@Travis Carrasquillo - I follow multiple forums on travel. One forum a man illustrates his spider bite encounters in Vietnam. Are spiders an issue in Vietnam? Are there pro-active measures to lessen the encounter? I saw you mention the multiple encounters with the tiger mosquito (dengue).

Symptoms: - Suddenly passing three or more looser watery stools a day. - An urgent need to pass stool. - Stomach cramps. - Nausea. - Vomiting. - Fever. Southeast Asia (including Vietnam) frequently has travelers experiencing this problem. You can probably prevent it if you consume only major manufacturers’ bottled/canned drinks and packaged foods. If you want to dive into the culture and eat the local food, you will probably get it sooner or later. It’s difficult to pinpoint where the infection comes from, because it can be from the previous day or two. People will often blame what they ate or drank prior to getting symptoms. Don’t drink the water, but the water is used to wash dishes, fruits, and vegetables. I read ice mostly comes from major manufacturers, but I’ve never seen any ice transport going on. I used to try avoiding ice, now I just avoid drinking melted ice. As someone from a food science background (mostly applied microbiology), the handling of raw meat here is disturbing. They are so ignorant and careless. They even let you cook your own food at the table at Korean buffets (they seem to be popular here). People just aren’t careful keeping the raw meat and raw meat utensils separate from food that’s ready to eat. I got a case on my first trip on day 5 that lasted about a week. It was mostly severe cramping with mild diarrhea. I tried using honey and turmeric and probiotic yogurt to fight it, but I don’t think it helped much. On my second trip I started getting it, and my gf got me several medicines for it. One was called Yumangel, which I kept seeing as Yum-angel when it’s probably Yuman-gel. The third trip I brought a probiotic supplement, and I think I didn’t get it at all. I did get a case of gastroenteritis, though, but maybe that falls into the same category. The symptoms were way different, though, with serious diarrhea and two episodes of vomiting. In the past 10 years vomiting makes the lights switch off. I am sitting, standing, or kneeling. Then I’m on the floor (in one case a small ditch) not knowing how I got there. This time I was standing in a small bathroom and ended up on the floor was a long scrape on my back that my wife noticed before I did.

*MEET UP LOCATION* - BaLi Quan - Hai Coi - 7pm https://maps.app.goo.gl/LjxjJFHc3jYobyyJ8 We've got quite a few members in the group based in Da Nang now. I think its time we met up for Dinner and Drinks! I'm thinking 7pm Thursday night but also open to Friday night if that's better for the most people. We will Đi Nhậu (Vietnamese style casual eating and drinking) nothing fancy. I have two places in mind, one for chicken wings and beer another for seafood and beer. Have a vote and let me know if Thurs or Friday better for everyone.

Hi, Will be in Danang in a few weeks time, being my first visit to Vietnam, would love to connect with any ladies available, if not, would appreciate your advice on which markets I can visit to get cashew nuts and other Viet stuff and have reasonable nice food court. I have read stuff in the Classroom and am well prepared but still a little nervous, after seeing some snatch thefts and taxi scams videos on youtube, I know Travis did mention its very safe in Danang (thanks for that!). Anything I can do to be more prepared? Should I take a self defense course before I land LOL

There's a cool coffee shop I found with a nice rooftop that overlooks the airport runways so you can watch the planes landing and taking off. Great if you're a few hours early to the airport, or have a long transfer in Da Nang and not enough time to explore the city. Or even as a standalone visit. Nóc Rooftop Coffee https://maps.app.goo.gl/gzyywt96fKiSo76V8