Get personalised vaccine recommendations for your Vietnam trip - Coxheath Pharmacy
What you need for Vietnam depends entirely on your plans. Teaching English in rural villages for a year? You need comprehensive protection including Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis B, and Rabies. Two weeks bouncing between Ho Chi Minh City and coastal resorts? Core vaccines only – Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Trekking through northern rice terraces during monsoon season? That’s when Japanese Encephalitis vaccination becomes critical.
Coxheath Pharmacy provides expert Vietnam travel vaccination services for Kent residents. We stock all Vietnam-specific vaccines, assess your exact itinerary, and recommend only what you genuinely need. No overselling. Based in Coxheath near Maidstone, we’re accessible from Maidstone, Tonbridge, Canterbury, Ashford, and across Kent. Book online here or call 01622 745567.
Vietnam has no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers arriving from the UK. Yellow Fever certificate only required if arriving from endemic countries (most of Africa, parts of South America) within 6 days.
“Not required for entry” and “not needed for health protection” are completely different things. Vietnam has genuine disease risks that vaccines prevent. The question isn’t whether to get vaccinated – it’s which vaccines you need for your specific trip.
Cost: £50 (single dose)
Every Vietnam traveller needs Hepatitis A protection. The virus spreads through contaminated food and water everywhere in Vietnam. Street food stalls in Hanoi. Restaurant kitchens in Ho Chi Minh City. Five-star hotel buffets in Da Nang.
The infection causes liver inflammation, severe fatigue, jaundice, and can keep you bedridden for weeks. One dose provides 95% protection within two weeks. Second dose 6-12 months later extends protection beyond 20 years.
Timeline: 95% protected within 2 weeks | Protection: 1 year first dose, 20+ years after second
Cost: £50 (single dose)
Typhoid fever spreads through contaminated food and water. Vietnam's hygiene standards vary dramatically. What looks clean might not be. The infection causes sustained high fever, severe weakness, stomach pain, and life-threatening complications.
The injectable vaccine works faster and provides better protection than oral alternatives.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks | Protection: 3 years
Cost: £50 (covers tetanus, diphtheria, polio)
Check when you last had a tetanus booster. If it's been more than 10 years, you need one before Vietnam. Cuts, scrapes, and injuries happen. Street conditions aren't always perfect. Motorbike accidents are common.
Timeline: Immediate if boosting previous vaccination | Protection: 2-3 yearsCost: £110 per dose (2 doses = £220 total)
Japanese Encephalitis is where Vietnam vaccination decisions get complicated. JE risk depends on where you're going, when you're travelling, and what you're doing.
What Is Japanese Encephalitis?
JE is viral infection spread by Culex mosquitoes that breed in rice paddies and around pig farms. The mosquitoes bite primarily at dusk and dawn in rural agricultural areas. The virus causes brain inflammation. Most infections produce no symptoms, but when severe disease develops, 20-30% die and 30-50% of survivors have permanent neurological damage. No specific treatment exists.
Definitely need it if:
Don't need it if:
Most Vietnam trips fall somewhere between "definitely need it" and "definitely don't." At Coxheath Pharmacy, we go through your exact itinerary: which cities and how long, any rural areas and duration, what months you're travelling, where you're sleeping, what activities planned.
Based on your specific plans, we give honest recommendations. If you can skip the £220 vaccine, we tell you. If you need it, we explain why.
Timeline: 7-10 days after second dose | Protection: 2-3 years
Japanese Encephalitis vaccine costs £220 for the two-dose course. JE disease has a 20-30% fatality rate and 30-50% of survivors have permanent brain damage.
Don’t base your decision on cost alone. Base it on your Vietnam plans. Rural Mekong Delta during August monsoon? You need it. Urban Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in January? You don’t
Book consultation or call 01622 745567
Cost: £85 per dose (3 doses = £255 total)
Rabies vaccination isn't for everyone going to Vietnam, but it's critical for certain travellers. Vietnam has rabies from dogs, monkeys, and bats. Tourist sites with monkeys see regular bite incidents. Street dogs are common.
Consider rabies if:
Critical factor: if bitten by a potentially rabid animal in rural Vietnam, you need post-exposure treatment within hours. Rabies immunoglobulin isn't available in most rural areas. Pre-exposure vaccination means you only need 2 booster shots after a bite, not the full treatment requiring immunoglobulin you might not access.
