The Ultimate Vietnam Packing List (with printable list!)

Last updated on March 30th, 2026

Unsure what to pack for Vietnam? We’re sharing a detailed Vietnam packing list, with everything you need to bring. Plus a printable version you can download!

Our 6 week trip to Vietnam was not only the longest international trip we have ever taken, but also our first time in Southeast Asia. And we had no idea what to expect. How easy would it be to grab items we need? Would they have the items we use at home? What types of stores do they have?

Beyond those questions, we also would be visiting the much warmer southern region, coastal destinations, caves, large cities, temples, and the mountains on a motorbike. That is a lot of different types of destinations, plus possible weather, all within 6 weeks. So it’s safe to say, packing for our trip was a bit daunting!

If you’re feeling the same way, our Vietnam packing list is here to help!

The Ultimate Vietnam Packing List

In this Vietnam packing list we’re sharing all of the most important items to bring on your Vietnam trip, ranging from what to wear in Vietnam, important documents to bring, technology to have, and more. 

All of the items in this Vietnam packing list are broken down by category. And we’re also sharing a downloadable version of this Vietnam packing list at the end of this guide, which you can save to your phone or print!

What bags to bring to Vietnam

Before we dive into specific items to pack for Vietnam, let’s first chat about what to put all of these items in! 

Suitcase

Our go-to suitcase is the Away Carry-On suitcase. This bad boy can hold a lot, has swivel wheels (which makes rolling it SO much easier), and can compress down. It also has a lock, so we can feel a bit more secure while traveling. We have taken this suitcase on many international and domestic trips and love it!

However, we didn’t actually use it for Vietnam. But more on why in a second!

Be mindful of the weight

One thing to keep in mind are weight restrictions for carry on bags. For Vietnam Airlines for example, your two carry-on bags (larger bag + personal item) cannot exceed 12 kg (26lbs).

While some airlines may not check this, when we flew to Chiang Mai, we had to check in at the counter and they weighed our bags. They were too heavy and we then had to pay a higher fee to check it at the airport, versus in advance.

Get an AirTag

Whether you’re checking a bag or just want extra safety for your bag, we highly recommend getting an AirTag. This small little device can be placed in any bag and then tracked on your iPhone. While we didn’t run into any lost bags in Vietnam, we did lose a bag more recently and the AirTag helped us track it down!

Larger backpack

Our go to backpacks are the REI Co-Op Trail 40 Pack. We use them for everything. Including backpacking, day hikes, exploring a city, or going to a coffee shop to work. They can fit under airplane seats (if it’s too stuffed it can be harder), have hip straps to make carrying it easier, a laptop or water bladder sleeve, and even come with a rain cover.

As we mentioned above, we did not take our Away suitcases to Vietnam. And this was because of a unique situation. Long story short, we were going on a week-long motorbike trip, which started and ended in different locations. This meant that we could not store luggage at the start/end point. And since we couldn’t strap suitcases on the motorbike, we had to go very light with what we packed for Vietnam. 

So we just took these REI backpacks (plus two much smaller, foldable bags)! We stored all of our items, including clothing, toiletries, and tons of camera gear, primarily in our two backpacks. Which speaks to how much they can hold!

Fanny Pack

One item that we did not have for Vietnam, but saw tons of people wearing, were fanny packs (or cross body bags). I was so jealous of these that on one of our last nights in Vietnam, I got a knockoff Patagonia hip pack so I would never be without one again! 

These are great to wear when exploring different cities and towns, or riding on a motorbike. You can keep your items on your chest or at your waist and have easy access to important things, like your phone, credit card, etc.

Small day pack 

If you don’t want to carry a larger backpack around while exploring, we suggest bringing a small day pack as well. We love this foldable day pack, as it packs down to a small size and is easy to carry around if we don’t need it. Compared to our REI Co-Op Trail 40 Pack, it isn’t as sturdy and comfortable, so we wouldn’t use it as our sole backpack.

But since we were traveling so light, this bag was great to have to carry any souvenirs we collected along the way.

Dry Bag

If you’re planning to do water activities in Vietnam, make sure to bring a dry bag! We brought one of these on our trip, just to have an extra bag option if needed.  It folds down relatively small and fits into a larger bag, if you’re not using it.

