Asiaplus Tours: Your Guide to Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia

At Asiaplus Tours, we believe travel insurance is a critical part of a safe and enjoyable trip to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. While not legally mandatory, it is a non-negotiable for your protection against unforeseen events.

Here is our guideline on why travel insurance is essential and the minimum coverage you should have.

Why You Need Travel Insurance

• Medical Emergencies: Healthcare, especially emergency care, can be expensive. Insurance covers costs for illness, injury, and unforeseen accidents.
• Emergency Evacuation: In severe cases, you may need to be airlifted to a better-equipped hospital. Without insurance, these costs can be financially devastating.
• Trip Protection: It protects your financial investment against non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to an emergency.
• Lost or Stolen Items: It provides coverage for lost or stolen luggage, passports, and other personal belongings.
• Adventure Activities: Many standard policies don’t cover activities like trekking or motorbiking. Ensure your policy covers the activities on your itinerary.

Minimum Coverage Recommendations

We recommend a policy that includes the following minimum coverage amounts:

• Medical Expenses: At least $100,000 USD to cover hospital stays, treatment, and medication.
• Emergency Evacuation: At least $250,000 USD to cover the cost of emergency transport.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption: An amount that covers all of your non-refundable trip costs.
• Baggage & Personal Belongings: At least $1,000 USD to cover lost or stolen items.

For your peace of mind and financial security, please secure a comprehensive travel insurance policy before you depart.

Safety for your travel

While Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand are generally safe and welcoming, a few precautions will ensure a smooth and worry-free trip.

1. Personal Safety and Valuables

• Be aware of your surroundings: Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common, especially in crowded markets, bus stations, and major tourist sites.
• Secure your belongings: Use a cross-body bag or a money belt. Keep zippers closed and bags on the side of your body away from traffic.
• Limit valuables: Avoid wearing expensive jewelry or flashing large amounts of cash.
• Carry copies of documents: Leave your original passport in a locked safe at your hotel. Carry a photocopy or a digital photo of your passport, visa, and hotel information.

2. Transportation

• Be cautious with traffic: Traffic can be chaotic, with motorbikes and cars often not following standard rules. When crossing the street, walk slowly and predictably.
• Use reputable services:
  • For taxis, use a ride-hailing app like Grab (available in all four countries) to ensure a fixed fare and a registered driver.
  • If using a traditional taxi, insist that the driver use the meter or agree on a price before getting in. Take pictures of the vehicle’s number plate or driver in case you left some belongings or he/she cheated on you.  
• Rentals: If you rent a motorbike or jet ski, take photos or a video of the vehicle before you ride to avoid being charged for pre-existing damage upon return. Never leave your passport as a deposit.

3.  Telecommunications

Wifi/ 5G is available in all popular travel destinations in this region. Almost all hotels and restaurants/buses offer free wifi. Local SIM cards are easily found in convenience stores (passports required upon purchase for foreigners). A local sim will ease communication with locals and friends via international apps like WhatsApp or Viber. It also secures a reservation of a taxi ride via Grab (the most popular taxi app). Popular social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Youtube, X…. are not subject to any restrictions. 

4. Common Scams

• “Closed” attraction scam: A friendly local or tuk-tuk driver may tell you that a popular temple or site is “closed for a holiday” and offer to take you to another place where they earn a commission. Verify opening hours online or at your hotel.
• Overpriced tours/goods: Be wary of unsolicited offers for tours, gems, or other goods from strangers.
• “Rigged” card games: Avoid invitations from strangers to play cards or other games, as these are often scams designed to get your money.

5. Health and Hygiene

• Food and water: Drink only bottled or filtered water. For street food, choose stalls with high turnover where food is cooked fresh and served hot.
• Hygiene: Carry hand sanitizer and use it frequently, especially before eating.
• Insect protection: Use strong insect repellent, as mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever can occur.

6. Cultural Sensitivity

• Dress respectfully: When visiting temples or other religious sites, ensure your shoulders and knees are covered. Remove your shoes before entering temples or someone’s home.
• Be mindful of the head: The head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Do not touch or pat someone’s head, even a child’s.
• Respect monks: Women should not touch a Buddhist monk.