Ultimate Guide To Making A Packing List for motorcyclist riding vietnam

Documents

Among the questions about what to pack for a Vietnam Motorcycle trip, the ones about necessary documents are frequently asked. Here is a list of documents you must have (or had better have) when coming to Vietnam.

Passport

Your passport is the first and foremost document you must have when traveling to most countries worldwide. You must ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months. Besides, you must have a valid visa to visit our S-shaped country.

Driving license

Not all driving licenses are accepted in Vietnam, but at least it helps you prove that you can drive a vehicle. This is quite important if you have some traffic troubles in Vietnam. If your license has been registered on the 1968 IDP convention, it is all you need to drive a vehicle in the country. But if your license is not registered on IDP or registered in the 1949 convention only, you should transfer it to a Vietnamese legal permit. Although riding a 50cc motorcycle does not require a driving license, we recommend you bring your license with you. Well, we all know that a 50cc bike is unsuitable for exploration.

It is highly recommended to read Driving License Conversion in Vietnam.

Copies of passport and identification card

These copies will greatly help you in many situations, including emergencies and unwanted ones. Also, you should scan these documents as PDF files and save them on your phone or computer.

Travel insurance

This is not a must-have document, but it is worth being on your packing list for a Vietnam tour. After all, we cannot always foresee every situation during the trip. Travel insurance will assist us a lot if any problems occur.

Money and Credit Cards

Talking about what to bring to Vietnam, some people will immediately think about clothes, medicine, etc. But money is what you should pay more attention to. You should bring international credit or debit cards. With the support of any bank in Vietnam, you can easily have money to use while staying in the country. Also, nowadays, Master and Visa cards are acceptable payment methods in many restaurants and hotels.

Remember that carrying too much cash is not a good idea. Currency exchange is available at banks and some other exchanges. The notes in bad condition (torn, dirty, crumpled, etc.) are sometimes not accepted.

Especially if you have sought several tips for traveling to Vietnam, you probably know that 20,000 vnd notes and 500,000 vnd notes are easy to mistake. They are both blue notes, so you should check the number on the notes before paying. Don’t worry because you will soon get used to Vietnamese money.

Clothes and Footwear

“What to wear in Vietnam” is another question we often receive. To answer this question, you should first research the destinations. This is because regions in Vietnam have different types of climate and weather. Besides, various tours and activities require suitable clothes. The following information will help you complete your packing list for a Vietnam trip.

Regions and seasons

Basically, Vietnam has three major natural regions: the North, the Middle, and the South.

The North

The North of Vietnam has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. From January to March, the weather is quite cold and humid. Drizzle seems to be around the clock in the spring. Therefore, you should bring a long-sleeved shirt or a light jacket.

Summer is from April to July, and it is sweltering. Be ready to confront heavy rainfall and storms. It would help if you had loose shirts (or T-shirts) and shorts this time. And of course, you will need a good umbrella to avoid the sudden rain.

The North will greet autumn in August, September, and October – probably the best time in the year. The clear sky, mild breeze, and comfortable weather will satisfy you. Choosing outfits won’t be anything stressful in the autumn. However, there’s a big gap in temperature between day and night, so don’t forget to have a shawl or jacket with you after dusk.

At the end of October, the weather will quickly turn wintery. The cold weather will last until the end of the year. Sweaters and coats are must-have items this season.

You should note that each region has localities with a specific climate. Accordingly, you have to research the destinations before visiting. For example, the weather is more severe in northern mountainous areas (Sapa, Ha Giang, Lang Son, etc.). You can even witness different types of weather in the areas within a day. Therefore, your packing list for Vietnam trips should be flexible with the situation.

The Middle 

The climate of this area is divided into two seasons: dry and rainy.

From April to August, with high average temperatures, low humidity, and little rain, some of the best destinations in Central Vietnam are beaches such as Lang Co, My Khe, An Bang, Nha Trang, etc. As a result, swimwear and sunglasses are indispensable items to take on holiday in the middle of the country.

From September to March next year, this region enters the rainy season. Heavy rainfall and even typhoon can happen at any time. Therefore, during this season, you should visit the Central Highlands, where the climate is mild and pleasant. Keep in mind that umbrellas and raincoats should always be available.

The South

The climate of Southern Vietnam is also classified into two seasons: dry and rainy. However, these two seasons’ period is different from those in the Middle.

From May to October, the daytime temperatures are often high. At night, heavy showers often occur to cool the atmosphere down. In general, loose clothes and an umbrella are necessary items in this case.

This region receives just a little rain from November to April next year. In this dry season, the climate is mild, as the average temperature is acceptable. However, there is a big difference in temperature between daytime and nighttime. Bring a jacket or shawl if you want to go out all day and come back late at night.

The Southwest

The climate in the southwest region is quite similar to the south. Nevertheless, because of the many canals and rivers, this area requires you to rethink packing for Vietnam tours.

You should wear loose shirts with bright colors. This will help you minimize the impact of the sun on your body and skin. Another tip is not to wear white clothes because you will soon find it incredibly hard to keep them clean. Also, it is advisable to wear long-sleeved clothes to avoid mosquitoes and insects attacking the gardens. Putting an extra outfit in your bag is a good idea as well.

