Diazepam in Vietnam: Controls, Import & Pharmacies

Quick reference

Drug class: Benzodiazepine
Controlled substance: Yes, Schedule II psychotropic under Vietnam's Law on Pharmacy 2016 and the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances
Prescription required: Yes
Available locally: Yes, generic diazepam is dispensed at hospital-affiliated pharmacies; a Vietnamese prescription is required
Storage: Room temperature, below 30°C, protected from light and moisture
Max supply to carry: No explicit published cap for personal import; bring documentation supporting your full travel duration
Key document: Doctor's letter in English and Vietnamese, original prescription, original pharmacy-labelled packaging
Emergency alternative: Go to a public hospital or international clinic, present your documentation, and ask a doctor to issue a local prescription for diazepam.

Travelling to Vietnam with diazepam: what changes

Diazepam, sold internationally as Valium, Diastat, Valpam, and Stesolid, is classified as a Schedule II psychotropic substance in Vietnam^[1] under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, to which Vietnam is a signatory. Bringing it into Vietnam without proper documentation is a customs violation. Availability at local pharmacies is restricted to hospital-linked dispensaries, and a Vietnamese prescription is required to obtain it in-country.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Before you travel

Documentation for travelling to Vietnam with diazepam

Because diazepam is a controlled psychotropic under Vietnamese law, you must carry a doctor's letter alongside your original prescription and pharmacy-labelled packaging. Vietnam's Ministry of Health requires psychotropic medications to be declared at the border^[2] with supporting documentation. A translated Vietnamese version of your doctor's letter significantly reduces the chance of a customs delay.

Pre-travel paperwork timeline

T-30 days
Book an appointment with your prescribing doctor to renew your prescription and obtain a signed doctor's letter covering your full travel period.Prescriber letter
T-14 days
Arrange a certified Vietnamese translation of your doctor's letter. Use a certified medical translator; Vietnamese customs officers may not read English documentation.Translated doctor's letter
Translation agencies typically require 5-10 business days. Ask for the translator's stamp and credentials to be included.
T-7 days
Collect your full medication supply from your pharmacy in original, labelled packaging. Confirm the pharmacy label shows your name, the generic name (diazepam), dose, and quantity.Original pharmacy-labelled packaging
T-1 day
Print all documents, English and Vietnamese versions. Do not rely solely on a phone screen at customs. Pack medication in hand luggage with documents immediately accessible.
T-0 (border)
Declare diazepam proactively on the customs declaration form. Present your doctor's letter, translated version, original prescription, and pharmacy packaging together if questioned.

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What your doctor's letter must include

Full name matching your passport, medication name (diazepam INN and brand name), dose and frequency, total quantity carried, condition name, doctor's signature, registration number, and clinic letterhead. Bring both an English original and a certified Vietnamese translation. Notarisation is not formally required but a certified translator's stamp adds credibility at customs.

A Vietnamese translation of your doctor's letter is strongly recommended. Notarisation is not a formal requirement under current Vietnamese customs regulations, but a certified translator's stamp reduces the risk of unnecessary delays at points of entry.

How much diazepam to bring

Vietnam has not published a specific personal import quantity cap for diazepam, but the INCB recommends personal supplies proportionate to the documented treatment duration. Bring exactly the quantity your doctor's letter specifies, with a 10-15% buffer for travel delays. Obtaining a local refill requires a Vietnamese doctor's consultation and a locally issued prescription, which takes time and is not guaranteed. Travel insurance that covers prescription medication replacement is advisable.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup dose in checked luggage. If one bag is lost or delayed, you still have medication. Keep both portions in original packaging with pharmacy labels visible.

Packing and storing diazepam for travel

Diazepam tablets should be stored below 30°C, protected from light and moisture.^[5] Vietnam's tropical climate regularly exceeds 35°C outdoors from April to October, so keep the medication inside an air-conditioned bag or hotel room rather than in a car, outdoor bag, or beach tote. During layovers in non-air-conditioned areas, keep the supply in a cool, shaded part of your carry-on. Do not transfer tablets out of original blister packaging, as labels must remain readable at customs.

At the airport and border

Airport security with diazepam

Diazepam tablets are solid-form medication and are not subject to liquid carry-on restrictions at security checkpoints. Keep the medication in your hand luggage in original packaging so it is visible for inspection without being buried in your bag. If you are asked about the medication at security, present your doctor's letter. Do not remove tablets from their original blister packs or place them into unlabelled containers.

Customs and medication import rules for Vietnam

Vietnam requires travellers to declare controlled psychotropic medications on entry. Diazepam falls under Vietnam's psychotropic substances regulations^[2] and must be declared on the customs health declaration form. Present your original prescription, doctor's letter, translated Vietnamese version, and pharmacy-labelled packaging together. No advance import permit from a Vietnamese authority is required for personal quantities proportionate to your stay, but the declaration and documentation are mandatory.

Controlled substance warning

Diazepam is a Schedule II psychotropic under Vietnamese law. Failure to declare it at customs or carrying it without documentation can result in confiscation and legal proceedings. Always tick the medication declaration box on the entry form and be prepared to present all supporting paperwork immediately. Do not repack tablets into unlabelled containers under any circumstances.

While in country

Diazepam availability in Vietnam

Brands of diazepam sold in Vietnam

Brand name	Indication	Formulation	Supply note
Diazepam (generic)	Psychotropic / anxiolytic	Oral tablet	Available at hospital-affiliated pharmacies; Vietnamese prescription required

Diazepam is available in Vietnam as a generic under its INN name. No international brands such as Valium are confirmed as stocked in Vietnamese retail pharmacies. Hospital-linked pharmacies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City dispense it^[3] with a locally issued prescription.

