Vietnam Packing List: The Indispensable Items
Are you planning a trip to Vietnam and don’t know what indispensable items you must bring? After visiting Southeast Asia several times already, I’ve created this comprehensive Vietnam packing list you will want to steal!
I’ve even created a printable version to help you organize better before your trip and ensure you don’t forget a thing. Make sure to download it!
Because who wants to be in a foreign country and waste time looking for something they should have had with them? Of course, prices might be lower in Vietnam, but are you sure the product is available?
Don’t risk it, and read further about the essential items you’ll need in your Vietnam packing list.
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Table of Contents
- The complete Vietnam packing list
The complete Vietnam packing list
How is the weather in Vietnam
This is information worth knowing whether you are planning your trip or want to know what should be on your Vietnam packing list.
Even though the weather in Vietnam is usually warm, depending on the region and time of year, nights might get chilly.
Here are a few overall rules that apply to the weather in Vietnam:
- Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay)
- Summer is from May to October, and temperatures and humidity get high, with July and August the wettest months
- Best time to visit: spring and autumn (February to April and October to November)
- Winter temperatures are as low as 10 degrees C
- Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue)
- Dry season: from January to June
- Wet season with some typhoons: October to November
- We visited in late December, and the weather was just right, and it didn’t rain
- Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Phu Quoc)
- Dry Season: November to April
- July and August are the wettest months
- Monsoon season: May to November with high humidity and high temperatures
Choose the right travel luggage
Many people don’t usually know what luggage to bring, especially to destinations like Southeast Asia.
Of course, you must decide what luggage suits you based on your travel style.
If you plan to take the night bus from one city to the other, rent a scooter, or take the train, you might need a different type of luggage than when you booked private transfers.
With that in mind, here are my top choices for travel through Vietnam.
Backpacking
As the name suggests, you’ll need a great backpack—something easy to carry around and large enough to fit all the essentials you’ll need.
Check out these great, affordable options for a few weeks in Vietnam or even a more extended exploration. They are waterproof.
Organized Tours and Easy Transfers
In this case, you won’t have to worry about carrying things around or the state of the roads. Thus, bring a strong troller and a backpack with built-in packing cubes. So you won’t have to spend anything extra to protect your belongings, especially in a tropical country with such high humidity.
Day Trips
I always have a small backpack or a crossbody purse to use when I get to the place I want to explore. Whether I travel for a weekend getaway or a longer trip, this always comes in handy.
Travel essentials you shouldn’t forget
Earplugs – because you will need them on the airplane or if you choose to stay in a hostel.
Toothbrush & toothpaste – because you never know the type you will find in Vietnam.
A travel wallet – the type you can tie around your neck and always have your belongings close by.
Packing cubes—if you don’t opt for one of the suggested backpacks, packing cubes are also great for organizing and optimizing the space in your troller.
Luggage locks are essential if you travel cheaply and plan to stay in a hostel, for example.
Sun protection – Vietnam is a sunny and primarily hot country, thus you will need some good sunglasses, a high-protection sunscreen lotion, and a sun hat.
A toiletry bag – have all your stuff in one place and avoid spilling it on your clothes
A travel first aid bag—I never travel without painkillers, diarrhea medication, or lotion for sunburned skin.
Mosquito spray – Vietnam is a tropical and humid country. Thus, there are plenty of mosquitos, especially during the wet season.
Kleenex wipes and hand sanitizer – not only for during the flight, but I’ve also developed a habit of wiping my hands occasionally.
Contact lenses solution – if you wear those, it’s always better not to forget them at home, especially if you need a certain kind of solution.
Prescription medications and copies of all of your prescriptions/immunizations.
Band-Aids/bandages.
Deodorant.
Electronics
In this age, we are all addicted to our gadgets and cannot leave on vacation without some of them. Obviously, this means we must carry some other things that enable us to use all these gadgets.
Wouldn’t it be such a pity to reach your destination and notice you’ve forgotten your charger? That would suck for me, and that’s why I would have this checklist handy.
Must-carry electronic devices
Universal power adapter – if you only want to pack one thing, this should be it! You won’t have to worry about the plug type in the country you travel to. You’ll have everything in one place.
Charging cable for your phone and camera—I take it with me not only when I travel but also in my purse. That’s because I take hundreds of pictures, and my phone doesn’t have that battery life.
