Police, ambulance, and fire

Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)'s three main emergency numbers are simple to remember, though actually reaching someone who speaks English can be harder.

  • Police: 113
  • Ambulance: 115
  • Fire: 114

These numbers work from any phone, including mobile. The catch: don't expect fluent English on the other end, especially late at night or outside major cities. In Hanoi, Saigon, and Da Nang, emergency operators often have English speakers available. In smaller towns and rural areas, you may need to speak Vietnamese, use a translation app, or ask a nearby Vietnamese person to help.

If you're in a restaurant, hotel, or shop, staff will usually call for you. Just say your problem clearly: "Accident—I need police" or "Medical emergency." That's often faster than calling yourself.

Ambulance response times vary wildly. In central Hanoi or Saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン), expect 5–15 minutes. In Hoi An, Da Lat, or remote areas, it could be 30–45 minutes or longer. Private hospitals (like Viet-Duc in Hanoi or FV in Saigon) sometimes respond faster and often have better English-speaking staff than public hospitals.

Tourist police hotline

Tourist police (Canh Sat Du Lich): +84 24 3936 0860 (Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ)), +84 28 3829 2204 (Saigon)

This line exists specifically to help foreign travelers with crimes, disputes, lost documents, and scams. If you've been robbed, cheated, or harassed, calling tourist police is often faster than regular police and the staff are trained to deal with English speakers. In some cases, you can file a report over the phone. For others, you'll need to visit a police station in person (bring your passport).

Tourist police also have walk-in desks in major cities and tourist areas. In Hanoi, the main office is on Tran Hung Dao Street. In Saigon, it's near Ben Thanh Market. Staff are usually patient and speak English.

Your embassy or consulate

If you're in serious legal trouble, lost your passport, or face a medical emergency abroad, your embassy is your lifeline. Keep their phone number and address in your phone.

United States

  • Hanoi Embassy: +84 24 3850 5000 (main), emergency after-hours: +84 24 3850 5000 (press "0" for operator)
  • Saigon Consulate: +84 28 5520 7200

United Kingdom

  • Hanoi Embassy: +84 24 3936 0100
  • Saigon Consulate: +84 28 3825 1380

Australia

  • Hanoi Embassy: +84 24 3934 0100
  • Saigon Consulate: +84 28 3521 8100

Canada

  • Hanoi Embassy: +84 24 3734 5000
  • Saigon Consulate: +84 28 3722 9900

European Union member states

Most EU countries maintain embassies or consulates in Hanoi and Saigon. France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands all have diplomatic missions. A quick Google search for "[your country] embassy Vietnam" will get you the number.

Embassies operate regular business hours (usually 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday). For genuine emergencies outside those hours, they have after-hours phone lines. Don't call unless it's truly urgent (death, arrest, major passport loss). Minor issues like a lost credit card or visa extension question can usually wait until morning.

A doctor in a white coat converses with a patient in a hospital corridor, conveying healthcare professionalism.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels

Medical and pharmacy

If you need a doctor, hospital, or pharmacist:

  • Viet-Duc Hospital (Hanoi): +84 24 3576 1821 (major public hospital, decent English)
  • FV Hospital (Saigon): +84 28 5411 3333 (private, high standard, English-friendly)
  • International SOS (Hanoi): +84 24 3934 0666 (private, 24/7, pricey but reliable)
  • International SOS (Saigon): +84 28 3829 8520

Private clinics in tourist areas (Pham Ngu Lao in Saigon, Hoan Kiem in Hanoi) often have English-speaking doctors and charge 500,000–1,500,000 VND for a consultation. Bring your travel insurance card if you have one.

For minor ailments, visit any pharmacy (nha thuoc). Pharmacists in cities speak basic English and can recommend over-the-counter solutions for stomach trouble, headaches, or allergies. A box of paracetamol costs around 30,000 VND.

Insurance and evacuation

Travel insurance is not mandatory to enter Vietnam, but it's smart. If you have a serious accident or need evacuation (e.g., head injury, severe diving incident), your insurance company's evacuation number is critical. Keep that card and number accessible—not just photos on your phone.

If you don't have insurance and face a major medical bill, your embassy can sometimes help with loans or emergency assistance, but it's slow and bureaucratic. Prevention is better than remedy.

Vibrant celebration at the Ky Cung Ta Phu Temple Festival in Lạng Sơn, Vietnam.

Photo by Vietnam Hidden Light on Pexels

What to do if you lose your passport

  1. Call your embassy immediately. They'll walk you through replacement steps. You'll need a police report, new passport photos (available at photo shops near any district police station for ~80,000 VND), and your travel documents.
  2. File a report with local police. Go to the nearest police station with a Vietnamese speaker (ask your hotel). This takes 1–2 hours. You'll get a report number, which your embassy needs to issue a replacement.
  3. Expect 1–2 weeks for a replacement passport from most embassies, though "emergency" passports (valid 1 year) can be processed faster.

While waiting, you can't travel between provinces without your original passport (or a police report on paper). Stay in one place or accept the risk of a fine from traffic police.

Common mistakes

  • Calling 113 from a motorbike taxi: The driver usually stops and calls for you; you're not expected to handle it yourself.
  • Not having a Vietnamese speaker on hand: Even a hotel staff member translating helps enormously.
  • Assuming your travel insurance covers everything: Read the fine print. Many policies exclude "dangerous activities" like rock climbing, diving, or motorbike riding. Know your limits.
  • Not keeping copies of important documents: Scan your passport, visa, insurance card, and traveler's checks. Email them to yourself or store them on cloud backup.

Practical notes

Save these numbers to your phone before you arrive, or jot them on a card in your wallet. If you're traveling long-term, add your embassy to your contacts and confirm their hours online (embassies sometimes change). Most importantly, travel insurance is cheap (often under 30 USD for 2 weeks) and invaluable if something goes wrong.

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Last updated · May 26, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.