A consultation with a Vietnamese doctor to obtain that prescription costs approximately 300,000-600,000 VND (~$12-$24 / ~€11-€22) at a private clinic. Diazepam tablets themselves cost roughly 2,000-5,000 VND (~$0.08-$0.20 / ~€0.07-€0.18) per tablet at hospital pharmacies, though price and availability vary by facility.

Finding a doctor who can prescribe diazepam in Vietnam

International clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have English-speaking doctors who can assess your medication needs. Private international hospitals such as Vinmec and FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City^[4] have English-speaking physicians and can issue local prescriptions. For more information on healthcare options, refer to Nomedic's Vietnam travel guide.

A consultation at an international clinic typically costs 600,000-1,200,000 VND (~$24-$48 / ~€22-€44). Telemedicine options from your home country cannot issue a Vietnamese prescription but can provide supporting documentation for local doctors. Because diazepam is a controlled psychotropic, a psychiatrist or neurologist may be required to prescribe it rather than a general practitioner.

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Storing diazepam while in Vietnam

Diazepam tablets are stable at room temperature below 30°C, away from light and moisture. In Vietnam's tropical climate, outdoor temperatures in cities such as Ho Chi Minh City regularly exceed 35°C from March to November. Store your supply inside air-conditioned accommodation, not in a bag left in a vehicle or in direct sunlight.

In the event of a power outage lasting more than a few hours, move tablets to the coolest shaded interior location available; diazepam does not require refrigeration, so no cold-chain contingency is needed beyond temperature control.

Emergencies

What to do if something goes wrong with your diazepam in Vietnam

If your medication is lost or stolen, file a police report immediately (call 113) and keep a copy. Contact your travel insurer's emergency line and your prescribing doctor to obtain written confirmation of your prescription, which a Vietnamese doctor will need before issuing a replacement.

If you run out unexpectedly, go to the nearest international hospital or clinic. In Hanoi, Vinmec International Hospital and the Hanoi French Hospital both have English-speaking physicians. Because diazepam is a controlled psychotropic, the prescribing doctor will need to see all your original documentation before issuing a Vietnamese prescription. Do not attempt to purchase diazepam from an unlicensed vendor, as counterfeit medication is a documented risk in Vietnam.

“Tôi cần diazepam / Tôi có đơn thuốc / Làm ơn gọi bác sĩ / Hiệu thuốc gần nhất ở đâu?”

I need diazepam / I have a prescription / Please call a doctor / Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Vietnam's national ambulance number is 115. For police (including to file a theft report), call 113.^[6] Most international hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City operate 24-hour emergency departments with English-speaking triage staff.

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Frequently asked questions

Is diazepam legal in Vietnam?

Diazepam is legal in Vietnam for personal medical use, provided you carry a valid prescription and a doctor's letter and declare it at customs. It is classified as a controlled psychotropic substance under Vietnamese pharmaceutical law, so possession without documentation is a customs violation.

Can I bring diazepam into Vietnam?

Yes, you can bring diazepam into Vietnam for personal use if you declare it on your customs form and carry your original prescription, a doctor's letter (in English and Vietnamese), and pharmacy-labelled packaging. No advance import permit from a Vietnamese authority is currently required for personal quantities, but declaration at the border is mandatory.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with diazepam?

A doctor's letter is strongly recommended and effectively required in practice when entering Vietnam with diazepam. Because the medication is a controlled psychotropic, Vietnamese customs officers may question you at the border, and a signed letter on clinic letterhead with a Vietnamese translation is your primary evidence that the supply is for legitimate personal medical use.

Is diazepam available in Vietnam pharmacies?

Generic diazepam is dispensed at hospital-affiliated pharmacies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but you need a locally issued Vietnamese prescription to obtain it. Retail street pharmacies do not legally dispense controlled psychotropics without a valid local prescription. International brand names such as Valium are not reliably stocked in Vietnam.

What if I run out of diazepam in Vietnam?

Visit an international clinic or hospital, bring all your original documentation, and ask to see a physician who can issue a Vietnamese prescription. Vinmec International Hospital (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) and FV Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) both have English-speaking doctors with experience prescribing controlled medications to international patients. A consultation costs approximately 600,000-1,200,000 VND (~$24-$48 / ~€22-€44).

Is Valium available in Vietnam?

Valium, the international brand name for diazepam made by Roche, is not confirmed as a stocked brand in Vietnamese pharmacies. Generic diazepam under its INN name is available at hospital-linked pharmacies with a Vietnamese prescription. If you normally take Valium, present the drug by its active ingredient name (diazepam) when seeking care in Vietnam.

How much does diazepam cost in Vietnam without insurance?

Generic diazepam tablets cost approximately 2,000-5,000 VND (~$0.08-$0.20 / ~€0.07-€0.18) per tablet at hospital pharmacies in Vietnam, making the medication itself inexpensive. The main cost is the consultation to obtain a local prescription, which ranges from 300,000-1,200,000 VND (~$12-$48 / ~€11-€44) depending on whether you visit a public hospital or an international private clinic.

Related practical guide

Benzodiazepines Abroad: Why Customs Can Seize Your Prescription

A valid prescription does not protect your benzodiazepines at every border. Here is what customs officers actually check, and what happens when supply runs out abroad.

Diazepam in Vietnam: Controls, Import Rules and Pharmacies