Vietnam Packing List: Ultimate Guide on What to Pack

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Wondering what to pack for your trip to Vietnam? We were in the same boat once and after a reader asked us this question, we decided to put together this complete Vietnam packing list guide. Both Anna and I traveled all over Vietnam for 2 months, and as our long-time readers will know, it’s actually where we met, so the country is one of our favorites.

View Contents

1 What to Pack For Vietnam?
2 Vietnam Clothing Packing List
3 Accessories: Packing Essentials
- 3.1 If Riding a Motorbike:
4 Electronics to Bring When Traveling Vietnam
5 Lastly a Standard Toiletries Packing List
- 5.1 Women
- 5.2 Men
6 Travel Tips in Vietnam
- 6.1 Looking for Adventurous Things to do in Vietnam?

What to Pack For Vietnam?

As we say in all our packing list guides, do not overpack. Similar to other Southeast Asia countries, you really don’t need to take a lot with you. I personally rode a motorbike across Vietnam so I have added certain items to extra lists when applicable.

Now, without further delay, here is a complete recommended packing list for Vietnam (women and men).

Vietnam Clothing Packing List

Women

3 shorts (1 Athletic Pair, 1 denim, 1 board shorts)
2 dresses (1 maxi, 1 short)
3 tank tops (I tend to stick to basic colors to make them easier to mix and match)
1 cotton shirt
1 Dri Fit T-Shirt
1 Leggings (long or cropped)
1 mini skirt
1 long trousers (hippie pants) – buy them in Asia (they’re so cheap!!)
1 long sleeved base layer (thin)
1 Lightweight Waterproof Jacket
5 pairs of Underwear
2 bikinis to mix and match (P.S. Check out my FAVE bikinis) Cupshe Fashion Bikini Set |Strappy Cross Back Bikini
4 pairs of lightweight socks (have at least 1 hiking pair)
2 Sports Bra
1 bra
1 light weight travel scarf/sarong
1 hat (sports hat or a cute but small sun hat)
1 Hiking Boots/trainers (low cut and light weight)
1 flipflops (don’t buy expensive ones as you will eventually loose them)
1 sandals /TOMS Women’s Classic

Men

3 shorts (2 boardshorts, 1 Travel Shorts)
4 Tank tops
3 Cotton T-Shirt
1 Dri-fit T-shirt
1 Long Trousers
1 long sleeved base layer (thin)
1 Lightweight Rain Jacket (super important if you are riding a motorbike)
5 pairs of Underwear
4 pairs of light weight socks (have at least 1 hiking pair)
Backpacker security belt (This product is awesome!)
1 lightweight scarf
1 Hurley Dri-Fit Hat
Men’s hiking boots
Microfibre travel towel (Don’t travel with out this)
flip-flops
closed shoes (vans or toms)

If Riding a Motorbike:

Headwear (head buff)
long trousers
polarized sunglasses
Vietnamese Dictionary (on your mobile phone)

Editor’s Note: Check out our Vietnam Travel Guide featuring the best things to do, places to stay, and what to eat.

Accessories: Packing Essentials

What you bring on your travels to Vietnam will depend on your travel style is. As we are digital nomads, we do pack/carry more gadgets than the usual backpacker, so feel free to leave a few of the items out of your list. Also for a more in-depth post on preparing to travel, travel documents etc check out How to Prepare for Traveling.

Packing Cubes – I swear, Packing cubes have changed the way I travel!
Padlocks
Sleep sheet (I use the kokoon from headwear)
Ziplocks (trust me, they will come in handy!)
Water bottle (water filtration system)
Laundry line (elastic cord)
Electrical tape (will come in handy one day!)
Small LED flashlight you can attach to your bag
1 Microfiber Towel

If Riding a Motorbike:

Rain Cover
Extra pair of sun glasses (ready for when you lose the first)

Electronics to Bring When Traveling Vietnam

Laptop + charger
iPad Mini (doubles as my kindle)
Headphones
Headphone Splitter (perfect when you are traveling with someone)
GoPro
Camera (our choice would be the Canon PowerShot G7)
Wires and cables
2 SD cards (1gb)
Power bank (this one is awesome because it has a built-in torch!)
Universal Converter
Unlocked iPhone 6

Read: Best Travel Cameras: How to Choose the Perfect Camera

If you’re not a pro blogger/ photographer, we suggest to keep the electronics to a minimum.

Lastly a Standard Toiletries Packing List

Women

Shampoo, conditioner, and body gel
Mosquito repellent (the good stuff!)
Tampons
Wet wipes (TRUST ME ON THIS!)
Lip balm
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Moisturizer and lotion
Sunblock (bring a good one with you as this gets expensive in Vietnam)
Deodorant
Makeup (powder, blush, eyeliner) Yep…that’s pretty much it for me!
Nail cutter and nail file
Hand sanitizer
Med kit (band aids, sterile gauze pads, basic medicine for pain, bad stomachs, and cough, vitamin c, 1 small bottle of betadine)

Men

Shampoo & body gel
Mosquito repellent (the good stuff!)
Chapstick
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Moisturizer
Sunblock
Deodorant
Nail cutter
Shaver
Med kit (band aids, sterile gauze pads, basic medicine for pain, bad stomachs, and cough, vitamin c, 1 small bottle of betadine)

Again like we say for other countries when packing for Vietnam focus on which activity you will be doing most of. I.e. If you are planning to ride a motorbike across the country take a few spare t-shirts that you won’t miss after the trip (trust me, you won’t want to wear after your trip!)

Side note: Make sure before you head to Vietnam that you have Travel Insurance! We recommend World Nomads simply because they have the best adventure activity coverage. Click below to get a free quote.

Travel Tips in Vietnam

To help you make the most out of your trip, we recommend downloading the Skyscanner App to help you find cheap deals. The 12Go website is also really useful to book buses and trains ahead of time!