Traveling is all about fun and exploring a new country, but it can often times also be quite tough. Not only are you in a foreign country, you’re probably also acclimatising to new weather, trying out foreign food and hopping around from place to place (which can be very tiring after a while!). Therefore, if you want to get the best out of your time traveling in Vietnam, there are a few simple tips on how to stay healthy in Vietnam so you can fully enjoy your journey in the far east.
Always stay hydrated
Number one rule when traveling: stay hydrated! Even if it’s not warm outside, you must always remember to drink plenty of water. The weather in Vietnam is tropical and that’s one of the reason why many people go to Vietnam. But many people are also suffering because of it. It can be extremely hot during daytime when it’s rainy season for example and foreign travelers has even been subdued to heatstrokes. Remember to stay inside when the temperatures start to rise and drink water! However, you cannot drink the tap water because…
The tap water is not safe to drink
Vietnam uses chlorine to clean the water and the plumping system still needs a lot of improvement before it’s deemed safe to drink the tap water, therefore avoid drinking directly from the tap. The best thing you can do is to find a place that has filtered water and fill up your water bottle with it. Don’t waste your money or plastic on buying the bottled waters. It’s not great for the environment and not for your wallet either.
Be careful of the mosquitoes and get bug repellent
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to avoid the mosquitoes forever. But you can at least try. There are natural remedies that works wonders such as natural herbs like lemongrass. But there’s also many bug repellents that you can find in every supermarket for a reasonable price. Soffell cream and Remos spray are two of the most popular repellents you can find in Vietnam. A tip is to buy tiger balm. It helps to relieve the mosquito bites.
Don’t pet the stray animals
Yes, they’re cute and fluffy but they’re also stray animals. This means that the animals are wild and has not received any proper care against fleas, worms, or other common diseases. This can transfer to you just by petting them. If you see animals showing aggressive behaviors, avoid contacts and move as far away from them as possible. Always bring with you a hand sanitizer.
Be mindful of what you eat
The food in Vietnam is absolutely delicious and you should be trying out all the street food. But you must also be mindful of what you eat. If there’s something that looks a bit off, it’s probably better to not try it. The Vietnamese might also use spices you’re not used to, which can lead to your stomach feeling a bit iffy at first. Therefore, always bring medicine to your stomach so that you can avoid getting sick. Try to avoid drinking anything with ice cubes in it since the water isn’t always made from clean and boiled water. The hot weather in Vietnam is also ideal for bacteria to grow.
If you’re going to drive, be careful
The traffic in Vietnam is known to be a bit crazy and you’ll see what we mean once you’re there. There’s been numerous cases where foreign travelers has rented a motorbike and gotten into an accident because they’re not used to the traffic or the roads. If you’re still adamant to do it, just make sure that you wear a proper helmet, follow the traffic rules and be aware of your environment. In the cities, the roads are usually more developed. But once you get out of the city, you’ll probably see that some of the roads aren’t paved or has a bunch of holes in them. You don’t want to be one of those people limping and bandaged because you lost control of the wheel.
Wear sunscreen
The sun is strong in Vietnam so you should always opt for wearing sunscreen, even if the sky is grey. Too many people get severely burnt because they underestimate the power of the sun in Vietnam, which will not only lead to a red color on your skin but it can also leave a serious damage. Therefore, it’s always recommended to wear sunscreen while traveling in Vietnam, to stay healthy.
Remember that you must apply for a Vietnam visa before entering the country. You can do this by either getting either of the online visas, Visa on Arrival or the E-Visa, or you can go directly to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. There are pros and cons with each of the visas and the E-Visa is only eligible for certain countries in the world, so do the proper research before deciding on which one fits you best. Other than that, happy traveling in Vietnam!
