Vietnam Checklist: Everything You Need to Travel Vietnam

Get organised for your trip to Vietnam with the ultimate Vietnam checklist. Moreover, this guide includes everything you need to ensure you’re all set to travel to this fascinating South East Asian country.

From packing essentials to visas and travel hacks, this post is jam-packed with loads of crucial information to ensure you are entirely organised for your trip to Vietnam.

And, I have written this post with my 6-weeks of travel experience throughout the country. I discovered that there were a few additional things I could’ve brought along, which is why I want to share them with my readers.

So, let’s dive into this Vietnam packing list so that you can get organised!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Moreover, you can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

The Ultimate Vietnam Checklist

Packing for the Climate

The climate in Vietnam can change drastically depending on what region you’re in. However, the weather tends to be hot and humid.

Nonetheless, towns like Da Lat which are at a high altitude can drop to much cooler temperatures during the night.

Also, there can be lots of rain, and the sun can be blazingly hot. So, you really need to pack for all seasons to ensure you are entirely covered for your clothing means.

Vietnam Clothing Packing List Idea:

1 warm jumper
2 pair of long pants (Loosely fitted is best)
1 raincoat
5 tops/t-shirts
4 shorts
10 pairs of underwear
4 pairs of socks
4 bras
1 hat
1 sarong
1 pair flip flops/thongs
1 pair runners
1 pair of comfortable daytime shoes (e.g. Converse or Nike sneakers)

For the most part, loose-fitting clothing is essential. And, I recommend bringing at least one pair of loose-fitted and breathable pants.

If you plan on visiting temples and places of worship, you must have your shoulders and knees covered.

However, an alternative to wearing pants is to pack a sarong. Moreover, you can easily drape this over you when entering temples to keep yourself covered respectfully.

Besides, long pants are great for protection against those pesky bugs and mosquitoes!

Passport and Visa

Another essential part of getting in and around the country is the use of your passport and visa. In order to enter the country, you must have at least 6 months of validity on your passport.

Additionally, you can only get ahold of a 30-day visa. Be sure to use this website, do not get scammed by any other unofficial websites! You must apply for your visa online and present it when entering the country.

Also, if you would like to extend your visa, you need to leave the country and then return on a new e-visa. Frustrating, I know, and I wouldn’t recommend overstaying your visa as you may get hit with some hefty fines.

Finally, the visa fee will set you back 25 USD, and I highly recommend getting it organised at least a couple of weeks before your trip in case it gets denied.

Vaccinations

There is an array of vaccinations you will need before travelling to Vietnam, and I highly recommend getting these to protect yourself from the viruses and diseases found throughout the country. However, chat with a medical professional to discuss the best options for you.

Some of the vaccinations that you may want to consider include:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Japanese Encephalitis
Malaria (tablets)
Rabies
Cholera

Of all the vaccines, I highly recommend getting cholera. You can very easily get sick from contaminated water on vegetables, unpeeled fruit and ice in drinks.

Finally, if you would like to learn more about some of the recommended vaccines, feel free to check out this website for more information.

Medication

Medication really depends and changes from person to person. However, please take any prescriptions that you usually need and be sure to have plenty for the amount of time you are spending in Vietnam.

On the other hand, I’ll go through some other things that you might like to consider taking in case a ‘what if’ situation arises:

Paracetamol
Vitamins (Any that you deem necessary)
Electrolyte tablets
Antiseptic location
Diarrhoea medication
Insect repellent
Antimalarials
Anti-itch cream for bug bites
Bandaids

Toiletries

Keep yourself feeling squeaky clean while travelling through Vietnam. These are some of my recommendations for things you might like to bring along, but feel free to add whatever is necessary to your Vietnam checklist.

Some of the products that you may want to include in your toiletry bag include:

Shampoo and conditioner bars
Face cleanser
Soap
Deodorant
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Moisturiser
Sunscreen
Makeup
Makeup remover
Hairbrush

Feminine Hygiene Products

For the most part, I found it quite tricky to come upon feminine hygiene products in Vietnam if I wasn’t close to a chemist or shopping centre. Therefore, it can be a little bit difficult to organise yourself with tampons or pads.

My biggest recommendation is to consider travelling with a menstrual cup. They are reusable, fold down to nothing and are an excellent way to always ensure you have a readily available option for your period.

Therefore, you can save on the bulk of pads and the waste of tampons. Feel free to check out this menstrual cup from Amazon.

Travel Cards and Cash

Before heading overseas, I recommend that you organise yourself with a couple of travel cards so that you have multiple ways to draw money out. And, keep in mind, that pretty much everywhere in Vietnam only takes cash. So, you will need to be organised with how much money you carry.

A card that I loved travelling with was Wise. They have low bank fees and offer two free withdrawals up to $350 AUD per month. Click the link to learn more about what they offer.

Finally, a travel card should be one of the top priorities on your Vietnam checklist to avoid unnecessary bank fees.

Electronics

These are the days when people travel with a whole load of different electronics. And, what you choose to bring depends on your needs and what your interests include. Therefore, if you’d like to take photos, consider bringing along a camera! You will definitely get some really cool flicks.

Additionally, I would recommend reconsidering if a laptop is a necessary addition to your luggage. If you aren’t completing work or studying and only plan to use it for entertainment or other activities, it might be best to avoid packing it.

Nonetheless, these are some of the electronics that you may want to add to your Vietnam checklist:

Mobile Phone
Headphones / AirPods: A great way to drain out city noise and listen to music or a tv show on long days of travel
Portable charger: This is absolutely necessary when travelling Vietnam! Remember, you can fly with a maximum of up to 27,000mah battery power.
Universal power adapter: Vietnam uses type C for the most part
Portable speaker: Obviously, this isn’t a necessary item to take, but it’s handy to have a way to play some music if you’re hanging out in your hotel. I recommend the JBL Go 3.
GoPro: A GoPro is a great way to get some travel shots and to use as an adventure camera when diving or doing activities.

Random Travel Necessities

Let’s be real, there are loads of random things you may wish to pack with you. However, choosing the correct travel necessities is crucial for reducing luggage weight!

So, these are some of my all-time favourite travel additions to add to your Vietnam checklist:

Filtering travel water bottle: Consider purchasing a GRAYL Geopress travel water bottle to filter safe drinking water anywhere in the world.
Packing Cubes: This fantastic invention keeps your luggage organised. No more mixing dirty clothes with clean clothes!
Luggage Locks: TSA-approved luggage locks are essential for keeping your goods locked up
Sleeping Mask: Sneak a nap in on any bus or plane with a handy sleeping mask.
Loop Ear Plugs: Drown out the noise in airports, hostels, cities, bars and so many other places with these Loop ear plugs. You’ll be thankful you got them when you get an incredible night’s sleep!
Passport sleeve: Keep that passport safe with a protective sleeve. Your passport is the most important document that you carry, so be sure to take care of it!
Rain cover: For those of you backpacking in Vietnam, be sure to have a rain cover for your backpack. The last thing you want is to have your entire bag soaked! Moreover, they’re cheap, come in many colours and pack down to nothing!

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these are some of the best things you need to add to your Vietnam checklist and some of my most recommended items. Besides, there are tonnes of things you could bring along with you, but choosing the absolute essentials is sometimes all you need!

Nonetheless, be sure to save this post for later, or take some notes to avoid missing out on some of the necessities.

Finally, if you would like to discover more from Vietnam, feel free to check out this section of my blog where I upload loads of content about the country. Moreover, I do my best to keep it updated with plenty of fresh content so that you have access to the best travel advice. Happy reading!