Certain types of tours

Trekking and hiking tours

Besides casual outfits, here are some highly-recommended clothes for you to join trekking tours in Vietnam:

• Trekking boots: leather boots will help you move firmly while carrying a heavy backpack
• Hiking sandals: In many areas of Vietnam, you’d better use sandals rather than boots. It’s comfortable and handy.
• Hiking jacket: Moving in the northern mountainous region in winter with a coat is like joining a battle unarmed. Freezing winds will soon discourage you, so bring a hiking jacket!
• Hiking pants: You should wear hiking pants while trekking in Vietnam because they are quick-drying and extremely light. In Vietnam, it rains a lot, and you should be prepared for this.
• Leggings: In the high areas, the temperatures are very early in the morning and at night. Leggings will help you keep your feet warm to sleep better and feel more comfortable.

Just like trekking and hiking tours, you need several additional items to join motorbike tours in Vietnam:

• Protective helmet
• Specialized jacket
• Specialized pants
• Riding gloves
• Goggles
• Riding boots
• Knee and elbow pads

If you need more information about the packing list for motorbike tours, read more details here What To Know Before Booking a Motorbike Tour.

Other tips

Choosing footwear for different terrains

Just like clothing, you will also have to choose shoes depending on the weather and the terrain you travel.

City: You can choose suitable sneakers and sandals. You should also bring flip-flops as they allow you to travel conveniently in a short time.

Beach: Sandals or flip-flops are the best choices
Mountainous areas: specialized hiking shoes are necessary, as mentioned above.

We will need time to consider if you ask us what the best shoes for Vietnam tours are. But we need no time to tell you this: do not bring too many high heel shoes unless you need them.

Choosing outfits for Vietnamese culture and customs

Clothing shows a cultural feature – this is an undeniable fact. So wear T-shirts with sleeves and pants when you go to sacred spiritual places like temples, pagodas, places to worship someone, etc. This will make local people have a good impression on you.

In addition to casual clothes, you should add sunglasses, hats, and shawls to your packing list for Vietnam trips. They are all useful and fashionable items.

Health Items

Vietnam is located in the tropical monsoon region, so the climate is usually warm and humid in the summer and dry and cold in the winter. For people from European countries, this is a big difference that might cause some health problems. Moreover, different culinary cultures factor in changes in the digestive system.

These problems are completely normal when you travel to a country with a different culture. Therefore, you’d better buy some basic medicines before a trip. Here are some medicines and medical devices we should bring:

• Anti-insect, anti-allergic cream
• Cold medicine, sore throat, fever
• Gastrointestinal medicines 
• Dizziness medicine
• Essential vitamins help increase endurance, like vitamins C and B1
• Eye drops
• Band-Aids

In addition, people with a weak immune system should use vaccines to prevent some prevalent diseases in Vietnam, such as hepatitis A and B, influenza, Tetanus-polio, etc. 

Electronics

Mobile phones

Perhaps we don’t necessarily mention mobile phones here because it is essential for a packing list for a Vietnam trip and any journey. You may not bring your laptop, but forgetting your mobile phone is a disaster. In addition to the usual functions, this device helps you store important information such as personal files, emergency phone numbers, etc.

Currently, a smartphone has plenty of useful applications. Among them, the map is probably the most important. In short, never forget your mobile phone!

Backup Charger

One of the travel tips for Vietnam tours that most tourists forget is to bring a backup charger. The importance of this device is evident when you take on long-distance tours to remote areas. During this long journey, you cannot always stop by somewhere and find a socket. 

Sockets

Here we refer to multifunctional sockets. There have been many cases where foreign tourists cannot find sockets that fit their device’s plug. If your plug belongs to class A, C, or D, you can use it in Vietnam. Another thing you should know is that the regular voltage source in Vietnam is 220v.

Camera

Bringing a camera is optional. Currently, smartphones also have cameras of very high quality. However, if you are a photography enthusiast or want to take lifelong photos, only a real camera can satisfy you. We have the same advice for camcorders.

Our two more tips for you are:

• Talk to the airline first about which electronics are not allowed on board
• Bring waterproof and shockproof bags to preserve your equipment

One of the best Vietnam motorcycle tours club for your photograph Tours:

Other Packing Tips and Tricks

First, you need to determine if you will bring a suitcase or travel backpack (or both). This depends on the places you want to visit. A large backpack (about 60 liters) will be the optimal choice if you mainly visit remote locations for trekking purposes. The suitcase is a better choice if you only visit famous tourist destinations with full services.

Currently, travel backpacks have a lot of pockets designed for specific purposes. You can carry the world on your back if you know how to organize things. Outbreaker travel backpack is the best solution for those who plan to go trekking.

Some other useful tricks are:

• Put water bottles and travel mats in the outside pockets.
• Keep all the cables and chargers in a separate pocket.
• Bring ziplock bags
• Inform the banks where you use banking services that you are coming to Vietnam. They will advise you a lot of useful information there.
• Always carry medicine and equipment in your luggage
• Bring duct tape and carabiners (especially if you go trekking and hiking)
• Bring headphones, travel pillows, and a sleep mask to ensure you get tight sleep in a foreign country.
• You can also bring books, pens, and notebooks, but don’t bring too many.
• Use a shockproof suitcase and always lock it carefully.

In Conclusion,

So that is almost everything you need to know about packing for Vietnam Motorcycle trips. You should apply the packing list most effectively according to your travel plan. What to pack for two weeks in Vietnam is not similar to the several-day packing list. You can also buy things in Vietnam easily at an affordable price, so there is no need to worry if you miss some of the items above.

An excellent trip always starts with a suitcase full of necessary things. We hope this useful information will help you have an extraordinary experience in this beautiful Southeast Asian country. Have a safe and memorable trip!