What to pack depends on your trip
No two Vietnam trips are the same, and what to bring depends on a few key factors. Running through these before you start packing will save you from overpacking things you don’t need — or forgetting things you do.
The season you travel in
Vietnam has a rainy season, but it varies by region and is not a reason to avoid the country. In the south, the rainy season runs roughly from May to November. Rain usually comes in short, heavy bursts — an hour of downpour, then sunshine. A compact rain jacket or poncho is enough. In the north, the wet season brings more persistent rain, especially in the mountains. If you travel during this period, waterproof gear matters more.
The dry season brings its own challenges. In central and southern Vietnam, temperatures regularly hit 35°C or higher. Lightweight, breathable clothing and strong sun protection move to the top of your packing list.
If you are not sure, read our guide to best time to visit Vietnam which covers all the seasons.
Where you go in Vietnam
Vietnam is a long, narrow country with very different climates from north to south. The south — Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc — is warm to hot year-round. Light summer clothes work for the entire trip if you stay in the south.
The north is different. Hanoi has four seasons, and the mountains around Sapa and Ha Giang can get genuinely cold between November and March. Temperatures in the highlands can drop close to freezing at night. If northern Vietnam is on your itinerary during winter, warm layers are not optional — they are essential.
How long you travel
For shorter trips of one to two weeks, most people can manage with carry-on luggage only. For longer trips, the smarter approach is to pack light and do laundry along the way. Laundry services are cheap and widely available throughout Vietnam — most guesthouses offer it, and independent laundry shops are easy to find in any town. There is no need to pack clothes for every single day.
Your type of travel
The activities you have planned affect your packing list more than most people expect.
- Beach travel means swimwear, sandals, a beach towel, and sun protection are priorities. Light, casual clothes cover everything else.
- City travel requires little beyond comfortable walking shoes and smart-casual clothes for nicer restaurants or rooftop bars.
- Motorbike travel — whether renting a scooter in the cities or riding the Ha Giang Loop — calls for long trousers, closed shoes, a light jacket, and ideally gloves. Exposed skin on a motorbike at speed is not comfortable, and exhaust burns on bare ankles are a common and avoidable problem.
- Trekking and hiking means proper footwear, moisture-wicking clothes, and — depending on the location and season — warm layers and rain gear.
Suitcase or backpack?
One of the first decisions to make before packing for Vietnam. The right answer depends entirely on how you travel.
Choose a backpack if you
- Move between destinations frequently
- Stay in guesthouses or hostels
- Plan to use public transport, overnight buses, or trains
- Include trekking or motorbike travel in your itinerary
- Travel light by habit
A backpack of 40–50 litres handles a multi-week Vietnam trip comfortably. Anything larger becomes unnecessary bulk.
Choose a suitcase if you
- Stay in mid-range or higher-end hotels
- Move between a small number of destinations
- Prefer organised packing and easy access to your clothes
- Travel as a couple or family with private transfers
A hard-shell carry-on suitcase works well for shorter trips or beach-focused itineraries. For longer trips with more movement, a medium soft-shell suitcase is more practical than a large one.
A suitcase is fine in Vietnam
Many travellers assume a backpack is necessary because of Vietnam’s uneven pavements and chaotic streets. In practice, this is rarely an issue. Vietnam has a well-developed network of affordable door-to-door transport options — sleeper buses include hotel pickup, taxis are cheap, and private car transfers are very affordable even by Western standards. A suitcase gets you from door to door without ever needing to drag it down a broken pavement.
Important — domestic flight baggage limits
Domestic flights in Vietnam have strict baggage allowances, and they vary by airline and ticket type. Budget tickets on Vietjet or Bamboo Airways often include no checked baggage at all. Always check your allowance before packing — exceeding it at a Vietnamese domestic airport is an expensive surprise.
One practical tip
Whatever you choose, leave some empty space when you pack. Vietnam is a great place to shop, and most travellers come home with more than they left with.
Clothes
Clothes take up the most space in any bag, and Vietnam is one of those destinations where people consistently overpack. The advice here will help you bring exactly what you need — nothing more.
