How on earth do all of ya'll keep from getting sick? Spill the beans, I'm heading to Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand.
Love the shows and greatly appreciate all the work that makes it look so effortless.

Wilson in Texas

okay first of all visit your doctor and ask for appropriate vaccines most westerners just do not have the antibodies to help or stave off food borne diseases. Second don't drink the water always asked for bottled water and make sure your ice is either distilled or filtered. and third keep your finger nails short and clean and wash your hands. By doing these simple precautionary steps you will enjoy your trip to thrid world countries.

Jayc, I just got back from Thailand and Laos. I ate everything and anything, and yes, I got sick. I took ciprofloxacin with me and it cured me right away. You can get in by script in the US, or OTC at a lot of places over there. Happy travels, Christine

The one vaccine you need, especially if you like street food (we ALL like street food) is Hepatitis A, which is two shots. The first shot will protect you for 2-4 weeks and the second shot, which you get 6-12 months later, will last up to 20 years.

Hepatitis B is also prevalent in those countries but can only be caught from sex or blood. You can get a vaccine for that also.

jayc1323's comments about the water and other tips are very accurate. First thing you do is buy a big bottle of water at the store. Hotels usually provide two bottles per night but they are smaller and not enough to get you through. Of course, you can always drink beer.

The two ways people tend to slip are with the ice cubes in a drink or when they brush their teeth at night. Just a quick shot of water on your toothbrush before you apply the paste will nail you. Outside of that, wash your hands as jayc said, whenever you can without being too paranoid about it, ha ha.

If the bug does bite you, a trick I learned from a Navy SEAL chief I know is to eat plain yoghurt and cheese; the yoghurt replaces the good bacteria in your stomach and the cheese binds you up. However, it can be hard to find plain yoghurt or decent cheese in those countries. What they call plain yoghurt in China and Taiwan is this liquid white stuff with a lot of sugar in it, so all the good bacteria is already dead. I'm not sure if it's the same story in SE Asia.
(Steve in San Diego)

Well, I ate street food ONLY for 20 days through Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. And I mean street -- they'd wash the dishes in small plastic pans on the curb at night (cause the "cafes" would disapper in the day as they were literally taking up street space.)

Yet, I never got sick -- although my stomach never settled either (I practically ate out the food stands at the Tokyo airport on my return flight.)

And yes, I brushed my teeth in their water and stayed in cheap $15/night hotels in the bar district (even though I had a resort open to me for $329/wk as a military guy).

And to beat all, the Thai college student that traveled with me from Bangkok to Chiangmai was hospitalized for several days. When I asked the doctor why a Thai and not me, his only explanation was: "Your immunity system was better?" (My reaction: for a 60 yr old man!)

So you never know. On the other hand, I took ONE bite of a taco in Honduras, and within 24/hrs it was coming out at both ends! Another Soldier got sick from a drink of fresh squeezed juice. The Public Health doc that deployed with us said it "could've been the glass, the pither or the guy's hands" -- so you never know.
And in Alcapulco 10 yrs ago, a whole boatload of us aboard a fancy dinner cruise, got sick because we ate the fresh fruit aboard (thinking it was safe): nope, it had been washed in local water.

So take your precautions -- there are travel clinics which can help get the shots/etc. that you need, but don't be paranoid but play safe, and enjoy!

But then, even the beer can be problematic: I met two guys, a priest and a retired Brit diplomat who both got drugged (someone slipped something in their drink), and they were robbed!

Damn, even the beer can be dangerous...LOL

I just returned from Cambodia and Viet Nam. I have all my vaccinations. As for travelers diarrhea, I didn't experience any. I did drink water and used ice cubes. I think the key for me not getting sick was to ease into it. You really can't eat there without getting water into your system unless you bring canned food. Just start slow and bring you Imodium, you'll be fine!

I just got back from 5 months in INdonesia and Northern Thailand. I have always found that eating chiles is the key to staying healthy. Travelers who eat pizza and Colonel Sanders get sick. Travelers who eat street food in Asia that the locals eat with the hot chile spices stay well.