Timeline: 7 days after third dose | Protection: 2-3 years
Cost:£50 per dose (3 doses = £150 total)
Hepatitis B spreads through blood, medical procedures, and sexual contact. Consider vaccination if staying more than a month, working in healthcare, potentially needing medical treatment, or engaging in activities with blood exposure risk.
Vietnam has around 10% Hepatitis B prevalence. Medical facilities outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City may reuse equipment or lack sterile procedures.
Timeline: Partial after 2 doses, full after 3 (6 months) | Protection: Long-term
Cost:£30 per dose (2 doses = £60 total)
Cholera outbreaks occur periodically in Vietnam, particularly during rainy season in the Mekong Delta. The vaccine also provides some cross-protection against E. coli causing most traveller's diarrhoea.
Consider if working in healthcare, travelling extensively in rural areas during monsoon, or immunocompromised. Most tourists don't need cholera vaccine.
Timeline: 10 days after second dose | Protection: 2 years
ZERO malaria risk (no tablets needed):
Malaria risk exists (tablets recommended):
Standard tourist route (Hanoi → Halong Bay → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City) needs no malaria tablets. Trekking Central Highlands or visiting remote border areas requires them.
We provide antimalarial consultations: Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone), Doxycycline, or Mefloquine. Combine with bite prevention: DEET 50% repellent, long sleeves at dusk/dawn, permethrin-treated clothing, mosquito nets.
Appointment 1 (8 weeks before): Hepatitis A, Typhoid, DTP
Appointment 2 (4 weeks before): Japanese Encephalitis dose 1, Hepatitis B dose 1, Rabies dose 1
Appointment 3 (1 week before): Japanese Encephalitis dose 2
Fully protected before flying, with buffer time for side effects.
Week 1: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, DTP
Week 3: Japanese Encephalitis dose 1
Week 4: Japanese Encephalitis dose 2 (accelerated schedule)
Core protection sorted. Multi-dose vaccines like Hepatitis B and Rabies can be started and completed after your trip.
Focus on fastest protection:
Start but won’t be fully protected:
Book same-day here or call 01622 745567
Flying to Vietnam next week without vaccines? Don’t panic. Hepatitis A and Typhoid both start working within 2 weeks. Japanese Encephalitis is trickier – if you need it and you’re flying in under 2 weeks, you’ll only get the first dose before departure. That provides some protection, and you can get the second dose when you return.
Some protection beats no protection Book immediately.
Prices as of 2024. All prices include consultation and administration.
Core for all travellers:
Hepatitis A: £50
Typhoid: £50
DTP: £50 (if due)
Basic package: £150-£200
Add for rural/rainy season:
Japanese Encephalitis: £220
With JE: £370-£420
Long-term/high-risk additions:
Hepatitis B: £150
Rabies: £255
Cholera: £60
Comprehensive protection: £635-£885
What’s included: Expert itinerary assessment, all vaccine administration, vaccination record card, malaria advice if relevant, post-vaccination guidance. No hidden fees.
We don’t oversell vaccines. If you’re doing an urban beach holiday and don’t need Japanese Encephalitis, we tell you. If you’re spending August in the Mekong Delta and absolutely need it, we explain why. All prices include consultation – we assess your specific Vietnam plans and recommend only what you genuinely need.
No hidden fees. No surprise charges. Call 01622 745567 to discuss your exact itinerary.
Route: Hanoi (3 days) → Halong Bay (2 days) → Hoi An (3 days) → Ho Chi Minh City (3 days) → Mekong day tour
Vaccines: Hepatitis A (£50), Typhoid (£50), DTP (£50)
Total: £150
Urban cities and coastal areas. Brief Mekong day tour doesn’t warrant full JE vaccine. No malaria risk on this route.
Route: Hanoi → Ha Giang Loop (4 days) → Sapa trekking (3 days) → Halong Bay → Hoi An → HCMC → Mekong homestays (3 days)
Season: July-August (rainy season)
Vaccines: Hepatitis A (£50), Typhoid (£50), Japanese Encephalitis (£220), Rabies (£255), DTP (£50)
Total: £625
Ha Giang Loop through remote rural areas. Sapa rice terraces during rainy season = maximum JE risk. Mekong homestays in August = peak mosquito breeding. Rural travel means rabies exposure with limited treatment access.
