Does boiling the water make it safe to drink?

[T4Trevor]

We are going to Vietnam and have been warned not to drink the water or put ice cubes in our scotch.
Is it ok to boil the water to make Instant coffee?

 

[Homer]

I've never been to Vietnam but have boiled water and survived various South American countries as well as Bali. As for ice cubes, the good hotels use purified water to make ice but if you don't know where the water came from, I'd be skipping the ice cubes...

 

[DeKa]

Yes, but it should boil for one minute so hold your finger on the kettle button to keep it boiling once it reaches the boil.

http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/emerg.html

 

[amaroo]

Been to Vietnam a few times along with Laos, Cambodia & other Asian countries. Drank bottled water, had ice cubes, used tap water for brushing teeth, used plates/cutlery/glasses that would not have been washed with purified water. Never had any issue - YMMV, but I'd focus on the trip & what you want to do/get out of it rather than what could happen!

Have a good time - it's a great place to visit.

 

[hummel]

Any good hotels will have fine ice. Bottled water is everywhere and cheap so no problem.

 

[LiamR]

I've been to Vietnam. I just made sure I drank bottled water and didn't use ice cubes in dodgey places.

Every hotel I stayed at across four different cities gave me a few bottles of water each day. Worked well.

 

[Shelf]

I went to Bali with the parents when I was 14. I picked up a parasite in my liver, most likely as a result of dodgy water (IIRC I forgot to use bottled water when brushing my teeth).

Boiled water should be fine.

 

[AVC]

As my mother used to say many years ago "let me boil you up a cup of coughnic".

Boiling wil normally render most "unsafe" drinking water "safe", but when I'm in some dodgy third world counrty, I always use bottled water. Even for coffee, brushing teeth, the lot (OK, not showering). Then again, I don't even drink tap water at home.

 

[harvyk]

I always let unknown water boil for 3 minutes. You can also get water purification tablets (from just about any camping store) which will also kill out the nasties.
That said, bottled water is probably the safest route to take, esp in places where water quality is not assured.

 

[RB]

Bottled water is so easy to organise & worth doing. I remember the only time Mrs RB has been crook in Asia was from momentarily forgetting about ice in drinks at the Jazz Club in Hanoi

 

[k_sheep]

But bottled water is a disaster environmentally.

I boil my water in most of SE Asia, not had a problem (use tap water for brushing teeth). I have to admit, I tend to just boil it, then reflick the switch on the kettle a few minutes later to boil again so I don't let it go for 3 mins like you should.

 

[Saji]

Boiling water is a safe way to reduce water borne diseases.

One more tip...dont sing in the shower!

 

[wingspan]

My in-laws (who are Vietnamese) boil rainwater. Whenever we stay with them we use the boiled rainwater for drinking, etc. We brush teeth, wash our faces etc with regular rainwater. Depending on where you're staying rainwater can sometimes be cleaner because it doesn't get washed through old, degraded plumbing which contaminates the water. If you can't get rainwater, and you feel bad about the bottled water, just keep your wits about what you're drinking and where it's come from. You should be fine.

I've had a few upset stomachs throughout my travels and sometimes they're good because I've figured 'I can't feel worse, so I'm just going to eat and drink whatever I want to now and make the most of it'. Probably a pretty terrible way to do it, but there you go.

 

[JohnK]

Never had an issue with in ice in Asia and I drink only bottled water and brush my teeth and clean toothbrush with bottled water as well.

We have been boiling water in Sydney since the Cryptosporidium and Giardia incidents back in late 90's. Yes the body loses the opportunity to build immunities but we feel safer drinking boiled water.

I do not even drink tap water in Brisbane preferring to drink bottled water.

 

[Moody]

Been through Vietnam a couple of times, second time with the kids. Ate and drank whatever was served. Only time I got sick was my own fault - ate mussels in Saigon that had probably spent their life filtering the contents of the Mekong sewer.

People that get too precious about "clean" water are the ones that get sick, in my experience.

 

[casanovawa]

You could always check Bear Grylls website?? He could probably tell you the do's and don't's of purifying water... As well as if and when drinking your own urine may be an option...

 

[medhead]

You could always check Bear Grylls website?? He could probably tell you the do's and don't's of purifying water... As well as if and when drinking your own urine may be an option...

Failing those methods there is also the Bear technique for administering putrid water by enema.


Sent from the Throne

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We are going to Vietnam and have been warned not to drink the water or put ice cubes in our scotch.
Is it ok to boil the water to make Instant coffee?

The boiling water is ok, and will be safe.....but instant coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MelUser]

They recommend boiling water in Fiji which we did. In fact travelling with children we took an extra kettle from home so water could cool overnight. Also if you are extremely cautious (eg with children) you can bring a microwave steriliser for cups and other utensils.

 

[markis10]

Tablets are a good solution as they don't require any heating of the water. Whatever you do don't eat salad, it's often the main culprit for passing on stomach bugs. You may want to take your own coffee with you, but don't bring it back if you want to clear customs quickly.