jacketwatch

I agree with Kathie so my suggestion is either Google travel MD or clinic for one near you or hit the CDC website to see what is recommended currently for Nam and ask your MD to write a script for you. I've done that in the past and my MD has cooperated with me.

Also be sure to get a visa and more importantly get travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage just to be sure.

Kathie

The Cornell Clinic in NYC has an excellent travel med clinic. I'd go there before I'd go to Passport Health or any of the other for-profit travel clinics.

mlgb

I agree, Passport Health has a tendency to push expensive jabs such as yellow fever which are not always necessary.

crellston

Khtodd - I now nothing about which antibiotics are effective in Vietnam, but many of the bigger pharmacies here are now really good and the pharmacists very helpful. If you are unable to source reliable advice in the US then I wouldn't worry too much as they will be able to advice on which antibiotics are effective.

There are decent pharmacies in all the major cities, Saigon, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue. They will be in all the main tourist areas and around the hospitals. You could easily obtain a course of antibiotics on arrival just in case.

There used to be an issue with counterfeit meds, but that seems to be less of a problem ( although I would be wary of the smaller, back street pharmacies.

The fact that they issue antibiotics without prescription is very concerning, especially as they will sell them to you as single pills rather than a whole course. A recipe for disaster!

khtodd

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. After further research, it appears that over 80% of all TD is caused by a few strains of E. Coli found in food (not water)... and the Xifaxan prescribed by my internist can treat those strains. So, hopefully, that will be enough for me...

crellston - thanks for that info - I don't know if I would have thought of trying a local pharmacy and asking about that - but now, it is surely going to be an option if necessary.