Short answer: yes, you need your own travel insurance for the Ha Giang Loop and for trekking in Tay Con Linh. Our insurance covers accidents on the tour. It is not a replacement for a full travel policy. Here is what is covered, what is not, and what to check in your own policy before you fly.
I am Nguyễn Văn Trung, founder of TVPalm. I am not an insurance adviser, so I will not recommend a company. I will tell you what we include and what we ask every guest to arrange.
What TVPalm includes
Every guest on a TVPalm tour is covered by PVI Inbound 2 travel insurance, up to USD 25,000 per guest. It covers accidents during the tour. We buy it for you and give you the certificate at departure. It is part of the price.
What you need to arrange yourself
Our policy covers tour accidents only. It does not replace comprehensive international travel insurance with medical cover and emergency evacuation. We strongly advise you to buy that before you arrive in Vietnam.
- Ha Giang Loop: you need personal insurance that covers riding on a motorbike as a passenger. Many standard policies exclude motorbikes unless you add a clause.
- Trekking: personal trekking insurance is not included in our price and is required. Tay Con Linh reaches 2,428 m, so check any altitude limit in your policy.
You can see exactly what is included and excluded on each tour page, for example the Ha Giang Loop and the 3-day Tay Con Linh trek.
Six things to check in your policy
- Motorbike cover. Passenger cover must be named in the policy. Ask your insurer in writing if you are not sure.
- Altitude limit. Some policies cap hiking at a set height. The Tay Con Linh summit is 2,428 m. Pick a limit above that.
- Guided trekking. Some insurers only pay for treks with a registered operator and a guide. All our treks are guided.
- Emergency evacuation and search and rescue. Look for a clear evacuation limit. Remote mountain areas need a stretcher team and a road transfer, and help takes time to arrive.
- Medical cost guarantee. Ask whether your insurer can pay the hospital directly, or whether you pay first and claim later.
- Health conditions. Tell your insurer about old injuries or medical conditions. Tell us too, using our health declaration.
Riding the Loop: passengers only on our tours
On a TVPalm Loop tour you ride behind an experienced easy rider. We do not run self-drive tours and we do not encourage riding yourself on these mountain roads. That makes the insurance question simpler: you need passenger cover, not rider cover. If you are weighing up operators, our guide on how to choose a Ha Giang Loop tour company lists the safety and insurance questions to ask any of them.
If something happens on a trek
Tell your guide straight away. The guide gives first aid, keeps you warm and dry, and calls our team as soon as there is phone signal. Once you have signal yourself, call your insurer’s emergency number and open a case. Save that number offline before you leave, and keep a printed copy of your certificate in a dry bag.
Questions guests ask
Do I need insurance to join a TVPalm tour? Yes. We include PVI Inbound 2 for tour accidents, and we require your own travel insurance. For the Loop it must cover motorbikes. For treks it must cover trekking.
Does PVI Inbound 2 cover everything? No. It covers accidents during the tour, up to USD 25,000 per guest. It does not replace medical and evacuation cover from your home country.
Can I buy insurance after I book? Yes, but buy it before you travel and read the exclusions. If you book a trek, send us your policy details so your guide has them. See our payment policy for booking terms.
If you are choosing between routes, start with the 3-day Tay Con Linh trek or the Ha Giang Loop, then write to us at info@tvpalm.com with questions.
Written by Nguyễn Văn Trung, founder of TVPalm.