Location: 12 months Da Nang, weekend trips to rural areas
Vaccines: Hepatitis A (£50), Hepatitis B (£150), Typhoid (£50), Japanese Encephalitis (£220), Rabies (£255), DTP (£50)
Total: £775
Year-long exposure accumulates risk. Weekend rural trips mean JE exposure. Working with children increases animal encounter risk. Potential medical treatment means Hepatitis B matters.
Route: Nha Trang beach resort (7 days) → Island day trip
Season: February (dry season)
Vaccines: Hepatitis A (£50), Typhoid (£50), DTP (£50)
Total: £150
Beach resort with good sanitation. Dry season, coastal location. No rural exposure. No malaria risk.
Book beach holiday vaccinations
Route: 3-4 weeks riding from north to south along coastal and mountain routes
Vaccines: Hepatitis A (£50), Typhoid (£50), Japanese Encephalitis (£220), Rabies (£255), DTP (£50)
Total: £625
Motorcycle travel means extensive rural exposure. Riding through agricultural areas at dawn/dusk (peak mosquito times). Potential for accidents involving animals. Remote areas with limited medical access. Rabies vaccination non-negotiable for extended motorbiking.
All Vietnam Vaccines in Stock
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, DTP, Cholera. No waiting. Book today, vaccinate today.
Itinerary-Based Assessment
We don’t use generic checklists. We go through your exact Vietnam plans and recommend only what you genuinely need. If you can skip the expensive Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, we tell you. If you need it, we explain why.
Online Booking
Real-time availability here. Pick your time. Immediate confirmation. Available 24/7.
Same-Day Appointments
Last-minute Vietnam trip? Call 01622 745567 for same-day vaccination. We keep all Vietnam vaccines in stock for urgent travel.
Serving All of Kent
Based in Coxheath near Maidstone. Easy access from Maidstone (10 minutes), Tonbridge (20 minutes), Canterbury (35 minutes), Ashford (30 minutes). Free parking.
GPhC Registered: 1032829 | Superintendent: Mandeep Sandhu
Bring detailed Vietnam itinerary: exact cities and days in each, any rural areas, travel dates and months (rainy season May-Oct matters for JE), accommodation types, planned activities, previous vaccination records, current medications, payment method.
Detailed itinerary review: We go through your exact Vietnam plans. Two days in Hanoi and two weeks on Phu Quoc? Very different from three weeks trekking northern Vietnam during monsoon.
Risk assessment: Based on your plans, we assess Japanese Encephalitis risk, rabies exposure likelihood, malaria risk, whether extended stay vaccines matter.
Honest recommendations: If you don’t need Japanese Encephalitis, we tell you and save you £220. If you do need it, we explain exactly why.
Vaccination: Multiple vaccines given in one appointment using different injection sites. Takes about 10 minutes.
Documentation: Vaccination record card, written malaria advice if visiting risk areas, clear side effects guidance.
Follow-up doses: Book next appointments before leaving if you need multi-dose vaccines.
Questions: Call us. Email us. We’re here for post-vaccination concerns.
Book here or call 01622 745567
Hepatitis A and Typhoid: Sore arm (20-30%), mild tiredness, headache. Among the safest vaccines available. Most people notice nothing beyond slightly sore arm for a day.
Japanese Encephalitis: Sore arm (30-40%), headache (10-15%), muscle aches (10-15%). Slightly more noticeable than Hepatitis A but still usually mild. Occasionally people feel tired for a day or two.
Rabies: Sore arm (30-40%), headache, muscle aches, sometimes mild fever. Some people find rabies vaccine causes more noticeable side effects but they’re typically mild.
Managing side effects: Paracetamol for discomfort. Keep moving your arm normally. Cold compress if helpful. Rest if needed. Drink plenty of water.
When to seek help: Difficulty breathing or facial swelling (call 999), severe persistent headache, high fever lasting 3+ days, severe injection site pain worsening after 48 hours.
Serious reactions are extremely rare – less than 1 in 100,000 doses.
Vaccine side effects last 1-3 days and resolve completely. Japanese Encephalitis kills 20-30% of people who develop severe symptoms and leaves 30-50% of survivors with permanent brain damage. Rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms appear. Typhoid causes weeks of severe illness.
