I’ve already visited quite a few countries across several continents, but I’m pretty new to Asia.
I’m planning a trip to Thailand in October or November, and I wanted to check about health precautions: malaria treatment, vaccinations (hepatitis A or others...).
I’ll mostly be in the northern region, around Chiang Mai, where I’ll spend a lot of time in nature and the mountains. Then I’ll head south to Phuket or Krabi and visit Khao Sok National Park. I’ll finish up in Bangkok, with a likely detour to Kanchanaburi.
From what I understand, for a stay of less than 60 days, I don’t need a visa (I’m a French national)? I just need to fill out the TDAC form 3 to 5 days before arrival?
I’m not a doctor.
In 40+ trips there, I’ve never taken any health precautions like the ones you mentioned (I travel in cities, mountainous areas, and a lot in the countryside, including remote spots).
For mosquitoes, you can buy the product in the photo below at any of the countless 7-Elevens—it’s very effective and cheap (around 2.50 € for the large size).
If I understood correctly, for a stay of less than 60 days, no visa is needed (I’m a French national)? You just need to fill out the TDAC form 3 or 5 days before arrival?
No visa is required for a tourist stay of up to 60 days/59 nights. The TDAC must be completed within 72 hours before arrival.
In October or November, I’m planning to go to Thailand (...) I’ll likely be (...) in the south, around Phuket or Krabi
I recommend reading the last part of Djalma’s reply today at 9:56 AM in this thread: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10757780;page=last;#last
Officially, hepatitis and yellow fever vaccines are recommended.
It’s also a matter of luck; some people have had nothing after 15 trips, while I know someone who got dengue—and badly—on their first trip.
I’ll still go for a quick visit to the tropical medicine clinic near me to ask for advice.
Even though (in my opinion) health risks are limited in the tourist areas you’re visiting, I always recommend that those who ask medical questions on the forum first consult competent medical authorities (tropical disease specialists).
Officially, hepatitis and yellow fever vaccinations are recommended.
I’d really like to know who’s recommending that? Your doctor?!
Institut Pasteur: One of the major puzzles in the history of infectious diseases is the absence of yellow fever in Asia, even though the virus has historically been endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and South America.
I’m not a doctor, but yellow fever isn’t widespread in Asia. It’s only found in sub-Saharan Africa and South America.
It’s recommended to get at least the hepatitis A vaccine. This vaccine (in 2 doses) is usually valid for life, so even if Thailand isn’t the highest-risk country, at least you’ll be set and won’t have to worry about it for future trips to tropical destinations.
At least you’re at peace and don’t have to wonder about future trips to tropical zones anymore.
That’s exactly the flip side—the falsely reassuring aspect of these hepatitis vaccines. They often lead to "no longer questioning things," to eating stuff that wisdom or common sense would’ve otherwise made you think twice about. I think we shouldn’t see these vaccines as immunity totems; we should assess what kind of traveler and consumer we are, etc. You can also get a serology test done—hepatitis A is common, often goes unnoticed, especially in childhood. A good portion of people born before the 1970s are actually immune for life.
Yes, the protection is considered lifelong, whether through natural immunity or vaccination. That said, you’ll always find someone who wants to protect you even more.
There’s a big misunderstanding—I didn’t mean it that way at all. What I meant was that once you’ve gotten the vaccine, you don’t have to worry about it again for future destinations.
I’m *super* anxious about health stuff, and believe me, I never skip basic health precautions when I travel, even in Europe (where I never drink tap water, for example). 😉
Tap water is safe to drink throughout Europe and is often of better quality than bottled water (plastic or glass), plus it’s 100 times cheaper. 😏
Personally, I’ve drunk tap water everywhere—in all the countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. I even drank water from the Niger River… I was a bit unsettled, but that was about it.
