Health Matters
Providing you take basic commonsense measures, you're unlikely to have health problems in Vietnam. Malaria is now a problem in only a few remote areas, and mass immunisation programmes have minimised the incidence of infectious diseases. In all cases, wise travellers will check with their local medical specialist, even if only to confirm that recommended vaccinations are up to date.
Drinking Water
It is best to assume that tap water is risky throughout Vietnam. Bottled water, soft drinks and beer are freely available and cheap. Ice is generally made from boiled water, and should be OK, but it might be wise to avoid it if you have a sensitive stomach. It isn’t a major inconvenience – large refrigerators are commonplace, so chilled drinks are easily obtained.
Food
Vietnamese food is usually cooked from fresh ingredients, so getting an upset stomach is probably less likely in a street side café than in an international restaurant that re-heats pre-prepared food.
Sunburn, sunstroke and dehydration
The major health dangers are the effect of the sun and tropical heat. European skin will begin to burn very quickly on a hot day even if the sky is overcast: reputable high UV protection barrier lotions and cream are essential. Sunstroke is also a high risk: a wide brimmed hat that will shade the back of the neck as well as the eyes is better than a baseball cap. Heavy sweating caused by high humidity drains the body's water supply rapidly. Drink plenty of water to replenish it and thus avoid unpleasant dehydration – several litres per day is generally recommended.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Like most countries in Asia, Vietnam has a drug problem. This, and a culture where discussing sexual matters is taboo, has led to risky sexual behaviour and a growing incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Poverty encourages the sexual exploitation of women - many young girls from poor rural areas flood into the big cities to supplement their family's income. Prostitution is commonplace and often associated with drugs and crime. It’s obviously wise to avoid casual sexual encounters in Vietnam, not only for for health reasons, but also because many prostitutes and their pimps are adept pickpockets.
Epidemics
All countries, developed and undeveloped, suffer from epidemics from time to time. Unfortunately, governments in developed countries often issue travel warnings about health and other threats when the risk to travellers is miniscule. Vietnam has suffered from travel warnings related to SARS in 2003 and avian influenza in 2004 and 2005. In both cases, the actual risk of anyone, Vietnamese or visitor, becoming infected was many times less than being struck by lightning.
If another epidemic or similar health risk occurs when you are considering a visit to Vietnam, we recommend that you check the Vietnam section of the World Health Organisation’s web site, and, if necessary contact the local representative in the Hanoi office direct on add telephone number to get a reliable risk assessment.
It is best to assume that tap water is risky throughout Vietnam. Bottled water, soft drinks and beer are freely available and cheap. Ice is generally made from boiled water, and should be OK, but it might be wise to avoid it if you have a sensitive stomach. It isn’t a major inconvenience – large refrigerators are commonplace, so chilled drinks are easily obtained.
Food
Vietnamese food is usually cooked from fresh ingredients, so getting an upset stomach is probably less likely in a street side café than in an international restaurant that re-heats pre-prepared food.
Sunburn, sunstroke and dehydration
The major health dangers are the effect of the sun and tropical heat. European skin will begin to burn very quickly on a hot day even if the sky is overcast: reputable high UV protection barrier lotions and cream are essential. Sunstroke is also a high risk: a wide brimmed hat that will shade the back of the neck as well as the eyes is better than a baseball cap. Heavy sweating caused by high humidity drains the body's water supply rapidly. Drink plenty of water to replenish it and thus avoid unpleasant dehydration – several litres per day is generally recommended.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Like most countries in Asia, Vietnam has a drug problem. This, and a culture where discussing sexual matters is taboo, has led to risky sexual behaviour and a growing incidence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Poverty encourages the sexual exploitation of women - many young girls from poor rural areas flood into the big cities to supplement their family's income. Prostitution is commonplace and often associated with drugs and crime. It’s obviously wise to avoid casual sexual encounters in Vietnam, not only for for health reasons, but also because many prostitutes and their pimps are adept pickpockets.
Epidemics
All countries, developed and undeveloped, suffer from epidemics from time to time. Unfortunately, governments in developed countries often issue travel warnings about health and other threats when the risk to travellers is miniscule. Vietnam has suffered from travel warnings related to SARS in 2003 and avian influenza in 2004 and 2005. In both cases, the actual risk of anyone, Vietnamese or visitor, becoming infected was many times less than being struck by lightning.
If another epidemic or similar health risk occurs when you are considering a visit to Vietnam, we recommend that you check the Vietnam section of the World Health Organisation’s web site, and, if necessary contact the local representative in the Hanoi office direct on add telephone number to get a reliable risk assessment.
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