There are a couple of threads here about a cholera (acute diarrhea) outbreak all over North Vietnam and apparently South too with particular trouble in Hanoi. We planned to be in Hanoi in November. After searching online I found several news articles that seemed to explain that this is the 2nd outbreak in 6 months (they also had one last November)and that the sewerage system in Hanoi is antiquated and causes sewerage to go to the lakes and rivers nearby. They also suggested personal hygiene knowledge is further causing this problem. They suggested they had no immediate solution and it could become a worse epidemic.
So anyone out there know anything about cholera? How easy is it to avoid?

My concern is that they have not resolved it and since it's already happened twice in 6 months it may likely happen again w/o warning.
I do not want to get sick especially on a trip. And I do tend to catch these thins somehow - was very sick on my recent return from Peru.

Here are some links to articles and as another fodorite posted the Sofitel Metropole GM sent letters to guests warning them of the outbreak.

One article on it: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2008/04/777718/

Worse article: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=77970

Thanks any thoughts would be appreciated.

It is extremely rare for travelers to contract cholera. You should observe food and water precautions (see the cdc website for specifics on food and water precautions). Given that there is an outbreak, you'll want to be especially conscientious about hygiene. Take along moist towelettes with an antibacterial on them. Make sure you use these and/or wash your hands before eating, etc. They really is no effective vaccine for cholera. Dukoral was developed as a cholera vaccine, but it is not especially effective.

Thanks Kathie. It just kinda freaked me. I know nothing about cholera. I was sick an entire weak after returning from Peru just a month ago. I am still not sure whether it was something I ate there or the water I had on my 4 hour layover in San Salvador airport. So it does concern me. We always only eat at upscale restaurants in places like these but I know that does not always matter.
I am sure I sound like a wimp but I am not in the mood for a repeat of my Peru experience.
Any more thoughts Kathie or anyone has would be appreciated. Thanks.

I don't think you are a wimp, Paulo, I think you are appropriately cautious. And, of course, having recently gotten sick while traveling makes you more sensitive to the issue.

Here's what the cdc says:
wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-Cholera.aspx

The one recommendation I have is to take along packets of rehydration salts. Many people take them along with other travel medications just in case.

Thanks Kathie. Still a bit weary. Dumb question. Is it likely to be in the main water system too? We are booked at the Sofitel Metropole so it's pretty high end and I always use bottled water for brushing teeth etc. but what about swallowing a bit of water while showering...somehow that happens often to me. Is that likely to be a problem??? Sorry I am clueless.

Paulo, the usual precations you follow are just fine. It is unlikely to be in the main Hanoi water system. Really, travelers are exceptionally unlikely to contract cholera.

Thanks.

You'll be fine, Paulo. We were at the Metropole for 5 nights last November. The hotel posted some innocent notes warning us about what was going on in the city--but after a day or so we really even forgot that there was an "outbreak." I use the quotes because it really was something that factored into our experience at all. That's how much of a non-issue it was.

Use the normal precautions you'd use traveling in SE Asia (as Kathie mentioned) and you'll be fine.

I took many showers in that lovely bathroom and enjoyed every second of them--and was no worse for the wear.

Paolo,
I will be in Hanoi November 14th - 18th. Had no idea about the outbreak, on the other hand I always seem to catch something however careful I think I am.

There is a hilarious scene in the movie Sex and the city where they are all in Mexico and Charlotte only eats Packaged Chocolate pudding. By mistake she swallows some water while showering, immediately spits it out and gets sick.

You can be so careful and still catch something, or go with the flow and exercize regular caution, and be fine.

Will our time in Hanoi overlap?
Perhaps a GTG?

Thanks filmwill,Kathie and NYwoman...I never seem to get anything when I go to Europe but have caught something each time I have gone to Asia (except Japan), Central and South America. We will be in Shanghai while you are in Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi Nov. 20. Hope you have a great trip. I think I will just cross my fingers and go for it based on what everyone is saying. My birthday is on the 24th so I would hope to be at some swanky restaurant that night rather than laying low...

What is a GTG?

Paulo, it's Fodor-speak for a get together. When Fodorites overlap in Asian locales they try to get together, and there is typically a Boston gtg and a Honolulu gtg each year.

I, too, stayed at Sofitel Metropole and had the worst diarrhea ever in all my years of travel. I think I had eaten something "greenish" at the restaurant at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. The restaurant is the one that has many different styles of food at different stations. Big mistake...don't eat greenish food. I hope it was not from breakfast at the HK Four Seasons. But the Metropole was very helpful, even sent me tea and salted crackers in the middle of the night. Do not stay in the Historic Rooms if you do not like very small, very tiny rooms. The new section has very nice rooms with room to breath. The restaurants in the hotel are very good and the pool is lovely. After I could eat, I ate anything and everything at the hotel and had no further problems. We were in Peru during a cholera outbreak where they had to open special clinics to accomodate all the sick people. We ate carefully at 4/5* hotels and did not drink tap water..no problem.