I have never sweated so much as I did when I went to Vietnam and Cambodia.

That place is shockingly hot. As in “I’m melting, melting.” The locals are accustomed to their steamy climate so I watched what they did and learned and survived the trip in  good shape.

I don’t want the climate to limit where I travel, so knowing how to be comfortable where ever I go is important.

 Here are a few tips that helped me then and will help whenever I travel to other beautiful but roasting places.

1. Cover Up

moto riders vietnam

Of course it’s important to wear sun screen and a hat or visor. You’ll see the locals covered from head to toe while outdoors.

This seems counter intuitive, but wearing light-weight, loose, long sleeves (and trousers) will keep you cooler. As you sweat, the moisture evaporates into the sleeves, allowing cooler air to flow over the skin. And your skin will thank you when you minimize its sun exposure.

cover up to stay cool

2. Have Pho for Breakfast

pho soup vietnam

I was surprised to see that the locals eat a lot of pho, especially in the morning. The soup stock has sodium, which helps the body retain water. This is important as, having “front-loaded” your body with sodium, you will lose water a little more slowly as you are out and about and begin to sweat. When I started having pho for breakfast, I did feel better during the day, although I still sweated buckets.

Of course, stay hydrated during the day.

3.  Shower Properly

water puppets vietnam

 

Ok, I didn’t get this tip from a local, but from KS, a world traveler whom I met on this trip.  After a full day of sightseeing in the heat, when I followed her shower routine, I felt much more refreshed.

Here it is:

  1. Start with tepid water-not hot or cold. It should feel just slightly warm to the touch. This will cool your body temperature to a normal level.

  2.  When your body starts to feel cool, turn the temperature of the water to hot and stay under that until you feel the skin heating up again.  You don’t want to raise your core temperature, just the skin.

  3. When the skin feels warm, turn off the shower and get out. The air will cool your skin quickly and you will feel refreshed without feeling sticky.

*Obviously, I’m not a doctor, so I’m not recommending any special procedures or products. I’m only sharing what worked for me, in the hopes that these tips may work for you, too. Feel free to share any other tips to beating the heat while traveling.