The honest pre-flight checklist for Vietnam

What to do, pull, install, and pack in the last 7 days before you fly. The things you'll regret skipping at the airport, and the things you'd think were essential but aren't.

Published 2026-05-21· 6 min read· Vietnam Knowledge

Last reviewed: 21 May 2026Report outdated info

The week before a Vietnam trip is when small forgotten tasks compound. None individually is a disaster; together they cost you the first 48 hours of the trip. This is the realistic checklist for the last seven days.

For the deeper packing breakdown by season, see packing list. For visa-specific prep, see the visa decision.

7 days out — paperwork

E-visa or visa-free entry confirmed. Print the PDF e-visa (border officials prefer paper).
Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date, with at least two blank pages.
Travel insurance bought — confirm motorbike cover if you might rent. Save the policy PDF and the international assistance number to your phone.
Onward flight booking evidence (immigration may ask).
Hotel for first 2 nights booked.
Embassy registration: UK STEP / US STEP / Smartraveller / equivalent.
Tell your bank you'll be in Vietnam. Most modern banks figure it out; some still block the first VND withdrawal.

5 days out — apps and data

Install and set up before you fly so the first day is calm:

Grab (or Be / Xanh SM) — for taxis. Add a payment method.
Google Translate — download the Vietnamese language pack for offline use. The camera mode reads menus.
Maps.me or Google Maps offline — download the cities you'll visit.
Vietnamese eSIM (Airalo, Saily, Holafly, Yesim) — install but don't activate until you land. Or plan to buy a tourist SIM at the airport.
VPN — install if you'll need access to home-country streaming.
WhatsApp / Signal / Telegram — Vietnamese contacts will message via these; many local businesses respond on Zalo (Vietnamese WhatsApp).
XE Currency or similar — useful in the first week.

3 days out — cash and cards

Two debit cards from two different banks in your wallet.
Credit card for hotels.
$100–300 USD in small notes — useful at the airport ATMs that sometimes have queues, and for the few border-crossings that quote USD.
Notify your card issuers of travel dates if the bank's app doesn't auto-detect.
Add Wise account if you haven't already; it's the cheapest way to fund VND withdrawals once you're there.
Photocopies of passport bio page and visa, stored separately from the originals.

2 days out — health

Prescription medication with you (60+ days' supply) plus a copy of the original prescription with generic names.
Basic first-aid kit: paracetamol, ibuprofen, anti-diarrhoea, antiseptic wipes, plasters.
Mosquito repellent with DEET 30–50% — buy at home (Vietnamese pharmacies have it but specific brands vary).
Anti-malarial if recommended for your itinerary (rural Hà Giang, Mekong delta; check with a travel-medicine clinic).
Vaccine record (paper or digital) — useful if you visit a clinic abroad.

1 day out — packing

A focused Vietnam-specific packing list (for the full version see packing list):

Lightweight breathable shirts and trousers (avoid heavy denim)
One smart-casual outfit for nicer restaurants
One layer for north winter or aircon
Light rain jacket (year-round)
Reef-safe sunscreen (expensive in Vietnam if you find it at all)
Sunglasses + hat
Sandals and one pair of trainers
Modest cover-up clothes for temples (shoulders and knees)
Quick-dry towel
Reusable water bottle with filter
Travel adapter (Vietnam uses Type A / C / G plugs — your mix may vary)
Power bank (portable charger)
Spare phone cable

What to not pack:

Toiletries beyond travel sizes (Vietnamese pharmacies are excellent)
Western brand of insect spray (Vietnamese brands work fine)
Hair products in volume
Multiple "in case" outfits
Hardback books (Vietnamese hostels and bookshops have used English books)

Departure day

Online check-in 24h before flight if possible.
All documents in one folder in your hand luggage.
Phone charged + spare battery for the flight.
Final passport check: in the bag, in your hand luggage, not in the suitcase.
Inform someone of your arrival plan: which airport, which hotel, what time you expect to be checked in.

Arrival hour

Get a Vietnamese SIM or activate eSIM in the arrivals hall.
Pull cash from a bank-branch ATM in the arrivals hall (Vietcombank ATM at HAN and SGN are reliable).
Use the official taxi rank or order Grab from the airport pickup zone — not the unmarked private offers in arrivals.
Check into the hotel, eat a simple meal, sleep early.

What you don't need to do at the airport

Buy local SIM at duty-free rates (city-centre rates are 30–50% cheaper)
Exchange large amounts at airport rates (use ATM)
Eat anything elaborate (the airport restaurants are mediocre)
Buy travel insurance "on arrival" (too late; cover usually starts at policy purchase)

Common pre-flight regrets

Forgot to download Google Translate offline. Vietnamese menu in a small town becomes a guessing game.
Brought big banknotes. $100s are harder to break than $20s.
Skipped the prescription generic-name list. Pharmacists may not recognise UK / US brand names.
Single payment method. A blocked card on day 1 is recoverable; two blocked cards is a problem.
No printed visa. PDFs on phone usually work but border policy varies by airline; print the e-visa.
No mosquito repellent. First-night bites are normal; bring proper DEET.