Packing cubes

Packing cubes are a HUGE reason why we were able to fit so much into backpacks for our trip. We used Tripped compressible packing cubes and it helped us fit lots of clothes into a smaller space, plus keep it organized.

Important items to bring to Vietnam

There are a handful of very important items you need to bring to Vietnam. Even if you forget everything else on this Vietnam packing list, these are the items that you either legally need to have, or will make your time much easier.

Passport

You will need a passport to visit Vietnam. And your passport must be valid for six months after your trip ends. Make sure to check your passport expiration date before booking your trip, to ensure you have enough time to get a new one, if needed.

Visa

Depending on where you are visiting from and for how long, you may need a Vietnam visa. Some nationalities do not require a visa for visits between 15-30 days, while some require it for any length of time. As Americans, we were required to have a visa to visit Vietnam. You can get a visa for up to 3 months.

How to get a Vietnam visa

If you need a visa to visit Vietnam, we highly recommend applying for an e-visa in advance. While air travelers can get one on arrival, it’ll save you time to have it already.

To get your Vietnam visa, you will want to go to this website, which is run by the Vietnamese government. There are other websites that you can get your visa from, but they may charge more.

Things to know when getting your visa:

• You will need to provide a passport photo. Since we did not have copies of our passport photo, we used this app to take some at home.
• The cost is $25 USD per person, which can be paid by card.
• It takes about 3 business days to get approved. We suggest planning for longer, just in case. If you apply for your visa around the Tet Holiday, make sure to give yourself even more time. For 2026, Tet will begin on February 17, 2026.
• Make sure to print your visa before getting to Vietnam!

Travel insurance

One big travel tip not just for Vietnam, but any international destination, is to get travel insurance. And we are personally big fans of SafetyWing!

SafetyWing is travel medical insurance that you can purchase for short, individual trips or as a monthly subscription, if you’re traveling long term. Their Nomad Insurance includes both travel medical insurance for any emergencies, but also coverage for lost baggage and travel delays, plus add-on coverage for adventure sports and electronics.

After years of buying SafetyWing and thankfully having no health issues, we finally had to put their insurance to use during a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru. Kathryn got a skin infection from a bug bite and had to visit urgent care in Aguas Calientes. We submitted our claim to SafetyWing afterwards (which was super easy!) and they quickly reimbursed us the entire bill!

eSIM

You have a few options for cell service while in Vietnam: Pay for an expensive international plan with your home provider (unless you have international data included in your plan), only use Wi-Fi (not recommended), get a physical SIM, or what we have started to do, get an eSIM from Airalo! 

This is a SIM that you can download to your phone. It saves the hassle of having to get a physical SIM in every country you visit! You can get an eSIM for a specific country or for an entire region, making it extra easy to use if you plan to hop between countries.

If you prefer to get a physical SIM, you can get these at the airport or at any cell phone provider in the different towns and cities. Viettel is said to be one of the best providers in Vietnam.

Vaccinations

Depending on where you’re visiting from and which vaccinations you have had, you may need (or want) to get additional vaccinations for Vietnam. This did not apply to us, but it’s worth looking into!

Clothing

When it comes to what to wear in Vietnam, we highly suggest casual, comfortable, and breathable clothing. You will likely be visiting multiple climates and elevations, so having layers is key!

However, laundry is easy to get done, so don’t overpack! Many hotels can arrange laundry, which can be done within the day and is a low cost. We stayed at a few Airbnbs with laundry as well, but we did need to buy our own detergent.

Tops

Adam wore mostly short sleeve shirts. He loves the Vuori Strato Tech and has it in many colors. I mostly wore my go-to tank top, the Vuori Lux Performance Tank, in a handful of colors. For the ladies, you could also bring some longer, flowy dresses. 

We also both brought pullovers, for the cooler mornings, especially up north. I wear a REI Quarter Zip Pullover and Adam loves his Vuori Ponto Performance Crew Sweater.

Bottoms

Adam wore workout shorts and also some Patagonia joggers, mostly for our cave tour and also our motorbike trip. I wore a mix of workout shorts, denim shorts, and leggings. While I did bring jeans, I only wore them maybe once (to a temple) and regretted it. They were too hot!

