Two months in SE Asia

Hello, my name is Marissa and I am planning a backpacking trip to SE Asia. I don't think I will be too far off the beaten path, but in any case I was wondering if there were some precautions I should take as far as vaccinations, iodine tablets, malaria pills, etc.

I plan to visit:

Thailand - mostly Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koi Samui, Pattaya
Myanmar - Madalay, Yagon
Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh
Laos - Vietiane
Bali

If anyone could give me some helpful advice it would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, you should probably get some vaccinations and malaria tablets. Check out this link for specifics: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm

Also, if you just go to the doctor they'll probably have a similar list so if you just tell them where you're going they'll know what you need. At least this is what the clinics where I live did.

Hope this helps!

Malaria meds are entirely optional - there's a school of thought that says it's better to take nothing unless you get ill. I subscribe to this thinking.

A steripen is useful.

And if you're going to Laos, I would highly recommend heading a bit further north and visiting Luang Prabang - it's MUCH nicer than Vientianne.

Ahh yes, I am definitely visiting Luang Prabang and looking VERY forward to it. Already looking for steripens too. Thanks a lot you guys!

Ahh yes, I am definitely visiting Luang Prabang and looking VERY forward to it. Already looking for steripens too. Thanks a lot you guys!

It's good that you're taking precautionary measures before going places!

Doxycycline is the type of med I have used for malaria prevention, it also has side benefits like keeping general infections away and curing some of the milder forms of VD. It also has drawbacks, you have to take it daily, and you need to be careful in the sun as it can make you photosensative (sun burn a lot easier, get heat injuries easier) and some people can get upset stomach if you take it on an empty stomach. Even with the drawback, I like it, because Malaria is like Herpes, once you have it you have it for life. Its treatable and it might not always be active, but its always there. That why I am of the "prevent preventable illnesses" school of thought.

Another year+ old thread dredged up by posters with nothing original to say.

OK, yea, this post is long out of date fair enough. It popped in the Active Posts page, I should check the original dates tho. I believe that I provided a little snippet of useful information regardless. One question, is your purpose on this message board to discourage new members and discussion?

BlueLlama777 wrote:OK, yea, this post is long out of date fair enough. It popped in the Active Posts page, I should check the original dates tho. I believe that I provided a little snippet of useful information regardless. One question, is your purpose on this message board to discourage new members and discussion?

Not at all, just figure spamming on old posts of trips long completed isn't contributing anything to board members.

I also express my opinion when I feel it is justified to counter an opinion of any poster, new or veteran.

BTW just look at the number of posts you have made and the very few I responded to, then look at the one where you labeled me a troll.

Dude what goes around, comes around