Hello, I'm off to Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa next month, but I had a concern about being exposed to live birds (in particular in Sapa).

I have just been diagnosed with Bronchial Asthma - basically, it means that I will be more susceptible to contracting chest infections (and have been), and would like to avoid contact with live birds at all costs. Im wondering if I should scrap Sapa and go somewhere else (even though my hotel and train tickets are fully paid for).

In Sapa, I was hoping to trek, visit the markets etc - is it possible to do this while avoiding live chickens?

Im sorry if this sounds morbid, but really dont want to make the wrong decision!

thanks

just don't handle any birds....this is the danger....

go to www.cdc.gov/travel and read the sections on Avian flu. Basically, you would have to handle very ill birds or their corpses or the droppings to be exposed to the Avian flu. VN is currently not a country with cases, Indonesia has had the greatest number of cases in the last year.

I don't know that Sapa was ever a location with significant Avian flu. Generally, it thrives in hotter weather.

Oh, juts don't worry about it. We are living here and we are fine. The medical staff controlled and handled this very well. We still eat chicken in the supermarket. In fact, we even now don't think of bird flu. In Sapa there is no bird flu and I suppuse chicken in Sapa - a moutainous province would be so delicious. Don't hesitate to taste it. Sapa is so far from the place where used to have bird flu. Enjoy your nice time and no need to worry!

I wouldn't worry about bird flu. What I would worry about is the horrible air and noise pollution in Hanoi. Go to Halong Bay and Sapa, eat chicken and get out of Hanoi!! Enjoy!!