General clothing tips
- Always have one layer in your day bag for air-conditioned buses, boats, and temples
- Lightweight fabrics only — cotton, linen, or quick-dry synthetics
- Avoid denim — heavy, slow to dry, uncomfortable in heat
- 5–7 days of clothing is enough for any trip length — laundry is cheap and everywhere
- Build around versatile pieces that work in multiple situations
For women
- Light dresses (knee-length doubles as temple-appropriate)
- Loose linen or cotton trousers
- Breathable tops — loose fits work better than fitted in humidity
- 1–2 swimwear sets (bring from home — sizing in Vietnam can be inconsistent)
- One long scarf or sarong — cover-up, beach layer, blanket on cold buses
- One smarter outfit for nicer restaurants or rooftop bars
For men
- Lightweight chinos or linen trousers
- Shorts — fine for beaches and casual travel, not for temples
- Breathable t-shirts and short-sleeve shirts
- One smart-casual shirt for nicer dinners
Temples and pagodas
Covered shoulders and knees are required at most religious sites. Always carry one quick cover-up in your day bag.
- Light scarf or sarong
- Loose long-sleeve shirt
- Linen trousers you can pull on over shorts
Cold weather — northern mountains
Sapa, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang can drop to single digits between November and March. This surprises many travellers. Pack accordingly.
- Packable down or synthetic jacket
- Thermal base layers (top and bottom)
- Fleece mid-layer
- Beanie
- Gloves
For October or April travel, a fleece and windproof jacket are usually enough.
Rainy season
Rain comes hard and fast. A poncho can be bought cheaply in Vietnam, but a proper rain jacket is more practical.
- Compact packable rain jacket
- Quick-dry fabrics throughout — getting soaked and drying fast beats staying wet in cotton
Shoes
Shoes are one of the easiest things to overpack. Two or three pairs cover almost every situation in Vietnam.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes — the single most important item. You will walk more than expected, on uneven streets, wet markets, and temple courtyards.
- Sandals or flip flops — essential for beaches, guesthouses, and casual evenings. Flip flops are also useful at temples where you remove shoes frequently.
- Hiking boots or trail runners — only worth bringing if trekking is the main focus of your trip. For a few days of hiking within a longer itinerary, your regular walking shoes will handle it fine.
For motorbike travel
- Closed-toe shoes or boots — sandals on a motorbike are uncomfortable and unsafe
- Ankle coverage matters — exhaust burns on bare ankles are a common and avoidable problem
What to leave at home
- Heavy boots (unless serious trekking)
- Heels — Vietnam’s streets and pavements are uneven and often wet
- More than three pairs total — shoes are bulky and Vietnam is not the place for options
Toiletries
The good news: Vietnam is not a remote destination. Pharmacies, convenience stores, and supermarkets are everywhere, and most basics are easy to find locally. There is no need to pack full-size anything.
What to bring
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant — available locally but familiar brands can be harder to find outside cities
- Razor
- Shampoo and conditioner — travel size only, or buy locally
- Shower gel — travel size, or use hotel soap
- Feminine hygiene products — bring from home if you have a preferred brand, especially for travel outside major cities
- Nail clippers
- Travel towel — most hotels provide towels, but useful for beaches, overnight buses, or budget guesthouses
What to buy locally
- Shampoo, soap, shower gel — all widely available and cheap
- Cotton pads, hair ties, and similar small items — no need to bring from home
What not to bother with
- Full-size bottles of anything — adds weight and spills
- A week’s worth of sachets “just in case” — pharmacies and minimarts are easy to find in any town or tourist area
Sun, mosquitoes, and skin protection
Vietnam is hot, sunny, and depending on where you go, mosquitoes are present. This is one category where it pays to be prepared before you arrive.
Sun protection
- Sunscreen — bring from home. Options in Vietnam are limited and quality outside reputable pharmacies is unreliable. Pack enough for your trip.
- Sun hat — wide brim is more useful than a cap for full face and neck protection
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- UV-protective rashguard or long-sleeve shirt — useful for boat trips, beach days, and motorbike riding
Mosquito protection
Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk and more prevalent in rural areas, jungles, and near water. In cities and beach resorts they are much less of an issue.
- Insect repellent with DEET — bring from home or buy locally, widely available
- Light long-sleeve shirt and long trousers for evenings in rural areas
- After-bite or antihistamine cream for reactions
After sun
- Aloe vera gel — useful after long beach or boat days. Available locally but easy to pack small.