Jacket

If you’re visiting in the colder months, especially up north near Ha Giang, you may want to bring a winter jacket. We both love our Columbia Insulated Jackets!

Rain jacket

Even if visiting in the dry season, you may experience rain (we did!). Kathryn wears the Patagonia Torrentshell jacket and Adam wears a Columbia rain jacket. 

Temple attire

If you plan to visit any temples, make sure you have pants or a skirt that covers your knees, as well as something to cover your shoulders. We suggest bringing something light and airy to avoid getting too hot! I (Kathryn) had a thick cardigan and it was brutal at times.

Also, Vietnam is a more conservative country overall, so you will want to dress respectfully, even outside of temples. 

Swimsuit

If you plan to visit any beaches or will have access to a pool, make sure to pack a swimsuit!

Socks

Besides your standard everyday socks (and underwear), if you plan to do any hiking tours, bring wool socks! We love Smartwool and Darn Tough socks.

Hat

If you’re a hat wearer, this is a great item to bring along with you to protect you from the Vietnamese sun. I (Kathryn) love my Lululemon hat!

Shoes

Walking shoes

You’ll likely be doing a lot of walking in Vietnam, so make sure to have some comfortable walking shoes. Although we did not bring these to Vietnam (explained why below!), we LOVE our Allbirds for everyday use.

Hiking shoes

Due to us just carrying backpacks, we only brought one pair of shoes with us to Vietnam. We both wore ALTRA Lone Peak 6 Trail Running Shoes, which worked well for walking around cities and also hiking. They dry pretty fast if you get them wet too!

Sandals

We originally didn’t bring any sandals or flip flops, but ended up buying some in Vietnam for our cave tour. And we’re so glad we did! They would also be nice for just lounging around your accommodation or if you’re staying at a hostel and sharing a shower.

Toiletries

While you can buy toiletries in Vietnam, your options may be limited. So we suggest bringing everything you’ll need, especially if you have certain brands you like.

If you’re only traveling with carry on luggage, make sure you bring small liquids! Liquids must be 3.4 oz or 100 ml each and must all fit into one, quart sized clear bag.

Daily items

Don’t forget a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, makeup, hair products, contacts, contact solution, and any other items you use daily.

Shampoo and Conditioner

While you can get shampoo and conditioner in Vietnam and some lodging may provide it, we always like to start a trip with a small amount handy. Just in case!

Hand sanitizer

Make sure to bring a small hand sanitizer to use before and after eating, especially street food, as there may not be a place to wash your hands.

Feminine hygiene products

For the ladies, bring enough feminine hygiene products with you. They may not have the exact kind you like in Vietnam, like tampons, which are less common and harder to find.

Dual voltage items

In the US, the outlets are 120V, but in Vietnam they are 220V. Make sure to bring a hair dryer, straighter, or curling iron that will work with their outlets. I brought a small, dual voltage hair dryer with me to Vietnam. Some places will have hair dryers, but I like to carry one just in case.

Bug Spray

Although we didn’t encounter many bugs in Vietnam, our local friends had told us that mosquitoes can be bad in some areas. We brought this travel sized OFF! spray with us.

Sunscreen

If you’re visiting during the drier months, the sun can be fierce. Make sure to bring some travel sized sunscreen!

Medicine

We highly suggest bringing Advil, a small first aid kit, allergy medicine, and stomach medicine, like Imodium or Pepto, just in case. Cold medicine is another one that would be good to have. We learned this the hard way when I had a slight cold and Adam had to go track down Vietnamese cold medicine.

Toilet paper

Toilet paper is something you can buy there, but we still wanted to mention it, as we highly recommend carrying some with you when exploring. Some restrooms do not offer any or charge you a small amount to get some. And trust us, you don’t want to get in a crappy situation!

Technology

Outlet adapters

While some outlets in Vietnam were just like the US, others were two prong and we had to use an outlet adapter to be able to use our electronics. What is nice about these is that they have an outlet for laptops and larger devices, as well as USB slots. This item is a MUST on your Vietnam packing list!

Portable charger

We liked carrying a portable charger with us in case our phone or camera batteries got low during the day. 

