The Ultimate Vietnam Travel Checklist Before You Fly

Preparing for a trip to Vietnam is easier when you separate the important tasks from the things you can handle after arrival.

You do not need to organize every detail of your trip months in advance. However, a few things should be checked before you get on the plane: your passport, entry requirements, flights, accommodation, insurance, phone connection and access to money.

This Vietnam travel checklist brings everything together in one place. You can go through it before departure and make sure you have not forgotten anything important.

If this is your first trip to Vietnam, our Vietnam for First-Timers Guide is also a useful starting point.

Vietnam Travel Checklist Before Your Flight

1. Check your passport.
2. Check whether you need a visa.
3. Apply for your Vietnam e-visa if necessary.
4. Complete the Vietnam pre-arrival procedure if required.
5. Check your flight details.
6. Book your first accommodation.
7. Save your hotel address.
8. Arrange travel insurance.
9. Prepare your phone and internet connection.
10. Install the essential travel apps.
11. Prepare some access to money.
12. Save important documents offline.
13. Check your baggage allowance.
14. Check medication and restricted-item rules.
15. Plan how you will leave the airport.

1. Check Your Passport

Start with your passport because almost everything else depends on it.

Make sure:

• your passport is valid for the required period;
• the name matches the information you use for your flight and visa;
• there are no damaged or missing pages;
• you have enough blank pages for immigration stamps if required.

Also take a clear photo or scan of your passport information page and keep it somewhere secure on your phone.

Do not rely exclusively on a digital copy, however. Your physical passport is the document you will actually need for international travel.

2. Check Whether You Need a Visa

Vietnam’s visa rules depend on your nationality, passport and the purpose and length of your trip.

Some nationalities can enter Vietnam without a visa for a permitted period, while travelers who require a visa can generally apply for a Vietnamese e-visa.

Vietnam’s current e-visa system allows eligible foreign travelers to apply electronically, with e-visas available for stays of up to 90 days and single or multiple entry.

Before booking your trip, check the rules that apply specifically to your passport rather than relying on information from another traveler.

Our Do I Need a Visa for Vietnam? guide explains the basic requirements, while our Vietnam E-Visa Guide covers the application process in more detail.

3. Check Your E-Visa Carefully

If you need an e-visa, do not simply save the approval email and forget about it.

Check every important detail against your passport.

• Full name
• Passport number
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Entry date
• Exit date
• Entry checkpoint

An incorrect passport number, name or other important detail can create problems when you attempt to enter Vietnam.

Keep a digital copy of your approved e-visa and carry a printed copy as a backup.

4. Check the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Requirement

Visa requirements and Vietnam’s pre-arrival procedure are not the same thing.

If the pre-arrival declaration applies to your journey, complete it before you travel rather than waiting until you arrive at the airport.

Keep the relevant confirmation or information available on your phone.

Our Vietnam Pre-Arrival Card Guide explains the current procedure and what travelers need to know.

5. Check Your Flight

Do not only check the departure date.

Before leaving for the airport, confirm:

• departure time;
• arrival time;
• departure airport;
• arrival airport;
• terminal;
• baggage allowance;
• connection time if you have a connecting flight.

Pay particular attention if your itinerary includes a domestic connection after arriving in Vietnam.

If you are still looking for flights to Vietnam, compare the arrival airport as well as the ticket price. Flying into one Vietnamese city and traveling overland to another can change the total cost and travel time considerably.

6. Book Your First Accommodation

You do not necessarily need to book every hotel for your entire trip before leaving home.

However, having your first accommodation arranged is strongly recommended.

It gives you a clear destination after a long flight and makes immigration and airport transportation easier.

Save:

• hotel name;
• full address;
• phone number;
• booking confirmation;
• Google Maps location.

If you still need accommodation, you can search for Vietnam hotels by city and travel dates.

7. Save Your Hotel Address Offline

This sounds minor, but it can save you a lot of trouble.

Save your hotel’s address as a screenshot before you fly.

