Travel vaccines for Vietnam
From the street food of Hanoi to a junk boat on Halong Bay, Vietnam is a brilliant trip. Pop into Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston and we'll sort the jabs and bite advice before you fly from Manchester.
Vietnam packs an enormous amount into one country — the Old Quarter chaos of Hanoi, the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, the Mekong Delta, the beaches around Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, and the rice terraces up in Sapa. Whether you're doing the classic north-to-south overland run or just a week on the coast, a quick travel-health chat before you go means you can relax and enjoy it.
Most travellers to Vietnam need a small handful of vaccines, and a few people need a bit more depending on where they're going and what they're up to. Book in at our Urmston clinic and our pharmacist will look at your exact route, how long you're away and what you've already had, then map out a simple plan. Ideally come and see us around four to six weeks before you fly, though it's always worth a call even if your trip is sooner.
Recommended vaccines for Vietnam
This is a general guide — what you actually need depends on your route, how long you're away and what you'll be doing, so our pharmacist confirms everything in your consultation.
Most travellers
Hepatitis A
Picked up through contaminated food and water, which is easily done across Vietnam — recommended for almost everyone.
Most travellers
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
A good moment to top up your combined booster if it's been ten years or more since your last one.
Most travellers
Typhoid
Another food-and-water bug — worth having, especially for street food, smaller towns and longer or rural trips.
Some travellers
Hepatitis B
Considered for longer stays, healthcare or aid work, adventure activities, tattoos or new relationships abroad.
Some travellers
Rabies
Rabies is present in Vietnam. Sensible if you're cycling, exploring rural areas or far from prompt medical care.
For some trips
Japanese encephalitis
A mosquito-borne risk in rural and rice-growing areas, mainly for longer or repeated rural stays in the wetter months.
Tablets for some areas
Malaria tablets
Not needed for cities or the main tourist spots, but some rural and border areas warrant tablets — we'll check your route.
What most people need versus the extras
For a typical trip — Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the beaches — most travellers are looking at hepatitis A, typhoid, and a tetanus, diphtheria and polio booster if theirs has lapsed. The extras like hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis come into the picture for longer stays, rural and adventurous travel, or work placements. The honest answer is that it really does depend on the detail of your trip, which is exactly what the consultation is for. Bring your travel dates and a rough itinerary and we'll tailor it rather than vaccinate for the sake of it.
Malaria in Vietnam — who actually needs tablets
Malaria risk in Vietnam is low and patchy. There's no risk in the cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, none in the Red River Delta, and the main tourist trail — Halong Bay, Sapa, Hoi An, the coastal resorts and Phu Quoc — is considered very low or no risk, so most holidaymakers won't need antimalarial tablets. Where tablets may be recommended is for rural and forested areas, parts of the central highlands and southern provinces, and the border regions with Cambodia and Laos, particularly if you're staying overnight. Because it's so route-dependent, the safest thing is to tell our pharmacist exactly where you're heading and we'll advise whether tablets are worth it for you.
Dengue, Zika and keeping the mosquitoes off
Dengue is the big one to know about in Vietnam — it's present all year, including in towns and cities, and is spread by mosquitoes that bite during the day. There's no routine vaccine we'd give for it, so good bite avoidance is your best protection: a DEET-based repellent, loose long sleeves and trousers, and using nets or air conditioning where you can. Zika has also been reported in Vietnam. It's usually mild, but because it can affect a pregnancy, anyone who is pregnant or trying to conceive should chat to us before booking — current advice may be to reconsider travel. The same daytime bite precautions help against Zika too, and they double up nicely against dengue.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Vietnam?
Yellow fever isn't found in Vietnam, so there's no health risk from it there and you don't need the vaccine for protection. A certificate is only required if you're arriving from — or have recently passed through — a country where yellow fever is a risk, such as parts of Africa or South America. If you're flying straight from Manchester or anywhere in the UK, you won't need a certificate. If Vietnam is one stop on a bigger multi-country trip, mention your full route and we'll check the entry rules for you.
Frequently asked questions
Four to six weeks before you fly is ideal, as some vaccines work best with a little time and a few are given as a short course. That said, don't write it off if your trip is sooner — there's usually still something worthwhile we can do, so just give the Urmston clinic a ring on 0161 748 3016.
Almost certainly not. Those are all on the main tourist trail, which is considered very low or no risk for malaria, so tablets generally aren't recommended for that kind of itinerary. We'd still suggest good daytime bite avoidance because of dengue, and our pharmacist will confirm based on your exact plans.
Vietnamese street food is one of the joys of the trip and plenty of people enjoy it without any trouble. Both hepatitis A and typhoid are spread through contaminated food and water though, so having those vaccines plus sensible food and water hygiene means you can tuck in with a lot more peace of mind.
It's worth a proper conversation before you commit. Zika has been reported in Vietnam and can affect a pregnancy, so current guidance may be to reconsider travel while pregnant or trying to conceive. Pop in or call us and we'll go through the latest advice and your options together.
Yes — your whole travel consultation and the vaccines themselves are done here at Davyhulme Pharmacy by our pharmacist, so there's no need to travel into Manchester city centre. Bring your itinerary and any record of past jabs and we'll handle the rest.
This information is grounded in NHS and TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) guidance and is for general information — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your travel consultation is carried out by our pharmacist.
Heading to Vietnam?
Book a travel consultation at our Urmston clinic, or call us and we'll talk through exactly what you need for your trip.