Vietnam Packing Record – What to Convey to Vietnam for All Seasons

Questioning what to pack for Vietnam? Right here’s your full Vietnam packing record, with our suggestions of what to carry, what to depart at house, and what you should purchase for much less in Vietnam. Learn on to make packing for Vietnam easy.

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It may be so laborious to determine what you must pack whenever you’re heading to a brand new nation! We all know precisely how you are feeling — we’ve performed the “What to pack?” guessing recreation dozens of occasions.

That’s why we determined to create our final Vietnam packing record. We now have been to Vietnam 7 or 8 occasions (sure, we really misplaced depend!) and have spent greater than a yr complete within the nation, cycle touring, exploring, volunteering, home sitting, and, most just lately, renting a home in Hoi An for 2 months!

We love the nation and its individuals a lot, we simply can’t appear to remain away.

Since we’ve spent a lot time in Vietnam, we have now a reasonably good deal with on what objects you’ll want in your backpack and what you’ll be able to safely go away at house.

So learn on for our…

Vietnam Packing Record – What to Convey to Vietnam for All Seasons

5 Packing Ideas for Vietnam

1. Pack mild: In Vietnam you’ll be hopping out and in of taxis, busses, and even onto motorbikes on occasion. Motels and visitor homes are sometimes down slim alleys the place strolling is the one possibility. Many others have steep stairs with no elevators.

So preserve your bag as mild as doable – you’ll thank me when you have got a fifth flooring room! To do that, go away any “possibly” objects at house and produce solely the “for positive” ones.

2. Depart formal put on at house: Vietnam is a bit tough across the edges, which implies you’ll hardly have an event to decorate up. You possibly can go away your Manolos, your go well with jacket, and your costly jewellery at house. As an alternative, carry informal garments that may put on effectively within the warmth.

3. You possibly can’t purchase huge sizes: Nearly all the pieces is available for purchase in Vietnam, besides bigger measurement clothes and sneakers. In case you are on the higher finish of the dimensions scale, it may be laborious to seek out substitute garments and unimaginable to seek out sneakers that match, so make certain you pack adequately. In fact, if you actually need one thing, you may get it tailor-made in Hoi An.

4. You should purchase a lot of issues for therefore low-cost: Huge sizes are about the one factor that’s not out there in Vietnam. All the pieces else, from toiletries to style to jewellery and baggage, is available and largely tremendous low-cost. The one factor you received’t discover whereas procuring in Vietnam is offers on is genuine high-end manufacturers. Actual Prada prices simply as a lot in Vietnam as anyplace else on the planet.

5. Depart room for luxurious. Journey will be powerful, so carry one or two luxurious objects alongside. I’ve a cozy journey pillow. Stephen carries a hand-powered espresso grinder. You may want your teddy bear or a snug however cumbersome sweatshirt. These little luxuries can go a great distance to including consolation and sanity to your journey.

Necessities to Pack in Your Carry-On

If you’re packing for Vietnam, begin with our fast record of necessities. This stuff, which you need to pack in your carry-on, will assist you have got a hassle-free journey and actually are must-haves in your Vietnam packing record!

• Passport
• Boarding move for the airplane
• Visa paperwork – Our information to Vietnam visas will assist you to kind this out in a fast minute.
• Particulars on learn how to get from the airport to your lodging – Are you taking a taxi, the airport shuttle, a bus? Know earlier than you land to keep away from your first minutes within the nation being overly nerve-racking.
• First evening’s lodging particulars – Make the affirmation, handle, map location, and cellphone quantity all offline. It may be laborious to seek out places in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Hanoi, so be sure you have as many particulars as doable.

Additionally don’t overlook:

• Glasses or contacts
• Prescription treatment
• Journey insurance coverage – preserve your particulars useful in a number of locations so you could find them in an emergency

Our pre-flight worldwide journey guidelines will assist be sure you don’t overlook something important!

What’s the Proper Suitcase for Vietnam?

Should you’re a luxurious traveller who will keep in 5-star lodging, pack in no matter baggage you want. For everybody else…

We advocate a backpack or convertible suitcase with straps for Vietnam.

Why?

1. Many of the roads and streets in Vietnam are tough and stuffed with rubble and dirt. As soon as you allow the airport, a wheelie suitcase can be ineffective. You’ll both find yourself lugging it in every single place in your hand or dragging it throughout a lot tough terrain that your wheels break.
2. Should you assume you’ll by no means be strolling anyplace together with your suitcase, assume once more. Many resorts in Vietnam are down slim aspect alleys that aren’t large sufficient for a automobile. Plus, there are all the time occasions when you need to stroll to the bus station or have to stroll to an even bigger avenue to discover a taxi.

