Health & Safety

Health Insurance:

Never travel without a health insurance as there might always happen an accident. Ask your insurance whether, in case of an emergency, a return transport to your home country is included or not. Also, check before your travel, whether the insurance pays for adventure activities and medical expenses.

Pharmaceuticals:

If you need special or even regular medicine, better take it with you, as it might be difficult to find it in Vietnam.

Vaccinations:

The only immunization required in order to enter Vietnam is against yellow fever – but only if you have visited a country affected by the disease (South-America and Africa) within the last six days before your entry to Vietnam. 
Keep updated with the current malaria and dengue-fever situation in Vietnam! 
For more information, please visit the website of MD Travel Health: 
http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/viet_nam.php

Prevention:

Use insect repellent, sunscreen and a hat.

Be sure that your tetanus and polio immunization protection is extant.

Annoyances & Dangers:

Unless Vietnam sleeps, its noises in the streets (from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.) can be very annoying. So don’t forget your earplugs!

Keep your eyes open when swimming, snorkeling or diving offshore! Sharks and other dangerous creatures have been sighted in Vietnamese high seas.

Do not touch any artillery shells, rockets or other suspicious objects – these souvenirs from the Vietnam War can still be active and are highly dangerous.

Do not get involved in prostitution. You can encounter it anywhere.

Do not give a beggar money or something he or she can easily sell. Instead, you can buy them food.

Watch out for pickpockets!

Be suspicious when renting a motorbike. It could be stolen by an accomplice and you would have to compensate the rental service owner. Also, parts from a working motorbike could be stolen while it is parked in a “guarded place”, and you would have to pay the repair.

Nevertheless, do not suspect a criminal motive behind every friendly gesture. Try to stay open-minded and get a feeling for whom you can trust and whom not.