Vietnam Pre-Departure Health

In your passport, write the names of any people you wish to be contacted in case of a medical emergency, and list any allergies or medical conditions. Matching a prescription to a foreign equivalent is not always easy, safe, or possible, so if you take prescription drugs, consider carrying up-to-date prescriptions or a statement from your doctor listing the medication’s trade name, manufacturer, chemical name, and dosage. While traveling, be sure to keep all medication with you in your carry-on luggage. For tips on packing a first-aid kit and other health essentials, Almost all Vietnamese pharmacies will recognize the generic names for common over-the-counter drugs but not the American brand names, so ask for acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead of Tylenol or Advil.

All travelers over two years old should make sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella); DTaP or Td (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); IPV (for polio); Hib (for haemophilus influenza B); and HepB (for Hepatitis B). Adults traveling to Vietnam or elsewhere in the developing world on trips longer than four weeks should consider the following additional immunizations: Hepatitis A vaccine and/or immune globulin (IG), an additional dose of polio vaccine, typhoid, cholera, and Japanese encephalitis vaccines, (particularly if traveling in rural areas), as well as a meningitis vaccine, a rabies vaccine, and yearly influenza vaccines. While yellow fever is only endemic to parts of South America and sub-Saharan Africa, the Vietnamese government may deny entrance to travelers arriving from these zones without a certificate of vaccination. For recommendations on immunizations and prophylaxis, consult the CDC (see below) in the US or the equivalent in your home country, and check with a doctor for guidance.

Inoculation Recommendations
The inoculations needed for travel in Vietnam vary with the length of your trip and the activities you plan to pursue. Visit your doctor at least 4-6 weeks prior to your departure to allow time for the shots to take effect. Be sure to keep your inoculation records with you as you travel—you may be required to show them to border officials.
Diphtheria and tetanus, measles, and polio: booster doses recommended as needed for all travelers.
Typhoid: strongly recommended because of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in Southeast Asia.
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG): recommended for all travelers.
Hepatitis B: if traveling for 6 months or more, or if needle-sharing, sexual contact, or exposure to others’ blood is likely. Important for health care workers and those who might seek medical treatment abroad.
Japanese Encephalitis: only if you will be in rural areas for 4 weeks or more, or if there are known outbreaks in the regions you plan to visit; elevated risk between May and October.
Rabies: if you will be exposed to animals while you travel.
Yellow fever: if you are traveling from South America or sub-Saharan Africa or other infected areas, a certificate of vaccination may be required for entry. There is no risk in Vietnam.

Insurance

Travel insurance covers four basic areas: medical/health problems, property loss, trip cancellation/interruption, and emergency evacuation. Though regular insurance policies may well extend to travel-related accidents, you may consider purchasing separate travel insurance if the cost of potential trip cancellation, interruption, or emergency medical evacuation is greater than you can absorb. Prices for travel insurance purchased separately generally run about US$50 per week for full coverage, while trip cancellation/interruption may be purchased separately at a rate of US$3-5 per day depending on length of stay.

Medical insurance (especially university policies) often covers costs incurred abroad; check with your provider. US Medicare does not cover foreign travel. Canadian provincial health insurance plans increasingly do not cover foreign travel; check with the provincial Ministry of Health or Health Plan Headquarters for details. Homeowners’ insurance (or your family’s coverage) often covers theft during travel and loss of travel documents (passport, plane ticket, etc.) up to US$500.

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Useful Organizations And Publications

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; ☎877-FYI-TRIP/394-8747; www.cdc.gov/travel) maintains an international travelers’ hotline and an informative website. Consult the appropriate government agency of your home country for consular information sheets on health, entry requirements, and other issues for various countries (see the listings in the box on 1Travel Advisories). For quick information on health and other travel warnings, call the Overseas Citizens Services (M-F 8am-8pm from US ☎888-407-4747, from overseas 202-501-4444), or contact a passport agency, embassy, or consulate abroad. For information on medical evacuation services and travel insurance firms, see the US government’s website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_health.html or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk). For general health info, contact the American Red Cross (☎202-303-4498; www.redcross.org).