What to pack for Vietnam

Vietnam is two climates in one country: Hanoi in January needs a proper jacket while Saigon never drops below warm. Pack layers, a rain poncho rather than an umbrella, and leave space in the bag for Hoi An.

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The north is not the south

Most Vietnam packing lists assume tropical heat throughout, and travellers arrive in Hanoi in January in shorts. Northern winters run 10–15°C with damp grey drizzle and buildings that have no heating, which feels colder than the number suggests. If your route covers the whole country, pack a warm layer and a rain shell for the north and accept that they'll be dead weight in the Mekong Delta.

A poncho beats an umbrella

Rain in Vietnam frequently arrives while you're on the back of a scooter or a motorbike taxi, and an umbrella is useless there. The cheap plastic poncho sold on every street corner is what locals use — it covers you and the bag on your back. Buy one there rather than carrying one.

Sleeper buses and overnight trains have their own kit

Overnight transport is how most people cover the distance, and the berths are short, the lights stay on, and bags travel below or beside you. An eye mask, earplugs and a small padlock make it survivable. Slip-on shoes matter here too — shoes come off on sleeper buses and at most family homestays.

Leave room for what you'll have made

Hoi An's tailors will make clothing to measure in 24–48 hours at prices that make it worth planning around. If that's on your itinerary, arrive with space in the bag or an empty foldable duffel. Bring a photo of what you want — describing a garment across a language gap goes better with a picture.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Vietnam hot all year round?

Not in the north. Hanoi and Sapa drop to around 10 to 15°C in winter and buildings are generally unheated, so it feels colder indoors than the number suggests, while Ho Chi Minh City stays tropical year-round. A trip covering both ends of the country needs a warm layer even if the south is the reason you booked.

Should I bring a poncho or an umbrella to Vietnam?

A poncho. Rain arrives hard and often, and a great deal of local travel happens on the back of a scooter, where an umbrella is useless and unsafe. Ponchos are also sold everywhere for very little if you would rather buy one on arrival.

How much luggage space should I leave for Vietnam?

More than you think. Hoi An tailoring is fast, cheap and extremely hard to resist, and travellers routinely fly home with several times what they arrived with. A foldable duffel packed flat in the main bag solves the return leg without committing you to anything.

Each one is a full list with advice specific to that trip — and the generator underneath it, so you can adjust it to yours.

What to pack for Vietnam

The north is not the south

A poncho beats an umbrella

Sleeper buses and overnight trains have their own kit

Leave room for what you'll have made

Your list