Hold your bag beneath 35–40L and underneath 10kg, which is able to make it throughout the carry-on restrict on most airways. If we will journey full-time with that little stuff, you are able to do it on your journey to Vietnam!

Professional-tip: I pack all my heaviest gear (laptop computer, digicam, and so forth) in my small carry-on backpack. Airways hardly weigh these, for the reason that bag seems too small to be over the load restrict.

Suitcase Equipment

There are three extra packing objects I like to recommend for all journey.

• A daypack / carry-on bag for the airplane – I all the time pack all my necessities in this anti-theft bag in order that, even when I examine my baggage, I’ve all the pieces I want on the airplane.

• A foldable daypack / procuring bag – Within the warmth of Vietnam, there are some days after I don’t really feel like carrying an actual daypack. As an alternative, I used my mild foldable pack to hold my necessities.
• Packing cubes – For me, packing cubes preserve me from going insane whereas dwelling out of a suitcase. I consider them as mini drawers for my bag, holding me organized and making it simple to seek out something in a number of seconds.

What Clothes to Pack for Vietnam

After getting a bag all picked out, the following huge chore is to resolve what clothes to carry to Vietnam.

If you’re preparing, you’ll wish to take into account three issues:

• What’s culturally applicable in Vietnam?
• What season are you travelling?
• What area will you be visiting?

Enthusiastic about these three issues will assist be sure that your Vietnam packing record is ideal for no matter type of journey you’re planning.

What to put on in Vietnam

Whereas there is no such thing as a actual costume code for vacationers in Vietnam and, lately, many Vietnamese lady have began carrying fairly revealing garments, there may be nonetheless a option to costume that may present your respect for the individuals and their tradition.

The way you costume in Vietnam is totally your determination. However listed below are a number of ideas if you happen to’re enthusiastic about being culturally delicate.

For ladies:

• Attempt to keep away from tremendous revealing garments like brief shorts together with your butt hanging out and boob tubes (extra frequent than you’d assume!).
• Tank tops, brief clothes, and regular shorts are high-quality within the cities, the place you’ll see a lot of Vietnamese girls dressing the identical method.
• I desire longer free clothes and light-weight tops with sleeves since they shield your pores and skin from the obtrusive Vietnamese solar and present the extra conservative locals that you simply respect their tradition.

Males can get away with the standard man uniform of shorts and a t-shirt, and lots additionally wander round in tank tops (although nearly all girls want they wouldn’t).

There are some temples and different areas the place you have to to have your knees and shoulders coated to enter. Usually you’ll be able to borrow a sarong on the door, however we all the time advocate carrying a light-weight sarong as a result of it has so many makes use of.

Seasons in Vietnam

In Vietnam, the clothes you’ll want will change relying on the season you’re travelling and the area you’re going to go to. Vietnam has a number of distinct local weather zones, all with totally different wet seasons and totally different common temperatures.

Right here’s a fast information:

Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa and north coast).

Could be scorching in summer season however within the winter months, it could possibly get very chilly and really snow within the mountains. Rain and fog are frequent within the winter, too.

Undoubtedly pack layers and rain gear if you happen to’re heading north within the winter. It may possibly additionally get very popular within the north, typically on the identical day because it’s chilly, so you must be prepared for something.

Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An, Phong Nha).

Being within the center, this space has probably the most forgiving local weather, too. In winter, particularly January and February, it could possibly get right down to about 15 levels celsius, which feels chilly on a humid day.

It may possibly additionally get very popular right here, so that you’ll have to pack a number of further layers however can most likely go away your parka at house.

Southern Vietnam (Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc).

Nearly all the time scorching, typically scorching and ridiculously humid, you’ll be able to pack a number of much less layers if you happen to plan on staying within the south. Nevertheless, you may wish to pack extra bathing fits, for the reason that seashores are unbelievable.

What Outerwear & Sneakers to Pack

• Mild rain jacket – for these days you get caught in the midst of nowhere in a tropical storm.
• Mild fleece or sweater – just for winter within the north or central Vietnam.
• Light-weight closed-toe sneakers – carry sneakers or sport sandals however be sure that the toe is closed. Roads and sidewalks are tough in Vietnam and you may be kicking free particles lots! We love our Eager Sandals as a result of they shield our toes whereas holding us cool.

• Mountain climbing or path sneakers – if you happen to plan on trekking in Sapa or Da Lat, carry water resistant sneakers with good grip. On my Sapa trek, I used to be with many vacationers who solely had sneakers they usually have been slipping and sliding on the mucky trails all day.
• Flip-flops – perfect if you happen to’re heading to the seashore or to make use of as indoor sneakers in your visitor home, hostel, or lodge.

