An accident in remote mountains, a stroke at a far-flung industrial park, serious illness needing treatment abroad — medical evacuation is the insurance piece foreigners in Vietnam most often forget until they need it. Vietnamese HI does not cover rescue or international transfer.
What medical evacuation covers
- Domestic emergency: ambulances, medical helicopters from accident sites/lower hospitals to top-tier hospitals (in-country).
- International evacuation: moving patients abroad (Bangkok, Singapore…) when Vietnam can’t treat — by dedicated air ambulance, costing USD 50,000–200,000/trip.
- Medical repatriation: returning stabilised patients home + repatriation of remains on death.
Who provides rescue services in Vietnam
- International medical-assistance companies: International SOS, Global Rescue… with Vietnam offices/partners, 24/7 evacuation coordination — usually tied to insurance contracts or corporate memberships.
- Domestic 115: public 115 dispatches ambulances — free/cheap, but no standing commercial air-ambulance fleet like some countries; remote areas mean long response times.
Which insurance pays for evacuation
- Vietnamese HI: covers emergency transport in some regulated cases — not international evacuation or outbound air ambulances.
- International health insurance: most premium plans carry evacuation & repatriation (often USD 50,000–1,000,000/year) — check: Vietnam included? prior carrier approval needed? companion covered?
- Travel insurance: international travel plans usually include medical rescue — for short stays, not a long-term substitute.
5-step medevac checklist for expats
- 1. Read the evacuation clause — save the carrier’s 24/7 hotline in your phone.
- 2. Know the nearest top-tier hospital where you live/work.
- 3. Frequent remote travellers: consider standalone rescue memberships (Global Rescue…) independent of insurance.
- 4. Carry insurance cards + allergy/blood-type info on remote trips.
- 5. Family knows the drill: your spouse knows who to call and where the policy number is if you’re unconscious.
FAQs
Prior carrier approval needed for evacuation?
Most terms require prior approval except critical no-contact situations — call the hotline ASAP; self-chartered air ambulances may go unpaid.
Real air-ambulance costs?
Southeast Asia medical flights: USD 50,000–150,000; intercontinental far more — hence evacuation limits must be large enough.
Companion during evacuation?
Many plans cover one companion — check terms; otherwise self-paid.
Contact us
FLAT Law Firm advises foreign nationals and their families on inheritance, wills, driving licences, health insurance and money transfers in Vietnam. Contact us for advice on your specific case.