What not to bother with
- Mosquito nets — provided by guesthouses and hotels in areas where needed
- Bug-repellent wristbands — not effective enough to rely on
Health and medicine
Vietnam is a safe country to travel in terms of health, but stomach issues and minor injuries do happen. A basic travel pharmacy takes up almost no space and saves a lot of trouble.
Basic travel pharmacy
- Imodium or equivalent — stomach issues are common, especially in the first few days
- Rehydration sachets — essential for hot days, long motorbike rides, or food poisoning recovery
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Antihistamine tablets — for allergic reactions, insect bites, or dust
- Plasters and a few bandages
- Antiseptic cream or wipes — small cuts and scrapes from motorbikes or trekking are common
- Blister plasters — if you plan to walk a lot
Prescriptions and existing medication
- Bring enough for your full trip plus a few extra days as buffer
- Keep medication in original packaging where possible
- Bring a doctor’s note for any prescription medication — useful at customs and if you need a refill
More about: bringing medicine into Vietnam
Travel insurance
Not an item to pack, but worth mentioning here. Medical care in Vietnam ranges from excellent in major cities to very basic in rural areas. Travel insurance with medical coverage is not optional — it is essential. Make sure it covers motorbike riding if that is part of your plan, as many standard policies exclude it.
What to buy locally
- Basic medication like paracetamol, antihistamines, and stomach medicine is widely available at pharmacies
- No need to overpack — pharmacies are common in every town
Documents and money
Documents
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates
- E-visa printout — print at least one physical copy, immigration officers regularly ask for it
- Travel insurance details — save digitally and keep a printed copy
- Hotel bookings — some domestic airlines and border crossings ask for proof of accommodation
- Flight details — domestic carriers sometimes require printed copies at check-in
- Keep digital copies of everything in your email or cloud storage as backup
Money
- Vietnamese Dong (VND) — the currency for 99% of daily spending. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas, scarcer in rural areas.
- Bring enough cash when heading off the beaten track — Ha Giang, remote highlands, and smaller villages often have no ATMs nearby
- Credit and debit cards — bring at least two, different networks if possible (Visa and Mastercard)
- Notify your bank before travel to avoid cards being blocked
- USD — useful to have a small amount as backup, but not needed for daily spending
- A basic coin purse or money clip — Vietnam is a cash economy and you will handle a lot of small notes
What not to bring
- Traveller’s cheques — not accepted anywhere
- Large amounts of foreign currency other than USD — exchange rates outside of VND and USD are poor
Electronics and accessories
Vietnam uses 220V with a mix of plug types. Most modern devices handle the voltage automatically, but a universal adapter is worth having.
Essential electronics
- Smartphone — navigation, translation, ride-hailing apps (Grab), and communication all run through your phone in Vietnam
- Universal power adapter — Vietnam uses type A, C, and D plugs
- Portable charger — long day trips, boat cruises, and overnight buses all benefit from a backup battery
- Charging cables — bring a spare if possible
SIM card and connectivity
- A local SIM card is cheap, easy to buy at the airport on arrival, and gives you fast data for the whole trip. This is the recommended option for most travellers.
- eSIM is a good alternative if your phone supports it — can be set up before departure
- No need to bring a separate travel WiFi device — local SIMs are cheaper and more reliable
Camera gear
- Whatever camera you use, bring extra memory cards and a spare battery
- A dry bag or waterproof case is worth having for boat trips, rainy season travel, or beach days
- Drone — technically requires prior permission from the Ministry of Defence. Most travellers skip it.
What to leave at home
- Laptop — unless you are working remotely, it adds weight without much benefit
- Bulky camera equipment — unless photography is the main purpose of your trip
Day bag and travel accessories
A good day bag makes daily travel noticeably easier. The items in this section are not glamorous, but several of them genuinely improve the experience.
