Bangkok is well served for hospitals and high quality care is available. There are no particular risks other than those that are to be expected in a city in the Tropics. The most likely health problem is vehicle safety and great care needs to be taken when travelling and in particular crossing streets.

Do not drink tap water and use mineral water which is available everywhere. Food is safe with the exception of raw seafood which carries the risk of causing diarrhoea, hepatitis A and E, cholera and Typhoid.

Vaccinations are a personal issue but many visitors consider vaccines for Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B and Japanese encephalitis. There is a risk of rabies and deaths do occur and therefore avoid contact with all stray dogs. If bitten by a dog then seek immediate medical help and go to the Rabies Post Exposure Clinic as the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, located at 1871 Rama IV Road, Surwanong (tel:02 252 6117).

HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Bangkok. Huge efforts by the Government have made awareness of the disease common place and condoms are readily available and widely used. Dengue fever is becoming a problem in many countries and transmitted by mosquitoes particularly those that bite in the daytime. It is not an easy to treat. Bangkok is free of Malaria but is found in some rural areas. Worms are common in Thailand and caught from eating food that is not well cooked.

There has been a recent outbreak of Avian flu so it is wise to avoid animal markets and live poultry.

Hospitals are excellent and now treat people from all over the world. Bangkok is a good place to have a check up and offered at very reasonable prices. The medical system is basically an American model.

Dental treatment is proving very popular and good value in Bangkok and many visitors come to Bangkok specifically for dental treatment.

Bangkok is basically a safe city but like any large world city is not crime free. It is wise as in any location to leave all your valuables in the hotel safe, it is just as easy to lose them as have them stolen. You are most unlikely to meet any mugger or armed robber and reports of such incidents amongst foreigners are extremely rare. If such an event were to happen the Thai authorities take it very seriously which deters such actions. Women should feel generally safe but should take care when alone at night. If you are robbed call the Tourist Police on 1699 or 02 652 1721.

Do not lose sight of your credit card as credit fraud does take place. In the large stores where your credit card is taken away to be processed, they have a central location and of course you can go with the sales assistant.

There have been a few incidents of crime in taxis. Only use marked taxis and do not use taxis that are standing outside the hotel gates. If you need a taxi at a hotel ask the doorman to call one for you from the street or move onto the street and take a running taxi.

Street touts will offer emeralds and rubies; do not go with them as they are likely to be fake. Men will be offered a "massage" again ignore, there are many genuine massage parlours that are easy to find yourself and do remember that prostitution is illegal in Thailand.

In some of the sleazy bars it is possible that you will be overcharged. In such places check the price first and pay as you go. If there is an incident call the Tourist Police as they will respond. However in most cases the problem can be solved by negotiation. Beware of drinks being spiced by prostitutes/lady boys, some of the drugs used lead to ongoing mental problems.

Drugs are a very serious crime in Thailand and possession can result in the most severe penalties of death or life time imprisonment.