Overland travel guides

Vietnam shares land borders with Cambodia, Laos and China and there’re several border crossings open to foreigners with each neighbour, a big improvement on a few years ago.
Laos beauty spot Cambodia beauty spot Vietnam beauty spot

•     With Cambodia: Bavet (or Moc Bai), Kaam Samnor (or Vinh Xuong) and Phnom Den (or Tinh Bien),
•     With Laos: Donsavanh (or Lao Bao), Nam Phao (or Cau Treo), Nam Can and Tay Trang,
•     With China: Youyi Guan (or Huu Nghi Quan – English name is Friendship Pass), Hekou (or Lao Cai) and Dongxing (or Mong Cai).

Important notes for overland travel to Vietnam

•     All the above border crossings can arrange on arrival visa (one-month visa only) but it strongly recommends you should arrange visa in advance, at the Vietnamese Consulates to avoid any unexpected problems that may break your plan;
•     Schedule to arrive at the border crossings after 7.30am and before 4.30pm (working hour) as they do not stamp foreign passports before or after that time. You also need time to shop around and bargain for good transportation and accommodation;
•     Try and get a group together as local buses will not leave without a full van load. And customs seem easier for a big group;
•     Prepare some small denomination US dollars handy (commonly acceptable) and local currencies for local service purchases. Black market can be an option as there are few legal money-changing facilities, but you should be careful.
•     Local currencies include: Dong (Vietnamese), Renminbi (Chinese), Kip (Laos) and Riel (Cambodian).

Good travel health for your family (P3)

Medical kid   
A small, straightforward medical kit put together with special thought for children's ailments is a wise thing to carry.

1.     Make sure that you know the appropriate children's dose of any medicines you are carrying, and that they are in fact suitable for children.
2.     Ideally, antibiotics should be administered only under medical supervision and should never be taken indiscriminately. Take only the recommended dose at the prescribed intervals and continue using the antibiotic for the prescribed period, even if the illness seems to be cured earlier.
3.     Antibiotics are quite specific to the infections they can treat. Stop immediately if there are any serious reactions and don't use the antibiotic at all if you are unsure that you have the correct one for the infection.
4.     In Indochina, if a medicine is available at all it will generally be available over the counter and the price will be much cheaper than in the West. However, be careful when buying drugs in developing countries, particularly where the expiration date may have passed or correct storage conditions may not have been followed.
5.     Bogus drugs are common and it's possible that drugs which are no longer recommended, or have even been banned in the West are still being dispensed here.
6.     What you should bring along

•         Infant analgesic - with measuring cup or dropper
•         Antihistamine (such as Benadryl) - useful as a decongestant for colds, allergies, to ease the itch from insect bites or stings or to help prevent motion sickness. Antihistamines may have a sedative effect and interact with alcohol so care should be taken when using them.
•         Antibiotics - useful if you're traveling well off the beaten track, but it must be prescribed and you should carry the prescription with you. Some people are allergic to commonly prescribed antibiotics such as penicillin or sulfa drugs.
•         Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol, Imodium) - for stomach upsets.
•         Rehydration mixture - for treatment of severe diarrhea. This is particularly important if traveling with children who dehydrate easily. An electrolyte mixture is available in sachets.
•         Antiseptic (like Dettol or Betadine), mercurochrome and antibiotic powder or similar "dry" spray - for cuts and grazes.
•         Calamine lotion - to ease irritation from sunburn, bites or stings.
•         Bandages, band-aids, gauze and cotton wool - for minor injuries.
•         Scissors, tweezers and a thermometer/fever strips - mercury thermometers are prohibited by airlines.
•         Insect repellent, sun block, suntan lotion, chap stick - check that it is suitable for children's skin.
•         Water purification tablets.
•         Diaper rash cream, teething gel - for predictable ailments.
•         Worm treatment, lice shampoo, anti-fungal powder - for treatment of minor but irritating health problems.
•         A couple of syringes - in case you need injections in a country with medical hygiene problems. Ask your doctor for a note explaining why you are carrying them.

