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/)

Advice for woman travellers - 03

Menstruation

    * Emotional upset, exhaustion and travelling through different time zones can all contribute to an upset in the menstrual pattern. Irregular menstruation is a very common problem affecting women travellers, excessive exercise and the stress of travel may cause infrequent periods, if this is the case it may lead to confusion over the timing of oral contraception and great anxiety of unplanned pregnancy. Dysmenorrhoea may also be aggravated by travel.
    * Oral contraception can be used to suppress menstruation. This is achieved by taking the pill continuously, without the usual seven-day break in between packets. A reminder to take extra packets to allow for this should be stressed. However, this method is not advisable for women taking biphasic or triphasic pills because the dose in the first seven pills is too low to prevent possible breakthrough bleeding.
    * Sanitary hygiene: Tampons and sanitary towels are widely available in larger cities but harder to find in remote and mountainous areas. Locally made menstrual supplies are usually available although the standard varies.