Vietnam packing list: plugs, temples, rain, power banks

Packing for Vietnam: the list that comes from the rules, not from habit

Short answer

Pack for the region and month you are in rather than for the country, since Vietnam crosses 3 climate regions. Bring an adapter for type C and F sockets at 220 V, something that covers shoulders and knees for temples, and keep power banks in hand baggage, where IATA's limit is 100 Wh.

Last checked: September 21, 2026

VietSIM sells prepaid Vietnam eSIMs. This guide mentions our store where it is relevant; the facts come from the sources listed at the end.

The four things that decide the list

	Rule
Electricity	220 V, 50 Hz, type C and F sockets
Chargers	Most accept 100 to 240 V, so an adapter is enough
Power banks	Hand baggage only, up to 100 Wh generally accepted
Power banks above that	100 to 160 Wh needs airline approval
Temples	Shoulders and knees covered
Climate	Three regions, different wet seasons
Laundry	Widely available, so pack fewer days than the trip

Disclosure: VietSIM sells prepaid eSIMs for Vietnam. We sell no luggage, no adapters and no clothing, and nothing on this list is a product of ours.

Pack for a region and a month, not for a country

Vietnam runs 1,650 kilometres north to south across three climate regions whose wet seasons do not line up. A packing list for the country is therefore not a real thing: the north in January and the south in January need different bags.

Start by fixing the month and the coast, then pack for that. The month by month picture is in when to go to Vietnam and the coastal version of the same question is in Vietnam’s beaches.

The electrical part is simple

The country runs at 220 V and 50 Hz with type C and type F sockets, the two round-pin European shapes. Most modern phone and laptop chargers are rated 100 to 240 V, which means an adapter is enough and a voltage converter is not needed. The rating is printed on the charger.

Power banks are the part that catches people at the airport. They travel in hand baggage, never in the hold. IATA’s guidance is that up to 100 Wh is generally accepted, and 100 to 160 Wh needs airline approval. The capacity is printed on the case. The full version is in plug types in Vietnam.

The one garment that earns its place

A light scarf or sarong. It covers shoulders and knees at temples and pagodas, works over whatever you are already wearing, doubles as sun cover on a boat, and weighs almost nothing. Nothing else in a bag does four jobs.

The rest of the dress question is in etiquette in Vietnam.

What to leave out

Days of clothing. Laundry is easy and cheap almost everywhere, so pack for fewer days than the trip.
A voltage converter. Your charger already handles 220 V.
Heavy rain gear in a dry month. A light poncho packs smaller than an umbrella and survives a motorbike.
Anything you can buy there. The markets are covered in shopping in Vietnam.

The paperwork

Keep your insurance policy number somewhere reachable without a working phone, which is the point made in travel insurance for Vietnam, and sort your connection before you land rather than at the airport: sizing is in how much mobile data for Vietnam with the plans in the Vietnam eSIM store.

Questions

What adapter do I need?

Vietnam runs at 220 V and 50 Hz with type C and type F sockets, the round-pin European shapes. Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100 to 240 V, so an adapter is enough and a voltage converter is not needed. Check the small print on the charger itself.

Can I take a power bank?

In hand baggage only, never in the hold. IATA's guidance is that up to 100 Wh is generally accepted, and 100 to 160 Wh needs airline approval. Most travel power banks are under 100 Wh but the figure is printed on the case, so check before you fly rather than at the gate.

What do I wear for temples?

Something that covers shoulders and knees. A light scarf in a day bag is the smallest object that solves this, because it works over whatever you are already wearing and weighs nothing.

Do I need wet weather gear?

It depends entirely on which coast and which month, because the country crosses three climate regions with different wet seasons. A light poncho packs smaller than an umbrella and survives a motorbike. Check the month before you decide how much to bring.

What is not worth bringing?

Anything bulky you can buy there, heavy wet weather gear for a dry month, and a voltage converter. Laundry is widely and cheaply available, which is the real reason a short packing list works better than a complete one.