Vietnam throws a lot at you. One week you’re sweating through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the next you’re layering up in Sapa, dodging rain on a motorbike, or topping up your tan on beach days. Packing for it isn’t complicated, but getting it wrong is easy in a country as diverse as Vietnam.
And trust me, I know. I’ve traversed this country from south to north, north to south, in the depths of its winters to the most humid of days. I’ve needed gloves and waterproofs for motorbiking up in North Vietnam only to shed the layers for my Birks and sarong down in Phu Quoc.
After so long in South East Asia, the feeling of being cold is novel…I’ve been stung more than once packing for Vietnam full well knowing I was heading there in their winter. It’s safe to say that packing for Vietnam requires a little more thought and consideration than your usual tropical island getaway.
This guide cuts through the generic travel gear advice and focuses on what actually works for Vietnam: the right clothes for the heat, the humidity, and the cold snap up north come winter, plus the gear that makes life significantly easier across long bus rides, coastal stretches, and mountain towns.
Here’s everything you need to pack.
Vietnam Packing List – Quick List
Short on time? Here are a few non-negotiables that I always pack for a trip to Vietnam (because your latest trip will never be your last).
The Ultimate Vietnam Packing List
This list covers the core gear most travelers need for Vietnam, but treat it as a starting point. What you actually pack depends on your route, your season, and how much ground you’re covering.
That said, most Vietnam itineraries throw a few common curveballs your way. Expect hot, sticky weather for the majority of the trip. Expect sudden, heavy rain that shows up without warning. Expect temple visits with dress code requirements, long city walking days that destroy bad shoes, stretches of motorbike travel, and beaches mixed in with the occasional trek if you’re heading north or into the central highlands.
Pack for all of that and you’re most of the way there.
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Best Backpack: Nomatic Travel Bag
- Best for: Travellers who want carry-on size without sacrificing organisation
- Why it earns a spot: Dedicated compartments for shoes, electronics, water bottle, and laundry, plus RFID protection and cord management built in
- Not ideal for: Multi-month trips where you need serious volume, or anyone who prefers a traditional top-loader
Before you figure out what to pack for Vietnam, you need something worth packing it into. The Nomatic Travel Bag is our top pick across the board, and for good reason.
The design is smarter than most. It fits carry-on dimensions while still squeezing in separate compartments for shoes, a water bottle, electronics, underwear, and socks, so you’re not digging through a black hole every time you need something. There’s also an RFID-safe pocket and cord management built in, which matters more than you’d think after a few long bus rides.
You can carry it as a backpack or a duffel depending on what the day calls for, and the strap system, including a detachable sternum strap, keeps things comfortable when you’re on the move. The waterproof black exterior handles Vietnam’s sudden downpours without drama. There is a reason why most of The Broke Backpacker gang swear by this backpack.
Best Suitcase: Nomatic Carry-On Pro
- Best for: Travellers sticking to cities and well-touristed routes who prefer a hard-shell over a backpack
- Why it earns a spot: Ultra-durable build, dedicated tech compartment, and carry-on size that keeps you out of checked baggage queues
- Not ideal for: Motorbike trips, overnight buses, or anywhere with cobblestones and questionable pavements
Backpacks not your thing? That’s ok. Our friends at Nomatic are back again with a great alternative to their badass Travel Bag; the Nomatic Carry-On Pro.
It’s built tough, looks sharp, and comes with a dedicated tech compartment for your laptop and electronics, which is a genuinely useful feature when you’re moving between cities and don’t want your gear rattling around loose. Nomatic has earned its reputation in the travel gear space, and the Carry-On Pro reflects that in the build quality.
One honest note: Vietnam is brilliant, but it’s not always suitcase-friendly. Cobbled alleyways in Hoi An, chaotic bus terminals, and guesthouse stairs with no lift will test your patience if you’re rolling luggage. If your itinerary is mostly flights between major cities, you’re fine. If you’re going off-road at any point, consider the Travel Bag instead.
For the full breakdown, check out our Nomatic Carry-On Pro review.
