Mental health support for British nationals in Vietnam

Question 1

Disclaimer

Accepted Answer

The information contained in this note is intended for your general guidance only; it is not a substitute for obtaining your own medical and legal advice. While all due care has been taken in compiling this information, accuracy cannot be guaranteed, and the applicable law and procedures may occasionally change. For these reasons, neither His Majesty’s Government nor any member of the British Consular staff can accept liability for any costs, damages or expenses which might be incurred.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998. Such personal data may be disclosed to other UK Government Departments and public authorities.

Question 2

Factors that affect your mental health during travelling or moving abroad

Accepted Answer

Your mental and physical health before and during a trip usually affect how well you cope with travelling and or moving abroad.

There are clear links between mental and physical health, so you should look after yourself during travel and when you are abroad. Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Keep in regular contact with the people who normally support you, such as, family, friends and colleagues.

Stress levels can be intensified during travel because you may not have familiar support systems. You may also experience disrupted daily routines, language barriers, culture shock and unexpected situations.

The NHS has more information on the factors that affect mental health during travel, as well as how to manage them

Question 3

Plan before you travel

Accepted Answer

You can find information about how travel can impact your mental health at NHS Mental Health and Travel. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers has a list of resources on travel and mental health.

You may wish to discuss your travel with your doctor or community mental health team.

Follow the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel checklist to prepare for travel abroad.

Question 4

Get appropriate travel insurance

Accepted Answer

If you do not take out adequate insurance, you will normally have to pay for any emergency yourself, which may include expensive medical bills.

Read the FCDO advice on foreign travel insurance which includes contacts for more information and help finding specialist insurance. Always check the small print and make sure it includes your pre-existing medical conditions, and any activities you intend to undertake. Some insurance companies will exclude cover for a mental health condition, so you should check what several companies offer.

If you need specialist insurance, organisations such as MIND have information on insurance cover and mental health including a list of specialist insurance providers.

If you are moving abroad for employment, check whether your new employer provides you with health insurance, if so ensure that it is sufficient or will require you to explore additional insurance needs at extra cost.

Question 5

Mental Health overview in Vietnam

Accepted Answer

Unlike in the UK there is no mental health act, which is a continuing problem that results in insufficient protection of people with mental health disorders. But Vietnam has made significant strides in recognising mental health as a national priority, with the government including mental health in its National Health Target Programs and developing a National Mental Health Strategy 2015-2025. While a comprehensive mental health act is still under development, the country is actively working to strengthen legal frameworks and expand services to better protect and support people with mental health conditions.

Vietnam operates over 40 psychiatric hospitals nationwide with approximately 6,000 beds. While capacity expansion is ongoing, these facilities primarily serve local patients. The system is evolving to include more outpatient and community-based services, making mental health care more accessible.

Despite recent efforts and encouraging progress, mental health care in Vietnam continues to face major challenges. These include insufficient hospital beds for mental health care, limited availability of high standard interventions such as psychotherapy and psychosocial rehabilitation. Skill shortages, inadequate access to medications, insufficient infrastructure for mental health care, limited and fragmented funding along with policy making adds to these challenges.

Language barriers is also a factor in many parts of Vietnam, meaning that foreigners are likely to struggle accessing services without the assistance of interpreters unless they go to international private hospitals that are of higher costs but have access to English speaking staff.

With no mental health law, accessing mental health services through social insurance locally is often a challenge and often requires the payment to be paid up front instead.

International hospitals are often more suitable and set up to accept international payments or work with travel insurance providers, as long as the insurance policy taken out for adequate to cover mental health specifically, if it was not then the patient will need to pay for the services directly.

Question 6

Consular assistance

Accepted Answer

Whenever possible we will seek your permission before taking any action on your behalf.

We can:

Listen to you and help you look at your options.
Help you to contact friends and family members if you want to.
Visit you in hospital or prison, if relevant, in line with our standard procedures.
Raise any concerns about your treatment or welfare with the responsible authority (such as a hospital).
Give information if you plan to return to the UK.

We cannot:

Give advice on mental health issues.
Buy or supply medication for you.
Pay for food, accommodation, medical bills, or your return to the UK.
Get you better hospital treatment than is given to local people.
Provide formal translation or interpretation of medical advice, documents or act as an interpreter between you and the hospital.
Get you discharged from or arrange for you to be admitted to hospital.
Intervene in any local legal process resulting from a mental health emergency.
Withhold or remove a passport.
Hold on to or take responsibility for personal belongings.
Stop you from travelling abroad.
Make you return to the UK against your will.
Stop you being deported if the local authorities decide you must leave the country.
Give legal advice on Vietnam mental health laws.

Question 7

What do to if you need help

Accepted Answer

Emergencies

If you need medical help urgently, you should call:

115 for Ambulance
113 for Police if there is threat to self or others.

Emergency numbers in Vietnam are operated in Vietnamese only.

Less urgent situations

There is no GP system in Vietnam.

For less urgent requirements, you may visit a state or an international hospital with a mental health department. The facilities listed below may not be exhaustive, larger cities are more likely to have more options than smaller provinces, and some based in larger cities may be able to offer remote consultations.

