If you’re looking for fresh food, friendly people, and striking scenery, Vietnam is the place for you. From beautiful beaches to limestone cliffs and mountains, Vietnam has a lot to offer travellers. Located in Southeast Asia, Vietnam borders Cambodia, Laos, and China. It has an estimated population of around 95 million people, with only about one third of the population living in urban areas. Consisting of 63 provinces, the terrain is varied with a large coastal range and mountainous interior. With a tropical monsoon climate, the weather consists of two main monsoon seasons: a warm, wetter southwest monsoon between April and September, and a cooler, drier northeast monsoon from October to March.
If you’re looking to visit, the best times of the year are generally during the shoulder months between these two monsoons. Travel between September and December when the weather is drier and things start to cool off, as well as between April and May when it starts to warm up and the rainy season is not in full swing. Take into account where in Vietnam you will be travelling, as the north can be cool, while the central and south regions are prone to flooding.
The following are a list of recommended vaccines from the CDC. However, it is always recommended that you check with your primary care physician to meet your specific needs and ensure you are up-to-date on routine vaccinations before you travel.
Hepatitis A: can be transmitted through contaminated food or water.
Hepatitis B: transmitted through sexual contact, blood products, or contaminated needles.
Typhoid: can be transmitted through contaminated food or water.
Japanese Encephalitis: transmitted by mosquitoes, the vaccine is recommended if you are in Vietnam for over a month or visiting rural areas or smaller cities. Note: this vaccine can be expensive! If this is a barrier, read about how to get it cheaper here.
Rabies: transmitted through infected animals, such as dogs or bats. Recommended for longer term travellers, travellers doing outdoor activities or working with animals, and children.
Yellow Fever: there is currently no risk for yellow fever in Vietnam, however the government does require you to have proof of the vaccine if you are coming from an area where yellow fever risk exists.
The following are a list of preventable disease that currently do not have vaccines available.
Malaria: transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly night time biting mosquitoes, travellers should avoid mosquito bites, utilize appropriate bug spray, and consider sleeping with a personal mosquito net to reduce exposure risk. Preventative antimalarial medications are recommended, however specifics should be discussed with your primary care physician.
Zika: transmitted by mosquitoes, care should be taken to avoid getting bitten. Zika can cause serious birth defects, therefore pregnant woman or those planning to get pregnant should not travel to Vietnam.
Chikungunya: transmitted by both day and night biting mosquitoes, care should be taken to avoid getting bitten.
Dengue: transmitted by mosquitoes and tends to have a higher risk in urban and residential areas than other mosquito borne diseases. Care should be taken to avoid getting bitten.
H5N1 Avian Influenza: commonly known as the bird flu, transmission to humans tends to be from contact with infected birds.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: transmitted through contact with saliva or feces. People to people transmission can occur through contact with unwashed hands or surfaces. Appropriate hand hygiene should be performed and care should be taken to avoid contaminated surfaces.
Tuberculosis (TB): although the risk is low, travellers staying in Vietnam for multiple years, or working in high risk areas such as hospitals or prisons, should consider getting a TB test done prior to departure and a repeat test 8-10 weeks after returning home.
Having a tropical climate and monsoon seasons, Vietnam is often prone to heavy rains and flooding. Travellers should bring appropriate rain gear and wear appropriate footwear. The sun can also be very hot and raises concern for heat stroke and dehydration. So remember to drink plenty of water and wear protective clothing during the day and sunscreen with at least 15 SPF with both UVA and UVB protection. As only about 20% of Vietnam is level land, much of the country is very mountainous. So while it may be warm at sea level, don’t forget to bring a warm jacket if you are travelling up into the mountains!
Can I drink the water? It is not recommended to drink the water in Vietnam. Consider buying bottled water or utilizing a method to treat water before drinking it. Use caution with fruits or vegetables washed in tap water.
Is it wheelchair accessible? Wheelchair accessibility is limited and a manual wheelchair is recommended. Sidewalks tend to be crowded and can be uneven, most buildings have steps, and roads tend to be congested and busy.
How do I best avoid mosquito bites? It is recommended that you wear repellant with at least 30% DEET, wear clothes treated with permethrin, utilize a bed net, and stay in accommodation with screened windows. To avoid bites it is best to stay inside during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes carrying malaria are most active, and wear long clothes to limit exposed skin.
What medications should I bring? Bring any prescribed medications with you. It is also recommended to travel with a small medical kit, and a healthy travel packing list can be found here.
Important Numbers:
Police: 113
Fire: 114
Ambulance: 115
Vietnam Country code: 84
International Operator: 110
Hear from a local
Read what locals have to say about health in their country here.
*The content above is for informational purposes only and reflects my own personal opinion and experiences. Other sources for information utilized in creating this content include the CDC, WHO, and Yellow Book. Please refer to your attending physician for all health advice
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