Vietnam Packing Guide — Hanoi + Ha Giang Loop

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\n 📄 Documents & Money\n

\n Critical\n

\n \n Passport\n Vietnam e-visa saved + printed backup\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n E-visa confirmation\n Printed + downloaded offline on phone\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Capital One 360 card\n No foreign transaction fees — primary card\n \n \n
\n \n Backup debit/credit card\n Keep separate from main wallet\n \n \n
\n \n USD cash (~$100–200)\n Exchange at Agribank/Vietcombank — always select VND\n \n \n
\n \n Ha Giang Motoventures booking confirmation\n Saved offline — Ha Giang operator\n \n \n
\n \n Travel insurance info\n Screenshot + card saved to phone\n \n \n
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\n 📷 Tech & Electronics\n

\n Both\n

\n \n Phone\n Mint Mobile intl plan activated before departure\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Nikon Coolpix S700\n Charge battery + pack spare SD card\n \n \n
\n \n Phone charger + cable\n \n
\n \n Camera charging cable / spare battery\n \n
\n \n Power bank (20,000 mAh)\n Essential for Ha Giang — limited charging at homestays\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Universal travel adapter\n Vietnam uses Type A/C — US plugs often fit directly\n \n \n
\n \n Earbuds / headphones\n \n
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\n 🏍️ Ha Giang Loop Gear\n

\n Ha Giang\n

\n \n Windbreaker / rain jacket\n BUY IN HANOI if not packed — essential for mountain cold\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Buff / neck gaiter\n Blocks dust and wind on the mountain roads\n \n \n
\n \n Light gloves\n Can buy cheap in Ha Giang town if needed\n \n \n
\n \n Dust mask / N95\n Unpaved stretches kick up serious dust\n \n \n
\n \n Dry bag or ziplock bags\n Protect phone + camera from rain — sudden downpours common\n \n \n
\n \n Small daypack (10–15L)\n Ha Giang Motoventures attaches to bike — keep it light and\n strapped\n \n \n
\n \n Helmet liner\n Ha Giang Motoventures provides helmet but liner = hygiene\n \n \n
\n \n Sunglasses\n Under helmet at elevation — UV is no joke\n \n \n
\n \n Snacks for long riding days\n Trail mix, bars — village stops can be far apart\n \n \n
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\n 👕 Clothing\n

\n Both\n

\n \n T-shirts × 3–4\n Light, moisture-wicking; Hanoi is hot and humid\n \n \n
\n \n 1 nicer shirt\n Old Quarter bars + restaurants\n \n \n
\n \n Shorts × 2\n For Hanoi + warm Ha Giang afternoons\n \n \n
\n \n Long pants × 1–2\n Temple visits (cover knees) + cold Ha Giang nights\n \n \n
\n \n Long sleeve shirt × 1\n Under windbreaker for early morning mountain starts\n \n \n
\n \n Underwear × 5+\n \n
\n \n Socks × 5 (inc. 1 warm pair)\n Warm socks for Ha Giang highlands\n \n \n
\n \n Comfortable closed-toe shoes\n Walking shoes for Hanoi; REQUIRED for riding\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Sandals / flip flops\n Hanoi street food + hostel use\n \n \n
\n \n Swimwear\n Some Ha Giang homestays have pools / rivers\n \n \n
\n \n Laundry bag + travel detergent strip\n Laundry services everywhere in Hanoi — hand wash Ha Giang\n \n \n
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\n 💊 Health & Meds\n

\n Critical\n

\n \n Ibuprofen / Motrin\n Long riding days = sore everything\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Imodium (Antidiarrheal)\n Vietnam belly is real — carry at all times\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Pepto-Bismol tablets\n \n
\n \n Motion sickness meds\n Hairpin bends on Ma Pi Leng — even non-sufferers get\n queasy\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Antihistamine (Benadryl / Zyrtec)\n Insect bites, food reactions\n \n \n
\n \n Band-aids + blister pads\n \n
\n \n Antibiotic cream (Neosporin)\n Inevitable minor scrapes on the loop\n \n \n
\n \n Electrolyte packets × 10\n Heat + riding dehydrate fast\n \n \n
\n \n Hand sanitizer\n \n
\n \n Insect repellent (DEET)\n Malaria risk low but mosquitoes are abundant\n \n \n
\n \n Sunscreen SPF 50+\n Southeast Asia sun + altitude = burns fast\n \n \n
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\n 🧴 Toiletries\n

\n Both\n

\n \n Toothbrush + toothpaste\n \n
\n \n Deodorant\n \n
\n \n Shampoo + body wash (travel size)\n \n
\n \n Face wash + moisturizer\n \n
\n \n Lip balm\n Wind chap on the mountain roads is real\n \n \n
\n \n Razor\n \n
\n \n Nail clippers + tweezers\n \n
\n \n Wet wipes (large pack)\n Essential daily in Vietnam — carry on you always\n \n MUST\n \n
\n \n Travel toilet paper packs × 3\n Ha Giang bathrooms are an adventure\n \n \n
\n \n Microfiber towel\n Smaller hostels + Ha Giang homestays may not provide\n \n \n
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\n 🎒 Misc & Comfort\n

\n Both\n

\n \n Reusable water bottle\n Refill at hostels — avoid plastic\n \n \n
\n \n Padlock (combination)\n Hostel lockers in Hanoi\n \n \n
\n \n Earplugs × 4 pairs\n Hanoi traffic + hostel dorms\n \n \n
\n \n Eye mask\n Dorm life in Hanoi\n \n \n
\n \n Packing cubes\n Keep gear separated; Hanoi vs Ha Giang bags\n \n \n
\n \n Pen + small notebook\n Customs forms; jot down pho recommendations\n \n \n
\n \n Small gifts for homestay hosts\n Candy, stickers — Ha Giang villages appreciate the gesture\n \n \n
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\n 📌 Field Notes\n

\n Quick Reference\n

🏧 ATM Strategy

\n Use Agribank or Vietcombank — lowest fees.\n Always select VND (never let the ATM convert). Limit\n per transaction ~3–5M VND. Capital One 360 reimburses ATM fees.\n

🛵 Ha Giang Motoventures Logistics

\n Ha Giang Motoventures provides helmet, bike, and guidance. Show up\n with your booking confirmation and passport. Leave your big bag at\n the Ha Giang guesthouse — only take the daypack on rides.\n

🌧 Ha Giang Weather

\n Mornings can be 12–15°C at elevation even in summer. Afternoons warm\n fast. Pack layers you can strip easily. Rain comes without warning —\n keep phone + camera in a dry bag.\n

🗺 Hanoi Navigation

\n Use Grab for all rides — safer and transparent pricing\n vs street taxis. Download Maps.me offline map of Hanoi before\n landing. Old Quarter is walkable.\n

📱 Connectivity

\n Mint Mobile international plan handles calls/texts. For data:\n Vietnam SIM from Viettel (~100k VND) at the airport is faster and\n cheaper for 7 days. Ha Giang has patchy signal — download offline\n maps.\n

🛒 Buy in Hanoi

\n Windbreaker (Hàng Gai or Bui Thi Xuan street shops ~$15–25), gloves,\n buff, cheap rain poncho. Dong Xuan market for bulk supplies. Don't\n overpack stateside — Hanoi has everything cheap.\n

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Hanoi + Ha GiangLoop

🏧 ATM Strategy

🛵 Ha Giang Motoventures Logistics

🌧 Ha Giang Weather

🗺 Hanoi Navigation

📱 Connectivity

🛒 Buy in Hanoi

Hanoi + Ha Giang
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