Good travel health for your family (P2)

Immunizations

1.     Vaccinations provide protection against diseases you might meet along the way. For some countries no immunizations are necessary, but the further off the beaten track you go the more necessary it is to take precautions.
2.     It is important to understand the distinction between vaccines recommended for travel in certain areas and those required by law. Essentially the number of vaccines subject to international health regulations has been dramatically reduced over the last 10 years. Currently yellow fever is the only vaccine subject to international health regulations.
3.     Vaccination as an entry requirement is usually only enforced when coming from an infected area.
4.     All vaccinations should be recorded on an International Health Certificate, which is available from your physician or government health department.
5.     Plan ahead for getting your vaccinations: some of them require an initial shot followed by a booster, while some vaccinations should not be given together. It is recommended you seek medical advice at least six weeks prior to travel.
6.     Most children from Western countries will have been immunized against various diseases during childhood but your doctor may still recommend booster shots against measles or polio, diseases still prevalent in many developing countries. Apart from these, special vaccinations are not normally given to children under 12 months of age. Talk to your doctor.
7.     The period of protection offered by vaccinations differs widely and some are contra-indicated if you are pregnant or likely to become pregnant within three months of the vaccination.
8.     The possible list of vaccinations includes:

•         Smallpox: Smallpox has now been wiped out worldwide, so immunization is no longer necessary.
•         Cholera: Not required by law. Protection is poor and it lasts only six months. It is contra-indicated in pregnancy.
•         Tetanus & Diphtheria: Boosters are necessary every 10 years and protection is highly recommended.
•         Typhoid: Available either as an injection or oral capsules. Protection lasts from one to three years and is useful if you are traveling for long periods in rural, tropical area. You may get some side effects such as pain at the injection site, fever, headache and a general feeling of being unwell. A new single-dose injectable vaccine, which appears to have few side effects, is now available but is more expensive. Side effects are unusual with the oral form but stomach cramps may be one of these.
•         Infectious Hepatitis: The most common travel-acquired illness which can be prevented by vaccination. Protection can be provided in two ways - either with the antibody gamma globulin or with a new vaccine called Havrix. Havrix provides long-term immunity (possibly more than 10 years) after an initial course of two injections and a booster at one year. It may be more expensive than gamma globulin but certainly has many advantages, including length of protection and ease of administration. It takes about three weeks to provide satisfactory protection - hence the need for careful planning prior to travel. Gamma globulin is not a vaccination but a ready-made antibody which has proven very successful in reducing the chances of hepatitis infection. Because it may interfere with the development of immunity, it shouldn't be given until at least 10 days after administration of the last vaccine needed; it should also be given as close as possible to departure because it is at its most effective in the first few weeks after administration and the effectiveness tapers off gradually between three and six months.
•         Yellow Fever: Protection lasts 10 years. Vaccination is contra-indicated during pregnancy but if you must travel to a high-risk area it is probably advisable. Check with your doctor.
•         Meningitis: This vaccination is recommended for visitors to Nepal and for visitors to some areas of Africa and Brazil. It is given as a single injection and gives immunity for up to three years duration.
•         Tuberculosis: TB is widespread throughout the developing world. Most Westerners will have been vaccinated at some time during their school years. For children vaccination is not deemed necessary unless they will be spending prolonged periods (say up to a year) in an area of risk.

Good travel health for your family (P1)

Travel health depends on your pre departure preparations, your day-to-day health care while traveling and how you handle any medical problem or emergency that does develop. While the list of potential dangers can seem quite frightening, with a little luck, some basic precautions and adequate information few travelers experience more than upset stomachs.

Pre-Departure Preparations
 

Health Insurance
A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is a wise idea.
Check the small print:

•     Some policies specifically exclude "dangerous activities" which can include scuba diving, motorcycling, even trekking. If such activities are on your agenda you will need another sort of policy. A locally acquired motorcycle license may not be valid under your policy.
•     You may prefer a policy which pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later make sure you keep all documentation. Some policies ask you to call back (collect) to a center in your home country where an immediate assessment of your problem is made.
•     Check if the policy covers ambulances or an emergency flight home. You may also need to cover the expanse of an additional person to accompany you in the case of certain illnesses. If you have to stretch out you will need two seats and somebody has to pay for them!

Health Preparation

•     Make sure you and your children are healthy before you start traveling. If you are embarking on a long trip make sure your teeth are OK; there are lots of places where a visit to the dentist would be the last thing you'd want to do.
•     If children wear glasses take a spare pair and the prescription. Losing glasses can be a real problem, although in many places you can get new spectacles made up quickly, cheaply and competently.
•     If your kids require a particular medication take an adequate supply, as it may not be available locally. Take the prescription or, better still, part of the packaging showing the generic rather than the brand name (which may not be locally available), as it will make getting replacements easier. It's a wise idea to show you legally use the medication - it's surprising how often over-the-counter drugs from one place are illegal or even banned in another country without a prescription.

Hiking travel guides

About one and a half million years ago mankind learned how to stand upright and walk. So in some way you could say that hiking was invented in the Stone Age. Nowadays when we talk about Hiking and Trekking we mean it in the pastime sense of the word. It is hard to say when walking as a means of hunting and surviving became walking for fun and recreation. Throughout the years man has always used walking as a means of relaxation. Going for a stroll is a great way to meditate on possible dilemmas or to get away from things and clear your mind.

