Staying safe and healthy is our top priority. We recommend a combination of information + preparation + smart practices to increase the chance of being safe and decrease the chance of a sickness, injury or other adverse event. Dangers and annoyances exist everywhere in the world and Vietnam and Cambodia are no exception. Knowing which hazards are most prevalent at our destination may help visitors overcome or avoid them. The most common adverse events experienced by western travelers in Asia are pretty easy to identify:
*** Travel Belly: Foods we’re used to are not foods you’ll always find on our journey. Sometimes foods and guts disagree - it happens. It's called Mexi-belly in Mexico, Bali-belly in Indonesia, Bangkok-belly in Thailand. We might as well call it Viet-belly or Cambo-belly for our purposes. Come prepared to self-administer your own go-to remedy if you're afflicted, whether Pepto-Bismal, antacid, Immodium, ginger, etc. Dan swears by 12 hour regimen of steamed rice, soy sauce and water to clear things up. Welcome to international travel, it just is…
*** Heat Rash: It's a tropics thing - and a real hindrance if you're stricken with a bout. Pack a little powder like Gold Bond, worth its weight in gold if you need it.
*** Sunburn: The sun near the equator does its work on your skin much faster than its rays you experience at more northern climes. A brimmed hat, good quality (brought from home) sunscreen, long sleeves or shirts with collars and common sense help prevent this trip hindrance. Falling asleep in the sun should be avoided.
*** Dehydration: It will be warm. Cold, refreshing drinking water is available everywhere. We'll be encouraging frequent water stops along our journey; they say that the best way to stay hydrated in the tropics is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day! Before you depart, pack away a few Gatorade-type hydration powder pouches in case you need them.
*** Scrapes/Sprains/Strains/Breaks: The terrain in Vietnam is not what we're used to at home: sidewalks, curbs, trails, steps, stairs & street crossings each require a traveler's awareness. Low overhead clearances, lack of orange "caution" cones or tape around ground hazards mean that you're sort of on your own to recognize and avoid these pitfalls (literally). We've seen large holes in sidewalks that could swallow a human - please be careful.
*** Medical Emergencies: The local EMS system is available if needed in all locations. For very serious situations requiring advanced testing or surgeries, evacuation to nearby Bangkok or Singapore is common.
*** Street Smarts: Violent crime is extremely rare in Vietnam and Cambodia. Nevertheless, crime exists, especially in the bigger cities. Pickpocketing and motorbike drive-by snatch & grabs are the only crime most travelers would ever experience., especially in Ho Chi Minh City. It's not uncommon for the western traveler to step up to the curb for a selfie in front of something cool just to have their phone snatched by a drive-by their. Don't wear expensive jewelry or even jewelry that is fake but looks expensive. Don't pull all your money out in the middle of the street to buy a piece of fruit. These rules of thumb are applicable to just about any locale you could visit as a traveler. But don’t worry, Dan’s got your back and will be offering additional advice to travelers before and after arrival and throughout the trip in an effort to help you avoid these annoyances.