Question 8

List of hospitals with mental health departments in Vietnam

Accepted Answer

Hospital	Location	Address & Opening hours	English speaking staff	Public/ Private provider
National Psychiatric Hospital I	Hanoi	Roas 71, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi +84 (0)24 3385 3227	Some	Public
Hanoi Mental Hospital	Hanoi	30/467, Nguyen Van Linh Street, Phuc Dong, Long Bien, Ha Noi +84 (0)967 30 1616	Some	Public
Vinmec International Integrated Mental Health Centre	Hanoi	Vinmec Times City 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung District, Ha Noi Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:30 Sat 08:30 to 12:30	Yes	Private
Vinmec International Integrated Mental Health Centre	Ho Chi Minh City	Vinmec Central Park 208 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:30 Sat 08:30 to 12:30	Yes	Private
Bien Hoa Psychiatric Central Hospital II	Dong Nai Province	Highway No. 1, Tan Thai, Bien Hoa, Dong Nai Province +84 (0)251 3822965	Limited	Public
Hoan My Saigon Hospital	Ho Chi Minh City	60-60A Phan Xich Long, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District +84 (0)28 3990 2468	Some	Private
Family Medical Practice	Ho Chi Minh City	95 Thao Dien, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City +84 (0)28 3744 2000	Yes	Private
FV Hospital	Ho Chi Minh City	6 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan Phu Ward, District 7 +84 (0)28 3511 3333	Yes	Private

In general hospitals, the mental health departments are not generally available out of normal hospital hours. Mental health support is still lacking in most cities in Vietnam.

Though most cities have a designated public mental health hospital, or mental health department within a general hospital, the standards vary significantly from big tier one cities to smaller cities in rural provinces. In small cities, finding an English-speaking psychiatrist can be difficult. If possible, you should go with someone that can speak Vietnamese. Also, be ready to provide your medical background, including:

Any previous diagnoses information about your mental health issues.
Details of previous or current medication you are taking.

The Embassy or Consulate can help you by providing lists of interpreters.

Question 9

Prescriptions

Accepted Answer

If you are on holiday or have recently moved to Vietnam and need a repeat or replacement prescription, you should contact a local psychiatrist at a nearby hospital.

Some medications prescribed in the UK may not be available in Vietnam.

You may ask your doctor or medical professional for advice before you travel to Vietnam. Carrying a copy of your prescription can help doctors to find the exact or similar medication.

Doctors will assess your situation before they prescribe even if you have a prescription from the UK. The Embassy or Consulate can help you by providing lists of hospitals but are unable to recommend any particular facility.

You should also ensure that you have up-to-date prescriptions for any medicine that you are bringing into Vietnam. Drug laws in Vietnam are extremely strict and caution must be taken, even with medication that you have been legitimately prescribed in your home country – check if your medication is permitted in Vietnam with your nearest Vietnamese embassy

If you have a condition and are on medication, please ensure that you have sufficient supplies with you and take the medication on time. Particularly if you are going to rural areas in Vietnam, where getting mental health prescriptions and access to medication may be more difficult.

Remember to:

Bring enough of your medication with you.
Always keep your medication in the original container with the labels affixed.
Pack your medication in your carry-on luggage.
Carry a copy of your prescriptions.

Question 10

Involuntary hospitalisation

Accepted Answer

In Vietnam, people with mental health needs may be hospitalised without their consent, if they are considered to be behaving in a threatening manner towards themselves or others or need treatment urgently and are unable to make decisions themselves.

In an emergency, police officers, close family members or employers can take an individual to a mental health facility for assessment, the embassy or consulate cannot facilitate or approve an involuntary hospitalisation if family or friends are asked by the medical facility for this.

The individual will be assessed by registered psychiatrists. If diagnosed as having a severe mental disorder, the individual will be hospitalised.

If you have mental health needs and have been hospitalised without your consent, the hospital may or may not contact the British Embassy or relevant Consulate. If you are unaccompanied, the hospital will usually inform the Embassy or Consulate about the hospitalisation via the police. They will ask consular officials to request that your next of kin consent to the hospitalisation. In Vietnam there is no official status of who can be a next of kin but this usually refers to spouses, parents or children. This will usually only be carried out by the embassy or consulate with your consent.

Question 11

Costs of hospitalisation

Accepted Answer

You will be expected to pay the cost of treatment. If you need to be hospitalised in both a state and private hospital, you will be expected to pay a deposit before admission. If it is involuntary hospitalisation and you are taken into the hospital by police, sometimes this deposit can be waived.

Medical costs vary between state and private hospitals. State hospitals usually incur lower medical costs but may lack English language proficiency. Private and international hospitals/medical centres with English speaking psychiatrists and psychologists are much more expensive.

Before you travel, make sure you have comprehensive insurance covering health care and medical evacuation/repatriation for the duration of your stay. Make sure that you declare any pre-existing conditions to your insurance company to ensure that your insurance is valid. Please view our guidance on foreign travel insurance, which outlines what your insurance policies should cover you for.

Question 12

Support from other agencies and organisations

Accepted Answer

There are no known support charity organisations for supporting foreign nationals registered in Vietnam. There are a few therapy providers listed below, and there are likely to be more availability in larger cities.

Institution name	City	Address	English Speaking staff	Private/Public
International Center for Cognitive Development	Ho chi minh city	4th Floor, 191 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, HCMC, Vietnam (+84) 965 729 346 contact@iccd.info	Yes	Private counselling
Saigon Therapy	Ho chi minh city	The Vista An Phu, Tower 5, 628C Hanoi Highway,HCMC, Vietnam +84 961045800 info@saigontherapy	Yes	Private counselling
Touching Soul	Ho chi minh city	80/23 Dang Van Ngu St, Phu Nhuan Dist, HCMC +84 703 50 58 50 therapy@touchingsoul.art	Yes	Private counselling

Question 13

Returning to the UK

Accepted Answer

Repatriation under medical supervision is possible in many cases but can be costly and take a long time to organise. This is normally done through, a medical repatriation company and costs are normally covered by travel insurance or personal funds. It is not unusual that hospitals may refuse to issue fit-to-fly certificate when patient discharge from hospital.

The Embassy or Consulate can assist with complex repatriations by linking up with travel care centres or other chaplaincies in the UK. These organisations, based at UK airports, specialise in assisting vulnerable customers on arrival.