Vaccinations for Vietnam

Systema_2

I am in Vietnam at the moment and have not taken anti-malaria tablets and infact have not seen a mossie in 5 weeks.
Only the usual updated jabs - polio etc.

Jaffa_cake

poor_johno wrote: »

Has anyone been to Vietnam recently and knows what vaccinations are needed or if they are needed at all? There's mixed opinions online so before I pop into my GP's can anyone enlighten me, thank you!

.
Non needed.
And to be honest, I wouldn't be thinking about having any.

We just had a month there.

What will you be doing in Vietnam?
How long will you plan to be there?

We did the motorbike hire in Hanoi, and rode out to Cat Ba, Island via the ferry.
Then returned, and rode to Saigon, taking about 26 days.
Put the 2 little 110cc motorbikes on the train, and went back to Hanoi, 2 day train ride.

What would you like to know?


J.C.

poor_johno

Jaffa_cake wrote: »

.
Non needed.
And to be honest, I wouldn't be thinking about having any.

We just had a month there.

What will you be doing in Vietnam?
How long will you plan to be there?

We did the motorbike hire in Hanoi, and rode out to Cat Ba, Island via the ferry.
Then returned, and rode to Saigon, taking about 26 days.
Put the 2 little 110cc motorbikes on the train, and went back to Hanoi, 2 day train ride.

What would you like to know?

J.C.

Just spoken to my GP and they've recommend I get the Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio jab which are all free. They also recommend Hep B for £25. Considering these are mainly free I will get them just to be safe.

We are going for two weeks but will be traveling North to South visiting Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and HCMC. Using one overnight train (Hanoi-Hue) and one internal flight.

Any tips and advice would be great.

Jaffa_cake

poor_johno wrote: »

Just spoken to my GP and they've recommend I get the Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio jab which are all free. They also recommend Hep B for £25. Considering these are mainly free I will get them just to be safe.

We are going for two weeks but will be traveling North to South visiting Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and HCMC. Using one overnight train (Hanoi-Hue) and one internal flight.

Any tips and advice would be great.

.
OK, if you want to go with your GP, then no problem.
But your not going any where dangerous, but any way.

We hired 2 x Honda 110cc step through motor bikes in Hanoi.
No clutch, as she didn't want to have any thing to big for Hanoi and Saigon traffic.
You will know more when you arrive there.

From Hanoi we rode to Hai Pong, and rode the bikes onto the ferry to Cat Ba Island.
About an hour on the ferry.
Then we rode around to the hotel part of the island, there is only one "hotel " part.
A couple of days there, and trips around the Ha Long Bay rocks etc, canoeing into the small caverns, which are just big enough for a canoe if you lean low.
Then back on the bikes, and on the ferry back to Hai Pong and the mainland.
Then it was about 23 days down to Saigon, stopping every night in a cheap hotel
The bikes were $35 each for the month, the hotels were ranging from $6.00 to $10.00 US. a night.
We always sorted our own meals as and when we wanted.
We did all the places you mentioned, plus many others, and Hai Van Pass.
We didn't ride every day, some days just ride for 2 hours, then hotel, and beach.
When we arrived in Saigon, we went to the train station "Ga Saigon" and handed in our bikes to the transport office.
They take the mirrors off, and put them under the seat.
They also drain the fuel - with great delight-
They wrap the bikes in paper, then card board, then into a wooden crate.
The cost for the bikes back was about $30
Now relieved of our bikes, we did the trails, and Mekong river delta tours etc.
The bikes don't go on the same train as passengers.
A couple of days later we took the night&day train back from Saigon in the South to Hanoi in the North.
When we arrived back in Hanoi, we went to the transport office, and got our bikes back.
As soon as we got the bikes back, we needed to buy petrol.
There are many people selling bottles of petrol ( from other drained bikes) just enough to get you to a petrol station.
We had originally bought cheap crash helmets, and we gave these to the bike rental shop.
When we rented the bikes, you either leave your passport as deposit, or $200 for each bike.
We left the $400, and they put it in a sealed envelope, which we both signed.
When we got back, out come the sealed envelope, and they give you back the deposit.
All very easy.
The train back from Saigon to Hanoi cost about $50 I think.
Can you change your dates for an extra two weeks there?
Food wise, well, it's not UK food that's for sure, but you can live on it, as Crocodile Dundee would say.
Many small bread stalls along the sides of the road.
many fruit stalls.
Bread and pineapples are nice.
The meat is OK, if you don't think about it too long.
Almost every thing is boiled.
Neither of us got sick, or bitten, but that's just us.
I would say we have caste iron stomachs.
You might get the belly runs, so take some Imodium or whatever to bung you up.
Bottle water all day long.
Take a tube of hand disinfectant, for when you can't wash your hands.
Suncream,
Daily "throw away" undies, saves washing and carrying smellies.

Many beautiful beaches in the south, eg, Ca Na, Mui Ne,


Any thing else?

J.C.