Day bag
- A lightweight daypack of 15–20 litres covers everything you need for a day out
- Look for one with a hidden or lockable zip pocket for valuables in crowded areas
- A waterproof or water-resistant bag is worth the small extra cost in Vietnam
Water and hydration
- Reusable water bottle — tap water in Vietnam is not safe to drink, but filtered water is available at most hotels and guesthouses for refilling
- A bottle with a built-in filter is useful for more remote travel
Travel accessories
- Padlock — useful for hostel lockers and some guesthouse rooms
- Travel towel — compact microfiber, useful for beaches and budget accommodation
- Earplugs — Vietnam is a noisy country. Cities, guesthouses with thin walls, and overnight buses all make earplugs worth having.
- Eye mask — useful for overnight trains, buses, and early morning light in guesthouses
- Small umbrella or packable poncho — for rainy season or unpredictable weather
- Laundry bag — keeps dirty clothes separate in your main bag
What to leave at home
- Travel pillow — the inflatable kind takes up space and rarely gets used. Buy one at the airport if you feel you need it.
- Money belt — more hassle than it is worth in Vietnam. A secure zip pocket does the same job.
What not to bring to Vietnam
Most packing guides focus only on what to pack. Knowing what to leave at home is just as useful — it saves space, weight, and in some cases, trouble at customs.
Leave at home
- Heavy hiking boots — unless trekking is the main purpose of your trip, your regular walking shoes are enough
- Heels — pavements in Vietnam are uneven, often broken, and frequently wet
- Denim jeans — heavy, slow to dry, and uncomfortable in heat and humidity
- Full-size toiletries — adds weight and most can be bought locally or in travel size
- Laptop — unless you are working remotely
- Expensive jewellery — no practical use and an unnecessary risk
- Too many clothes — laundry is cheap, fast, and available everywhere
Restricted and prohibited items
- Drugs of any kind — Vietnam has strict penalties, including for small amounts
- Drones — require prior permission from the Ministry of Defence. Most travellers skip bringing one entirely.
- Large quantities of medication — bring a doctor’s note if you carry prescription medicine in significant amounts
- Pornographic material — prohibited entry
- Cultural or religious propaganda — especially anything that could be considered politically sensitive in Vietnam
What to just buy locally
- Flip flops and basic sandals — cheap and widely available
- Ponchos and basic rain gear — sold everywhere during rainy season
- Sunglasses — cheap options widely available if you forget yours
- Basic medication — pharmacies are common in every town
Vietnam packing list — quick overview
A full summary of everything covered in this guide. Save this, screenshot it, or run through it before you zip up your bag.
Documents and money
- Passport (valid 6+ months)
- E-visa printout
- Travel insurance details
- Hotel and flight bookings
- Digital copies of all documents
- Vietnamese Dong (cash)
- Debit/credit cards (2 different networks)
- Small amount of USD as backup
Clothes
- 5–7 days of lightweight, breathable clothing
- Light dresses or linen trousers (women)
- Loose tops (women)
- Linen trousers or chinos (men)
- Shorts (men)
- T-shirts and short-sleeve shirts
- One smart-casual outfit
- Long scarf or sarong
- Swimwear
- Temple cover-up (scarf, loose long-sleeve, or linen trousers)
- Warm jacket (northern mountains, Nov–Mar)
- Thermal base layers (northern mountains, Nov–Mar)
- Beanie and gloves (northern mountains, Nov–Mar)
- Compact rain jacket
Shoes
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sandals or flip flops
- Closed-toe shoes for motorbike travel
Toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Razor
- Shampoo and conditioner (travel size)
- Shower gel (travel size)
- Sunscreen (bring from home)
- Feminine hygiene products
- Nail clippers
- Travel towel
Sun, mosquitoes, and skin protection
- Sunscreen (bring from home)
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- UV rashguard or long-sleeve shirt
- Insect repellent with DEET
- After-bite or antihistamine cream
- Aloe vera gel
Health and medicine
- Imodium or equivalent
- Rehydration sachets
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Antihistamine tablets
- Plasters and bandages
- Antiseptic cream or wipes
- Blister plasters
- Prescription medication (with doctor’s note)
Electronics and accessories
- Smartphone
- Universal power adapter
- Portable charger
- Charging cables (and a spare)
- Local SIM or eSIM arranged
- Camera with spare memory cards and battery
- Waterproof case or dry bag
Day bag and travel accessories
- Lightweight daypack (15–20 litres)
- Reusable water bottle
- Padlock
- Earplugs
- Eye mask
- Small umbrella or packable poncho
- Laundry bag
