Every journey begins long before you board your flight. Choosing the right backpack, comfortable footwear, travel accessories, or camera can make your trip easier and more enjoyable, while bringing home an authentic local product is a wonderful way to keep your travel memories alive long after you’ve returned home.

After more than a decade as a local tour guide, I have seen what travelers actually use, what they often forget to pack, and what they enjoy bringing home from Vietnam.

That experience inspired me to create The Son Mekong Travel Store.

As a local guide, I often hear the same questions:

What should I bring?

What shoes should I wear?

Do I need a rain jacket?

Should I buy an eSIM?

What should I bring home from Vietnam?

What Vietnamese coffee should I try?

What is actually worth buying?

The Travel Store is my way of answering some of those questions in one place.

I want it to grow gradually.

Here you’ll find travel essentials, outdoor and adventure gear, photography equipment, luggage, clothing, practical accessories, and selected Vietnamese products such as coffee, tea, black pepper, cashew nuts, and other regional specialties.

I don’t recommend something simply because it is popular.

I ask a more useful question:

“Would this actually help a traveler?”

What You’ll Find in the Travel Store

Travel Essentials

These are the simple items that can make a surprisingly big difference.

You may want to consider:

• Travel backpacks
• Luggage and suitcases
• Packing cubes
• Portable power banks
• Universal travel adapters
• Reusable water bottles
• Rain jackets
• Waterproof bags
• Travel organizers
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Travel pillows
• Noise-cancelling headphones

Some of these products are easy to overlook when packing at home.

A little preparation can save a lot of inconvenience.

Outdoor & Adventure Gear

Vietnam offers much more than cities and famous historical attractions.

You can hike through northern mountains, cycle through countryside, explore caves, take boats through the Mekong Delta, swim around tropical islands, snorkel in Phu Quoc, or spend a day walking between beaches and viewpoints.

Different activities require different equipment.

For hiking and trekking

Consider:

• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Quick-dry clothing
• Lightweight rain jackets
• Sun hats
• Sunglasses
• Trekking poles
• Small daypacks
• Reusable water bottles

For a short city walk, ordinary comfortable shoes may be enough.

For a full day of hiking, however, footwear becomes much more important.

For beaches and islands

If you’re visiting Phu Quoc or another coastal destination, useful items include:

• Waterproof phone cases
• Dry bags
• Quick-dry towels
• Sunglasses
• Sun hats
• Reef-friendly sun protection
• Waterproof backpacks
• Action cameras
• Snorkeling accessories

If you’re planning to visit during Vietnam’s rainy season, a lightweight waterproof backpack can make your trip much more comfortable.

It protects your camera, phone, passport, and other important belongings when a tropical shower suddenly arrives.

Photography & Video Gear

Vietnam is a wonderful destination for photography.

You don’t need an expensive professional camera to capture memorable images.

A smartphone can produce excellent travel photographs, especially when you pay attention to light, composition, and timing.

But if photography or video is an important part of your trip, a few accessories can make life easier.

Useful photography products

• Mirrorless or DSLR cameras
• Compact cameras
• Action cameras
• Smartphone accessories
• Travel tripods
• Camera bags
• Extra memory cards
• Spare batteries
• Power banks
• Waterproof camera protection
• Lens cleaning kits

Luggage, Backpacks & Packing Cubes

Your luggage should match your itinerary.

If you’re staying in one resort for a week, a suitcase may be perfect.

If you’re traveling through several Vietnamese cities, using trains, buses, boats, and domestic flights, a smaller and more flexible bag can be easier.

A practical combination

For many travelers, I like the idea of:

One main suitcase or backpack + one small daypack.

The larger bag stays at your accommodation.

The daypack carries what you need during the day.

Packing cubes can also help keep clothing organized when moving between hotels.

They are not essential, but they can make repeated packing and unpacking much less frustrating.

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Travel Comfort

Vietnam can involve long travel days.

You might spend several hours on a domestic flight, sleeper bus, train, ferry, or private car.

Small comfort items can make those journeys easier.

Consider:

• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Travel pillow
• Eye mask
• Reusable water bottle
• Lightweight blanket
• Comfortable clothing
• Portable power bank

Noise-cancelling headphones can be especially useful on international flights and long-distance transportation.

They can also give you a little quiet time after a busy day exploring a Vietnamese city.

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Vietnamese Coffee & Tea

Now we come to one of my favorite parts of the store.

Vietnamese coffee.

Vietnam is one of the world’s major coffee-producing countries, and coffee is deeply connected with everyday life here.

Vietnamese coffee is often strong, aromatic, and traditionally prepared using a small metal phin filter.

Many visitors discover Vietnamese coffee during their trip and want to continue enjoying it after returning home.

That makes Vietnamese coffee a practical souvenir rather than something that simply sits on a shelf.

You can consider bringing home:

• Vietnamese ground coffee
• Whole coffee beans
• Phin coffee filters
• Coffee gift sets
• Vietnamese tea

If you’re new to Vietnamese coffee, start with a small quantity.

Taste different varieties and decide what you like before buying a large package.

Cultural & Souvenir Picks

Not every souvenir needs to be expensive.

Sometimes a small, locally made object carries more meaning than an expensive mass-produced item.

Depending on where you travel, you may find:

• Silk scarves
• Vietnamese handicrafts
• Bamboo products
• Handmade decorations
• Conical hats
• Traditional artwork
• Local textiles
• Travel posters
• Regional crafts

A local souvenir tip

If you buy a conical hat, handmade craft, silk product, or other traditional item, ask where it was made.

Vietnam has many different craft villages and regional traditions.

Knowing the story behind an item makes it more special when you return home.

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on The Son Mekong Travel Store are affiliate links.

This means that if you click one of these links and make a qualifying purchase or booking, I may receive a small commission.

There is no additional cost to you.

The price you pay remains the same, and sometimes you may even find a special offer or promotion through the partner.

My promise to readers

I will not recommend a product simply because it has an affiliate program.

If I don’t think something is useful, I don’t need to put it on this page.

My goal is to build a Travel Store that I would be comfortable recommending to my own guests.

As I travel, guide more visitors, test products, discover new destinations, and learn more about Vietnam, I can continue improving the recommendations.

Thank you for visiting The Son Mekong Travel Store and for supporting my work.

Every purchase through an affiliate link, every visit to the website, and every person who shares my travel guides helps me continue building The Son Mekong and sharing practical, honest stories from Vietnam.

I wish you safe travels, unforgettable adventures, and wonderful memories throughout Vietnam.