What Clothes to Pack for Ladies

Word: I give a variety of things you want in your Vietnam packing record. Don’t pack the utmost of all the pieces otherwise you’ll have an excessive amount of stuff. It’s a stability; if you happen to pack extra skirts, pack fewer clothes, if you happen to carry extra t-shirts, carry fewer tanks!

• 3–5 fast drying t-shirts/tank tops – I’m not a fan of tank tops as a result of they’re usually not culturally applicable and result in the necessity for extra sunscreen / burned shoulders. So I often pack a variety of fast drying t-shirts like these ones from Bluffworks.
• 1–2 mild, free clothes – free clothes are perfect for the recent climate in Vietnam and make it tremendous simple to dress within the morning.
• 1 pair mild, free pants – the lighter the higher. Should you can’t discover them at house, decide them up for a number of {dollars} out there or native retailers whenever you arrive.
• 1–3 pairs of shorts / skirts – once more, attempt to carry free ones made of sunshine materials.
• 1 mild long-sleeved shirt – I like my Bluffworks Azores shirt to maintain the recent solar off or as a layer on a cool night.
• exercise / yoga garments – I carry one pair of cropped yoga pants, a sports activities bra, and a tank high so I can preserve in form on the highway.
• 5 pairs of underwear – I like fast dry so I can wash them within the sink and hold them in a single day when crucial.
• 2–3 bras – if you could find them, carry mild breathable bras that received’t make you are feeling like your boobs are suffocating!
• bathing go well with – there are many swimming pools and seashores in Vietnam, and you’ll positively wish to swim.
• sarong – can be utilized as a seashore towel, common towel, scarf, skirt, picnic blanket and extra.

Optionally available add-ons for winter journey in Vietnam

• 1 pair thicker chinos / denims – provided that you’re travelling in central or northern Vietnam in winter.

What Clothes to Pack for Males

• 3–5 fast drying t-shirts – Convey fast drying t-shirts like these ones from Bluffworks so to wash them out and hold to dry in a single day.
• 1 pair journey pants – the lighter the higher. You’ll most likely put on shorts more often than not in Vietnam, however a pair of pants is nice for cooler evenings, visits to temples, or nights out.
• 1–3 pairs of shorts – attempt to carry free shorts made of sunshine materials. Thicker shorts can really feel extremely scorching within the Vietnamese local weather.
• 1 mild long-sleeved shirt – this may be helpful to stop sunburn, for cooler evenings, or to maintain the mosquitoes away.
• exercise / yoga garments – Stephen brings shorts and t-shirts particularly designed for exercises so he has one thing to put on after we do yoga.
• 3–5 pairs of underwear – fast dry underwear are finest so you’ll be able to wash them within the sink and hold them in a single day when crucial.
• bathing go well with – there are swimming pools and seashores in Vietnam, and you’ll positively wish to swim.

Optionally available add-ons for winter journey in Vietnam

• 1 pair thicker chinos / denims – provided that you’re travelling in central or northern Vietnam in winter.

Important Toiletries for Your Vietnam Journey

The important thing to holding your toiletries organized is to get a superb bag to maintain all of it organized. Stephen and I each have this Eagle Creek toiletry package which is simply the best measurement and form to maintain all the pieces as a replacement.

Packing ideas for toiletries:

1. Most frequent toiletries will be simply purchased in Vietnam however, after all, you received’t essentially discover your favorite model.
2. As an alternative of shopping for journey sized containers of all of the objects I wish to carry, I use GoToob containers, that are simply refillable, full leak-proof (mine have by no means leaked in 7 years of journey journey), and sufficiently small to hold on the airplane.
3. Don’t fall into the lure of overpacking your toiletry package. Whereas travelling, you received’t have the time or the persistence to maintain up your 7-step skincare routine.
4. Hold make-up to a minimal. It simply melts off within the warmth and isn’t good on your pores and skin within the Vietnamese local weather.

Unisex Toiletry Record

• small bar of cleaning soap – I preserve mine in a mini tupperware
• small bar of strong shampoo – strong shampoo is healthier as a result of there’s no plastic packaging and it could possibly by no means leak
• light face cleanser – to maintain these sweaty pores clear
• moisturizer with SPF – I exploit this so I by no means unintentionally go exterior with out sunscreen
• toothpaste, floss, and toothbrush
• lip balm with SPF – I am keen on my Hurraw balms
• razor
• ocean-friendly sunscreen
• nail clippers
• deodorant
• tweezers
• small packet of tissues – for these occasions when the lavatory doesn’t have bathroom paper
• hand sanitizer – for these occasions when the lavatory doesn’t have cleaning soap
• mini first-aid package – with bandaids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, ache killers, and so forth.

