A substance called lemon eucalyptus (which, oddly enough is neither lemon nor eucalyptus) does work as a repellant, though not for as long nor as effectively as deet. For those that cannot or prefer not to use deet, it's a reasonable alternative. It must be applied more frequently than deet.

The cdc website has good info on avoiding mosquito bites www.cdc.gov/travel

Note that what attracts mosquitoes is the carbon dioxide in your breath. So in theory, holding your breath should work ;-)

Thanks, Kathie! I'll try that next time - holding my breath. :)

Now I'm curious! I have been reading everyone's replies and as dumb as this sounds, I had NO idea that I needed bug repellent for Thailand. I guess going to Europe all these years has left me completely unprepared for Asia. :>(
Is this necessary when in major cities such as Bangkok...I'm assuming the answer is yes? (sigh)

I haven't seen DEET products of those brand names in Australia. Does anyone know if can get in Oz, or similar?

Do take repellant to Thailand. You are unlikely to need it in Bangkok (I've never been bitten in the city), but you would need it at beach areas and in northern Thailand, even Chiang Mai.

I doubt that the particular brands listed here are available in Oz. Look for repellant with 24-50% deet. If you can find some that is timed-release that's better but not necessary.

Deet-containing repellants are available in Thailand, one brand recommended by many is Jaico. Always read the label, as most brands make many different kinds of repellants.

sherri - since from your other thread I know you are deciding between Northern Thailand and Siem Reap, I just wanted to mention that if you head to Siem Reap you will also want to look into taking an anti-malarial drug such as malarone.

We have been Europe travellers as well and planning our first trip to Thailand/Cambodia for this March. There is a lot more to be aware of travelling to certain locations in SE Asia.

Like Kathie says Dengue is something one needs to really take care about. A most unpleasant fever, high temperature requiring absolute bed rest, and if neglected can be very dangerous as well. Please don't anyone get me wrong and get scared off from travelling to Asia, it is just good to be aware and take sensible precautions. Remember that anti malarial drugs will not protect against dengue so one needs to prevent being bitten by using repellants and also a mosquito coil or electric mat/liquid type killer in your room if mosquitos are present. And you can find mossies even inside airconditioned hotel rooms. Repellants and all related products are freely available all over Asia under various brand names and many hotels have an electric type mosquito killer/mat in the room usually in the bedside or dresser drawer. Try to carry a mini tub or bottle or whatever with you all the time as you never know when you will suddenly need it. I usually have a little tub of cream permeanently in my car glove compartmentand it has saved me and my kids many many times.

Jason,

Sorry...just saw this thread. We took two 2 oz. bottles of Ultrathon (between 2 of us) for 2 weeks (jeez, that's a lotta 2s) in SE Asia last year. We used DEET the whole time we were away and didn't come close to finishing off that 2nd bottle.

As Kathie said, you can always bring an extra one to be safe, but I think you're fine with 2.

Just remember with Ultrathon, you don't need to apply gobs of it for it to be effective.

Happy travels!

Sigh -
Thanks folks,
I think I'll need this info for India.

Thanks filmwill, very helpful information.

I'm deciding between Ultrathon and Sawyer time release 6oz. bottles...probably just as effective as each other.

The thing I found nice about Ultrathon is it doesn't have the infamous 'chemical' smell that other lotions do. Not sure about Sawyers, but loved that it wasn't oily or foul-smelling.

Another vote for "Jaico" brand here. We always buy it in Thailand. I've never seen it in the US, but I believe it's made in Holland.

It comes in a white roll-on bottle with green lettering and is sold in most pharmacies there. I think it is about 25% DEET. A little goes a long way.

If you can get Premetherin, buy a couple of cans of it. We sprayed clothing for 2 people and ran out, having to buy another one. We also brought 1 deodorant sized spray of DEET (around 30%) and a smaller one (maybe a couple of oz) for carrying around.

I still got bit plenty. Wish I had heard of the "Afterbite" stuff beforehand. I used Tigerbalm when I was there to soothe the itch (Asian method...Grandma used it on me as a kid). It doesn't really work unless your skin is broken...then you feel the tingle!

The context of the question by Jasonmolinari was - Just how much repellant is enough in Vietnam and Cambodia?

To answer that accurately, one has to size up how developed are these countries in terms of drainage and sanitary infrastructure. Mossies breed very well in clogged drains and ponds. In my travels around SE Asia, I'd rate Vietnam/Cambodia behind Spore, Malaysia and Thailand, probably Bali (but not general Indonesia). The next thing to consider is weather. On rainy months, mossies flourish like crazy(Jason didn't mention his travelling dates). With these two variables - and this is coming from me, who live in SE Asia - I reckon 2 tubes per person for 2 weeks is enough, if you go around in long pants and long sleeve.