Cellphone power bank – this comes somewhat naturally after what I’ve just said about my phone. Yes, I never leave for a trip without my fully charged power bank. And neither should you.
A selfie stick – I bought mine a few hours before we left for Zanzibar, and I’m glad I had it with me because I could take plenty of pictures of both of us together.
Underwater camera or a GoPro – I remember being in Phu Quoc in the water when I turned and looked at the shore and felt terrible because I didn’t have a camera with me. Try the Panasonic Lumix waterproof camera.
Travel-size blow-dryer and flat iron—this is not mandatory, but you don’t know if the accommodation you booked will have them.
Wireless noise-canceling headphones are perfect for flying or taking a long night bus ride. They are easy to fold and carry around, don’t take up much space in your backpack, and offer a great experience.
Travel-size tripod – an all-in-one lightweight tripod that is easy to carry around and use with your camera and smartphone.
For added security you could also include a personal GPS tracking device. The device such as PAJ GPS Easy Finder 4G has options to send alert to your friends or family members when the SOS button pressed.
Also, it has many more functions that could help you navigate through your travel.
What to wear in Vietnam
With a primarily hot and humid climate, cotton and linen clothes are a good choice in Vietnam. Both men and women should choose loose-fitting garments and outfits that allow them to breathe.
Even though Vietnam is not a conservative country, you will notice that the locals don’t wear tight and short clothes, and maybe you should consider following their example.
Our guide to Hue wore a long-sleeved hoodie, long pants, and a hat at over 30 degrees. I could see the sweat dripping down her face, but she told us that they were more afraid of the unhealthy effects the sun could have on the skin.
I’m not saying to wear long sleeves, and I’ve never felt harassed on the streets of Vietnam, but you might just go for light, baggy outfits.
Must-have cloths
Here is a guideline for some clothes to pack for Vietnam:
- A few long dresses. I always take 2 to 3 long dresses, depending on the duration of my trip. They look lovely in pictures and cover my legs if I want to enter temples and during commutes when the air conditioning is super intense in the bus or car. They are also great for dinners in town with the right accessories.
- Shorts. A few pairs of shorts will be perfect for hiking in Sapa or exploring the hills and beaches around Da Nang. They are easy to store in your luggage and don’t take up much space.
- A few T-shirts and tank tops.
- 2-3 light travel pants. You might want to buy these directly from Vietnam since prices are affordable, especially for the local baggy, colorful pants you’ll see everywhere.
- Light pajamas. Go for sleeved ones for men and women.
- Bathing suits. Vietnam has many fantastic beaches, so you must pack some bathing suits.
- Underwear
- Sarong or a cover-up
- A jacket or a light hoodie – for the chilly nights in the North or for when you eat inside
- Some light walking shoes, especially if you plan to go hiking
- Flip flops
- Espadrilles
- Sandals
- A light raincoat – for the wet season when you don’t know when it will rain next
- A dry bag for your gear
Some extra tips for packing efficiently
You might want to consider doing a few things if you’re going to pack efficiently, fit everything inside your luggage, and don’t carry extra useless stuff.
Also, don’t forget to have your documents handy and safe at any point in time. Finally, here are some points worth having in mind when you start to pack for your Vietnam vacation:
- Pack all chargers and cables in a separate packing cube—preferably in your carry-on bag. Who knows when you might need them, especially when you travel for many hours?
- Please take pictures of your documents and cards (front and back) and save them in the cloud. You can also send them to your email address and make a copy to keep in your wallet.
- Keep the medication in your carry-on luggage – If there’s something more substantial, make sure to have it close to you. For example, I must always have my migraine pills with me especially when I travel and I might not sleep well, thus I keep one pill in my wallet.
- Wrap your shoes – you’ll save space and be much better for all your other clothes.
- I always wear the heaviest clothes on the plane. I do that not only because it saves space in my luggage but also because I’m always cold during longer flights. That’s why I always wear a jacket and long pants and closed shoes.
- Use a pillcase compartment for jewelry
- As you start packing, plan your outfits for each day of your trip. How often have you brought along so much stuff you didn’t use? It’s better to have extra space for some great clothes you’ll buy in Vietnam rather than have things you won’t use.
Other Vietnam travel resources
- Plan for the perfect 5-day Da Nang itinerary with beautiful day trips to Hoi An and Hue
- Where to stay in Hoi An – choose the best area to stay in Hoi An
- Plan your Ho Chi Minh trip with this perfect itinerary
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