Best Camera: GoPro HERO 12 Black
- Best for: Travellers who want action footage that holds up to Vietnam’s heat, rain, and chaos
- Why it earns a spot: Waterproof to 33ft, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilisation for motorbike and boat footage, strong battery life, and a genuinely usable interface
- Not ideal for: Anyone who just wants better holiday snaps and isn’t fussed about video quality
Your smartphone will handle most of Vietnam’s photo moments just fine. But if you want footage that holds up beyond Instagram Stories, an action camera is worth the luggage space.
The Hero12 Black is a seriously capable bit of kit. It shoots up to 5.3K60 video and 27MP stills, with HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilisation that smooths out the bumpy, chaotic footage you’ll inevitably rack up on a motorbike through Hanoi or a boat through Ha Long Bay. It’s fully waterproof without a housing, which matters in a country that can go from scorching to monsoon-drenched in twenty minutes flat.
Battery life is a genuine strong point. A single charge gets you around 1.5 hours of continuous 5.3K footage or over 2.5 hours at 1080p, which covers most day trips without needing to babysit it. It also adds 10-bit log video and Bluetooth audio connectivity over its predecessor, useful if you’re doing any vlogging or want to connect a wireless mic.
Think of it as a long-term travel investment. It’ll outlast Vietnam by a few trips. For cheaper alternatives, check out our GoPro Alternatives guide.
Packing Cubes: Wandrd Packing Cubes
- Best for: Anyone who has ever arrived at their hostel and spent ten minutes excavating their bag for a clean t-shirt
- Why it earns a spot: Compression zippers, mesh panels so you can see what’s inside without unpacking, and a separate compartment on the large cube for dirty clothes
- Not ideal for: Ultralight packers who’ve already got a system they swear by
In case you have never used them, packing cubes are little compression cubes that allow you to neatly pack clothes in order to help facilitate better packing. They allow you to pack more stuff, and to keep it all better organised.
For the longest time, I thought that packing cubes were a superfluous indulgence, but boy was I wrong. Now I never travel without a few.
These ones from WANDRD are great quality and excellent value for money.
Best Sim For Vietnam: HolaFly eSim
The good news about ‘Nam is that there is excellent 4g and 5g Internet coverage, taxi apps and food delivery apps in all cities and towns (but it does get patchy once you venture out into the wilds and wilderness). The bad news is that your native SIM card will probably not work and so you will not be able to access any of this online goodness until you rectify that particular situation.
You can waste time hanging around phone shops queuing to get a plastic SIM or you can simply install an eSim onto your phone before you leave home. You just access the HolaFly site, choose the Vietnam package, download it and off you go – you are online the moment you land at the airport.
eSims are easier to set up and better than the environment than plastic SIMs. Most phones are eSim-ready at this stage, but if you’re hanging on to an old phone that isn’t, check out OneSimCard.
What To Pack For Vietnam Checklist: Personal Gear
Vietnam doesn’t have a strict dress code day-to-day, but it’ll test your kit. Between the heat, the humidity, the sudden downpours, the temple dress codes, and the long bus rides that seem to go on forever, what you pack does make all the difference when it comes to how comfortable your trip is.
Clothing-wise, the goal is simple: lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying wherever possible. You’ll want layers that work for sweaty city days and scooter rides, but that can also cover up when you’re heading into a pagoda or a temple. Practical beats stylish out here, though the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
Here’s what to bring.
Best Shoes: Salomon X Ultra 5 GORE-TEX
- Best for: City sightseeing, jungle trekking, and motorbike days where closed-toe, grippy shoes are non-negotiable
- Why it earns a spot: Waterproof, lightweight, seriously durable, and stable enough to handle whatever Vietnam throws at your feet
- Not ideal for: Beach-heavy itineraries with minimal trekking, or anyone with wide feet who hasn’t sized up
Visitors to Vietnam are often tempted to live in flip flops. To be fair, many of the locals do. However, we strongly advise you do your feet a favour and get some proper supported, closed walking shoes. These are great for city sightseeing, trekking in the jungles and great for riding motorbikes. Do NOT attempt to ride a motorbike in flip-flops unless you are blasé about losing a foot.
