Question:
Next februari I'll go to Vietnam and I'll probably also visit areas
with malaria risk (North Vietnam, Central Highlands). I'll be taking
Lariam, at the advise of the public health service over here, and of
course Deet-based insect repellant.
They also advise to use a mosquito net during nights. However, I'm
wondering if that's necessary. (I'll be staying in budget hotels.) Of
course, it reduces chances of getting malaria even further. But isn't
it too much of a hassle (especially with my backpack already getting
full)? And what do other backpackers do?
Thanx everyone for your answers,
Answer:
-Yes, you should bring a mosquito net if you are going outside urban areas
and staying in budget hotels. Mosquito coils are also good.
-And remember that you can get them very cheaply in some of these Asian
countries - less than $8US in Hong Kong for example.
-"North Vietnam" is not more malariaprone than for example "South
Vietnam". The division goes between urban and rural areas, so there is
no malaria in Hanoi, for example.
Most hotels, including budget accomodation, already have mosquito nets
as part of their standard interior decoration, hence I see no need to
drag your own mosquito net around.
Bringing mosquito coils, as someone already suggested, is good advice.
They can be bought almost anywhere in Vietnam.
