Vietnam Packing List: Real Traveler Tips on What to Bring

Pack the ID you need for your trip. If you’re traveling abroad, check the official entry requirements before leaving. Save your bookings, accommodation addresses and travel insurance contact details on your phone so you can open them offline.

Carry a little cash for places that don’t take cards. Keep a backup card somewhere separate from your main wallet.

Download maps and booking details before you leave. If you’ll need mobile data, arrange it ahead of your trip.

Pack your usual medicines in their original packaging and a few first-aid supplies, including blister plasters for long walks. Check the destination’s rules if you’re taking restricted medicines.

Pack the toiletries you use every day, including dental care and any menstrual supplies. Small refillable containers save space. Check your airport’s liquid rules and whether your accommodation provides basics like shampoo.

Choose a suitcase or travel backpack that suits how you’ll get around. Check your carrier’s size and weight limits before packing.

A zipped crossbody bag works for a phone, wallet and a few small items. Choose a daypack if you’re carrying a camera or supplies for the family.

Pack a refillable bottle for days out. Fill it with safe drinking water.

Check whether your charger plugs fit the sockets at your accommodation. A plug adapter doesn’t convert voltage, so check your device’s input rating too.

Handy for long days using maps or taking photos, especially in cold weather. Pack the right cable and check your airline’s battery rules.

Keep sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat in your day bag for sunny walks, beach days and mountain outings.

A small pack of tissues and hand sanitizer or soap is useful for long outings and toilets without supplies. Carry a small bag for your rubbish.

Pack tops you can mix with your trousers, shorts or skirts and wear more than once. The count includes the top you’ll wear while traveling. Add a few more if you won’t be able to wash and dry them.

Choose trousers, shorts, skirts or dresses to suit the weather and your plans. You don’t need one of each.

The count includes the pair you’ll wear while traveling. For a two-week trip, it assumes you’ll do laundry halfway through. Pack more if you won’t.

Count the pair you’ll wear while traveling, too. Pack fewer if you’ll spend most days in sandals.

Pack what you normally sleep in and the bras you wear day to day. Add a sports bra if you’ll need one for your activities.

Choose breathable walking shoes for city days. Keep them separate from wet beach gear, and add trail footwear only for your highland route.

For hot days, swap some heavier trousers for shorts, skirts or loose dresses. Count them as part of your everyday outfits.

A thin sweater or long-sleeve top is handy for cool evenings and strong air conditioning.

A small umbrella is handy for city showers. If you’ll be happy wearing your rain jacket, you can save the space.

Pack a fleece or wool sweater that fits under your jacket. You can also wear it while traveling and on cool evenings.

Pack a sleeved top and long skirt or loose trousers for sites that ask you to cover your shoulders and knees. Check the dress requirements for places you plan to visit.

Choose a waterproof jacket with a hood and enough room for warm layers underneath. Check that it’s waterproof if you expect steady rain, rather than just wind-resistant.

Pack insect repellent for outdoor evenings, forests and humid areas. Follow the label instructions and bring clothes that cover your skin too.

One swimsuit works for occasional swims. Pack a second if you’ll swim every day and need time for the first to dry.

Pack a lightweight pair for the beach or shared showers. For city walks, stick with whichever shoes you find most comfortable.

Check whether your hotel, pool or tour provides towels. Bring a small quick-dry one for beach outings or stays where towels aren’t supplied.

Pack a sealed bag to keep wet swimwear separate from dry clothes. For electronics on a boat, use a waterproof bag designed to protect them if it goes in the water.

Check the terrain and your guide’s footwear advice. Bring hiking shoes only if your everyday pair lacks the grip or support the route needs. Break them in before leaving.

Count hiking socks toward your total rather than packing two sets. Keep a dry spare pair in your day bag for wet treks.

Download the route and carry enough drinking water, snacks, a warm layer, rain protection and a light. Put your first-aid pouch in your day bag. For remote or mountain routes, follow the park or operator’s full equipment list.

Keep your phone and a dry layer inside a waterproof liner or sealed bags. A backpack rain cover helps with showers but doesn’t protect everything from water entering around the straps.

A cloth bag keeps worn clothes separate. Packing cubes can help organize the rest, especially if your bag has few compartments.

Choose one everyday outfit that also works for dinner. Add a blazer or dress shoes only if the venue calls for them.

Pack your laptop and charger if you’ll be working. A small pouch keeps cables together. If your phone covers everything you’ll need on vacation, leave the laptop at home.

Your phone may be all you need for photos. If you’re bringing a camera, pack the lenses and spare batteries you’ll use, plus a strap and a protective bag.

Pack feeding supplies, diapers, wipes, medicines and a familiar sleep item to suit your child’s age. Check what you can buy locally and what your accommodation provides.

Choose a carrier or compact stroller that suits your child and your route. A carrier can be easier on stairs and rough paths. Check its fit and instructions before the trip.

Ask your accommodation whether they have a suitable crib. If you need to bring one, check that it fits in your transport and follow its setup instructions.