Food Safety in Viet Nam (2024)

FAQs

Food Safety in Viet Nam? ›

Choose cooked and hot foods

Among the 184 articles, there are 3711 food poisoning cases, that's equivalent to 3711 people who have been reported to have food poisoning in Vietnam from March 2020 to August 2022. Food poisoning can be divided into 4 groups including food of animal origin, food of plant origin, alcohol, and other products.

Tap water is unsafe to drink in Vietnam, as is ice made from tap water. Advise travelers to avoid eating raw or undercooked meat or seafood, uncooked vegetables, and raw fruits that they cannot peel themselves. Discourage travelers from eating food or drinking beverages from street vendors.

The water in Vietnam, and in particular in the major centers, is of a good standard. Some small pockets may still be using old pipes which may cause minor concern but, generally, the water is good and eating salads and other raw products is generally acceptable in Vietnam.

Vietnamese food legislation provides certain guidelines for the use/addition of vitamins, minerals and nutritive substances in/to food, or the maximum amount of those allowed for foods.

Brushing teeth with tap water

While brushing your teeth with tap water is generally considered safe in urban areas of Vietnam, it is better to be more careful in regions where water quality may be less. To minimize the risks here, it is recommended to use bottled or filtered water for brushing your teeth.

Stick to bottled water and avoid ice in rural areas. To avoid contracting bacteria, look for restaurants with a high turnover of customers and those that prepare freshly cooked food. Generally street food in Vietnam is quite safe, but always use your own judgement when choosing from vendors.

Fruits with edible skins

Vietnamese farmers, like many others around the world, rely on pesticides. For things like oranges and bananas it's not much of a concern because we don't eat the skin. But you should be wary of fruits like apples and guava.

Is Banh Mi safe to eat in Vietnam? ›

If you see them wash the bowls or plates in tap water and they are still wet when putting your food in it, maybe this isn't the street stall for you. For this very reason, “banh mi” (Vietnamese sandwich) is one the safest street stall foods you can eat because there are no vessels or utensils involved!

Wear Light, Breathable Fabrics

In order to cover up and stay comfortable during your trip, it's crucial to find breathable fabrics that can dry quickly if you sweat. Lots of Vietnamese people who live in the city enjoy wearing denim, but following this trend can make sightseeing unpleasant since its so heavy.

Proper Eating and Drinking Etiquette

Clean Plate: Make sure to eat all the food you are given, this is seen as a compliment. It is offensive to leave food on a plate.

Clothing and footwear

Athletic wear designed to absorb sweat and stay dry is a better option for humid days. Remember that short shorts, crop tops and tank tops are not considered appropriate in Vietnam. Loose, long clothing is both respectful and tends to keep you cooler in hot climates.

It appears unlikely that exported Vietnamese food is, in general, contaminated with large amounts of dioxin (TCDD) from Agent Orange or other sources. Further food sampling from areas of heavy Agent Orange spraying in Vietnam is warranted to map out where the source of TCDD contamination of food may be originating.

On a population basis (Table 4), Japan had the highest number of cases per 100,000 for all agents (33.62). The United States and Australia had the lowest numbers.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes strokes and ischemic heart disease, is responsible for 31% of deaths in Vietnam. Cancers of the lung and liver follow closely behind. Strokes cause the most deaths in the Vietnamese population with 200,000 new cases each year; half of them are fatal.

The Government of Vietnam (GVN) has made remarkable strides in improving the health of the country's citizens. However, much remains to be done in the areas of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and global health security.