LGBTQ holidays in Vietnam

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LGBTQ+ Vietnam holiday advice

A history of LGBTQ+ rights in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the more progressive Southeast Asian countries when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights and has made big strides in support of the LGBTQ+ community in recent years.

Historically, there have never been official laws prohibiting same-sex relationships and it’s only in relatively recent times that gender has been viewed in rigid binary terms. Confucian and Buddhist philosophies introduced more conservative views on sexuality, and one of the first recorded negative mentions of same-sex relationships was in literature written by French colonists. Stigmatisation of LGBTQ+ people increased throughout the 20th century, escalating after the Vietnam War and supported by state-run media that preached heteronormative family values.

Nonetheless, in 2014 Vietnam became the first country in Asia to debate same-sex marriage. The legislature passed the Law on Marriage and Family in 2015, which officially removed a ban on same-sex marriages. LGBTQ+ people can serve in the military, the age of consent is the same across the board, and annual VietPride marches in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City work to raise visibility and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. And, after years of campaigning by activists, the Vietnam government announced in 2022 that being LGBTQ+ should not be treated as an illness – and therefore should not be ‘cured’.

This is remarkable progress in the context of Vietnam’s dire human rights record. After all, this is a country where dissidence against the authoritarian Communist government is not tolerated – and where Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) campaigning for human rights are hobbled by hostility and near-impossible funding rules.

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However, the positive news stories only tell part of the story and there’s still a long way to go before equality is achieved. Although same-sex marriages are no longer illegal, this is not quite as groundbreaking as it sounds: couples are neither recognised nor protected by law, and there are no laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. And although, as of 2015, it’s no longer illegal for people to change the gender listed on their legal documents, there is still no official way to go about it. The National Assembly is due to discuss developing the legislation for gender affirmation in 2024, to be voted on in 2025.

What’s more, some critics have argued that the government’s more progressive recent moves are a cynical ploy to attract LGBTQ+ tourists, or to distract from the government crackdown on political dissent by pointing to events such as VietPride as an example of freedom of speech and assembly.

Attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community

LGBTQ+ travellers are unlikely to encounter hostile reactions in Vietnam and are not actively persecuted. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City both have gay scenes and LGBTQ+ voices are slowly becoming mainstream.

In 2011, the film Lost in Paradise, which features three gay men as the protagonists, was a big success both inside and outside the country; in 2012, the sitcom My Best Gay Friends launched on YouTube and became an instant hit. When, in late 2014, US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius arrived with his husband and baby, it was seen as a sign that the country was on its way to becoming a more open and accepting nation to the LGBTQ+ community.

However, while it can be a relaxed and tolerant country towards LGBTQ+ tourists, same-sex relations remain a controversial topic in a country where respect for conservative, heteronormative family values runs deep. LGBTQ+ people continue to face abuse and discrimination both in the home, at school and in the workplace, thanks to the pervasive idea that same-sex attraction is an illness.

Gay venues keep a low profile and most LGBTQ+ Vietnamese are forced to hide their sexuality from their families. As is the case in most countries, there are substantial differences between attitudes towards same-sex relationships in rural areas and large cities, and by older people and younger generations – the latter in each case being far more open-minded.

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LGBTQ+ travel in Vietnam

Alongside Thailand, Vietnam has gained a reputation as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in Asia for foreign tourists. LGBTQ+ tourists are unlikely to encounter any harassment and will be able to explore the mountains, beaches and ancient sites without any issues. Checking into hotels as a same-sex couple is perfectly acceptable.

Both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have a low-key gay scene, with a number of bars, restaurants, saunas and hotels that are LGBTQ+-owned or -friendly, as well as gay clubs featuring regular drag shows and themed parties. There’s a Queer Zone project in Hanoi; look out for rainbow stickers that show businesses as LGBTQ+-friendly. There are some venues in the beachside city of Danang and Hoi An, too.

While all the tour operators we work with describe themselves as LGBTQ+-friendly, it’s worth asking questions to learn more about how this is put into practice in their Vietnam holidays. It’s easy to operate an LGBTQ+ tour in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, but it’s less straightforward to incorporate village tours and family homestays into the itinerary. Good tour operators should be able to share information about customs and beliefs – not just for Vietnam as a whole, but for individual regions, religious sites and places of special interest across the country.

It’s worth remembering that there’s a fine line between expressing your identity and respecting local customs as a responsible traveller. We would advise all travellers, for example, to wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Vietnam remains a very conservative society, and public displays of affection are not the norm. Couples of any sexual orientation should avoid kissing and putting their arms around each other in public. If you do see two men or two women with their arms around each other or holding hands, this is almost certainly a sign of friendship.

LGBTQ+ festivals, events & resources

VietPride – This festival takes place over several days in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, though the Hanoi event is larger and includes a film festival, talks, parties and a bike rally. Launched in 2012, it’s becoming more and more mainstream, and is attracting big-name sponsors – but remains a protest at heart, usually pushing for same-sex marriage and transgender rights.

Queer Forever! – A month-long art and film festival and discussion series that explores queerness in Vietnamese culture.

iSEE – This NGO works towards the rights of minority groups in Vietnamese society, including the LGBTQ+ community.

Utopia Asia provides information about nightlife, restaurants and LGBTQ+-friendly accommodation across the country.

This guide is updated regularly but do check independent news sources such as The Vietnamese, Human Rights Watch and Amera International for up-to-date information.

Read more in our LGBTQ+ travel advice guide