Vietnam Travel Answers

I found the heat and humidity in Vietnam to be almost excruciating, so you may want to rethink traveling to this part of the world with such a very young child, whose health could be put at risk. It’s not only the heat you should be concerned about, but also the various tropical diseases that might easily afflict your toddler. Have you spoken with your pediatrician?

CDC Health Information for Travelers to Vietnam: Preparing for Your Trip to Vietnam Before visiting Vietnam, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination: (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.) To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see a health-care provider for needed vaccines, anti-malaria drugs and other medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling. CDC recommends that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. Find a travel medicine clinic near you. If you have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with any doctors you are currently seeing for other medical reasons. If your travel plans will take you to more than one country during a single trip, be sure to let your health-care provider know so that you can receive the appropriate vaccinations and information for all of your destinations. Long-term travelers, such as those who plan to work or study abroad, may also need additional vaccinations as required by their employer or school. Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in Vietnam, the government requires some travelers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to Vietnam from any country other than the United States, this requirement may affect you. For specific requirement details, see Yellow Fever & Malaria Information, by Country. Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Check the links below to see which vaccinations adults and children should get. Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) are given at all stages of life; see the childhood and adolescent immunization schedule and routine adult immunization schedule. Routine vaccines are recommended even if you do not travel. Although childhood diseases, such as measles, rarely occur in the United States, they are still common in many parts of the world. A traveler who is not vaccinated would be at risk for infection. Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Vaccine recommendations are based on the best available risk information. Please note that the level of risk for vaccine-preventable diseases can change at any time. Vaccination or Disease Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Routine Recommended if you are not up-to-date with routine shots, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc. Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection (see map) where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travelers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviors. Hepatitis B Recommended for all unvaccinated persons traveling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission (see map), especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident). Typhoid Recommended for all unvaccinated people traveling to or working in Southeast Asia, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water. Japanese encephalitis Recommended if you plan to visit rural farming areas and under special circumstances, such as a known outbreak of Japanese encephalitis, see country-specific information. Rabies Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travelers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travelers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. Malaria Areas of Vietnam with Malaria: Rural only, except none in the Red River Delta and the coast north of Nha Trang. Rare cases in the Mekong Delta. None in Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon. (more information) If you will be visiting an area of Vietnam with malaria, you will need to discuss with your doctor the best ways for you to avoid getting sick with malaria. Ways to prevent malaria include the following: Taking a prescription antimalarial drug Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms or using bednets It is particularly important when traveling to Vietnam that you have detailed information of where you are going within this country because malaria prevention recommendations vary depending on where you go within the country. Some areas of Vietnam have resistance to certain antimalarial drugs. There are also some areas where the risk of malaria is low, and taking an antimalarial drug is not recommended. See the malaria information listed by country to find out the best way for you to prevent malaria for the area you plan to visit in Vietnam. For detailed information about each of these drugs, see Table 3-11: Drugs used in the prophylaxis of malaria. For information that can help you and your doctor decide which of these drugs would be best for you, please see Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria. To find out more information on malaria throughout the world, you can use the interactive CDC malaria map. You can search or browse countries, cities, and place names for more specific malaria risk information and the recommended prevention medicines for that area. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. Humans get malaria from the bite of a mosquito infected with the parasite. Prevent this serious disease by seeing your health-care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites (see below). Travelers to malaria risk-areas in Vietnam, including infants, children, and former residents of Vietnam, should take one of the antimalarial drugs listed in the box above.

I have travelled with my Daughter and Grandaughter since my grandaughter was 18 months. She was 3 when we were in Vietnam (it was very humid and temp around 36 degrees) and 18 months and 5 years when in Bali. My daughter and I are sensible people who would not risk any health problems that could be avoided. She had NO vaccinations and normal hygene prevailed. She was not sick once, however she does get ear problems so the appropriate measures were taken. If your child is a normal healthy child just let common sense prevail. Take medications with you that you think would be needed and plenty of Antibacterial wipes, we do take plenty and hardly use them. We always encouraged my grandaughter to try the food of the country but if she was not interested and wanted a Vigimite sandwich then that was fine, normally for breakfast Vegimite on toast or Banana's was all she wanted but would try local foods at night. She is 10 now and eat's most foods but still get's quite a lot of ear infections. So to sum up be guided by your gut feeling and take the sensible precautions.

I have travelled with my Daughter and Grandaughter since my grandaughter was 18 months. She was 3 when we were in Vietnam (it was very humid and temp around 36 degrees) and 18 months and 5 years when in Bali. My daughter and I are sensible people who would not risk any health problems that could be avoided. She had NO vaccinations and normal hygene prevailed. She was not sick once, however she does get ear problems so the appropriate measures were taken. If your child is a normal healthy child just let common sense prevail. Take medications with you that you think would be needed and plenty of Antibacterial wipes, we do take plenty and hardly use them. We always encouraged my grandaughter to try the food of the country but if she was not interested and wanted a Vigimite sandwich then that was fine, normally for breakfast Vegimite on toast or Banana's was all she wanted but would try local foods at night. She is 10 now and eat's most foods but still get's quite a lot of ear infections. So to sum up be guided by your gut feeling and take the sensible precautions that are appropriate for your childrens health and stamina.