian brands like Odomos are too weak for SEA mosquitoes; buy 30% DEET before leaving)
- A small first-aid kit with band-aids, antiseptic, and gauze
4. Buy Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Evacuation
This is the one cluster where the SafetyWing mention is not filler. Medical evacuation from Vietnam to Singapore or Bangkok runs ₹2,892,111-₹7,712,296 (~30,000-80,000 USD). A scooter accident in Da Nang without insurance is the single most common budget-destroying event for backpackers. Get insurance that specifically covers motorbike riding if you plan to ride (you will need a valid Indian license with motorcycle endorsement plus an IDP for any actual claim to be honoured).
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Get your Hep A and typhoid shots at least two weeks before departure. The body needs that window to build antibodies. If you get jabbed the day before you fly, you are paying for a placebo.
Where to Buy Medicines in Vietnam (Including Antibiotics)
This is the question most Indian travellers Google second, right after “vaccinations for Vietnam.” Short answer: yes, Vietnamese pharmacies sell a wide range of antibiotics over the counter. Long answer: it depends on what you need and how you ask.
What You Can Buy Without a Prescription
Most Vietnamese pharmacies (called “nhà thuốc,” literally “medicine house”) will sell:
- Paracetamol: ₹18-₹55 (~5,000-15,000 VND or ~$0.19-$0.57) per strip
- Ibuprofen: ₹37-₹74 (~10,000-20,000 VND or ~$0.38-$0.76) per strip
- Loperamide: ₹55-₹92 (~15,000-25,000 VND or ~$0.57-$0.96) per box
- ORS sachets: ₹11-₹29 (~3,000-8,000 VND or ~$0.11-$0.31) per sachet
- Domperidone: ₹74-₹129 (~20,000-35,000 VND or ~$0.76-$1.34) per box
- Antihistamines (Cetirizine, Loratadine): ₹55-₹110 (~15,000-30,000 VND or ~$0.57-$1.15)
- Azithromycin 500mg (common antibiotic for traveller’s diarrhoea): ₹147-₹295 (~40,000-80,000 VND or ~$1.53-$3.06) per course
How to Buy Antibiotics Without a Prescription
Walk into any pharmacy, point to the drug name or the condition, and most pharmacists will sell you what you need. A useful Vietnamese phrase: “bán không cần đơn” (sell without prescription), or just say the condition in English, e.g. “diarrhoea medicine.” Pharmacists in tourist areas (Hoan Kiem in Hanoi, District 1 in HCMC, the Old Town in Hoi An) speak basic English and are used to foreign travellers asking for specific drugs.
What Requires a Prescription
Stronger antibiotics (broad-spectrum like Ciprofloxacin for severe infections), sleeping pills, anxiety medication, and any narcotic. Do not count on buying these over the counter.
Pharmacy Quality Notes
Pharmacies in tourist centres are generally well-stocked and legitimate. Avoid tiny unmarked stalls with no visible pharmacist. Stick to well-known chains that are recognisable across Vietnam rather than unmarked street stalls.
City-by-City Health and Pharmacy Notes
Hanoi
Pharmacies are everywhere in the Old Quarter. Pharmacity on Hang Bong Street, and multiple Long Châu branches within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake. For serious medical issues, Family Medical Practice and Vinmec International Hospital have English-speaking staff, with consultation fees running ₹5,524-₹11,049 (~1,500,000-3,000,000 VND or ~$57.31-$114.61) for a GP visit. Read more in our Hanoi safety guide.
Ho Chi Minh City
District 1 has the highest concentration of international-standard clinics. FV Hospital and Vinmec Central Park are the two most trusted for tourists, with emergency departments open 24/7. A standard GP consultation runs ₹6,629-₹12,890 (~1,800,000-3,500,000 VND or ~$68.77-$133.71). For minor issues, the pharmacy on Bui Vien Street is open late and well-stocked.
Da Nang and Hoi An
International-standard private hospitals in Da Nang handle serious cases with English-speaking staff. For minor cuts and traveller’s diarrhoea, the local pharmacies near the Han Market and the Cua Dai beach area handle 90% of backpacker needs.
Sapa and Northern Mountains
Healthcare infrastructure is thinner. Pharmacies in Sapa town are basic, and for anything beyond a headache or mild diarrhoea, evacuation to Hanoi is standard. Pre-trip Hep A and typhoid coverage becomes more important here, because the local hospital options are limited.
For tap water and food safety across Vietnamese cities, see our Vietnam tap water guide.
What to Do If You Get Sick
Severe Traveller’s Diarrhoea (bloody stool, high fever, dehydration)
- Start ORS immediately. Drink 1 sachet per litre of clean water, sip throughout the day.
