Travel Sickness in Vietnam: Your Ultimate Vietnam Emergency Manual

The Emergency Manual

Immediate action steps and local resources to handle health issues efficiently during your Vietnam trip.

We broke down the 10 most common travel ailments in Vietnam. We explain how to feel better, where to find a doctor, and what to keep in your bag.

📌 Vietnam has a deep history of Thuoc Nam, or Southern Medicine. Locals used herbs from their gardens to heal long before modern clinics existed. Walk down Lan Ong Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter today. You will smell cinnamon, ginseng, and dried orange peels. This street has been an organic pharmacy for centuries.

📌 How to Get There

Allergic Reactions

Emergency steps for food allergies and how to use translation cards.

You ate something unfamiliar. Now you are itchy, or your lips are swelling. Hives are manageable. But difficulty breathing is a real emergency. 

Best Practices

• Eat at places with English menus: Or book a Truly Voyage food tour. The guides check every ingredient for you. And remember, always double-check your medication before a tour, especially if you use EpiPens. Don’t think of walking out of your door without it in your pack.
• Identify the Cause: Figure out what you ate so you can tell a doctor.
• Translation Card: Carry a card that says "Toi di ung voi: Vietnamese name of the food you are allergic to" (I am allergic to peanuts). Before your trip, you can have ChatGPT write them out for you and test the result through Google Translate. 
• Stop Eating: Stop eating immediately at the first sign of an itchy throat. Drink plain water.

Where to find help

Rule of thumb: INFORM. EVERYONE

Call 115 for an ambulance. Or take a Grab car straight to the nearest international hospital. Hotel staff, your chosen tour operators, do you have a local friend? Call them too. If nothing works, you can even call us at Truly Voyage.

We just want you to get back on your feet. We hate the idea of you feeling terrible in a hotel bed. Pick up the phone if you run into trouble. We might not be doctors. But we know this city well. We will gladly point you to the right place.

Tummy Trouble (Indigestion or Food Poisoning)

How to manage digestive issues caused by new local bacteria and unfamiliar spices.

You ate something unfamiliar. Now you are stuck in the bathroom. Your stomach is just meeting new local bacteria. It usually passes in a day or two.

Best Practices

• The White Diet: Stop eating spicy food. Stick to plain white rice, plain banh mi bread, or bananas.
• Sip water: Drink room-temperature bottled water slowly.
• Salted Lemonade: Locals drink chanh muoi (salted lemonade) to balance minerals and settle nausea.

Where to find help

Look for Pharmacity or Long Chau. These are large, modern pharmacies. Ask for "dau bung" (stomach ache) medicine or rehydration salts.

Heat Exhaustion

Combating the effects of high humidity and intense tropical sun exposure.

You spent the day in the sun. Now you feel dizzy, have a headache, and feel slightly sick. You are just overheated, combined with the thick-as-mud level of humidity, your body is guaranteed to react if it is not used to it.

Best Practices

• Cool down: Get into air conditioning. Put a cold, wet towel on your neck, wrists, and under your arms.
• Electrolytes: Buy Pocari Sweat or Revive from a Circle K. These local sports drinks work better than plain water.
• Rest: Lie down with your feet slightly raised for blood circulation.

Respiratory Cough

Adjusting to urban air quality and tropical humidity in busy cities.

Your throat hurts from the humidity and city dust. Travelers often get a cough when they arrive. Your lungs are adjusting to the tropical urban air.

Best Practices

• Saltwater Gargle: Do this every morning and night to clear out dust.
• Honey and Kumquat: Most cafes serve hot honey and lime juice to soothe your throat.
• Mask Up: Wear a high-quality KF94 mask near heavy traffic.

Where to find help

Pharmacies sell Eugica herbal throat lozenges and saline nasal sprays. Also consider taking a taxi or a Truly Voyage private car on high-pollution days. Also, don’t forget to pack some comfortable N95 or KF94 masks.

Mosquito Bites and Itching

Managing insect bites and recognizing symptoms of Dengue fever in 2026.

Mosquitoes ~ bites ~ everywhere. Most bites are just annoying. Dengue is rare for short-term tourists in the city.

Best Practices

• Do not scratch: Scratched bites get infected easily in this humidity.
• Soothing Balms: Use local eucalyptus oil or tiger balm to stop the itch.
• Cover Up: Wear loose linen pants in the evening.

Where to find help

Pharmacies sell Soffel repellent, or you can bring your own DEET-based repellent. Head to Family Medical Practice for a blood test if you get a high fever a few days after being bitten. Apply repellent every few hours. 

The Scooter Kiss (Minor Scrapes)

Step-by-step guide to cleaning minor wounds in a humid environment.

You fell off a bike or tripped. Now you have a scrape. Minor scrapes happen. You just need to keep them clean, so they heal properly.

Where to find help

Any local clinic (Phòng Khám) or public aid station (Trạm Y Tế) will clean and dress a wound for a small fee; just don’t forget to look them up to make sure they are actual clinics, some spa shops get the bright idea to put the word “clinic” in their name. When packing, remember to pack antiseptic wipes and waterproof bandages.

Sudden Fever

Protocol for managing high body temperatures and knowing when to seek professional help.

You have chills and a burning forehead. Your body is likely fighting off a quick bug or reacting to cold air conditioning.

Best Practices

• Sponge Bath. Wipe your body with lukewarm water to lower the fever.
  
• Hydrate. Drink twice as much water as usual.
  
