Emergency Numbers in Vietnam: Police, Fire, Ambulance and What to Call

Vietnam uses separate emergency numbers for police, fire and medical assistance. Travellers and foreign residents should save these numbers before they need them, because an emergency is not the moment to start searching online.

The main emergency numbers in Vietnam are 113 for police, 114 for fire and rescue, and 115 for an ambulance or medical emergency. Vietnam also uses 112 for national search and rescue. UK government travel guidance states that Vietnam's emergency numbers are operated in Vietnamese, so language can be an important practical issue for foreigners.

Emergency numbers in Vietnam

For a life-threatening medical problem, call 115. For an urgent police situation, call 113. For fire and rescue, call 114.

What is the ambulance number in Vietnam?

The ambulance and medical emergency number in Vietnam is 115.

Call 115 when someone appears to need urgent medical assistance, for example after a serious accident or when they have symptoms such as severe breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, major bleeding or another potentially life-threatening condition.

The U.S. Department of State notes that ambulance services are widely available in major Vietnamese cities, while travellers outside cities may need to contact the nearest hospital for ambulance services. It also advises that ambulance equipment may be more limited than travellers expect from some other healthcare systems.

If the situation is serious, do not delay emergency care while comparing clinics or checking insurance details.

What is the police emergency number in Vietnam?

The emergency number for police is 113.

Call 113 when you need urgent police assistance, including situations involving violence, serious threats, crime or major traffic incidents requiring police involvement.

For non-urgent issues, such as reporting lost property, you may need to contact or visit the local police station instead. UK government guidance advises foreign visitors to use a translator when reporting a crime if needed and to obtain a police report, particularly because an insurer may request it later.

What is the fire emergency number in Vietnam?

The fire and rescue number is 114.

Call 114 for a fire or another emergency requiring fire and rescue services. If you are in a burning building, leave if it is safe to do so, follow the building's evacuation instructions and do not return to collect belongings.

What is 112 in Vietnam?

Vietnam also uses 112 for national search and rescue.

This is separate from the main police, fire and ambulance numbers. Most travellers will primarily need to remember 113, 114 and 115, but 112 is useful to save as part of your emergency contacts.

Do emergency operators in Vietnam speak English?

Do not assume that an emergency operator will speak English. UK government guidance states that Vietnam's emergency numbers are operated in Vietnamese.

If possible, ask a Vietnamese speaker to help communicate with the operator. Hotel reception staff, apartment staff, security personnel, colleagues or nearby local residents may be able to help explain the situation and your location.

It is useful to keep your hotel or home address written in Vietnamese on your phone. This can be much easier to show or read to someone than trying to translate an address during an emergency.

What information should you give when calling an emergency number?

Keep the information simple and practical. Try to provide:

• what has happened
• your exact location
• the number of people affected
• whether anyone is unconscious, bleeding heavily or having difficulty breathing
• your telephone number
• a nearby landmark, hotel or building name if the address is difficult to explain

If possible, keep the phone available after the call in case the emergency service needs to contact you again.

What should you do in a medical emergency in Vietnam?

If someone appears to have a life-threatening medical problem, call 115 or seek immediate emergency medical care.

Examples of potentially serious situations include severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected stroke or heart attack, severe allergic reaction, poisoning or rapidly worsening symptoms.

For a more detailed explanation of what to do when you need medical care, see Sick in Vietnam? What to do and where to go to get better.

If the medical problem is urgent but not immediately life-threatening, contacting a hospital or suitable clinic directly may sometimes be appropriate. Healthcare options vary considerably between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and smaller cities or rural areas.

Emergency numbers after a road accident

Road traffic accidents are one situation in which travellers may need more than one emergency service.

Call 115 if someone requires urgent medical treatment. Call 113 when police assistance is required at the accident scene.

Avoid moving someone with a suspected serious head, neck or spinal injury unless leaving them where they are creates an immediate danger. Significant injuries should be assessed by healthcare professionals.

If nobody is seriously injured, photographs, insurance information and a police report may still be important depending on the circumstances.

What should you do after a dog or animal bite?

Animal bites can require prompt medical assessment because rabies occurs in Vietnam.

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water as soon as possible and seek medical care promptly. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before asking for medical advice about rabies exposure.

Call 115 when the injury itself is severe, there is uncontrolled bleeding or another immediate medical emergency.

When illness becomes an emergency

Many common travel illnesses do not require an ambulance, but symptoms can occasionally become serious.

Seek urgent medical assessment if someone develops severe dehydration, confusion, reduced consciousness, significant breathing difficulty, persistent inability to drink fluids, heavy bleeding or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Vietnam Clinic has separate guides to Food Poisoning in Vietnam and Dengue in Vietnam, which explain symptoms and warning signs in more detail.

Insurance and emergency medical treatment

Keep your travel or health insurance information somewhere you can access quickly. Useful details include your policy number, insurer's assistance telephone number and emergency coverage conditions.

Travel insurance policies differ substantially. Check whether yours covers ambulance services, emergency treatment, hospital admission, medical evacuation and repatriation.

You can read more in Health Insurance for Foreigners in Vietnam: Costs, Coverage and Options.

In a genuine life-threatening emergency, however, obtaining urgent medical assistance takes priority over insurance administration.

What to save on your phone before travelling to Vietnam

Save these numbers:

• 113: Police
• 114: Fire and rescue
• 115: Ambulance and medical emergency
• 112: National search and rescue

It is also useful to save your accommodation address in Vietnamese, your insurance assistance number, an emergency contact and a list of important medications and allergies.

If you have a significant medical condition, consider identifying an appropriate hospital near where you are staying before an emergency happens.

Emergency numbers in Vietnam at a glance

For most travellers, the three numbers to remember are simple: 113 for police, 114 for fire and rescue, and 115 for an ambulance or medical emergency.

Save them before your trip. Language support and emergency response arrangements can vary, particularly outside major cities, so having your location and basic medical information ready can make it easier to get help quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. UK Government Foreign Travel Advice: Getting Help in Vietnam
2. U.S. Department of State: Vietnam Travel Advisory
3. UK Government: Living in Vietnam