That said, Dengue isn't exclusive to underdeveloped parts of SE Asia. Mind you, prim & proper Spore just recovered from an outbreak 2 months ago. Northern Australia is also proned to Dengue.

As a local, do i use DEET, Citronella ... etc? Come to think of it, never. I fear Dengue, JE or whatever disease carried by the Aedes mosquitoes like everyone else. I never use repellant in the rainforest (I trek 2-3 times every week), far flung villages, countryside or town. But if I'm near a people-packed downtown squatters area (bad sanitary and hygiene), I'll slap on some.

Another point to ponder, mosquito borne disease need dense human population to hop on. After sucking a whole lot of infected blood, mosquito can't fly far. At most 10 feet. One need to be very near to an infected person for the mosquito to do its job. To be infected by JE, one practically has to sleep next to an infected pig! (Hint - don't go near a pig farm). Lastly, Aedes (Asian tiger mosquito) only bites at dawn or dusk, never on middays, afternoons or in the middle of the night. Call it habit.

Ask yourself, what are your chances of going near downtown areas, unkept dense squatter villages?

Ok, what if you run out of repellant during your SE Asia travels? Easy, go to the nearest fresh market and buy some lemon grass stalks - it's cheap and the most common cooking ingredient. Squeeze out its juice and apply on skin. It works and 100% natural. By the way, lemon grass is a member of Citronella plant family. So, there you are.

Entirely different kinds of mosquitos carry malaria and JE vs. dengue.

The mosquitoes that can carry dengue are active during the day. They are especially prevalent in cities, as they breed in any standing water (a container with a half inch of water in it is perfect). Thus, a clean and sanitary place like Singapore had a recent outbreak of dengue.

The mosqutos that carry malaria and JE are active from dusk to dawn. Travel Twaddle is quite right that pigs are the vector for JE. So if you are traveling in rural farming areas of SE Asia for 6 weeks or more, or are working on a farm for perhaps a month, the JE vaccine is recommended. If you are tekking in the jungle, JE is not really a risk.

Malaria can be a risk even in remote jungle areas, as well as in rural areas and small towns. There are various animal vectors for malaria, so it isn't simply a mosquito biting one person with malaria then going on to another. That said, very little of peninsular Malaysia (where Travel Twaddle lives) is malarial risk.

So if I were you, TT, I'd be more concientious about using repellant, but then I seem to be especially tasty to mosquitoes, and perhaps you are not ;-)

With regard to JE and other mossie infections.
Immunisation is only one aspect of preventing illness. Immunisation is not 100% effective and you should also try to avoid mosquito bites when in 'at risk' areas. The best advice is 'try not to get bitten'. Mosquito bites can be avoided by the following.

* Sleep in rooms that are properly screened. For example, rooms with close fitting gauze over windows and doors.
* Spray the bedroom with insecticide just before evening. This kills mosquitoes that may have come into the room during the day.
* If you sleep outdoors or in an unscreened room, use mosquito nets impregnated with an insecticide (such as permethrin). The net should be long enough to fall to the floor all round your bed and be tucked under the mattress. Check the net regularly for holes. Impregnate with fresh insecticide every six months.
* Use an electric mat to vaporise insecticide overnight. Burning a mosquito coil is an alternative.
* Mosquitoes that carry the Japanese encephalitis virus are most active at dusk and in the evening. If possible, avoid going out after sunset. If you do go out after sunset then wear long sleeved clothing, trousers, and socks. Light colours are better as they are less attractive to mosquitoes.
* Apply insect repellent to clothing or exposed skin. Diethyltoluamide (DEET) is safe and effective, but take advice on the best repellent in the area you visit.
Mosquito coils and citronella candles are widely available and they do work.

After all that, I have to say that in over thirty years of travel worldwide, and to some 'high risk areas', mossies have never been a big problem.

You have 14 days in Vietnam and Cambodia....don't stress....enjoy the experience and just use common sense.
Do not make yourself attractive to mossies!!!

So after reading Mohammed's entry, I wonder if one needs to apply lotion even at bedtime (yuck!) or will the coils or mats do the trick. Do the hotels (3-4*) supply those? And if you have to use your own coils, how long do they last? (and how big are they - for packing?)

You are at much lower risk if you are sleeping in an air-conditioned room. Do make sure windows are closed, and if there are mosquitpes in your room, you may want to spray or burn a mosquito coil while you are out at dinner, so the room is cleared when you return. 3 and 4 star places will all be air-conditioned in most places. Most hotels will also supply mosquito coils. In any case theya re readily available - no need to take them with you.

If you are staying in a fan-cooled room, you should sleep under a treated bed net.

While one should always try to prevent mosquito bites, this is nothing to panic about. You just need to take reasonable precautions.

Thanks, Kathie -
Maybe I'll just stick with SkinSoSoft-(joke!)