Hello,
we went to Thailand last year with our 3 young daughters. We’re both doctors. We stayed in the south and central regions. I pretty much agree with what was said below. I recommend the hepatitis A vaccine since it’ll be useful for many destinations, same for typhoid. For malaria, there’s no point—you’d be taking more risk with potential side effects. Note that we were hardly bothered by mosquitoes (less than in France...), but the small bottles in the photos are very effective (the pink one comes as a lotion, very pleasant and easy to find in 7/11s). I suggest taking the photo with you to show at the checkout if you can’t find it on the shelves—it’ll be easier than miming a mosquito. Of course, food hygiene precautions will be your best guarantee. However, watch out for monkeys, especially if you’ve never been to Asia before. They’re cute but only in photos. Lopburi is particularly overrun because the monkeys there are protected. Never eat in front of a monkey or even in a place where they might be around. A monkey jumped on my backpack when I didn’t have anything in my hands. The risk of rabies is real—if you’re bitten, you must go to the nearest hospital for post-exposure prophylaxis, which is effective if done early. Don’t forget there’s no treatment for rabies.
Hi,
Thanks for your advice.
I was mainly wondering about Hepatitis A. And I thought the vaccine was only effective for 10 years, but it’s actually for life. I got vaccinated in 2009 during a trip to Tanzania.
Fred
Of course, now’s a good time to remind everyone that I made a tutorial about these mosquito repellent products:
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9714220;search_string=moustique%20jOJOONE
I can't comment on the products mentioned above since I’ve never tried them, but the ones in the Insect Ecran Tropics range work really well and last longer than half an hour. You need to reapply at least twice a day for maximum effectiveness. Tested on the whole family—result: only a few bites, usually on "forgotten" spots or when we’ve been a bit lazy about reapplying.
The downside: the smell is pretty strong and can be uncomfortable. And the feeling of "eating it" when sweat makes the "delicious" 🏴☠️ product run toward your mouth. But hey... you’ve got to make choices, especially in countries where dengue is still very common.
Hi,
Since aerosols, including mosquito repellents like 5 sur 5, are confiscated on Chinese trains, what solution have you found? Is it possible to buy an equivalent product in Vientiane or Vang Vieng? Is it better to send the products by mail to Luang Prabang?
Thanks for your tips!
Hello,
It seems to me that the yellow fever vaccination certificate is no longer mandatory to enter Uganda (if you're coming from a country exempt from this disease).
https://www.healthytravel.ch/fr/news?post=19366
Best to you all,
Have a great weekend!
Hi there,
Do you know of any good travel insurance? Usually, I go with the one from the agency. But this time, I want to travel independently, and I'm a bit lost.
Some people told me that when you pay with a credit card, you get the bank's insurance. But after checking with the bank, that's not true. Or else, you have to add an extra option and pay for it monthly.
So, I'm looking for insurance that covers cancellation, repatriation, lost luggage, etc.
Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
A friend has osteoarthritis in the knee and a meniscus problem, treated with regular injections.
Do you know of any insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions in case their knee locks up in Africa?
Thanks a bunch!
A one-month trip to Australia and New Zealand.
We’re bringing our current medications (for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and antibiotics if needed) along with the corresponding prescription.
Do we need to have it translated into English, or do translations only apply to medications we’d need to refill locally during a long stay?
Hi,
I’m planning a trip to Namibia for 3 weeks in November: should I take malaria prophylaxis, which medication, when to take it, and are there any side effects?
At the end of my trip, I’ll spend 5 days up north near the Angolan border and in Etosha National Park.
Thanks for sharing your travel tips and advice!
Martine
I’m planning a trip to Japan next year and I have asthma...
I wanted to know about the regulations regarding Ventolin (Salbutamol) in Japan—is it considered a drug? Can I bring my inhaler with me, or do I need to buy a similar product in Japan?
I have two American cousins. The older one was born in Paris, and his sister was born in California. The latter is planning a trip to Paris this summer, but she recently fell ill, and American doctors don’t know what’s wrong. I had the idea of letting her take advantage of her trip to get treated here, avoiding the high healthcare costs of the American system in the process. The problem is, I can’t find anything online about this—just testimonials from French people who used to be American, but nothing for a simple tourist.
