Medical care and emergencies

Pharmacies can generally help with minor injuries or ailments and in major towns you may well find a pharmacist who speaks French or even English. Both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi now have reasonably well-stocked pharmacies. That said, drugs past their shelf life and even counterfeit medicines are rife, so inspect packaging carefully, check use-by dates - and bring anything you know you're likely to need from home. Condoms ( bao cao su) are sold in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh - reliable imported brands to look out for are OK and Trust.

Local hospitals will treat minor problems, but in a real emergency your best bet is to head for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, where excellent international medical centres can provide diagnosis and treatment. Hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services rendered; you will then have to seek reimbursement from your insurance company (hang on to receipts).

Other useful information for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):