Pharmacies in Vietnam: medicines, antibiotics and what to bring

On a dental trip to Vietnam, the safest plan is to bring your regular medicines from home and take only what your dentist prescribes. UK travel advice warns that some medicines are hard to find in Vietnam and that many are fake. It also sets out rules for bringing medicines in: carry them in your hand luggage with a copy of the prescription, keep prescribed addictive and psychotropic medicines to 7 days' supply, and declare medicines worth more than US$100 at customs.

If your clinic prescribes antibiotics or painkillers after treatment, ask for the instructions in writing and finish them as directed. Don't buy antibiotics to treat yourself.

Medicines on a dental trip at a glance

Situation	What to do
Your regular medicines	Bring enough for the whole trip, in hand luggage, with your prescription
Addictive or psychotropic prescribed medicines	No more than 7 days' supply, with a prescription and a doctor's letter
Medicines worth over US$100	Declare them at customs
Medicines from your dental clinic	Get the name, dose and how long to take them in writing
Running out of something	Ask your clinic or hotel for a reputable pharmacy, take your prescription
Feeling unwell after treatment	Call your clinic. In an emergency, dial 115

Bringing your own medicines into Vietnam

The UK government's Vietnam advice gives these rules for prescribed medicines:

• Carry prescribed medicine in your hand luggage, with a copy of the prescription.
• Carry a doctor's letter stating how much you need, signed and with the doctor's address.
• It's illegal to have more than 7 days' supply of prescribed addictive and psychotropic medicine.
• If the total import value of your medicine is more than US$100, you must declare it at customs.
• The legal status of some medicines can differ from your home country. If you're unsure, contact the Vietnamese embassy before you travel.

The CDC's advice for medical tourists is to take enough of all your regular medicines to last the whole trip. Pack a little extra in case your stay gets longer, keeping within the 7-day limit for controlled medicines.

Finding a pharmacy

In Vietnam a pharmacy is usually signed "nhà thuốc".

The UK government says some medicines can be hard to find and many are fake. The CDC adds that medicines abroad may not face the same checks as at home, and that some could be counterfeit, out of date, contaminated or badly stored. To reduce the risk:

• Ask your dental clinic or hotel which pharmacy they use.
• Take your prescription or the original packaging, so the pharmacist can match the medicine.
• Check the packaging is sealed and in date.
• Keep receipts, which your insurer may ask for.

The UK government also keeps a list of medical providers in Vietnam where some staff speak English, which is useful if you need a doctor.

Medicines your clinic gives you

After surgery such as dental implants or an extraction, your clinic may prescribe painkillers, antibiotics or a mouthwash. Ask for:

Ask	Why
The name of each medicine, in English	So a doctor or pharmacist at home can identify it
The dose and how many times a day	To take it correctly while numb or tired
How many days to take it	So you finish the course as directed
What to avoid, such as alcohol	Some antibiotics don't mix with alcohol, the NHS says
What to do if you have side effects	So you know when to call the clinic
Whether it's safe with your other medicines	To avoid interactions

Tell the clinic about every medicine you take and any allergies before treatment starts. Keep the clinic's written instructions with your treatment records for your dentist at home.

Antibiotics: why not to treat yourself

The NHS says antibiotics treat bacterial infections that are unlikely to clear up on their own or that could cause serious problems. They don't work for viral infections such as colds and flu. It also says antibiotic resistance is a big problem, and that taking antibiotics when you don't need them can mean they won't work for you in the future.

Its advice is to only take antibiotics prescribed for you, and never to borrow someone else's. On a dental trip that means:

• Take antibiotics only if your dentist or a doctor prescribes them after examining you.
• Follow the instructions on the label and from your dentist.
• Don't buy antibiotics yourself because a tooth or the gum feels sore. Call your clinic instead, because pain after treatment may need to be checked.

Common side effects of antibiotics include feeling sick, diarrhoea and bloating, according to the NHS.

When to call your clinic

Pain and some swelling are normal after dental surgery. The NHS advises getting urgent dental help if bleeding doesn't stop, if pain and swelling are severe or getting worse and painkillers aren't helping, or if you have pain with a bad taste in your mouth, a high temperature or feel unwell. In Vietnam, call your clinic first. In an emergency, dial 115 for an ambulance.

Checklist

• Regular medicines for the whole trip, in hand luggage
• Copy of each prescription and a signed doctor's letter
• Controlled medicines kept to 7 days' supply
• Medicines worth over US$100 declared at customs
• List of your medicines and allergies for the clinic
• Written instructions for anything the clinic prescribes
• Receipts kept for your insurer

For flying home with medicines and a healing mouth, see flying after dental treatment, and for the full entry rules, see visas and travel to Vietnam.