If you are planning to go to Vietnam and you have a lot of questions about health precautions such as: ‘Do I need insurance to travel to Vietnam?’, ‘What vaccinations are needed when traveling to Vietnam and other Asian countries? ‘, ‘What are the preventive measures during a tour to Vietnam?’ etc.
This article below mentions some essential points that will help you answer all your questions.
Before leaving
1. Travel Insurance
Paradise Travel’s travel package does not include travel insurance for the client. Thus, it is the customer’s responsibility to take out international travel insurance before traveling.
The costs of hospitalization and health expenses are sometimes very high abroad. So, it is advisable to have an assistance contract or insurance to cover all medical expenses (surgery, hospitalization, etc.) and repatriation health at the risk of not having access to care, in case of emergency.
Travel insurance is compulsory to travel to Vietnam
2. Recommendations for your health
Before a tour in Vietnam, you can consult your doctor or an international vaccination center if you need to assess your health, analyze health risks and have health recommendations, especially about the vaccinations needed or recommended (at least 1 month before you travel).
Some sources of information:
– Vaccines category – website of WHO (World Health Organization)
– Get Vaccinated Before You Travel – website of Center for Disease Control and Prevention
– “Advice to travelers” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– Medical Information Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Also, constitute your pharmacy accordingly and carry in your luggage necessary medicines, provided with the prescription.
3. Vaccinations
Before leaving for Vietnam, it is advisable to discuss with your doctor about vaccinations. The consultation will weigh the risk of contracting one of some diseases and the possible disadvantages of vaccination.
The effectiveness of different vaccines advised to travelers is not always 100%. To limit the risks, the vaccination must be associated with adequate behavior in hygiene.
Vaccinations are highly recommended before traveling
Indeed, no vaccination is mandatory during a trip to Vietnam but some are recommended:
Obligatory | Optional |
| Universal | Tetanus, Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Pertussis, Hepatitis B |
| Specific Countries | Typhoid, Hepatitis A |
| Case by Case | Measles, Japanese encephalitis, Rabies |
Disease Prevention During The Trip to Vietnam
On your trip to Vietnam, vaccinations may not be a good choice for you. Here we provide some common diseases in Vietnam and how to get rid of them while still enjoying your holiday:
1. Malaria
Malaria is a parasitic (potentially serious) disease transmitted by mosquito bites. In Vietnam, this disease is present only in restricted areas. There is neither malaria in the center of big cities nor the tourist coastal towns, nor the plains of rice fields.
Here are some tips for you to prevent malaria during your stay in Vietnam:
- Get a health kit: preventive and curative antimalarial drugs, water sterilization tablets, mosquito repellent creams, a local antiseptic for mosquito bites or other insects and analgesics.
- Take clothes that cover the whole body: legs and arms.
- Bring/ buy insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect you from these pests.
- In case of fever during the stay or in the months following the return, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Bring along with you a travel health kit on your trip
2. Dengue
The dengue virus is endemic in Vietnam. Transmission of this disease occurs through infected mosquitoes. The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of the flu (high fever, joint pain, headaches). There is currently no preventive treatment against dengue infection. The only protection is to wear the most covering clothing possible and sprinkle the most exposed parts of your body with mosquito repellent. In the case of fever, a medical opinion must be taken quickly.
3. Japanese encephalitis
This disease, which only exists in Asia, is transmitted by mosquitoes in rural areas. Most Japanese encephalitis virus infections are mild (with fever and headache) or without apparent symptoms, but in about 1/250 cases they cause serious illness.
Concerning prevention: vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is also desirable for stays in rural areas in Vietnam. Besides, physical protection (long clothes, repellents, etc.) seem effective. In case of fever, you will have to consult a doctor.
4. Zika
This disease is transmitted by mosquito bites type Aedes. Cases of sexual transmission of the virus have also been reported.
Dangerous Zika Infected Mosquito Bite
The symptoms of the disease are usually mild (fever, headache, joint pain, rash) and are similar to those seen in other viral infections such as dengue fever.
It is especially recommended to:
- Respect the usual measures of prevention of mosquito bites (long clothes, mosquito repellents, air conditioning, mosquito net).
- Consult a doctor in case of fever occurring during the trip.
5. Avian Flu
Avian influenza is an animal viral disease (poultry) exceptionally transmissible to humans by air (respiratory tract). This disease is present in some provinces in Vietnam. Its symptoms are those of the flu such as fever, cough, muscle pain, fatigue.
You should:
- Avoid contact with wild and farm animals (especially poultry and pigs) and their droppings.
- In particular, avoid breeding areas, animal markets, and zoos.
- Avoid the consumption of raw or under cooked food products, especially for meat and eggs.
- Wash your hands regularly with soapy water or with hydro-alcoholic washing solutions.
6. Rage
Rabies is a viral disease that is accidentally transmitted to humans by a dog, fox or bat infected with the virus by biting or licking a mucous membrane. This is endemic in Vietnam and prevalent not only in rural but also in urban areas. Therefore, rabies vaccination is highly recommended in Vietnam, especially for planned trips to remote rural areas.
After a contact with a rabid animal, you should wash the bite thoroughly with soapy water, and an urgent medical consultation should assess the risk of contamination to determine the urgent administration of a serum and/ or vaccination. against rabies.
7. Hand-foot-mouth Syndrome
This disease might be the most often benign that needs extreme prevention. However, some epidemics can be associated with neurological complications – very rare but serious. There is no specific treatment and the only prophylactic measure is a careful hand washing of people in contact with young children.
8. HIV – AIDS
We cannot tell if a person is living with HIV – STD – AIDS or not just by looking at them or interacting with them, especially those who are prostitutes and drug users. Therefore, wherever you go, preventive measures must be applied. You had better do your HIV – AIDS vaccinations as soon as possible, even if you do not travel.
9. Other preventive measures
Prevention is certainly better than cure. In addition to the precautions mentioned above, there are some preventive measures for you to consider for a safe trip to Vietnam:
Hygiene matter
Remember to always wash your hands with soap
- Wash your hands regularly with hydro-alcoholic washing solutions, especially before and after meals or when using the toilet.
- Avoid walking barefoot on the sand and wet soil.
- Respect the basic hygiene rules and carefully clean kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets.
Drug
- Never consume drugs bought on the street because there are many counterfeit products in Vietnam, some of which are potentially dangerous for human health.
Food
- Avoid the consumption of raw or under cooked food products (fish, meat, poultry, milk).
- Do not drink tap water. Limit your consumption of ice outside places and restaurants.
- Peel fruits or vegetables or wash them (with clean water) before eating.
- Avoid raw vegetables, shellfish, warm dishes, and cold buffets.
After the trip to Vietnam
Later your travel to Vietnam, for the slightest health problem (fever, skin lesions, or digestive problems, etc.) in the days or weeks that follow, consult without hesitation your doctor by reminding him of your trip. Most importantly, you should be highly aware of health’s prevention, vaccinations and go to your doctor every six months.