That way, if your SIM or eSIM does not work immediately after landing, you can still show the address to a driver or taxi.

It is also useful to save the address in both English and the original Vietnamese spelling when available.

8. Arrange Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is easy to forget because it does not feel as urgent as booking a flight or hotel.

Before departure, check that your policy covers the activities you actually plan to do.

Depending on your trip, this may include:

• medical treatment;
• hospital expenses;
• trip cancellation;
• lost or delayed baggage;
• travel delays;
• motorbike-related incidents, if applicable.

Keep the policy number and emergency contact information somewhere accessible.

Our Vietnam Travel Insurance Guide explains the main things to look for.

9. Prepare Your Phone

Your phone will probably become one of your most important travel tools in Vietnam.

Before flying, make sure:

• your phone is unlocked if you plan to use a local SIM;
• your eSIM is installed if you are using one;
• your roaming settings are understood;
• your charging cable is packed;
• your power bank is charged;
• your important apps are installed.

If you are using an eSIM, check the activation instructions before you leave home so you are not trying to figure them out after a long flight.

Our Vietnam SIM and eSIM Guide covers the main options.

10. Install the Apps You Will Actually Use

You do not need dozens of travel apps.

At minimum, consider having:

• Google Maps;
• Google Translate;
• Grab;
• your airline app;
• your banking app;
• a currency converter;
• your hotel booking app.

Make sure you can log into your banking and email accounts before traveling.

If your bank requires two-factor authentication, check that you will still be able to receive verification codes while abroad.

11. Prepare Access to Money

You do not need to carry your entire travel budget in cash.

A better approach is to have more than one way to access money.

For example:

• one main bank card;
• a second card stored separately;
• some emergency cash;
• access to your banking app.

Make sure you know whether your bank charges foreign transaction or ATM fees.

Our Vietnam Currency: Cash or Card guide explains how cash and cards are commonly used in Vietnam, while our Vietnam ATM Guide covers withdrawing cash.

12. Notify Your Bank if Necessary

Some banks automatically approve foreign transactions, while others may block unusual activity as a security measure.

Before traveling, check your bank’s current policy for international transactions.

Make sure you know how to contact the bank if your card is declined in Vietnam.

It is also a good idea to check your card’s international withdrawal and payment limits.

13. Check Your Baggage Allowance

Airline baggage rules vary, even between tickets on the same airline.

Before packing, check your specific booking for:

• checked baggage allowance;
• carry-on weight;
• carry-on dimensions;
• personal-item allowance;
• sports equipment rules;
• special baggage restrictions.

Do not assume that another passenger’s baggage allowance applies to your ticket.

Our Vietnam Packing List can help you decide what is actually worth bringing.

14. Check Power Bank and Battery Rules

Power banks and spare lithium batteries generally need to be carried in your cabin baggage rather than checked luggage, but airline rules can differ.

Check your airline’s current requirements before packing.

Do not put an important power bank into checked luggage simply because there is more space in your suitcase.

15. Check Medication Before You Travel

If you take prescription medication, make sure you have enough for your trip and keep it in appropriate packaging.

For medicines that may be controlled or restricted, check the current Vietnamese requirements before traveling.

Do not assume that a medication that is freely available in your home country has exactly the same status in Vietnam.

If you regularly take prescription medication, keeping the prescription or a doctor’s letter with you can also be useful.

16. Check What You Can Bring Into Vietnam

Most ordinary personal belongings are straightforward, but customs rules apply to certain goods.

Before packing, check whether you are carrying anything that could require declaration or be subject to restrictions.

This is particularly important for:

• large amounts of cash;
• medication;
• alcohol;
• tobacco;
• food products;
• drones;
• special equipment;
• commercial quantities of goods.

For more information, see our Vietnam Customs Guide.

17. Save Important Documents Offline

Before leaving home, save offline copies of your most important travel documents.

Useful documents include:

• passport;
• visa or e-visa;
• pre-arrival confirmation, if applicable;
• flight booking;
• hotel booking;
• travel insurance;
• important medical information;
• emergency contacts.