I admit that most shoes that are also good for hiking are not the most attractive pieces of footwear. But they are some of the most comfortable and deliver good ankle support for a long day of walking about town. I mean, your body is already going to be suffering enough from all that happy water you’ll be drinking, so do yourself a favour and buy some good shoes.
Check out the women’s alternative.
Best Rain Jacket: The North Face Antora Rain Hoodie
- Best for: City days, boat trips, and caught-in-a-downpour moments on a typical Vietnam itinerary
- Why it earns a spot: Lightweight, packable, waterproof, and looks decent enough to wear beyond the trail
- Not ideal for: High-output trekking days where breathability actually matters
There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong gear for it. Vietnam will test that theory. Depending on when and where you’re going, you could hit warm drizzle in Hoi An, a proper soaking on a Ha Long Bay cruise, or a cold, wet slog through Sapa. A decent rain jacket isn’t optional.
The North Face Antora is a lightweight, packable shell that handles Vietnam’s rain well for everyday use. It offers solid water resistance and keeps the cost down, and it’s relaxed enough to throw over whatever you’re already wearing without looking like you’re about to summit something.
It works best as an everyday jacket rather than a serious hiking layer, which for most Vietnam itineraries is exactly what you need. If you’re planning serious trekking in the north, it’s worth upgrading. For everything else, it does the job.
Planner/Travel Journal
- Best for: Anyone who wants to keep track of their trip without handing it all over to their phone
- Why it earns a spot: Durable leather binding, works as a planner, diary, or both, and holds up to months on the road
- Not ideal for: Ultralight packers watching every gram
Keeping a journal is one of the best things to do when traveling. The Travel Journal by Kodiak is our favorite, it works great for digital nomads and organized backpackers and can be used as planner or a dream diary – whatever you want!
Keep on track with your goals, travels and save those precious memories, especially the ones you do not want to share online. This one is bound in beautiful leather so it looks beautiful and will withstand life on the road.
Best Sunglasses: Jesse Sunglasses
- Best for: Beach days, city walking, and anywhere the Vietnamese sun is trying to ruin your afternoon
- Why it earns a spot: Polarized lenses, full UV400 protection, lightweight frames, and a lifetime warranty that actually covers accidental damage
- Not ideal for: Anyone who already has a solid pair they trust and those prone to losing their sunnies!
A decent pair of sunglasses is non-negotiable in Vietnam. Between the glare off the water in Ha Long Bay, the midday heat in Hoi An, and the general relentlessness of Southeast Asian sun, your eyes will take a beating without them.
The Jesse by Abaco is a solid, good-looking pick that does the job without fuss. Polarized lenses, a comfortable fit, and a lifetime warranty that covers accidental damage, which matters for gear that spends its life getting sat on and dropped into bags. They come in a range of lens and frame colour combinations if you care about that sort of thing.
Suncream: Thinksport Clear Zinc SPF 50
- Best for: Long beach days, motorbike rides, and anyone who underestimates how hard Southeast Asian sun hits
- Why it earns a spot: SPF 50, non-greasy, and free of the nasties you don’t want soaking into your skin all day
- Not ideal for: Crazy people – wear your SPF y’all!
Vietnam is sunny in a way that will surprise you if you’re not used to it. The burned-to-a-crisp backpackers nursing cocktails on Nha Trang Beach are a cautionary tale that repeats itself daily.
Thinksport SPF 50 is a clean formula that goes on without leaving you feeling like you’ve been coated in cooking oil, which, when you’re battling the humidity enough as it is, makes all the difference. Throw at least one tube in your bag before you leave.
Toiletry Bag: Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag
- Best for: Anyone moving between hostels every few days and tired of their toiletries ending up everywhere
- Why it earns a spot: Keeps everything in one place, hangs on any hook or branch, and works whether the bathroom has counter space or not
- Not ideal for: Ultralight packers who’ve already pared their toiletries down to almost nothing
Hostel bathrooms are not known for their generous counter space. A hanging toiletry bag solves that problem before it starts: everything in one place, accessible from a single hook, ready to grab and go when checkout is at 10am and you’re running late.
