Vietnam

Vietnamese pharmacies use the international spelling, so the name is written the same way.

Widely sold. Needs a prescription.

Almost all products combine it with paracetamol or an antihistamine. Plain pseudoephedrine tablets are rare.

The prescription requirement has not been strictly enforced.

Sold by Pfizer. Local generics go by other names (Inosert, Clealine, Asentra).

Commonly available without strict prescription enforcement.

Sold at several Vietnamese pharmacy chains. Needs a prescription.

Sold by Boehringer Ingelheim. Strictly prescription-only.

The maker is withdrawing Levemir worldwide, so stock may be limited. Other long-acting insulins sold here: glargine (Lantus) and degludec (Tresiba).

Registered with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health (VN2-608-17).

For heartburn without a prescription, ask for an antacid such as Amadolox or an alginate such as Gaviscon-type Gasta.

Mostly sold combined with paracetamol. Plain tramadol is also registered.

Xylometazoline ("Otrivin") is the more common decongestant spray.

The 0.5% cream needs no prescription; 1% needs one. Clobetasone (Eumovate) and mometasone creams are also sold without a prescription.

Mupirocin is a different antibiotic for the same use.

Auto-injectors are hard to find. Bring at least two from home.