General hiking tips:

1. Make sure that you drink enough water. Also make sure that you bring enough water with you or you can find water supply during the hike. In hot weather dehydration is especially dangerous.

2. Be careful what you pack. The most important rule of hiking is smart about what you pack. A beginning hiker generally becomes exhausted carrying a sack full of trail munchies, games, a portable CD player, three sweaters, and a video camera. Although pictures are nice, consider carrying a disposable camera for a more enjoyable hike. ( Learn more about Minimizing your pack)

3. Think before you step. Keep an eye on the trail well in front of where you are walking, and always consider the path before bounding forward.

4. Bring your own medicines. 

5. Never hike alone. NEVER- under any circumstances venture into the woods by yourself. Outdoor adventures are fun for the family, but hiking is only a group sport. The chances of becoming lost, sustaining injury, or losing supplies is much higher when alone, making the sport extremely dangerous.

6. Don't don and doff layers continually.
Though it is good to dress in layers, choose which layers, and stick with them for a time. Otherwise, you will exhaust yourself and try the patience of the group you are with. It's generally better to be a little cool than too hot, but don't change unless you are really getting uncomfortable.

7. Put the slowest hiker in front and pace the group to that person.
This works great in a group of differing ages! With the fast hikers in the front, they have a tendency to spread out too much. Then someone small at the back gets exhausted running to keep up. If you do divide into faster and slower groups, the one ahead should never get too far ahead and should stop and let the others catch up on a regular basis.

8. Take regular breaks.

9. Avoid sunburn.

10. Encourage kids not to exhaust themselves early in a hike. Sometimes little ones run at the beginning, run out of energy and have to be carried.

11. Always carry out what you carry in.
The first rule with interacting with the environment is: Leave it as you found it. This rule applies to the trees, the earth, the animals, the campsite, and even the flowers.

Important notes for overland travel to Vietnam

All the above border crossings can arrange on arrival visa (one-month visa only) but it strongly recommends you should arrange visa in advance, at the Vietnamese Consulates to avoid any unexpected problems that may break your plan;

Schedule to arrive at the border crossings after 7.30am and before 4.30pm (working hour) as they do not stamp foreign passports before or after that time. You also need time to shop around and bargain for good transportation and accommodation;

Try and get a group together as local buses will not leave without a full van load. And customs seem easier for a big group;

Prepare some small denomination US dollars handy (commonly acceptable) and local currencies for local service purchases. Black market can be an option as there are few legal money-changing facilities, but you should be careful.
Local currencies include: Dong (Vietnamese), Renminbi (Chinese), Kip (Laos) and Riel (Cambodian).

Vietnam travel health

Travellers tend to worry about contracting infectious diseases when in the tropics, but infections are a rare cause of serious illness or death in travellers. Pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, and accidental injury (especially traffic accidents), account for most life-threatening problems. Becoming ill in some way, however, is a relatively common thing. Fortunately, most common illnesses can either be prevented with some common-sense behaviour or be treated easily with a well-stocked traveller’s medical kit.

Heath care in Vietnam

Health issues and the quality of medical facilities vary enormously depending on where and how you travel in Vietnam. Many of the major cities are now very well developed, although travel to rural areas can expose you to a variety of health risks and inadequate medical care.

Some international hospitals/clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (American, French and German doctors on staff)

In Hanoi: (tel code: 84-4)

    * Hanoi French Hospital
      1 Phuong Mai Str.
      Tel: 577-1100, emergency: 574-1111

    * Family Medical Practice
      Unit 109-112, Van Phuc, Blog A1, Kim Ma Str.
      Tel: 843-0748 (24hours))

    * International SOS
      31 Hai Ba Trung Str.
      Tel: 934-0666, emergency: 934-0555

    * Vietnam-Korea Friendship Hospital
      12 Chu Van An Str.
      Tel: 843-7231

In Ho Chi Minh City: (tel code: 84-8)

    * International SOS
      65, Nguyen Du Str.
      Tel: 829-8520, emergency: 829-8424

    * Saigon International Clinic
      8 Alexandre de Rhodes Str., District 1
      Tel: 823-8888

    * Gia Dinh International Hospital
      1 Trang Long Str., Bin Thanh District
      Tel: 803-0678

    * Franco Vietnamese Hospital
      6 Nguyen Luong Bang Str., District 7
      Tel: 411-3333

Resources of Health Advice for Travellers

    * Travel-related risks
    * Medical consultation before travel
    * Medical kit and toilet items
    * Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions and special needs
    * Insurance for travellers
    * Role of travel industry professionals
    * Responsibility of the traveller
    * Medical examination after travel

(Source: World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.int/ith/en/)