Lenny_M

Dear Fodorites:

I am making my first trip to Asia in August and will be in Cambodia (Siem Reap) for a few days.

I do not plan on being there for an extended period of time, just a couple of days. I don't plan on doing any vaccinations.

My questions are:

1. Are vaccinations certificates required at the point of entry to Cambodia? My travel guide says only if you're coming from a region affected by yellow fever.

2. Sunglasses are said to be essential, but I absolutely can't stand them. Do I have to do bring them along?

This is my first trip to Asia; I would greatly appreciate your help.

watakeet

1. No need for vaccination certificates unless it's a recent requirement
2. Yes, sunglasses. You won't regret to have brought them along

Razzle_Dazzle

I wear regular glasses and detest these clip-ons that turn them into sunglasses. I did not take sunglasses with me on my last trip to Thailand and did just fine, even near the water. I would, however, highly recommend that you grab some kind of sunscreen, especially if you will be near water. I was badly burned on Koh Samui after spending a couple of hours swimming with no protection.

As for Cambodia, I will be going there this May and there aren't any vaccination requirements; it is just something you might want to do to protect yourself against various tropical catches. That said, I am not doing them; I will be in Siem Reap for four days and will not venture into any rural areas, so I can't be bothered.

Kathie

As others have said, no vaccines are required (unless you are coming from a Yellow Fever area).

However, there are some basic vaccines that will certainly reduce your chances of getting sick. Some of these vaccines are ones you should have even to stay at home (tetanus, Hep A, MMR [measles, mumps,rubella]). Others, such as typhoid, are recommended for travelers to tropical climes, as typhoid is a food and water bourne illness (like Hep A). Also, you should be informed about malaria and dengue, both illnesses spread by mosquitos. You will certainly want to take a deet-based repellant (25-35% is the usual recommendation). Also, you will want to practice food and water precutions, so make sure you know what the "rules" are.

Do read www.cdc.gov/travel

rhkkmk

i would not go without hep a and b and the normal vac....malaria protection is important in this area...it only takes one bite...consult your travel doctor...