How to Make the Most of Your Indo-China Trip
Are you looking forward to your Indo-China trip? Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam boast of many exotic places like Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, and Halong Bay.
But before heading off to your adventure, it’s time to pack first. Here is a list of items to bring to these tropical countries.
- Luggage
The first thing is to find out the check-in and cabin baggage limits so that you know how much to pack. Choose sturdy travel bags, especially if you are backpacking. It could be rainy, so your bags should be waterproof.
Have an extra set of padlocks.
- Travel Documents
It is advisable to keep your travel documents in one place. There are anti-theft, mini crossbody bags for this purpose. Keep these documents inside:
- A passport that is valid for six months after your return date
- Required visas
- Travel insurance documents, especially the 24-hour contact number of your insurance company
- Emergency contact numbers in your home country
- Flight tickets
- Itinerary
- Discount cards
- Mileage cards
- Contact list of your Indo-China host or travel agency
Make photocopies of your passport. Keep one set at home and bring another in your luggage. In case of loss, this is a critical reference. You can also scan and email yourself copies of the passport.
- Flight items
If it is a long flight, bring a few items along to keep yourself entertained and comfortable.
- Eye mask
- Earplugs
- Travel neck pillow
- Snacks
- Kindle or other e-readers
- Laptop, tablet
- Toiletries and personal items
How much toiletries and personal items to bring will depend on your needs and preferences. Choose among the following:
- First-aid kit containing band-aid, sterile gauze pads
- Antibiotic creams
- Your medications and prescriptions in case you need to buy overseas
- Eyeglasses and sunglasses
- Contact lenses and solution (click here to visit ttdeye website)
- High-SPF sunscreen or sunblock
- Hat or cap
- Insect repellant
- Face masks
- Deodorant
- Antibiotic ointments, antihistamine or insect bite cream
- Tissues and wet wipes
- Antibacterial gels or hand sanitizer
- Tablets for travel sickness, malaria, and diarrhea
- Moisturizer, lotion, and lip balm
- Aspirin and paracetamol
- Dental floss
- Melatonin or other sleep medications
- Water purification tablets
- Feminine needs (sanitary pads, menstrual cups)
- Sewing kit and safety pins
- Nail cutter and nail file
- Small microfiber towel
Although hotels usually provide basic toiletries like soap, shampoo, conditioner, razor, q-tips, bath towels, toothbrush, and toothpaste, bring along your own.
- Money
Before the trip, visit a moneychanger to exchange currencies. If possible, try getting small denominations.
You also need to find which credit cards you can use in Indo-China.
- Cash in small denominations
- Credit cards
- ATM cards
- Clothes
The weather is similar to these three Indochina countries. The rainy season is from May to November, while the dry season is from December to April. Therefore, pack clothes that are easy to wash and dry, and without the need to iron. To be on the safe side, travelers usually choose cotton.
Clothes should be in neutral colors to make it easy to mix-and-match clothes.
- Shirts and blouses
- Jeans
- Shorts
- Swimwear
- Wide-brimmed hat or cap
- Socks
- Underwear
- Workout clothes
- Waterproof jackets
There may be areas with mosquitos, so include long-sleeved tops and pants to cover your arms and legs. Have a small detergent pack handy to wash stains off your clothes.
If your itinerary includes worship places like temples, women should bring scarves, shawls, and skirts to cover the head, shoulders, and knees.
You will be doing a lot of walking so bring along comfortable walking shoes.
- Electronics
Even during vacations, you will always need to pack some electrical items to share memories of your trip.
Here are the usual items needed:
- Phone and chargers
- USB cables
- SD cards
- SIM cards
- Headphones
- Universal travel adaptor
- Laptop or tablet
- Kindle or e-reader
- Camera
- Spare batteries
- Extra phone
- Power bank
Check if the country has wifi access. Otherwise, you may need to activate roaming or buy a local SIM card.
- Travel Accessories
You may want to include the following items if there is still space in your luggage:
- Raincoat
- Umbrella
- Waterproof bags
- Binoculars
- Scissors or army knife
- Travel guide
- Phrasebook to communicate with locals
- Portable games
- Reading materials
- Notebook for journaling
- Water bottle
- Pens and paper
- Foldable and reusable shopping bag
- Torch or flashlight
- Ziplocks
A few more reminders:
- At least a month before the trip, have yourself vaccinated against measles, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, and rabies.
- Check online for the latest on air quality levels.
- Find out if the area you are visiting has an outbreak of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
- If you suffer from allergies or a sensitive stomach, research beforehand on ingredients used for popular local dishes
- Read about fraud and deception cases. Although most locals are friendly and warm-hearted, some travelers have been victims of scams when riding taxis and tuk-tuks and having massages.
After you have packed everything, there is no need to worry – enjoy! Look forward to life-changing experiences as you explore the sights and interact with the locals of Indo-China!
