Before our trip to Vietnam, I spent so much time researching what to pack, what apps to download, what to expect, and honestly… trying not to forget anything important.

And now that we’ve done the trip, there are definitely a few things I’m really glad we did beforehand—and a few things I wish I had known before we left.

Because as much as you can plan… travel doesn’t always go exactly as expected.

Our trip included:

• An unexpected overnight stay in Japan
• A rerouted flight through Hong Kong
• Long airport days
• Figuring things out on the fly

And honestly, the little preparations we made beforehand ended up saving us multiple times.

If you’re heading to Vietnam soon, here’s everything I’d recommend doing before you go.

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1. Pack Your Carry-On Better Than You Think You Need To

This is probably my biggest lesson from the trip.

I thought I packed my carry-on well… until our unexpected overnight stay in Japan.

I had:

• Undergarments
• Toiletries
• Chargers
• Medication

…but I did not pack a full change of clothes.

And after long flights, delays, and no sleep, I really wished I had.

Instead, I ended up having to buy clothes in Japan—including a bathing suit—which was honestly harder than expected when you’re tired, jet-lagged, and just trying to make things work.

If I could redo one thing from this trip, it would absolutely be packing:

• A comfortable outfit
• A lightweight extra shirt
• Even a swimsuit

In my carry-on.

Trust me—future you will thank you.

I shared my full carry-on packing list and all the things I wish I had packed in another post here.

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2. Pack Smart — And Honestly, Try to Do Carry-On Only

I actually packed my suitcase really well for Vietnam and ended up wearing almost everything I brought.

The pieces I wore most were:

• Linen outfits
• Comfortable dresses
• Loose clothing
• Easy mix-and-match pieces

The only things I wish I skipped were my tighter tank tops, even though they were a breathable cotton. Between the heat, humidity, walking, and travel days, I reached for comfortable pieces every single time.

If you can manage it, I would honestly recommend trying to travel with just a carry-on.

Especially because:

• Airports are easier
• Transfers are easier
• You don’t worry about lost luggage
• You move around much more comfortably

And if you end up shopping?
You can always buy a bag or a suitcase during the trip and check luggage on the way home.

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3. Set Up Your E-SIM Before You Leave

We used Airalo and it worked perfectly in Vietnam.

Having data immediately after landing made:

• Maps
• Grab
• Messaging
• Finding hotels

…so much easier.

But one thing we learned:
our Airalo setup did not work in Japan or Hong Kong because we hadn’t purchased coverage for those countries.

Since we unexpectedly ended up staying overnight in Japan, we suddenly realized how dependent we are on having data while traveling.

So, if you have layovers or connections in multiple countries, double-check that your eSIM package includes all of them.

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4. Download Google Translate Before You Leave

Vietnam honestly impressed me with how much English was spoken.

We rarely struggled communicating there.

But during our unexpected overnight in Japan, having Google Translate already downloaded became incredibly helpful.

From signs to restaurants to airport communication, and even checking into the hotel, it made everything feel far less stressful.

Even if you barely use it, it’s one of those apps you’ll be very thankful to already have downloaded if plans suddenly change.

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5. Download Grab Before You Arrive

I cannot recommend this enough.

Grab became one of our most-used apps during the entire trip.

It’s basically Southeast Asia’s version of Uber, and it made getting around feel:

• Easy
• Safe
• Stress-free

No negotiating prices.
No wondering if you’re being overcharged.
No transportation stress after long travel days.

Especially in busy cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, it was such a relief knowing exactly what we were paying before we even got in the car.

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Taxi’s in Vietnam

You don’t have to completely avoid taxis in Vietnam—but a lot of travellers are cautious with them because of a few common issues, especially in busy cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Scams & overcharging
Some unofficial taxis (or even a few shady drivers) may:

• “Forget” to turn on the meter
• Use a rigged meter that runs way too fast
• Quote you a price that’s way above normal

This mostly happens near airports, markets, or tourist-heavy spots.

Fake taxi companies
Some cars look legit but aren’t. They copy branding of trusted companies but:

• Charge way more
• Take longer routes
• Don’t follow standard pricing

Honestly save yourself the headache and take Grab.

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6. Get Comfortable Using Cash

One thing we learned quickly: cash is still very important in Vietnam.

Especially for:

• Markets
• Street food
• Smaller restaurants and shops

The local currency is the Vietnamese dong, and at first the amount of zeros honestly feels a little chaotic.

One thing that surprised us:
At many ATMs, the maximum withdrawal was only 5,000,000 VND, which is roughly $260 CAD.

So don’t expect to pull out huge amounts at once.

