The three areas you need to focus on daily for staying healthy and safe in Vietnam are:

Food and Water Avoid Insect Bites Avoid Injuries

Food and Water

Traveler's Diarrhea is the most common illness suffered by travelers to Vietnam. It's usually caused by bacteria in the food or water you consume, and usually occurs within the first week of travel. You must be extra cautious about food and water.

Some very important tips:

Do not drink tap water at any time in Vietnam
Do not consume ice cubes
Drink only bottled water, boiled water, or carbonated drinks in bottles/cans
Wash your hands often with soap and water
Avoid restaurants that look dirty
Avoid food from street vendors
Avoid raw fruits and vegetables unless you peel them
Brush your teeth using only bottled water
Stay hydrated (see €Hot Climate€)

Avoid Insect Bites

You must avoid insect bites in Vietnam because you are at risk for illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever. Malaria is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The first symptoms of malaria are normally fever, chills, sweats, headaches, muscle

pains, nausea and vomiting (For a definitive diagnosis, you must have a lab test). The peak biting period for malaria is dusk and dawn.

To prevent insect bites:
Stay indoors at dawn and dusk as much as possible
When you are outside at night, wear long sleeves and long pants
For sleeping, wear long sleeves and long pajama bottoms
Use an insect repellent with 30%-50% DEET

Avoid Injuries

As a pedestrian, you must be very cautious, especially at night:

o Vehicles always have the right of way
o Assume that vehicles will not stop for you
o There are sometimes no sidewalks
o Some streets have open sewers on each side, so be careful
o Due to lack of lighting, try to stay out of the road at night as much as possible since drivers might not see you
o Jogging can be very dangerous due to traffic and uneven surfaces
o

As a passenger in any vehicle:
Do not travel in vehicles late at night
o Never sit in the front seat or top of any bus or taxi
o Wear seat belts when possible
o Do not take private, unlicensed taxis or cars
o Try to avoid riding on any motorcycles, either as driver or passenger

If you take a trip to a beach area or river: We strongly recommend that you do not go swimming. The rip currents in the ocean are very dangerous, even for the best swimmers.

Do not have contact with animals. You could get rabies, insect bites, and skin rash/infections, etc.