Historically, I have been the guy who has my stuff all over the bathroom, so getting one of these things really changed the toiletry game for me. Plus they are not too expensive either. A no-brainer essential. The best thing about them, is that you get to keep all your toiletries in one place which is really handy for bouncing between hostels.
Best Sandals: OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops
- Best for: Beach days, hostel common areas, and giving your feet a break after a long day in closed shoes
- Why it earns a spot: Comfortable, well-made, and actually supportive enough to wear all day without your feet staging a revolt
- Not ideal for: Motorbike riding or anything involving uneven terrain
Circling back to the footwear question, now we are going to talk about sandals. These are very useful for Nam as it can get sweaty as hell and make a great accompaniment to those hiking shoes we told you to buy.
Your feet will be tired and sweaty from those long days wearing shoes so do yourself a favour: pack sandals and give your feet some well-deserved cushion and fresh air. These Olukai flip flops are ultra-comfortable, well-made, and come in a variety of colours. Whilst these are great to wear in Vietnam, do not ride a motorbike in them – use proper shoes instead.
Check out the women’s OluKai ‘Ohana Flip-Flops.
Best Money Belt: Pacsafe Coversafe X100 Waist Pack
- Best for: Keeping your passport, emergency cash, and cards out of reach in busy cities and on long travel days
- Why it earns a spot: Sits under your clothes, out of sight, and gives you one less thing to worry about
- Not ideal for: Anyone who finds under-clothing pouches too uncomfortable to wear consistently
Vietnam is generally safe, but petty theft happens, tourists get targeted, and a moment of distraction in a busy market or after a night out is all it takes. A money belt is cheap insurance.
The Pacsafe Coversafe X100 sits flat under your clothes where nobody can see it or get to it. Keep your passport, a backup card, and some emergency cash in there and forget about it. Everything else goes in your regular wallet, which is a much less catastrophic thing to lose.
Best Hat: Patagonia P-6 Logo Trucker Hat
- Best for: Long days outside in the sun, which in Vietnam is most days
- Why it earns a spot: Lightweight, breathable, and does exactly what a hat is supposed to do
- Not ideal for: Those who prefer sunnies to dim the brightness
The sun in Vietnam is relentless. A hat is one of the simplest things you can pack and one of the easiest to forget until you’re squinting through your fourth temple visit of the day.
Patagonia makes great hats. I have probably bought three or four of these over the last five years. Simple. Practical. Comfortable. That is what you are after.
Best Waterbottle: Hydroflask Vacuum Bottle 32 oz.
- Best for: Staying hydrated in the heat without contributing to Vietnam’s single-use plastic problem
- Why it earns a spot: Keeps cold water cold for hours, built to last, and pays for itself within a week of not buying plastic bottles
- Not ideal for: Ultralight packers who find 32oz too bulky to carry all day
Tap water isn’t drinkable in Vietnam, but that’s no reason to work through a pile of plastic bottles every day. Grab a big 5-litre jug from any convenience store, fill up your reusable bottle each morning, and you’re sorted.
The Hydro Flask keeps cold water cold for hours in the kind of heat Vietnam dishes out, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve been handed a lukewarm bottle at the end of a long walking day. It’s also the kind of bottle you buy once and use for years, well beyond this trip.
Best Sleeping Bag: Nemo Disco 15
- Best for: Camping trips and trekking in northern Vietnam where nights get genuinely cold
- Why it earns a spot: Warm, durable, and reasonably priced for what you get
- Not ideal for: Travelers sticking to hostels and guesthouses with no camping or trekking planned
Vietnam has some genuinely great camping, and if you’re heading into nature, a decent sleeping bag is not the place to cut corners. If you are headed into nature, then please for the love of Uncle Ho bring a good bloody tent and a proper sleeping bag.
There are a LOT of sleeping bags on the market today and we have tried a lot of them. The quality and standards vary and not always in correlation with the price – pricey does not always mean better. The Nemo Disco 15 is a great all-arounder sleeping bag packing in warmth, durability and a reasonable price tag.
