Packing Help for 2 Week Trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand

[Anonymous]

If you’ll be there Dec/Jan, Hanoi will possibly be chilly and Saigon will be hot.

We were there the same time of year 2 years ago, and Hanoi was in the high 60s/low 70s during the day. I was fine with a light cardigan or wrap for mornings/evenings; locals were in puffer jackets, especially in the evenings.

Saigon was in the low 90s.

We were in Vietnam for 3 weeks, so we made full use of hotel laundry services. It wasn’t super cheap, but WEP.

[Anonymous]

Bring long pants/skirts & cardigan if you plan to visit the temples. I paid $$ for some cheap sarongs that we never used again, it was wasteful.

Also look at the weather in Northern Vietnam; a friend just cancelled her hiking trip because of monsoon & landslide last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Laundry is super cheap in SE Asia. I take 5-6 cotton maxi dresses and several light linen/cotton large scarves that can cover my arms thoroughly. I save on space by not wearing a bra the entire time, plus it is cooler. I don’t take shorts/etc at all but I don’t mind hiking in a dress.

We were at several sites where having a scarf to cover your arms was not sufficient for their modesty standards. It's important that you have dresses that also have at least short sleeves. One of those places was siem reap. But there were other religious sites that also weren't okay with just a scarf.

This was a while ago but even in Siem Reap it wasn't consistent. I dressed mondestly every day and would see women going in and out of the temples in cutoffs and skimpy tank tops. So finally the last day running low on clean laundry I wore a sleeveless toip and brought a scarf, and or course, I got rejected from going in one of the temples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say -- that's a terrible itinerary for your trip. Two weeks do visit all three countries? Only Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam? You're not going to see anything at all!

We spent nearly a month in Vietnam alone.

If you're empty nesters you should have the time to enjoy your trip at a much more leisurely pace.

I'd never do the trip you're doing.

+1. Those three countries in 2 weeks is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to say -- that's a terrible itinerary for your trip. Two weeks do visit all three countries? Only Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam? You're not going to see anything at all!

We spent nearly a month in Vietnam alone.

If you're empty nesters you should have the time to enjoy your trip at a much more leisurely pace.

I'd never do the trip you're doing.

+1. Those three countries in 2 weeks is insane.

+1. Vietnam is so amazing- you're missing so much by only going to the two main cities.

[Anonymous]

I would focus on athleisure long sleeve tops and pants. laundry is VERY cheap.

[Anonymous]

Ugh to people who are criticizing the length of the trip. Maybe they don't have a lot of vacation time.

I've been to those countries several times. Also have parents from that area originally, so I'm familiar with the culture. I was able to pack everything in a carry-on and did drop off laundry twice, which was super cheap. As others mentioned, Hanoi is going to be colder than you expect, so pack layers and a light jacket and long pants. Also I like to be respectful to the cultures of the countries I'm going to, and recommend not bringing anything revealing. No tank tops and shorts above the knee.

[Anonymous]

Lots of good advice here already but on laundry, just ask your hotel concierge (assuming you are staying at a decent place) to arrange laundry service. It's so cheap and fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh to people who are criticizing the length of the trip. Maybe they don't have a lot of vacation time.

I've been to those countries several times. Also have parents from that area originally, so I'm familiar with the culture. I was able to pack everything in a carry-on and did drop off laundry twice, which was super cheap. As others mentioned, Hanoi is going to be colder than you expect, so pack layers and a light jacket and long pants. Also I like to be respectful to the cultures of the countries I'm going to, and recommend not bringing anything revealing. No tank tops and shorts above the knee.

If you don't have more vacation time, you go to Vietnam this trip and Thailand the next. It's nuts. This is a terrible and unoriginal itinerary. It's like a kid backpacking through all of Europe during winter break while studying abroad. Empty nesters can do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh to people who are criticizing the length of the trip. Maybe they don't have a lot of vacation time.

I think the issue here is travel time there, plus travel time between places, plus jet lag. You're talking like 2 nights in each of these places and basically sticking in the cities only. Don't underestimate the traffic on the ground or the amount of time it'll take at airports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would focus on athleisure long sleeve tops and pants. laundry is VERY cheap.

I would be so hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh to people who are criticizing the length of the trip. Maybe they don't have a lot of vacation time.

I think the issue here is travel time there, plus travel time between places, plus jet lag. You're talking like 2 nights in each of these places and basically sticking in the cities only. Don't underestimate the traffic on the ground or the amount of time it'll take at airports.

DP

At least the destination isn't a mid-Atlantic beach or Costa Rica.

I'll allow this.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Are capris that fall below the knee ok?

As to those commenting on the itinerary...I didn't ask for comments on my itinerary. This is a bucket list trip.

Yes empty nesters but not rich empty nesters....the flights alone are costly and we are doing a semi-custom fully guided tour. This is likely a one and done trip to SE Asia. I have other parts of the world I'd like to visit.

[Anonymous]

In most of the world, men don't wear shorts unless they're going to the beach or the gym. Dress respectfully.

[Anonymous]

Just pack for a week or less and do laundry. I do not understand why this is so difficult for Americans. You will likely be able to purchase any clothing you need unless you are insanely tall or fat.