Screenshots are useful because they do not require an internet connection.

Do not store everything only in one email account that you may not be able to access if your phone loses connectivity.

18. Plan Your Airport Transfer

Know how you are getting from the airport to your first accommodation before your flight lands.

You can use Grab, a taxi, a hotel transfer, an airport bus or another transportation option depending on your destination.

If you plan to use Grab, install and set up the app before departure.

Our Grab Vietnam Guide explains how to use it.

If you prefer to arrange transportation in advance, you can also look for Vietnam airport transfers and travel experiences.

19. Check the Time Difference

Vietnam uses Indochina Time, UTC+7, throughout the year and does not observe daylight saving time.

Before departure, check the local time at your destination so you know when your flight arrives and when you should contact your hotel.

This is particularly useful if your flight arrives very early in the morning or late at night.

20. Download or Save Your First Destination Information

You do not need a complete itinerary before you fly, but you should know the basics of your first destination.

At minimum, know:

• where your hotel is;
• how far it is from the airport;
• how you will get there;
• where you can get food;
• where the nearest ATM or convenience store is.

After that, you can start exploring at your own pace.

21. Check the Weather Before Packing

Vietnam’s climate varies considerably between regions, so do not pack based only on the country’s general reputation for hot weather.

Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc can have very different conditions depending on the time of year.

Check the forecast for the specific destination you are visiting.

Our Vietnam Weather by Month Guide can help you understand the broader seasonal pattern.

22. Check Your First-Day Plans

Do not schedule too much immediately after landing.

If you arrive after a long international flight, allow enough time for immigration, baggage, transportation and hotel check-in.

Our First Day in Vietnam Guide explains what to do after you land and how to make the first 24 hours easier.

Final Vietnam Pre-Flight Checklist

Task	Done?
Passport checked	☐
Visa requirements checked	☐
E-visa approved if required	☐
Pre-arrival procedure completed if required	☐
Flight details checked	☐
First hotel booked	☐
Hotel address saved offline	☐
Travel insurance arranged	☐
SIM/eSIM arranged	☐
Important apps installed	☐
Bank cards checked	☐
Emergency cash prepared	☐
Baggage allowance checked	☐
Medication checked	☐
Important documents saved offline	☐
Airport transfer planned	☐
Weather checked	☐

What Do You Actually Need to Have Ready?

You do not need to have every minute of your Vietnam trip planned before you board the plane.

The essentials are much simpler:

Passport + entry requirements + flight + first accommodation + money + phone connection + insurance.

Everything else can usually be organized once you arrive.

Once you have completed this checklist, you can concentrate on the enjoyable part of the trip: deciding where to go, what to eat and what experiences you want to have.

If you are still planning your trip, you can search for flights to Vietnam, hotels in Vietnam and Vietnam tours and activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I prepare for a trip to Vietnam?

There is no single answer, but checking your passport, visa requirements, flights and accommodation well before departure gives you more time to fix unexpected problems.

Do I need to print my Vietnam e-visa?

It is sensible to carry a printed copy as a backup even if you also keep the approved e-visa digitally.

Should I buy Vietnamese dong before flying?

You can, but you do not need to arrive with a large amount of Vietnamese currency. ATMs and currency exchange facilities are available in Vietnam.

Should I buy a SIM card before arriving in Vietnam?

You can arrange an eSIM before departure or buy a physical SIM after arrival. The best option depends on your phone and how much mobile data you expect to use.

Do I need travel insurance for Vietnam?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended because unexpected medical expenses, cancellations, delays or lost baggage can become expensive without appropriate coverage.

Do I need to book my entire Vietnam trip before flying?

No. It is useful to have your first accommodation and transportation arranged, but many travelers prefer to leave some of their itinerary flexible.

What is the most important thing to check before flying to Vietnam?

Check your passport and entry requirements first. Then confirm your flight, first accommodation, phone connection, access to money and travel insurance.