I’m traveling to Portugal with my family and I have a treatment that requires injections. How can I take a flight with these? They look like injectable pens.
Thanks
We’re planning a trip to the Philippines from April 22 to May 8, 2026. Flight from Geneva with a layover in Turkey and Manila. Our itinerary: Angeles – Busuanga – Palawan…
The Philippines are a dream destination, but is it possible to travel there safely? I’ve heard that checked luggage often gets lost, tap water isn’t safe to drink, and mosquitoes are everywhere.
For water, what’s the best solution to carry in a backpack? Is a filtering water bottle 100% reliable?
For mosquitoes, should we treat our clothes with repellent? Are you vaccinated against hepatitis A, malaria, or dengue? Or is there an oral treatment to take?
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there’s travel insurance for someone who’s had a heart attack?
I can’t find an insurer that covers a pre-existing condition, even if it’s stable.
Thanks so much!
Hi everyone, next month my wife, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are flying to Thailand. It’ll be a great chance to soak up some sun—something we’ve been missing lately here in France! But speaking of sun, I burn easily, and our daughter even more so. I was wondering what SPF to get for sunscreen and whether it’s better to buy it there or before we leave? Thanks for your tips!
Hello,
We’re planning to spend 3 months in Madagascar starting in mid-February.
Areas: Mahajanga, Tulear, Diego Suarez, and Sainte Marie—the order isn’t set yet. We’ll either drive for part of the trip or take flights.
We’ve heard all sorts of things about required vaccines and medications (is anti-malarial mandatory?). What’s the exact situation for travelers?
I’ll come back to you for other topics (like finding a reliable driver, among others).
Thank you.
Best wishes to you all,
Nicole
We're about to go on an organized trip to South Africa, including Kruger Park. We were told that Malarone should preferably be taken in the evening at the same time during a meal. But it's hard to know what time we'll have dinner, especially since I've read that in South Africa, dinner is usually around 6 PM.
I'd love to hear from people who've been on organized trips to this destination and could share their experience. We were thinking of taking Malarone around 7:30 PM, assuming dinner would be closer to 7 PM than 6 PM. Also, if the meal ends up being earlier or later than when we take the pill, would a cookie or a piece of bread be enough to take with Malarone?
I’m planning to set off on a "round-the-world" trip/long journey at the start of next year, lasting between 4.5 and 6 months. For now, the itinerary looks like this: South Korea (2 weeks) -> Japan (1 month) -> New Zealand (1 month) -> Argentina (1 month) -> United States (1 month).
I’m on medication (paroxetine 20 mg/day) and was hoping to bring enough for the entire trip so I wouldn’t have to find a doctor on the spot, deal with a molecule that might be slightly different from what’s available in France, or wonder if that’s even a possibility. Basically, it seemed simpler on paper...
But after looking into the regulations for each country, it’s suddenly way less simple . Many seem to only allow the amount corresponding to the length of your "stay" in the country... Which is a problem if I arrive in Korea with 4.5 months’ worth of medication, for example.
After all that, and even though I’ll obviously contact the relevant authorities in each country (fingers crossed for a response 😛), here’s my question:
Has anyone here had any experience with this? (Even if it’s a different medication or different countries, any input would be helpful!)
I’m trying to plan a trip to Dubai with my mom. I’ve seen that some of our medications require prior authorization (sleeping pills, codeine, anti-anxiety meds, etc.).
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been in our situation. A friend of mine applied to bring her tramadol, but it was denied—though she needed high doses!
Has anyone here gone through this process? Do we *really* need a prescription in English?
We just found out my wife is pregnant, and we’ve planned a trip to the Barlavento Islands in Cape Verde this November.
We’d like to know if there’s a real risk of Zika contamination on those islands, because from what we’ve found online, the recorded cases are old and come from the Sotavento Islands.
We’re thinking about canceling our trip.
