tap water
#1
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tap water
I have read that in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam that we should only drink bottled water. Do most people agree with that, even in fairly nice restaurants? and this may be a dumb question, but is it safe to brush your teeth with tap water?
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#5
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I sometimes forget and brush my teeth in tap water and have not been sick yet but its probably not worth the risk. Only use bottled water. Also be carefully you don't ingest any water when showering.
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As a Thai I drink bottled water and try to drink only good locally made bottled water as the cost is not much. However, there's a growing trend in 5 stars hotels to only served imported bottled water at very high prices.
At the same time I brush my teeth with tap water and have not ever had any problem. I also notice that at several restaurants tap water is used to make soup and other dishes, especially to wash vegetables for salad. According to the health ministry of Thailand tap water is safe to drink but most people use some sort of filters before hand. If it means anything my pet dogs have always drink tap water, plus other water they can find as well, and they have never had any digestive problem and the oldest dog is now 15 years old.
At the same time I brush my teeth with tap water and have not ever had any problem. I also notice that at several restaurants tap water is used to make soup and other dishes, especially to wash vegetables for salad. According to the health ministry of Thailand tap water is safe to drink but most people use some sort of filters before hand. If it means anything my pet dogs have always drink tap water, plus other water they can find as well, and they have never had any digestive problem and the oldest dog is now 15 years old.
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#8
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While you are always safest using bottled water even for brushing you teeth, many (maybe all) 5 star hotels in Bangkok have their own purification system. But in smaller places, even brushing your teeth with tap water can make you ill. Our dear departed Gpanda got sick from brushing his teeth with tap water in Luang Prabang.
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Vietnam: YES YES YES to bottled water! I live there several months each year and it is important that you NOT DRINK tap water. I also use bottled water to brush teeth.
I met some people from the US Embassy last year and talked to them about the water "system" in Hanoi. They told me that the bacteria was not as big a problem as the heavy metals (nice things like arsenic.....) found in the water supply. I do all my laundry by hand and wondered why my black pants always turn gray after several months of hand laundering. Come to find out that whatever nasty is in the water also will leach the color from your clothes.
I met some people from the US Embassy last year and talked to them about the water "system" in Hanoi. They told me that the bacteria was not as big a problem as the heavy metals (nice things like arsenic.....) found in the water supply. I do all my laundry by hand and wondered why my black pants always turn gray after several months of hand laundering. Come to find out that whatever nasty is in the water also will leach the color from your clothes.
#14
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Mdtravelhealth.com Vietnam for all the health issues
Stick with SEALED new bottled water
Careful that seal is intact lots just fill old bottles from the tap reseal and sell
Hotels are bad for this too.
Personally stick with carbonated better for digestion cannot reseal
Also careful with veggies bake it Boil it peel it or leave it
As folks found out with the bean sprouts in Germany recently that sickened thousands some deaths
Stick with SEALED new bottled water
Careful that seal is intact lots just fill old bottles from the tap reseal and sell
Hotels are bad for this too.
Personally stick with carbonated better for digestion cannot reseal
Also careful with veggies bake it Boil it peel it or leave it
As folks found out with the bean sprouts in Germany recently that sickened thousands some deaths
#15
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a funny thing with bottled water in Vietnam & Cambodia -- it is filled to the absolute tiptop. Every time we opened one a bit would leak out on us if we weren't careful. Just the little differences....
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What about coffee? Typically, one does not boil the water used to make coffee (unlike tea). Maybe espresso would be a good choice?
We'll be staying in good hotels in Hue and Hoi An as well as in Siem Reap. Should we avoid milk and cream add-ons? Don't care for sweetened condensed milk.
We'll be staying in good hotels in Hue and Hoi An as well as in Siem Reap. Should we avoid milk and cream add-ons? Don't care for sweetened condensed milk.
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Theoretically, coffee and tea should be ok. But Cheryl got sick from a single sip of tea in India - the tea turned out to be lukewarm.
It depends on hot hot the water is heated, whether it was tap water or purified water, whether the cup was clean, etc, etc.
Everything is a risk. Choose your risks wisely.
It depends on hot hot the water is heated, whether it was tap water or purified water, whether the cup was clean, etc, etc.
Everything is a risk. Choose your risks wisely.
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Ryan
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Sep 21st, 2004 11:01 PM