Optionally available Toiletries for Ladies

• menstrual cup – if you happen to’re nonetheless utilizing disposable pads or tampons, it’s time to take your intervals into the twenty first century with a cup, the proper interval tamer for journey
• minimalist make-up – preserve this to a minimal! Actually, belief me on this. I like to make use of a tinted SPF CC cream and that’s it. You may want some mascara, lip coloration, and powder too.

Optionally available Toiletries for Males

• shaving package – carry shaving oil for these with mild beards or a shaving brush and cleaning soap for hairier fellas

Toiletries You Can Purchase in Vietnam

• activated charcoal – if you happen to get meals poisoning, taking activated charcoal after the primary 12 hours will help clear it up.
• mosquito spray – simply present in any comfort retailer, if you happen to don’t see it, simply ask the clerk.
• sunscreen – will be present in any touristy seashore space however it’s costly and never all the time reef-friendly, so carry some from house if in case you have area.
• small packet of tissues – you will note girls promoting tissues within the touristy areas of massive cities and also you’re serving to help their household if you happen to purchase from them fairly than the large drug shops.

Journey Equipment for Vietnam

These are the little extras that may preserve you cozy and protected in your journey to Vietnam.

• sun shades
• sunhat
• earplugs – no getting round it, Vietnam is noisy! Earplugs will assist you to get a superb sleep and preserve you sane on longer bus or practice rides.
• refillable water bottle – most resorts now have a water refill station so that you don’t want to purchase water in single-use plastic bottles. In case your lodge doesn’t have one, ask them so as to add it!
• reusable cutlery set – I’ve had mine for greater than 10 years and take it in every single place

Electronics We Suggest for Vietnam

I wouldn’t say there are any particular electronics you want in Vietnam that you simply don’t want in different nations. As a common rule, we advise you to preserve your electronics to a minimal. They’re heavy and costly, two belongings you wish to keep away from!

Right here’s what we advocate you carry.

• cellphone and charger – carry a cellphone with a superb digicam and also you received’t want separate digicam gear.
• energy adaptor – Vietnamese plugs usually take two sorts of energy plugs. The European model with two spherical prongs, and the north American model with two flat prongs. In case you have a unique type of plug, you’ll want an adaptor.
• headphones – this can be a journey important for us as listening to music or podcasts is a good way to make lengthy journeys go by extra rapidly. Noise-cancelling headphones are a should if you happen to’re delicate to noise, as Vietnam is nearly all the time noisy!
• moveable energy financial institution – solely crucial in case your cellphone runs out of energy after a day of regular use. If you’re out taking pictures and movies, wanting up eating places, and navigating together with your map, you don’t need your cellphone to die midway by means of the day.
• digicam, spare batteries, spare reminiscence card – in case your cellphone isn’t as much as the duty, you’ll want your digicam package.
• laptop computer – if I didn’t work on-line, I might by no means carry my laptop computer travelling. It’s heavy, laborious to pack, and costly. So if you happen to don’t 100% want your laptop computer, go away it at house!

A Remaining Word About Your Vietnam Packing Record

There’s little question about it, packing will be nerve-racking. However strive to not get too obsessed about having precisely the best mixture of clothes and objects on your journey to Vietnam.

There’s no such factor as a superbly packed suitcase.

On any journey, there can be objects you pack and by no means use, and others you wished you had introduced however didn’t.

The great factor is, in Vietnam, you’ll be able to simply purchase many of the journey requirements and clothes objects you might need forgotten — often at less expensive costs than issues price at house.

So, whereas taking note of what you’re packing is essential, it doesn’t must be that nerve-racking. Simply do your finest and alter to the circumstance you discover when you set off.

Extra Posts About to Vietnam

We’ve written lots about our adventures in Vietnam — and it’s all extraordinarily beneficial information that may assist you have got an incredible time in your journey. Listed here are a number of we advise you learn subsequent.

Full Vietnam journey information →
Good Vietnam two-week itineraries →
Information to lodging in Vietnam →
The best way to journey solo in Vietnam →

We hope this Vietnam packing record is helpful whilst you’re planning your journey. Our objective is that can assist you make your journey right into a transformational expertise and packing the best gear can positively assist. Don’t miss our different guides to Vietnam and be happy to e-mail or message us on Instagram if in case you have questions.

♥  Pleased transformational travels, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of labor to create journey guides like this. However it’s simple to assist us out! Should you guide or purchase one thing utilizing one in every of our private hyperlinks on this publish, we’ll earn a small charge at no further price to you. In fact, we might by no means advocate something we didn’t 100% imagine in! Enormous thanks upfront! –S&J