- If a doctor has prescribed Azithromycin, start the course. Otherwise, find a clinic.
- Head to the nearest Vinmec, Family Medical Practice, or local hospital emergency.
- Contact your travel insurance hotline before paying anything if the bill might exceed ₹11,049 (~3,000,000 VND or ~$114.61).
Suspected Dengue (high fever, severe joint pain, rash appearing 4 to 10 days after mosquito exposure)
- Dengue has no specific treatment, but it needs medical monitoring because of plasma-leakage complications.
- Go to a hospital, not a pharmacy. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin (bleeding risk); use paracetamol only.
- Hospitals will run a dengue NS1 antigen test (around ₹737-₹1,473 (~200,000-400,000 VND or ~$7.64-$15.28)) and monitor platelets.
Animal Bite (dog, monkey, bat)
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for 15 minutes.
- Apply antiseptic.
- Seek rabies post-exposure prophylaxis within 24 hours. Vietnam’s larger cities have rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) and vaccine stock; rural areas may need to be evacuated.
- If you had pre-exposure rabies vaccine, you need only two booster doses, not the full RIG protocol.
Serious Medical Emergency
Vietnam ambulance: 115 (from any local or mobile phone). Tourist-specific medical evacuation is available via International SOS and the hospitals listed above.
For a broader breakdown of what to do in any emergency situation, read our Vietnam emergency medical help guide.
Indian-Specific Considerations
Medicine Brand Substitutions
| Indian brand | Use | Vietnamese equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Electral / ORS-L | Rehydration | Oresol, Hydrite |
| Crocin / Dolo 650 | Fever, pain | Paracetamol (generic, no major brand) |
| Metrogyl 400 | Diarrhoea, gut infection | Flagyl (Metronidazole) |
| Pantocid | Acidity | Omeprazole, Esomeprazole |
| Avomine | Motion sickness | Avomin (same brand, widely available) |
| Imodium | Diarrhoea control | Loperamide generic |
Indian Embassy in Vietnam
Embassy of India, Hanoi: 58-60 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District. Phone: +84-24-3824 4989. Emergency consular help: +84-91 385 3666.
Consulate General of India, Ho Chi Minh City: 55 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 3. Phone: +84-28-3824 7350.
Carry a digital copy of your passport and visa in cloud storage and WhatsApp. If the original is lost or stolen, the embassy requires a copy of the police report plus your digital backup to issue an emergency travel document.
Getting Connected
Working data on your phone is the fastest way to call an ambulance, pull up the embassy number, or translate a pharmacy conversation. Buy a Vietnamese SIM at the airport (Viettel or Mobifone kiosks, around ₹737-₹1,105 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.64-$11.46) for 30 days of data) or use an eSIM before you fly (Nomad, Airalo, and Holafly all cover Vietnam and land in your phone before departure, removing the airport-counter queue).
FAQ
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine to enter Vietnam from India? No. Yellow fever vaccination is only required for travellers arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk. India is not on that list, so Indian passport holders do not need it.
Is Hepatitis A necessary, or can I just be careful with food? Vaccination is strongly recommended. Even careful travellers get exposed through salads, ice, and street food. The vaccine costs about ₹1,500 (~$15.55) in India and gives years of protection. The disease, if you catch it, puts you in bed for 2 to 6 weeks and can hospitalise you. The math is not close.
How long before my trip should I get the vaccines? At least 2 to 3 weeks. Hep A and typhoid both need time to build antibodies. JE and rabies need a full series over a month. If your trip is in two weeks, still get the single-dose shots; partial protection is better than none.
Can I get all my vaccines in one sitting? Yes, most travel clinics will give Hep A, typhoid, and tetanus in the same visit. You may feel rough for 24 hours (low fever, sore arm), so do not get them the day you fly.
Is it safe to buy antibiotics in Vietnam without a prescription? For common issues like traveller’s diarrhoea, yes, and most pharmacies will sell Azithromycin or Metronidazole over the counter. For anything more serious, see a doctor. Always check the expiry date and the packaging integrity.
What about dengue vaccine? Is Qdenga available? Qdenga is approved in some countries but not yet part of the standard traveller recommendation for short trips to Vietnam. The standard prevention remains DEET 30%+ repellent, long sleeves at dusk, and avoiding areas with standing water.
Do I need malaria pills? For standard tourist routes (Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Sapa, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Phong Nha), no. Malaria risk in Vietnam is concentrated in remote forested border regions. Discuss with a travel medicine specialist only if your itinerary includes those areas.
