Vietnam Travel Health and Safety Guide

Vietnam Travel - Health
Health considerations are an important part of your Vietnam travel, and staying healthy on the road takes vigilance. Tropical heat and mosquitoes are the biggest dangers. You will need to get special vaccinations before you take off from home to Vietnam. If travel in rural areas is on your itinerary then that means consulting a doctor at least a few weeks before your trip.

Travelers to Vietnam or Mekong River region should exercise caution over dietary change and cleanliness. So your biggest safety precaution is to be careful with food. Drink only bottled or boiled water, without ice, because in Vietnam, most of the ice is made from tap water, which cannot be drunk directly. Wash your hands often. And follow the old adage: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

The following vaccinations can be considered for travelers to Vietnam: hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) and typhoid. Injections for Japanese encephalitis are recommended if you plan to visit rural areas during the rainy season, as well as rabies in rural areas where you might be exposed to wild animals. You should also consider booster doses for tetanus- diphtheria, measles, and polio.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), you may take an oral prophylaxis for malaria during your Vietnam travel if traveling extensively in rural parts; malaria is not a problem anywhere in the Red River Delta, in coastal areas north of Nha Trang, nor in any of the major cities: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hanoi, Haiphong, Nha Trang, or Danang. Consult a physician, but the common recommendations for malarial preventative are as follows: atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, mefloquine (Larium), or primaquine in special circumstances. Side effects abound, so be sure to discuss with a medical professional and follow any treatment regimen to the letter. The best prevention is to cover exposed skin and to use an insect repellent that contains DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide).

Vietnam Travel - Security

Vietnam is a safe destination, but tourists should take heed of the following: First, the traffic is deadly, so be cautious when crossing the street anywhere; in big cities, pedestrians cross in groups and, if alone, wade out into the street and maintain a steady pace. Second, women should play it safe and avoid going out alone late at night. Third, and most important, beware of unexploded mines when hiking or exploring especially through old war zones such as the DMZ or My Son. Don't stray off an established path, and don't touch anything you might find lying on the ground. Before you depart, you may want to check with your home country's overseas travel bureau to keep abreast of travel advisories and currents affairs that could affect your trip.

Violent crime isn't common in Vietnam, but pretty thievery, especially against tourists, is a risk. Pick-pocketing is rampant, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), in particular, has a special brand of drive-by purse snatching via motorbike. Don't wear flashy jewelry or leave valuables in your hotel room, especially in smaller hotels. So it is a good idea to carry a hidden travel wallet with your passport and documents, and keep an eye on valuables in public.

There are small-time rackets perpetrated against tourists by taxi and cyclo drivers, usually in the form of a dispute on the agreed-upon price after you arrive at your destination. Or else the driver doesn't seem to have change. Simply agree on a price by writing it down first, and always smile and demand change.