💡 If someone in your group stops sweating, becomes confused, or collapses in Da Nang's summer heat, call 115 (ambulance) immediately and start cooling them at once. Heatstroke above 40°C can kill within minutes. The nearest 24/7 emergency rooms: Vinmec International Hospital (30 Thang 4 St, tel 0236 3711 111) and Da Nang General Hospital (124 Hai Phong, tel 0236 3821 118).
Key takeaways
- Call 115 if the person is unconscious, confused, or has stopped sweating despite feeling very hot - these are heatstroke signs, not mild heat exhaustion.
- Cool immediately: wet cloths on the neck, armpits, and groin, and fan vigorously. Evaporative cooling (wet skin plus airflow) is the fastest field technique.
- Vinmec International Hospital (30 Thang 4 St, 0236 3711 111, international 24/7 line +84 378 809 779) is Da Nang's fastest foreigner-friendly ER.
- Da Nang General Hospital (124 Hai Phong, 0236 3821 118) has a large 24/7 public ER - cheaper, but expect a language barrier.
- Travel insurance covers heatstroke as an acute illness - keep all receipts and get a diagnosis letter in English. See the Da Nang travel insurance guide.
Heatstroke vs heat exhaustion: which is the emergency?
Da Nang's summer peaks at 35-38°C with a heat index above 40°C on the beach or while riding a motorbike without shade. Most cases are heat exhaustion: the person is sweating heavily, feels weak or nauseous, and is mostly alert. Move them to shade, give cool water in small sips, and rest. Recovery usually takes 15-30 minutes.
Heatstroke is the emergency. Key signs: hot and dry or barely moist skin (the body's cooling system has failed), core temperature above 40°C, confusion, slurred speech, or unconsciousness. At this point, cooling and urgent hospital care are not optional. Call 115 at once.
What do you do in the first 10 minutes?
Start cooling before the ambulance arrives. Move the person into shade or an air-conditioned room. Remove excess clothing. Apply cool, damp cloths to the neck, armpits, and groin, and fan vigorously. Evaporative cooling - wet skin plus airflow - lowers body temperature faster than cold packs alone. Do not give water to someone unconscious or confused. If they are alert and can swallow, small sips of cool water are fine.
Stay on the line with 115. If you cannot speak Vietnamese, keep the line open and hand the phone to a Vietnamese-speaking bystander or hotel staff. The Da Nang Visitor Center at (0236) 3 550 111 can also help route emergency assistance for foreign tourists.
When should you call 115?
Call 115 immediately if: the person is confused or unconscious; they have stopped sweating despite feeling very hot; their temperature is above 40°C; or they do not improve within 15 minutes of cooling in shade. Vietnam's 115 ambulance runs 24/7 nationwide. Response times in central Da Nang are around 10-20 minutes - longer in outlying areas like Son Tra Peninsula. If the situation is critical and you have transport, going directly to Vinmec may be faster than waiting.
Which Da Nang hospitals treat heat emergencies 24/7?
For a severe case where you can transport the person yourself, go to Vinmec International Hospital at 30 Thang 4 St. It has English-speaking staff, a 24/7 emergency ward, and an international-patient line (+84 378 809 779). Vinmec is the closest foreigner-friendly option to My Khe Beach and the An Thuong expat area.
Family Medical Practice Da Nang (96-98 Nguyen Van Linh, +84 236 3582 699; after-hours line +84 913 917 303) handles walk-in medical emergencies and direct-bills many international insurers - a good option for less critical cases.
Da Nang General Hospital (124 Hai Phong, 0236 3821 118) has the largest 24/7 public ER in Central Vietnam and is significantly cheaper. Expect a language barrier and bring cash or a card for upfront payment. Useful phrases at the ER:
- Tôi bị say nắng (toy bee say nang) - I have heatstroke.
- Nhiệt độ cao, không đổ mồ hôi, bị ngất - High temperature, not sweating, lost consciousness.
- Gọi bác sĩ nói tiếng Anh - Please call an English-speaking doctor.
For help navigating Da Nang hospitals with a language barrier, see the Da Nang Help hospital interpreter page and the full Da Nang Help emergency guide.
How do you prevent heatstroke in Da Nang?
Da Nang's hottest period is June to August, with midday temperatures regularly above 36°C. Key steps: ride motorbikes between 06:00-10:00 or after 16:00; drink at least 500 ml of water per hour in the heat; wear light, long-sleeved clothing and a full-face helmet rather than a half-lid; take air-conditioned breaks every 45 minutes. On Son Tra Peninsula, the ridge road has almost no shade and limited phone signal in some sections.
Frequently asked questions
Is heatstroke common among tourists in Da Nang?
It is not rare, particularly in June to August. Tourists who ride motorbikes during midday or spend full days on My Khe Beach without drinking regularly face real risk. Da Nang residents avoid peak-heat hours; visitors often underestimate how fast the humidity-adjusted heat index climbs above 40°C.
What do I say to the 115 dispatcher if I don't speak Vietnamese?
Stay on the line and say "heatstroke" or "say nắng" followed by your address. If possible, hand the phone to a Vietnamese speaker nearby. The Da Nang Visitor Center at (0236) 3 550 111 can also coordinate with emergency services for English-speaking tourists.
Will my travel insurance cover heatstroke treatment in Vietnam?
Most travel insurance covers heatstroke as an "acute illness" or "medical emergency". Keep every receipt from the ambulance, ER, and pharmacy. Ask the hospital for a formal diagnosis letter in English. File within 30 days. See the Da Nang travel insurance claim guide for the full document checklist.
Can a foreigner get treated at Da Nang General Hospital without local insurance?
Yes. Da Nang General Hospital treats all emergency patients regardless of nationality or insurance status. You typically pay upfront at the cashier (cash or card). Keep the itemized receipt for your travel-insurance claim. Costs are a fraction of Vinmec's rates.
Is it safe to visit Da Nang beaches and Son Tra Peninsula in November?
November is Da Nang's coolest and rainiest month, with temperatures around 24-27°C, so heatstroke risk is very low. The high-risk season is June to August. That said, even in cooler months, staying hydrated matters when you are active outdoors, and the Son Tra ridge road is steeper and more remote than it looks on a map.
Official sources
- CDC: Heat-related illness - treatment guidelines - clinical guidance on heatstroke first aid and cooling protocols. Verified November 2026.
- WHO: Climate change and heat health - heat emergency thresholds and public-health guidance. Verified November 2026.
- Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital - address, emergency contacts, international patient services. Verified September 2026.
Écrit par Đào Huy (Lucas), traducteur vietnamien et local anglophone à Da Nang. Quand des démarches ou un imprévu se heurtent au mur de la langue vietnamienne, je vous accompagne en personne et fournis les traductions signées qui vont avec. Obtenir de l'aide à Da Nang → · Traduction certifiée →