Also good to know:

• Some places charge up to 7% extra for credit card use
• Cash is often preferred
• Smaller bills are very helpful

One thing I used constantly was the Apple calculator currency converter on my iPhone. It made figuring out prices so much easier while shopping, eating out, and budgeting throughout the trip.

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7. Bring Backup Cards

This is one of those things you hope you never need… until you do.

Between rerouted flights, unexpected expenses, and airport purchases during delays, I was very glad we had backup payment options with us.

Before traveling, we:

• Notified our bank
• Checked our card fees
• Packed backup cards

And honestly, it gave peace of mind.

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 8. Pack Your Travel Adapter in Your Carry-On 🔌

This is a small tip that became very important for us.

Do not pack your travel adapter in your checked luggage.

Keep it in your carry-on.

After unexpected travel changes, my luggage not arriving with me, and unexpected overnight stays, being able to immediately charge our phones and devices was incredibly important.

Especially when:

• You need maps
• To book a hotel
• Boarding passes
• Flight updates
• Translation apps

A universal travel adapter is absolutely worth bringing.

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9. Apply for Your E-Visa Early

For Canadians, Vietnam typically requires an e-visa. Make sure you use the recommended site https://evisa.gov.vn

There are some YouTube videos that will walk you through step by step on how to fill it out. We had no issues and it was sent back to use within 5 business days, however:

And my biggest recommendation here is:
Do not leave this until the last minute.

At the absolute minimum, I would apply:

• At least 2 weeks before departure

But honestly?
I would recommend even earlier than that. 

Because if there are any issues, delays, or corrections needed, the last thing you want before a big international trip is the stress of wondering whether your visa will arrive in time.

I would also recommend making the Visa dates a little longer than the days you are planning on being there, you never know if you need the extra time.  

I triple-checked:

• Our visas
• Passport expiry dates
• Flight details

Because I knew I wouldn’t fully relax until all the important documents were sorted.

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10. Get Travel Insurance

Hopefully you never need it—but after experiencing unexpected flight changes firsthand, I’m even happier we had it.

Travel insurance gave me peace of mind knowing we were covered if things didn’t go according to plan.

And honestly? Travel has a funny way of keeping you flexible.

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11. Pack the Essentials

A few things I was very happy we brought:

• SPF
• Bug spray
• Hand sanitizer
• Comfortable shoes
• Electrolytes

Vietnam’s heat and humidity can definitely take some adjusting to—especially coming from Calgary.

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12. Screenshot Everything Important

This ended up helping more than I expected.

Before leaving, I screenshotted:

• Hotel addresses
• Booking confirmations
• Flight details
• Maps

And multiple times during delays and airport changes, it made things so much easier when Wi-Fi was spotty or apps weren’t loading properly.

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13. Save Restaurants, Cafes, Spas, and Activities Ahead of Time

One of my favorite parts of Vietnam was honestly the incredible food, coffee culture, and overall experience of discovering new places every day.

Before the trip, I saved:

• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Rooftop bars
• Markets
• Spas we wanted to relax and be pampered at
• Attractions and experiences we didn’t want to miss

I kept everything saved in both Google Maps and a simple document on my phone.

And I’m so glad I did.

We actually didn’t plan much in advance besides:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Our Bai Tu Long Bay cruise tour

Everything else we figured out as we went, which ended up being one of my favorite ways to travel.

Having ideas and locations saved ahead of time gave us the perfect balance:

• We weren’t locked into a strict itinerary
• But we also never felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do next

It allowed us to travel at our own pace while still making sure we experienced everything we really wanted to see, do, and eat.

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Final Thoughts

Vietnam ended up being one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken.

And honestly, part of what made it memorable was that not everything went perfectly according to plan.

Between the unexpected overnight in Japan, rerouted flights through Hong Kong, long travel days, and figuring things out as we went, the trip definitely had its moments.

But having a few key things prepared ahead of time made those unexpected situations feel manageable instead of stressful.

You don’t need to over-plan every second of your trip.
But having the basics covered means you can roll with the unexpected a little easier.

And sometimes… those unexpected moments end up becoming part of the adventure too.

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Ready to Plan Your Vietnam Adventure?

Vietnam completely exceeded our expectations — from the food and culture to the scenery and everyday experiences. A little preparation before you go can make your trip so much smoother and help you enjoy every moment once you land.

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out my other Vietnam travel post for:

What to Pack In Your Cary-On 

And if you’ve been to Vietnam before, I’d love to hear your best travel tip or favourite destination in the comments below 👇

Follow along on Instagram for more travel inspiration, baseball trips, city stays, and realistic travel guides!

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