Zoophobic? Might want to reconsider Vietnam as your expat destination

This post has spooked me. Does this mean that my dream of renting a house somewhere in Mekong with a garden to grow vegetables, is not as idyllic as I thought? I will have snakes, scorpions, and spiders in the garden? Maybe even the occasional crocodile? 

- @ChoculaD

Anyone residing in VN long term should be taking a worming treatment every 6-months. Fugacar is one of the most popular brands on the market.

- @colinoscapee

@Aidan in HCMC Thanks Aidan. I wonder if the way to avoid these creatures might be to have a garden on the roof or balcony of the house.

Anyone residing in VN long term should be taking a worming treatment every 6-months. Fugacar is one of the most popular brands on the market.

- @colinoscapee

Yes! I couldn't remember the brand name (thank you!), but the mebendazole we use is indeed Fugacar. Single dose, 500 mg. And cheap as dirt.

We split it in half, and take each half two days apart, as I've read that this is more effective.

- @Aidan in HCMC

Anyone residing in VN long term should be taking a worming treatment every 6-months. Fugacar is one of the most popular brands on the market.

- @colinoscapee

Yes! I couldn't remember the brand name (thank you!), but the mebendazole we use is indeed Fugacar. Single dose, 500 mg. And cheap as dirt.

We split it in half, and take each half two days apart, as I've read that this is more effective.

- @Aidan in HCMC

I have been here most of the last 16 years and have never taken anything for worms. How would I know if I had worms, would I see them in the toilet?

- @ChoculaD

Intestinal worm infection will cause different sorts of harm to human health such as anemia, micro-nutrient deficiency, loss of concentration, liver, gall and lung diseases, and adverse effects on the physical and spiritual development of the infected people, especially women and children (Original Source: Tuoitrenews)

@Aidan in HCMC Thanks Aidan. I wonder if the way to avoid these creatures might be to have a garden on the roof or balcony of the house.

- @ChoculaD

Centipedes, fire ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and intestinal worms ....quite tasty I might add.  - @River Frogs

Intestinal worm infection will cause different sorts of harm to human health such as anemia, micro-nutrient deficiency, loss of concentration, liver, gall and lung diseases, and adverse effects on the physical and spiritual development of the infected people, especially women and children (Original Source: Tuoitrenews) - @OceanBeach92107

Intestinal worm infection will cause different sorts of harm to human health such as anemia, micro-nutrient deficiency, loss of concentration, liver, gall and lung diseases, and adverse effects on the physical and spiritual development of the infected people, especially women and children (Original Source: Tuoitrenews) - @OceanBeach92107

Adverse effect on one's spiritual development?

Now that would be one nasty demon parasite. Probably require the services of a well trained exorcist to rid you of that.

- @Aidan in HCMC

No doubt a faulty translation.

Maybe psychological?

(hint from Oxford thesaurus)

- @OceanBeach92107

@Aidan in HCMC Yes, I've toughened up, but still, snakes and crocodiles are something I don't want to deal with! Have always lived in cities and never encountered these monsters, just the occasional centipede in moist areas of the kitchen and once or twice, a big furry spider.

@ChoculaD

But this was possibly before you lived in the tropics?

EDIT: Please see a post from earlier in this thread for links, here

Many, many VN people eat copious amounts of foods high in fibre, and garlic seems ubiquitous in their dishes. And yet a very high percentage of the population are infected with intestinal parasites.

Please be careful.

(Hmmmm.... I posted this about an hour or more ago, and though it shows in my "Activity Log", it was not appearing here as a response. Apologies if it winds up being a duplicate response)

@ChoculaD

And please don't forget that there are many parasites which will not be detectable by sight. Many will set up camp, raise a family, and peacefully retire quite happily whilst boring through your vital organs (heart, liver, etc).

Sorry for being so graphic. Antiparasitics could save your life.

And, as a bonus, the chewable ones are yummy!

Aidan-

Your post(s) get deleted when you "advise" regarding medical therapy.

Figure out a different way to share information and your posts may survive unscathed.

Cheers!

O.B.

Vietnam advisor

Expat.com team

I do remember seeing worms in the toilet once or twice when I was a child, but that was before I became a health nut
-@ChoculaD

Aw jeez, so GROSS!!   Moderator HELP, this person just created a violent image. Make the forum a safe space.

I do remember seeing worms in the toilet once or twice when I was a child, but that was before I became a health nut

-@ChoculaD

Aw jeez, so GROSS!! Moderator HELP, this person just created a violent image. Make the forum a safe space.
-@gobot

I agree.

Health nuts are some of the most violent people I know...

@Aidan in HCMC  Okay, I will consider it. But I have absolutely no symptoms.

@Aidan in HCMC  Yes, I see them eating their white rice all the time. So high in fiber!

I do remember seeing worms in the toilet once or twice when I was a child, but that was before I became a health nut

-@ChoculaD

Aw jeez, so GROSS!! Moderator HELP, this person just created a violent image. Make the forum a safe space.
-@gobot

But the worms identified as transgender. Does that make the image more acceptable?

