Step 1: Assess How Sick You Are
Not all illness requires a doctor. Here's a quick decision guide:
Handle it yourself if you have mild symptoms like a runny nose, slight headache, minor sunburn, or a single episode of diarrhea. Buy medication at a pharmacy and rest.
Call a home doctor if you have repeated vomiting or diarrhea, fever above 38°C (100.4°F), dehydration (dark urine, dizziness), skin infection, or symptoms that haven't improved in 24 hours.
Go to the ER or call 115 if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe allergic reaction, high fever above 39.5°C that won't break, blood in your vomit or stool, or signs of severe dehydration (no urination for 8+ hours).
Your Medical Options in Da Nang
Option 1: Home Doctor Visit
A doctor comes to your hotel, Airbnb, or home with medical equipment and medication. This is the easiest option for non-emergency illness. No waiting rooms, no language barrier, no navigating a hospital.
Viet Home Doctor covers all 6 districts of Da Nang. Our doctors speak English and provide insurance-ready documentation. Response time is 1 to 3 hours. Book a visit here.
Option 2: Pharmacy
Vietnamese pharmacies (look for signs saying "Nha Thuoc") are everywhere. They sell most medications without a prescription, including antibiotics, anti-diarrheal, and pain relief. Pharmacists usually don't speak English, so write down the medication name or show it on your phone.
Useful medications to ask for:
- Oresol (oral rehydration salts) for dehydration
- Smecta or Loperamide for diarrhea
- Paracetamol (Panadol) for fever and pain
- Domperidone for nausea
Option 3: Hospital
Da Nang has several hospitals. The main ones for foreigners:
- Da Nang Hospital (Benh Vien Da Nang), 124 Hai Phong. The largest public hospital. Has an international department with some English-speaking staff. Expect crowded waiting areas.
- Hoan My Hospital, 291 Nguyen Van Linh. Private hospital with better facilities and shorter waits. More expensive than public.
Bring your passport and insurance card. Payment is typically required upfront at public hospitals. Private hospitals may bill your insurer directly.
Common Illnesses Tourists Get in Da Nang
- Food poisoning: The most common by far. Caused by street food, undercooked seafood, or contaminated water/ice. Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps. Read our food poisoning guide.
- Heat exhaustion and dehydration: Da Nang averages 35°C in summer with high humidity. Drink more water than you think you need.
- Sunburn: The UV index is high year-round. Wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
- Respiratory infections: Moving between air-conditioned rooms and humid outdoor air causes colds and sore throats.
- Insect bites: Mosquitoes are active, especially near the river and in the evenings. Dengue fever is possible during rainy season (September to December).
- Minor injuries: Scooter accidents are common among tourists. Wear a helmet and be cautious.
Insurance Tips
Check your travel insurance policy before you need it. Here's what to know:
- Most policies cover doctor visits for acute illness or injury abroad.
- Some require you to call their hotline before seeking treatment. Check your policy documents.
- Keep all receipts, medical reports, and prescription records.
- Viet Home Doctor provides English documentation formatted for international insurance claims.
- If your policy has a direct billing option, ask about it when booking your visit.
Common insurers we've provided reports for: Allianz, AXA, Bupa, Cigna, World Nomads, SafetyWing, and IMG.
Useful Vietnamese Phrases
In case you need to communicate with non-English speakers:
- "Toi bi om" (Toy bee ohm) = "I am sick"
- "Dau bung" (Dow boong) = "Stomach pain"
- "Benh vien" (Ben vee-en) = "Hospital"
- "Nha thuoc" (Nya too-ock) = "Pharmacy"
- "Bac si" (Back see) = "Doctor"
- "Goi xe cap cuu" (Goy seh cap coo) = "Call an ambulance"