A sore arm for two days versus life-threatening disease. The choice is clear.
All Vietnam travel vaccines suitable for children at appropriate doses. Japanese Encephalitis vaccine licensed from 2 months old. Children face higher JE risk (more vulnerable to severe disease) and higher rabies risk (more likely to approach animals, don’t always report bites).
Generally safe: Hepatitis A, Typhoid (injectable), DTP
Limited data but may be given if risk high: Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies
The bigger concern is malaria. If visiting malaria-risk areas while pregnant, this is extremely dangerous. Limited antimalarial options are safe in pregnancy.
Assess whether Vietnam travel during pregnancy is wise, especially if visiting rural or malaria-risk areas. If unavoidable, call 01622 745567 to discuss.
All Vietnam travel vaccines safe for older adults. Immune response might be slightly reduced but protection still good. Don’t skip vaccines due to age. The diseases are more dangerous for older adults than vaccine side effects.
All Vietnam vaccines are inactivated (killed) vaccines, generally safe for immunocompromised travellers. Protection might be reduced depending on immunosuppression degree. Discuss with your specialist and coordinate care.
Drink bottled water with intact seal. Avoid ice. Brush teeth with bottled water. Eat hot, thoroughly cooked food. Street food is part of Vietnam culture but choose vendors carefully (busy stalls = fresh food). Avoid raw/undercooked meat and seafood. Peel fruits yourself.
About 40% of Vietnam travellers get diarrhoea despite precautions. Pack: rehydration salts (crucial in Vietnam’s heat), loperamide, azithromycin antibiotic for severe cases (we can provide prescription).
No vaccine available for travellers. Dengue spreads through daytime mosquitoes. Present throughout Vietnam, particularly urban areas during/after rainy season. Prevention: DEET repellent during daytime, long sleeves and trousers, air-conditioned accommodation.
Motorbike accidents are the leading cause of tourist injuries and deaths in Vietnam. If riding: always wear helmet, don’t ride if inexperienced, avoid night riding, check insurance covers motorbike riding, consider rabies vaccination.
Major cities: International-standard hospitals with English-speaking doctors. Good emergency care.
Rural areas: Very limited facilities. Serious problems require evacuation to major cities or Thailand.
Medical evacuation insurance crucial. Air ambulance from rural Vietnam to Bangkok or Singapore can cost £20,000-40,000.
Feel unwell after returning? Some tropical diseases have delayed symptoms.
Seek immediate attention if:
Malaria after return: If you visited malaria-risk areas and develop fever, this is medical emergency. Go to A&E. Tell them you’ve been to Vietnam. Request urgent malaria testing. Malaria fatal if untreated but completely curable if caught early.
Call Coxheath Pharmacy on 01622 745567 for post-travel health advice.
Available 24/7. Same-day appointments possible.
Call: 01622 745567
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6:30pm, Sat 9am-4:30pm, Sun Closed
Detailed Vietnam itinerary, previous vaccination records, current medications list, payment method.
Vietnam offers incredible experiences – from Hanoi’s street food to Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts, from Ho Chi Minh City’s energy to the Mekong Delta’s rural beauty. Getting the right vaccines means you can enjoy all of it without worrying about preventable diseases.
Coxheath Pharmacy provides expert Vietnam travel health: All vaccines in stock, honest itinerary-based risk assessment, same-day appointments, online booking, serving all of Kent.
We don’t oversell. If you don’t need Japanese Encephalitis, we tell you. If you do, we explain why. Our goal is getting you protected for your specific Vietnam trip, not maximizing vaccine sales.
Book online: https://services.coxheathpharmacy.co.uk/book/972587
Call: 01622 745567
Location: Coxheath Pharmacy, Coxheath, Kent
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6:30pm, Sat 9am-4:30pm
Get your Vietnam travel jabs sorted. Then enjoy pho in Hanoi, beaches in Nha Trang, and everything Vietnam offers without the worry.
Company Registered In: UK | Company Reg Number: 09741325 | GPhC Premises Reg Number: 1032829| Superintendent/Clinical Lead: Mandeep Sandhu Copyright © 2025, Coxheath Pharmacy. All Rights Reserved. Pharmacy Regulation
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