Vietnam is a paradise for culinary adventures, and the vast and varied street food is an open window to the local culture. However, the quickest and most undesirable way to ruin your vacation is getting food poisoning. Check out our comprehensive guides on how not to get food poisoning while traveling to Vietnam.
Top Tips on How Not To Get Food Poisoning While Traveling Vietnam
- Bring hand sanitizer and some medicine such as Imodium, probiotics capsules and antibiotics tablets, etc.
- Pack health insurance with you in case of emergency
- Don’t eat too much street food in a day (obviously, it is tempting, but this is for the sake of your health)
- Be careful with Vietnamese food if you have lactose or gluten intolerance
Seeking Medical Help
Usually, it is not alarming if you get a funny-feeling stomach the first time you try new food. Have a cup of hot ginger tea to soothe away the stomachache. If the pain becomes unbearable, you must visit the hospital or medical center immediately for a check-up and prompt solutions.
Our Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning in Vietnam
Watch out for these “questionable foods”
Keeping an open mind while traveling and try the most distinctive local dish is the pure explorer’s spirit, but don’t go to extremes and risk your health.
- Raw meat may contain bacteria such as salmonella, so stick to well-cooked and steaming hot food
- High-risk food such as raw blood pudding (tiet canh), pufferfish (ca noc), or strange meat
- Beware of foods that may upset your stomach, such as coconut milk, too spicy food, and greasy food.
- Soup-based food may contain a high volume of MSG
Trust your instinct
If the food smells bad or has a weird taste, then it’s better to say no. Food should have a delectable smell, a decent presentation, and a pleasant taste.
Stay hydrated
Remember to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day to prevent sickness in your tummy. It’s best to pack a plastic travel water bottle during your trip in Vietnam.
Food Safety Precautions Steps at Street Food Stalls
It is beyond dispute that street food in Vietnam is incredibly irresistible, but to ensure the most pleasant experience, bear in mind a few guidelines for how not to get food poisoning while traveling there.
Check out the surroundings
Observation is the key before sitting down at a sidewalk food stall. Firstly, glance at the location and its surroundings. If there are heaps of garbage around or the place seems damp and dirty, you definitely don’t want to risk a chance. Another good tip is to see whether the place is crowded or not. Many customers prove this is a trustworthy vendor, and the food must also be exceptionally delectable.
See if the vendor is clean
One undeniable advantage of street food vendors is that you can observe the dish being made right in front of your eyes. Use this opportunity to see whether the sellers take hygiene precautions seriously. They should wear protective gloves while preparing their food, and the ingredients must be covered under plastic or glass shields to prevent bugs and contaminants.
Check out the ingredients
One good reminder is to see whether the vendors use dirty or overused oil to cook. If the oil appears to be too dark, then it is certainly not safe for your health. Some vendors may offer ‘dirt-cheap’ food to attract customers, but food that is too cheap is most likely to be spoiled or treated with a high amount of pesticides or chemicals. Be smart and consider carefully before making the final decision.
Have the veggies blanched before eating
Many famous noodles in Vietnam, such as Pho or Bun Bo Hue, are served with some vegetables. A simple tip on how not to get food poisoning while traveling in Vietnam is to ask the vendors to dip the vegetables into hot water to eliminate as much bacteria as possible.
Food Safety Precautions Steps at Restaurants
Eating in reputed restaurants must be the most straightforward way to avoid food poisoning while traveling in Vietnam. Although this is true to a certain extent, don’t be reckless and jeopardize your stomach. Most ingredients in restaurants are frozen and have a good amount of preservatives. Hence, they are not so fresh and may contain a lot of fat. However, if it’s your first time in Vietnam, visiting a restaurant is highly recommended to get used to the country’s food before exploring the street’s eateries.
Food Safety Precautions Steps for Eating Fruits
Vietnam is a heaven on earth to tropical fruit, so never miss a chance to grab a few in the markets and have a taste. However, to avoid upsetting your stomach, wash the fruit with some salt or vinegar to remove the dirt and the remaining pesticides. There are fruits with edible skin, such as apples or guavas, and peeling the skin before eating is an essential step in how not to get food poisoning while traveling in Vietnam.
Food Safety Precautions Steps for Using Water
Don’t drink the tap water
Tap water in most Asian countries is not safe enough for drinking, and Vietnam is no exception. Drinking only boiled water or bottled mineral water is useful advice on how not to get food poisoning while traveling to Vietnam.
Be careful of your ice, too
Ice is also a concerning issue. You would probably want to stay away from the one that looks like it has been broken from a bigger block of ice because the water used is possibly not particularly sanitary. Drink from ice that looks like cylindrical cubes as they are a bit more expensive than the others and are more carefully made.
Summary of How Not to Get Food Poisoning While Traveling Vietnam
Overall, Vietnamese food is safe and as tasty as you can imagine. Feel free to unleash your adventurous spirit and taste Vietnamese cuisine anywhere you set your foot. Learning how not to get food poisoning while traveling to Vietnam is by no means provoking a sense of trepidation; it is to ensure your well-being and make your trip worthwhile.