• Immediate action: Set your AC to 25°C. Extreme cold makes shivering worse. If fever hits 39°C (102.2°F), seek medical attention immediately. Inform everyone! Update the front desk staff of your hotel, call your Airbnb host, and message your tour company.

You can also call us. Truly Voyage is at 54 Hang Tre Street. You do not have to be a customer to ask for help. Calling us costs absolutely nothing.

We just want you to get back on your feet. We hate the idea of you feeling terrible in a hotel bed. Pick up the phone if you run into trouble. We might not be doctors. But we know this city well. We will gladly point you to the right place.

Sunburn

Natural and clinical remedies for tropical sun exposure.

You spent 20 minutes on the beach without sunscreen. Now your skin is bright red. The sun here is very strong. It happens easily. 

Best Practices

• Aloe Vera. Buy a fresh aloe leaf at a local market. Slice it and rub the gel on your skin.
• Loose Clothing. Wear light fabrics that do not rub the skin.
• Stay in the Shade. Keep out of the sun until the redness fades.

Where to find help

Pharmacies sell after-sun gels and Biafine for burns. How to avoid it. Apply SPF 50 every two hours. What to pack.   

Motion Sickness

Tips for navigating the winding mountain roads of Sapa and Ha Giang.

The winding mountain roads are making you nauseous. Reassurance. Even tough travelers get car sick on the way to Sapa or Ha Giang. 

Best Practices

• Look Forward: Look out the front window. Put your phone away.
• Increase Ventilation: If it is the smell that is making you feel sick, request the driver to turn off the AC and open the window on both sides for a few minutes.
• Ginger Candy: Buy ginger chews (Keo Gung) at local markets to settle your stomach.
• Seat Choice: Sit in the front passenger seat.

Where to find help

Pharmacies sell motion sickness patches (or pills). Stick one behind your ear before the trip. You can also request a deep clean of the car a day before travel to increase the car's freshness. Remember to send over the request as early as possible to give the staff time to deep-clean.

The Ultimate "Stay-Healthy" Packing Guide

Stomach Safety Kit

• Probiotics: Start taking these a week before you fly to build up a protective layer in your digestive system for the local spices and bacteria.
• ORS: Pack 5-10 sachets of Oral Rehydration Salts. When you get a "tummy rumble" or sweat through three shirts in one afternoon, water alone won't fix you. You can also try a mixture of salted lemon drinks ~ available in every convenience store.
• Hand Sanitizer & Wipes: Use these every time you touch open surfaces, especially when handling money. The "Dong" (Vietnamese cash) ~ the polymer bills are durable, but they travel through thousands of hands and markets before they get to you!

The Climate & Skin Defense

• SPF 50+ (No Whitening!): Western skin isn't used to the Vietnamese sun. Buy your sunscreen at home. Many local brands contain "whitening" agents (meant to keep skin pale), and imported Western brands in Hanoi are double the price you'd pay at home.
• Suitable Clothing: Swap heavy denim and 100% cotton for linen or "dry-fit" fabrics. Cotton gets wet and stays wet, which leads to skin rashes. You want clothes that "breathe" as much as you do.
• The "Antiseptic Duo": Pack a small tube of antiseptic cream (like Betadine) and a variety of waterproof bandages. In this humidity, even a tiny mosquito bite that you scratch can get angry if you don't keep it clean.

3. "Breathe Easy" Gears

• High-Quality Masks: If you plan on riding on the back of a motorbike or walking through the busy streets of Saigon & Hanoi, a thin cloth mask won't cut it. Bring 5-10 KF94 or N95 masks to filter out the city dust and exhaust.
• Chafe Balm: It’s a bit awkward to talk about, but walking 20,000 steps in 90% humidity can cause some serious skin friction. A small stick of anti-chafe balm will be your best friend by day three.

4. Must-Haves

• Allergy Translation Cards: If you have a severe nut or shellfish allergy, have it printed in Vietnamese. Don't rely on your phone's signal for Google Translate when you're at a street food stall or are already in an allergic episode.
• The Generic Med List: If you take regular medication, write down the generic chemical name (e.g., Ibuprofen instead of Advil). Vietnamese pharmacists are pros, but they recognize chemical formulas more easily than Western brand names.
• Digital Insurance Copy: Keep a photo of your travel insurance policy and its 24-hour emergency number on your phone. It’s the one thing you hope you never need, but you’ll be glad it's there.

Common Questions (FAQ)

International hospitals in Vietnam

While we hope you only experience the joy of Bun Cha and breathtaking views, being prepared for health emergencies is vital. This guide provides a curated list of world-class international hospitals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang to ensure you travel with total peace of mind.

Top International Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Saigon is the medical hub of the South. If you're exploring the Southern Metropolis, these are your go-to spots for medical emergencies.

Table 1: Highly recommended international hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City for Western travelers.

Leading Medical Facilities in Hanoi

Hanoi offers a mix of historic institutions and brand-new luxury hospitals. If you are staying in the Old Quarter, many of these are just a short drive away.

Table 2: Key international hospitals in Northern Vietnam.

Reliable Care in Central Vietnam (Danang)

Danang is famous for its beaches, but it also boasts some of the cleanest and most professional clinics in the country.

Why Book with Truly Voyage?

We provide more than tours; we provide a safety net. Our team of 10 locals ensures hygiene standards are met at every stop. If you feel unwell, we are a WhatsApp message away to translate, transport, and support you 24/7.