Best Daypack: Osprey Daylite Plus
- Best for: Day hikes, city exploring, bus trips, and anywhere you need to carry water and a few essentials without lugging your main pack
- Why it earns a spot: Lightweight, comfortable, and ventilated enough to stay bearable in Vietnam’s heat
- Not ideal for: Anyone already traveling with a bag that doubles as a daypack
If you’re doing any hiking, day trips, or just wandering around a city for hours, a daypack earns its place. Carrying your main bag everywhere gets old fast.
The Osprey Daylite Plus has a ventilated back panel that keeps some airflow between you and the pack, which matters more than you’d think when it’s thirty-five degrees and humid. It can also attach to other Osprey packs if you want to consolidate, though the reviews on that feature are mixed, so don’t buy it for that reason alone.
For the full breakdown, check out our Osprey Daylite Plus review.
The Basic Stuff To Pack For Vietnam
Beyond the gear covered above, here’s a straightforward checklist of everything else worth throwing in the bag.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
Clothing
- Lightweight tops (a few, quick-drying where possible)
- Breathable pants
- Shorts
- Underwear and socks
- Swimwear
- One modest outfit for temple visits (covered shoulders and knees)
- One warmer layer for northern Vietnam or overnight sleeper buses
Tech
- Phone
- Charger
- Portable power bank
- Universal adapter
- Headphones
- Kindle if you’re a reader
Documents and Money
- Passport
- Visa documents if required
- Travel insurance details
- Bank cards
- Cash: ATMs can be scarce in more rural areas, so don’t rely on finding one when you need it
Extras
- Packable towel
- Laundry bag
- Basic meds (antihistamines, ibuprofen, rehydration sachets)
- Reusable water bottle
- Mosquito repellant
What NOT to Pack for Vietnam
Overpacking is the most common mistake first-timers make. Here’s what to leave at home.
- Heavy clothing. Vietnam is hot for most of the year. A light layer for sleeper buses and one warmer piece for the north is enough. Bulky jackets are dead weight for the majority of the trip.
- Multiple pairs of shoes. One pair of solid walking shoes and a pair of sandals covers everything Vietnam will throw at you.
- Flashy jewellery. It draws attention you don’t want and raises the stakes if something does go missing.
- Large amounts of cash. ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas. Carry what you need for a few days and top up as you go.
- A full toiletry kit. Shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, and most basics are easy to find in any Vietnamese pharmacy or convenience store, usually cheaper than back home.
- More than a week’s worth of clothes. Laundry services in Vietnam are cheap, fast, and available almost everywhere backpackers go. Hand your bag in before noon and you’ll usually have it back the same day, often for less than a couple of dollars.
- A travel pillow that takes up half your bag. Overnight sleeper buses in Vietnam come with built-in flat beds and blankets. A compact inflatable version is fine if you want one, but a full-size memory foam travel pillow is not worth the space.
- Your nicest clothes. Vietnam’s heat, humidity, and general chaos are not kind to anything you’d be upset about ruining. Leave the good stuff at home and buy something cheap and cheerful at a Hoi An market instead.
Last-Minute Vietnam Packing Tips
Vietnam is not a difficult country to pack for. The climate is consistent enough, the markets are well-stocked, and anything you forget can usually be replaced cheaply once you’re there. That takes most of the pressure off.
That said, a few things are worth getting right before you leave.
- Pack light: you’ll be moving around a lot and a heavy bag gets old quickly.
- Sort out proper footwear, both closed shoes and sandals.
- Bring a daypack for day trips and city days.
- Throw in a rain jacket or a compact umbrella and don’t underestimate the humidity.
- Keep one modest outfit accessible for temple visits. You never know when you’ll make an impromptu temple visit.
Beyond that, trust the trip. Toiletries run out, clothes get ruined, and gear gets replaced. None of it is hard to find in Vietnam, usually at a fraction of the price. Travel light, make practical choices, and you’ll hit the ground running.
Now go book the flight.
