Who's afraid of Vietnam?

A few more days and I'm on my way to Vietnam.

As I think about stepping off the plane in Ho Chi Minh, still have a hard time writing that instead of Sai Gon, I worry customs will look in my bag and decide to send me home on the next plane.

Why? Because I've gotten everything recommended on the medical travel guide that was given to me when I got my Hepatitis and Typhoid vaccinations for the trip. I feel like I'm carrying a pharmacy along with me. Plus while shopping for all this stuff I saw three other things that seemed to me like good additions. Temporary filling/cap replacement, Gold Bond powder (a life saver on recent New Mexico trip) and Anbesol (generic).

I imagine the Vietnamese border agent looking at the contents of my bag and thinking "this guy is afraid to be here, what an insult" or "this guy must be sick" and deciding the best thing to do is kick me out of the country.

That won't happen I'm sure but the mind can come up with some pretty strange thoughts.

Below is a picture of medical supplies I'm bringing. Am I forgetting anything?


I've got....

• hand sanitizer
• Betadine solution
• gauze pads
• cloth tape
• bandaids
• water conditioning tablets 
• insect repellent, 35% DEET recommended, looked forever and finally found 34.34%, it'll have to do
• OTC antacid
• OTC antifungal cream (jock itch cream was clearly labeled antifungal so picked that)
• OTC anti-itch cream
• OTC antibiotic ointment
• OTC laxative
• OTC anti-diarrheal (can almost imagine using this and the previous, one after the other, and having regularity swing out of control)
• Ciprofloxacin a prescription anti-diarrheal, doctor's description - "Only to be used for travelers diarrhea, it's like nothing you've ever had before so you'll know if you need it!" (great confidence builder that instruction)
• Tamiflu - prescription flu medication

     My finds

• Ambesol gel generic
• lost filling and loose cap repair kit
• Gold Bond powder

Can't imagine being more prepared. I am probably overdoing it. As my former staff might remember I'm a "measure until the results are repeatable and then cut" type of guy. Yup, it drove some people nuts sometimes.