If you’ve recently traveled to Cape Verde or live there, do you have any thoughts on this?
hi, I’m looking for information about the possibility of returning to Thailand with a portable liquid oxygen system and whether it’s possible to recharge it in Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai. thanks
I’m starting a new discussion on this topic since there doesn’t seem to be a recent one.
I have several chronic conditions (including asthma and related ones), and I’m planning to travel for a year across different countries.
Generally, I understand it’s possible to travel with approved medications (which should be my case), but often with a limit of 3 months’ worth of treatment.
Since I’m going for 12 months, that means for three-quarters of my trip, I’d have more than 3 months’ worth of medication.
I plan to bring my prescriptions with the INN (International Nonproprietary Name), as well as the original packaging (even though it’s a nightmare, but from what I understand, it’s necessary). But I’m not sure if that’s enough...
Have any of you been in this situation before? How does it work at customs—do I need to declare everything that exceeds the 3-month limit? Do I need a letter from my doctors?
I'm currently in Bangkok: How can I find a good doctor for a consultation? It's for a friend who'd like a second medical opinion compared to what they got in their country of residence.
Any professionals you'd recommend? How much does it cost?
Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone is heading to Cuba soon and could bring me some over-the-counter Sildenafil (viagra) tablets—available at Varadero Airport, among other places.
Hi there! So, I'm hesitating about taking a long trip. I'd like to go away for 2 to 3 months and travel across several continents. I’d love some advice. I often have unexplained allergies and need to follow a daily treatment for my diabetes (insulin). I think I can get authorization from my doctor to travel for 6 months with the treatment—is that correct? After those 6 months, is it possible (instead of bothering a relative to send the medication) to see a foreign doctor to get another 6-month travel authorization? How does it work at the airport? Do I need just one medication transport authorization, or do I have to request a new one in each country (once the treatment runs out) for both the flight and a DCI? Also, travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so will I have to pay for foreign consultations out of pocket? I’m not sure if I explained myself clearly. Oh, and just to repeat—travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so foreign consultations will be at my own expense? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone.
After years of traveling to the USA without any medical insurance subscriptions—and luckily never having any major health issues (though I did get a scorpion sting buried in the sand at CBSouth, 😇)—life has caught up with us, and we’re now being forced into "wisdom" and leaving our carefree days behind.
So, I’m looking for the best compromise for a 2-month health insurance plan.
I’ve read the discussions on this topic, but the most recent one is from last year, and I’d love your take on the current situation.
I’m familiar with the usual options like Europ Assistance and AXA, but I’ve just discovered Chapka and Heymondo (the latter seems interesting in terms of both price and coverage).
What do you think of these last two? How do they compare in terms of value for money against the bigger companies?
Hi,
We’ve planned a 3-week trip to Bali this summer with our 7-year-old daughter. The itinerary includes Sanur, Nusa Lembongan, Sidemen, Amed, and Ubud. The more time passes, the more we read about people getting sick—some with mild to severe traveler’s diarrhea, and many ending up in the hospital. We, as parents, have been through it in Egypt with pretty bad cases, but we’d really like to avoid that for our daughter. Even though there’s no zero risk, and we’ll be careful, can any of you reassure me? Not everyone got sick, right? I’d love to hear positive feedback from parents, but not just them 😊. Thanks in advance!
Hi there...
I’m traveling with a friend for a month in November.
We booked our round-trip tickets from Paris to Phnom Penh, and yes, I know—it was a mistake. We should’ve flown out of Laos, but here we are.
But is it doable to backpack through both countries in a relaxed way?
I’ve seen that the transport takes a while...
Thanks so much for your replies.
Hi there,
I’ve started looking into getting dental implants, possibly in Costa Rica or Mexico.
Do you have any clinics to recommend or ones I should avoid?
For the next steps, I need to choose between Cuba Medika or Medigo—these are agencies that help with medical procedures. Do you have any info on either of them?
Hi everyone, a question for those who’ve been lucky enough to visit Raja Ampat—should you consider preventive malaria treatment given its proximity to Papua? And how was the food hygiene situation?
Thanks for your feedback! !