I do remember seeing worms in the toilet once or twice when I was a child, but that was before I became a health nut

-@ChoculaD

Aw jeez, so GROSS!! Moderator HELP, this person just created a violent image. Make the forum a safe space.
-@gobot

But the worms identified as transgender. Does that make the image more acceptable?
-@ChoculaD

Well why didn't you say so?   Bro, we good now. 

I do remember seeing worms in the toilet once or twice when I was a child, but that was before I became a health nut

-@ChoculaD

Aw jeez, so GROSS!! Moderator HELP, this person just created a violent image. Make the forum a safe space.
-@gobot

But the worms identified as transgender. Does that make the image more acceptable?
-@ChoculaD

Well why didn't you say so? Bro, we good now.
-@gobot

I think if the worms were transgender, were from a minority and had a disability, we could hold a public holiday in their memory.

@Aidan in HCMC Yes, I see them eating their white rice all the time. So high in fiber!
-@ChoculaD

Hee, hee. That white rice has been linked to VN's high rate of diabetes. We're not big fans of it in our home. To me, it's like eating rice which has already been chewed by someone else

I was thinking more along the lines of how we eat here. Newly sprouted bamboo shoots, hand-picked garden greens (many varieties), freshly picked edible flowers, root vegetables, etc. Delicious! The "(m)any, many VN people..." I referenced reside well outside of large urban centres. You mentioned that you have always lived in cities, so you may (will?) be surprised to see how different the country people's diet is compared to their city cousins. Worlds apart.

And yet, intestinal parasites....

But the worms identified as transgender. Does that make the image more acceptable?
-@ChoculaD

The "Hermaphroditic Parasite Alliance of VN" is demanding immediate equal recognition!

(I told them to go f themselves, and they did!)

@Aidan in HCMC Okay, I will consider it. But I have absolutely no symptoms.
-@ChoculaD

Symptoms are a sign of infestation.

You want to avoid reaching that point.

I sense that you are averse to using antiparasitic meds. If so, you should not be.

Every "soul's temple" (i.e. one's body) needs a good sweeping from time to time.

@Aidan in HCMC
Every "soul's temple" (i.e. one's body) needs a good sweeping from time to time.

-@Aidan in HCMC

Well said!

Last night Harold (my cat) and his wife/sister were playing just outside the house with what I thought was a twig from one of the trees in our garden. Strange, I thought, as neither of them are in the least interested in inanimate cat toys, such is the abundance of interactive toys here (i.e. live prey).

Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it wasn't a twig they were playing with. Rather, it was a Vietnamese Stick Insect. This thing was at least 25cm long!

Research showed that it was an herbivore, so although no threat to persons/pets, it might certainly invoke a response from those with even a slight inclination towards being zoophobic.

It truly was a beautiful creature, until they ate it.

@Aidan in HCMC  I think a few vegetables in their pho is not really high fiber. And obviously, white rice isn't. One of the reasons I cook for myself is because if I eat in a restaurant, they consider a few tiny pieces of carrots and green vegetables in the soup or stir fry to be enough. When I cook for myself, I put huge amounts of raw vegs in the food--a whole carrot and cucumber every day plus lots of leafy greens--and always eat brown or red rice. Then huge amounts of fruit afterward.

And garlic, I eat many cloves with my meals, uncooked.

So I would not consider what VNese eat high fiber, compared to what I eat. And I doubt they can match my garlic consumption.

Of course, the disadvantage is that I have to  take a **** more often. Actually, I never look to see what's in the bowl, because I don't want to be grossed out. I guess there might be worms in there, but as I said, I don't have any symptoms... though I guess an occasional Ivermectin wouldn't hurt.

@Aidan in HCMC  Isn't that one of those insects that nature deliberately made look like a twig or a leaf so they could better conceal themselves from predators? A number of species like that, quite fascinating.

But it didn't fool your cat.

@Aidan

"Last night Harold (my cat) and his wife/sister" - your cat is married?

@AndyHCMC

Well, that's what the VN would call her (wouldn't want to besmirch her reputation by calling her anything else)

@ChoculaD

Yeah, that's the one(s). From what I've read, they usually suspend themselves upside down under a branch as large as, or larger, than themselves.

Moved slowly, with 1/4 strides at a time.

Amazing creature, and apparently delicious, judging by the cats behaviour.

Last night Harold (my cat) and his wife/sister were playing just outside the house with what I thought was a twig from one of the trees in our garden. Strange, I thought, as neither of them are in the least interested in inanimate cat toys, such is the abundance of interactive toys here (i.e. live prey).
Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it wasn't a twig they were playing with. Rather, it was a Vietnamese Stick Insect. This thing was at least 25cm long!
Research showed that it was an herbivore, so although no threat to persons/pets, it might certainly invoke a response from those with even a slight inclination towards being zoophobic.
It truly was a beautiful creature, until they ate it.

-@Aidan in HCMC

Whoa. Drool.

Ever since I was 9 years old memorizing my Golden Press book of Insects, I wanted a walking stick bug.

The coolest bug, cooler than even rhinocerous beetle (they kinda scary).

Still want one. Want a bunch.

I'm going to have to go down to Not HCMC and trade them cats fish for them.

Gobot-- you'll soon be eating them all the time if B. Gates has his way.

AIdan, if your cat is married to a Vietnamese cat, is there any way you can use that fact to get a long term TRC?