Safety & PracticalitiesBy Clever Tourists · Published
No. Do not drink tap water in Vietnam; use bottled, boiled or filtered water. World Travel Guide says "travellers should not drink directly from tap water in Vietnam", and the CDC's Yellow Book, the source our own Vietnam things to know page cites, says the same. Ice in established hotels, restaurants and cafes is the usual exception, because it is commercially made from purified water. We were in Vietnam from April to May 2023, in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, and what follows is the rule set that works across all of it.
• Drink: sealed bottled water, water from a filtered dispenser in your hotel, hot tea and coffee, and canned or bottled soft drinks.
• Ice: fine in established restaurants, cafes and hotels. World Travel Guide notes that ice at reputable places is generally made from purified water, and advises caution in more local establishments.
• Brushing teeth: use bottled or filtered water if your stomach is sensitive. Spit rather than swallow, and keep your mouth closed in the shower.
• Fruit and salads: eat fruit you peel yourself, and be cautious with raw greens washed in tap water at street stalls.
Vietnam's mains water may be treated, but it moves through old pipes and building tanks, and standards vary from city to city and from building to building. The CDC's Vietnam page does not give a tap-water statement of its own and links to its general advice on choosing safe food and drinks and avoiding contaminated water; it stresses that food and water standards differ within a country. Locals commonly boil water or drink from large filtered bottles, and visitors should do the same.
This is the practical reason most hostels, guesthouses and homestays have a filtered water dispenser or a stack of large bottles in the common area. Use them to refill your own bottle rather than buying a new plastic one every few hours.
Ice is where the rule gets blurred. In a busy Hanoi cafe or a Ho Chi Minh City restaurant, the ice is typically delivered in factory-made tubes. In a small roadside stall the source may be unknown. If you want the one cautious option, order drinks without ice at the stall level and keep ice for places where the staff look as though they work with a steady supply of it.
For street food, the standard rules apply: pick busy places with high turnover, dishes cooked in front of you, hot and fresh, and plenty of local customers. Our Vietnam safety guide deals with food and health in more depth, and our Vietnam grocery guide shows where to buy bottles, fruit and snacks.
In the north, Hanoi and Ninh Binh are on the standard rule; expect hotels to supply bottled water daily. Trips to Sapa and mountain homestays should plan around bottled water, since refilling can be limited.
In the centre, Hoi An and Hue are tourist-heavy and well supplied; during floods or monsoon rains in autumn the CDC warns that floodwater can carry leptospirosis and melioidosis, so avoid wading and swallowing water. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta around Can Tho have plenty of bottled water but the same tap rule; boat trips on the delta are surrounded by brown river water, which is not for drinking or swimming.
For weather and seasons by region, see our Vietnam in January and Vietnam packing list.
Bottled water is cheap, which is one reason the habit works. A large bottle at a convenience store or supermarket costs far less per litre than small bottles at tourist sites. Many mid-range hotels also provide free bottles. A refillable bottle and a filter bottle for trips and treks cut waste and cost. Before leaving the hotel, fill up from the filtered dispenser.
Keep small notes for water and snacks; our Vietnam cash-or-card guide explains when cash is essential and our Vietnam tipping guide covers what is and isn't expected.
Travellers' diarrhoea is common in Southeast Asia and usually passes in a day or two with rest, oral rehydration salts and plenty of safe fluids. Seek medical care for fever, blood in stool, severe dehydration or symptoms that last beyond a couple of days. Check vaccines before travel in our vaccines and health prep guide; the CDC lists typhoid and hepatitis A as vaccine-preventable risks tied to food and water in many Asian countries.
Pack a refillable bottle, fill it from hotel dispensers each morning, and keep one sealed bottle as backup. Hot, humid days in the south, especially around Ho Chi Minh City in May, mean you can drink several litres, so large bottles save money.
Check the seal on every bottle you buy from a street stall, because refilled bottles are occasionally resold. Order hot tea or coffee if you doubt the water, and wash your hands before eating. Carry rehydration salts in case of a stomach upset.
Many people do, but the cautious option is bottled or filtered water, especially for a sensitive stomach. Spit it out and do not swallow.
Usually yes at established hotels, restaurants and cafes, where it is made from purified water. Be cautious at small local stalls, as World Travel Guide advises.
No. Use the bottled water the hotel provides, or the filtered dispenser. The tap rule applies in every city.
Carry a refillable bottle and top it up from filtered dispensers or large bottles. In hot months you may drink several litres a day, so large bottles are cheaper.
Not always. The CDC warns against swimming in freshwater where sanitation is poor and against swallowing water when swimming, particularly after heavy rain or floods.
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