🇻🇳 City — Vietnam

Can I Drink Tap Water in Hanoi?

Unsafe
1.8/5
Quick Answer
Do not drink tap water in Hanoi. Use bottled or properly purified water for all drinking and brushing teeth.
Hanoi’s tap water is not recommended for drinking. While treatment exists, contamination risks and distribution variability mean visitors should rely on bottled or properly purified water for all consumption.
Rankings & Comparisons
Safety Overview
Global rank #134 out of 152
Safety rating 1.8/5
Dataset average 3.8/5
Rank in Vietnam #4 out of 4
Vietnam average 1.8/5
Top Cities in Vietnam
  1. 1 🇻🇳
    Ho Chi Minh City
    1.8/5 Unsafe
  2. 2 🇻🇳
    Da Nang
    1.8/5 Unsafe
  3. 3 🇻🇳
    Ha Long
    1.8/5 Unsafe
  4. 4 🇻🇳
    Hanoi
    1.8/5 Unsafe
Water Quality Details
Tap water in Hanoi is treated, but local conditions and distribution issues mean it is not considered safe for visitors to drink. Risk levels are higher than typical international standards, and water quality can vary widely by neighborhood and building infrastructure. Use sealed bottled water or properly treated water for all drinking, brushing teeth, and ice. For longer stays, a certified RO or UV filtration system is recommended.
Water sourceMixed sources
TreatmentChlorination, Filtration
HardnessModerate
TDS320 ppm
Taste rating1/5
Taste notesquality is often variable · sediment or turbidity may be present · storage and distribution conditions can affect taste and odor
Contaminant Data
Contaminant Measured Limit Status
E. coli and coliform bacteria — 0
WHO
 Exceeds
Sewage contamination — — Exceeds
Turbidity and sediment — — Exceeds
Nitrate (localized wells) — 50 mg/L
WHO
 Exceeds
Residual chlorine (inconsistent) — — Exceeds
Practical Tips
🧊 Avoid ice from tap 🪧 Use bottled for brushing 🍽 Avoid restaurant tap water 🔥 Boiling effective 💧 Filter recommended
  1. Do not drink tap water; use sealed bottled or properly purified water
  2. Avoid ice and drinks made with tap water
  3. Brush teeth with bottled or filtered water
  4. Use a certified filter (RO/UV) for longer stays
  5. Avoid raw foods washed with tap water
  6. Boil water for at least 1 minute if you must use tap water
Bottled water~$0.8 USD (Common)
Recommended filtersReverse Osmosis, Ceramic, Gravity, Bottle Filter
Traveler Advice
Risk level: High Diarrhea risk: High
Hanoi tap water is not safe for drinking. Use bottled or properly purified water for all consumption and avoid ice unless you know it was made with purified water. Be cautious with raw foods washed in tap water.
Travelers should not rely on acclimation to local tap water in Vietnam; use bottled or correctly treated water consistently.
  • Drink only sealed bottled water or properly treated water
  • Use safe water for brushing teeth
  • Avoid ice unless purified water is confirmed
  • Avoid raw foods washed with local tap water
  • Carry oral rehydration salts and backup purification when possible
Health Warnings
⚠ Health Warnings
  • Drinking tap water can cause traveler’s diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness
  • Avoid ice and raw foods washed with tap water
  • Use bottled or properly purified water for all consumption
Sources & References
Official Report
World Bank API - Safely managed drinking water services (% of population) - Vietnam
Official Report
World Bank API - Basic drinking water services (% of population) - Vietnam
Official Report
World Bank API - Population, total - Vietnam
Official Report
WHO - Drinking-water (Fact sheet)
Data confidence: Medium Last updated: 2026-02-24
Also in Vietnam
🇻🇳 City Unsafe
Ho Chi Minh City
1.8/5
Do not drink tap water in Ho Chi Minh City. Use bottled or properly purified water for all drinking and brushing teeth.
🇻🇳 City Unsafe
Da Nang
1.8/5
Do not drink tap water in Da Nang. Use bottled or properly purified water for all drinking and brushing teeth.
🇻🇳 City Unsafe
Ha Long
1.8/5
Do not drink tap water in Ha Long. Use bottled or properly purified water for all drinking and brushing teeth.