Have you ever gone on a trip and forgot something important at home? If you have, then you probably just went to the store to buy a replacement for the duration of your trip and all crisis was averted. But what if I told you that sometimes there just isn’t an option to buy that item and that you may have to go without it or use a not-that-great substitute?
So far I have taken 3 trips to Vietnam and each time I have found at least 1 item that I wish I had brought with me. As I prepare for my next trip in May I have been creating a list of items that I absolutely cannot forget this time based on my previous experiences. So far I have come up with 5 really big ones but if you have others that I don’t mention in this post, please leave them in the comments to help everyone out!
- Shampoo and conditioner
Picture this: it’s one of the biggest days of your life (your wedding) and everything is perfect except for your HAIR. Sure, it looks okay from afar, but up close and personal it’s a greasy mess. That was me. You do not want this to happen to you on your wedding day. Or any day for that matter.
There’s just something that makes the hair products different in Asia. I had the same issue when I was in China. I bought Dove shampoo but it was nothing like the shampoo I was used to. It left my hair weighted down and not just looking greasy, but each strand of hair was coated in a film. Not cute. Maybe this formula works well on Asian hair, but for my American hair, it was a nightmare. Now I always bring my own hair care products with me so I never have to experience this ever again.
- Pepto Bismol (and other familiar medicines)
I love love love the food in Vietnam. My stomach? Not so much. It’s not that the food is bad for you, but if you’re not used to eating a large variety of “foreign” foods, your stomach might not be able to handle it. I’m usually fine during the first few days but once I’ve eaten pho, cha gio, banh cuon, tra sua, bun thit nuong, banh ran, com tam and hu tieu my stomach starts to hate me.
Pepto bismol is the number one recommendation since I know it works well. I’ve linked to my favorite which is the chewable tablets which are perfect when you’re on the go. You can get something called Smecta if you’re already in Vietnam which also works but I find it comforting to just have my own medicine when I go. I also bring allergy medicine (you never know when you might come into contact with something to trigger you) and ibuprofen (for headaches which may come from being in the sun too long). I’m not a huge medicine fan but I find that these three items are must haves when traveling in Vietnam.
- A bag that isn’t flashy
I get it. You wanna look cute for the gram. But honestly if you look anything like me (or just non-Asian) you’re going to draw a ton of attention to yourself already. While I would love to carry my favorite Kate Spade or Longchamp bag through the streets of Vietnam, I have learned that it’s best to find a bag that still looks good but isn’t too expensive.
Get something that’s not too big but can fit your travel essentials for when you’re out and about, and only bring with you what you really need when you go out. I haven’t been robbed when in Vietnam but I have heard stories of others who have not been so lucky, so just be mindful about what you have on you. Please don’t use your iPhone XS Max on the side of the road. You will probably never see it again.
- Bug Bite Treatment (and insect repellent!!)
When I get a mosquito bite, it’s not just a little thing that I can ignore. I get welts. I’m talking golf ball sized welts, from ONE BITE. This also happens to me in the U.S. but obviously there are more mosquitoes in a tropical environment so I’m even more prone to this torture. This really might not happen to you and I might be overly sensitive (or downright allergic) to mosquito bites, but either way, it’s best to come prepared.
I had always wished I had an anti-itch cream or insect treatment product like this Benadryl Extra Strength Itch Relief Stick. I highly recommend picking up one of these before your next trip and getting some bug spray to help prevent the bites from happening in the first place.
- Hand Sanitizer and Pocket Tissues
Not every place you go in Vietnam is going to have a place to wash your hands. You might also find that public bathrooms don’t always provide toilet paper. The solution? Always carry hand sanitizer and pocket tissues everywhere. I bring these two items and find that my family really appreciates having them as well. I like to have my nieces “wash” their hands before eating which in most cases wouldn’t be possible without my trusty sanitizer.
For sanitizer I actually really like these spray style bottles. They are easy to use and I don’t have to be afraid of them spilling inside my bag. As far as tissues go, I find that carrying pocket tissue packets like these are best since they stay clean in your bag. I used to just throw tissues into my bag but then I wouldn’t know what was clean and what wasn’t. No need to stuff a roll of TP in your bag, just stock up on enough packs of these babies for your trip!
Of course you know to bring your personal items with you like clothes, other toiletries, cameras and gadgets. These are just some of the things that you might not think of that I’m sure you will thank me for later on!
Do you have any other suggestions on what someone should bring on their next trip to Vietnam (or anywhere really)? I’d love to hear them in the comments! I hope this post was helpful! xo
Great tips.
Thank you, Tuan!