Trip readiness checklist for Vietnam
Vietnam's chaos is choreography — the traffic, the sidewalks, the coffee. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Vietnam: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
E-visa required
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Vietnam is long, lush, and runs hot and humid top to bottom. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, a rain layer for the wet season, and modest cover for temples and pagodas.
Light, quick-dry clothing
Hot and humid almost everywhere; breathable fabrics and a spare shirt go a long way.
A compact rain jacket or poncho
Sudden downpours are common, especially May–Oct. Ponchos are sold everywhere for pennies.
Modest cover for temples
Covered shoulders and knees are expected at pagodas and temples.
Slip-on sandals or shoes
You'll remove shoes at temples and many homes; cities are busy and walkable.
When to go
The dry, cooler months vary by region — the north (Hanoi, Sapa) is best Oct–Apr, the south (Ho Chi Minh City) is dry Dec–Apr. Tet (Lunar New Year, late Jan–Feb) is festive but much closes and travel is packed.
Money & getting around
Vietnam runs on the dong (VND), and you'll be a millionaire on paper — notes carry a lot of zeros, so double-check them. Cash rules for street food, markets, and taxis; cards work in cities. Agree taxi/Grab fares up front and haggle gently. Tipping isn't expected but is appreciated.
Local quirks worth knowing
Vietnam's chaos is choreography — the traffic, the sidewalks, the coffee. Learn the rhythm and you're dancing; fight it and you're just in the way.
Cross the street like you mean it
Walk out steadily, keep your pace, never stop or dart back — the scooters read your trajectory and flow around you. Hesitation is the only dangerous move.
Coffee is a sit-down sport
Cà phê sữa đá on a tiny plastic stool is the national pastime. It drips slowly on purpose; so should you.
Shoes off in homes and some shops
Watch for the shoe pile at the door — it's the sign.
The sidewalk is not for walking
It's for parked scooters, kitchens, and commerce. Locals walk on the road edge; you will too, sooner than you think.
A week in Vietnam, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Vietnam, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, a week in Hanoi. Three gaps stand out.
- 1.
Vietnam entry paperwork for US passports
You're traveling on a US passport and Vietnam has its own entry requirements worth settling well before October 20. Check the entry guide and its official government source now, while thirty-five days is still plenty of runway.
- 2.
A cash plan in dong
Street food, markets and taxis run on cash, and the notes carry enough zeros to fool a tired brain. Sort out how you'll get dong on arrival and agree taxi or Grab fares before you get in.
- 3.
Rain layer and temple cover
Hanoi in late October is hot, humid and can still turn wet, and pagodas expect shoulders and knees covered. Add a packable rain shell and one modest long layer to the twelve items already waiting.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Vietnam with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Vietnam — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Vietnam — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Vietnam checklist
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