Camera

Vietnam is a beautiful country and we LOVED photographing it! Whether you just use your phone or a larger camera, make sure to have some way to document your trip. You can see all of our camera gear here.

Camera clip

We use the Peak Design capture camera clip to mount a camera to our backpack when we aren’t using it. It gives us easy access to the camera and keeps our hands free when we aren’t filming/taking photos!

Camera strap

Not carrying a backpack to attach a camera clip to? We also love our camera strap from Peak Design! 

Tripod

We love having a tripod to get photos of us together (like the ones above!), film timelapses, and more! We currently use the SIRUI AM-225 carbon fiber tripod and love it. 

During our time in Vietnam, we actually lost this tripod. It either fell out of our backpack at the airport (which was checked due to weight) or was taken out by security. Shockingly the one camera store we went to in Hanoi had the exact same one! 

Camera water protection

Since it may rain during your trip, we suggest bringing something to protect your camera from water. We use a very high tech shower cap! 😜 But if you want something nicer, Peak Design makes this cover.

GoPro

If you plan to do any adventurous activities, like canyoneering, cave tours, or motorbiking, a GoPro will be a good item to have. We used ours countless times in Vietnam, including on our epic motorbike trip!

Google Maps 

We use Google Maps to navigate. And we highly recommend downloading offline Google Maps to navigate around Vietnam, even for just walking in cities. This will enable you to use Google Maps even if you do not have cell phone service or have limited data with your SIM card. You can see how to download Google Maps here!

Google Translate

No Vietnam packing list is complete without Google Translate! If you’re like us, you will be going to Vietnam with very little knowledge of the Vietnamese language. So make sure to download Vietnamese for offline use on Google Translate! 

Grab App

When getting around the cities in Vietnam, Grab is the way to go! Grab is a rideshare app, just like Uber, and is an affordable and safe choice when in more populated areas. We suggest downloading the app in advance, so you’re ready to go once you arrive!

Miscellaneous items

For the final section of this Vietnam packing list we’re covering a handful of random items that will be good to have on your adventure!

Water bottle

Although you can only drink filtered water in Vietnam, we still loved bringing our Hydro Flask water bottle to be able to carry more water at once. 

Travel towel

If you plan to visit beaches, you may want to pack a travel towel. This isn’t a must-have item, but we wanted to include it on this Vietnam packing list just in case it applied to you.

Sunglasses

In addition to sunscreen and a hat, sunglasses are a must have item in Vietnam. We encountered many clear days! Adam wears KALIYADI sunglasses and I wear Ray-Bans.

Books or entertainment

Between the long flight over to Vietnam, as well as the travel days to get between destinations in the country, you’ll want some entertainment. We suggest downloading books, Netflix movies, and podcasts!

Headphones

And speaking of entertainment, you may need a way to listen to it! Airlines often provide headphones on long haul flights, but we prefer to use our own. We love our Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones for watching or listening to things on our phone. 

Forget something at home?

Whenever we pack for a trip, we always worry that we will forget something. And for Vietnam specifically, we were a bit unsure what the stores would be like if we did have to buy something on our trip.

While you will not find Targets or Walmarts, the major cities, like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi have large shopping malls. These will have some of the brands you know from back home, plus more regional brands. You’ll be able to find any clothing items and accessories you may need here.

For toiletries, you can find these at some of the supermarkets. A few popular supermarket names to look for are Go!, WinMart, Co.opmart, and Lotte Mart. Some of these will also have clothes and other items too!

Pharmacies are easy to find in the larger cities, but everything is in Vietnamese and some medicines have a different name, so it can be a struggle to figure out what you need. The pharmacies we encountered in Hanoi were all small, with just a counter and a pharmacist to help.

In the smaller cities, we struggled a bit with shopping. Many of the grocery stores were tiny and there weren’t any malls. Our tip to find a larger store in the smaller cities is to search for “supermarket” on Google Maps. We then look at the photos to try to gauge what they offer.

Download our Vietnam packing list

If you’d like to save a copy of this Vietnam packing list to your computer or phone, save or print the image below!

Save this Vietnam packing list for later

Not heading to Vietnam quite yet? Pin this Vietnam packing list so you can find it when it’s time to plan your trip!