JoAnne Green's blog

If you are going to travel to Vietnam for

business or leisure, there are few things

you should know

By JoAnne Green
September 29, 2008

"There has been an outbreak of dengue fever in Ho Chi Minh City and in the Mekong Delta. Experts warned that this year is the peak of the disease. Eighty to 85 percent of reported cases are in the south. There have been 33 fatalities among the 37,000 people who have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease so far this year, according to the Ministry of Health. The south is the hardest-hit region, accounting for 80-85 percent of reported cases. Ho Chi Minh City has 6,200 patients. The Mekong Delta provinces of Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, and Bac Lieu have also been hit," according to a VietNamNet report on August 28, 2008.

he report also stated that "In Ha Noi, 222 people have been infected with dengue fever so far this year. Some districts in Ha Noi have many mosquitos, including Thanh Tri, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai and Tu Liem. Dang Thi Kim Hanh, a secretary at the Ha Noi's Dengue Fever Control and Prevention Program, said that the weather will be humid in three next months. September to November and rainy season is conducive to the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carries the germ to human."

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs gives the following advice Australians who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas, organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy.

"The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office gives the following advice British people who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake."

The Canadian Foreign Affairs Office gives the following advice to Canadians who are traveling, working or living in Vietnam: "Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. Out-of-country health care can be costly, and your health plan will cover only part of the bill at best. It is your responsibility to obtain supplementary travel insurance and understand the terms of your policy. Some credit card companies offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume that coverage is automatically included or that the card alone provides adequate coverage."

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade gives the following advice to New Zealanders "New Zealanders travelling or resident in Vietnam: should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies in place that include provision for medical evacuation by air."

The U.S. Department of State gives the following advice to Americans who are traveling, working or living in China: "We strongly urge you to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation and overseas medical services. Please keep in mind that Medicare does not cover any illness or injury that occurs outside of the United States."

For the latest messages to the American community in Vietnam, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi can be reached by phone at 84-4-831-4590 and by fax at 84-4-850-5010.

How We Can Help

If you are going to Vietnam for business or leisure, make sure you take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

One of the most cost effective ways for international travelers to reduce risks while traveling abroad is to purchase a comprehensive trip cancellation and travel medical insurance policy. It covers extreme circumstances such as hospitalizations, surgeries, emergency medical evacuations, bail bonds and political evacuation and repatriation. This type of policy also includes trip cancellation and disruption, lost luggage and cost of emergency medical evacuation.

Our international travel assistance programs provide the above standard comprehensive coverage. Our global network of service providers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to international travelers who travel, live, or work outside of their home country. Plus, we will provide travelers with a detailed country profile about any destinations prior to their departure - a standard benefit for all of our policy holders. This report includes current currency rates, political status, health alerts, travel restrictions, cultural information, security threats and more.

Trip cancellation and travel medical insurance policies are good ways to protect yourself, your families, and your travel investment.

Cover Your Risks, Enjoy Your Trip!

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We invite you to visit our companies at

Sunburst International Risk Management
Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services

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24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

About the author: JoAnne is an American businesswoman. She is the founder and principal of Sunburst International Risk Management (SRIM) and Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services. For information on international risk and insurance protection programs, custom-designed risk mitigation and training services, please visit  www.InternationalRiskManagement.com and www.WorldwideMedicalPlans.com

JoAnne also hosts 21st Century MultiNational Perspectives/Blog/FYI

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