Viet Nam Adoption Vietnam Adoption, Asia Adoption

04/15/07

Viet Nam Packing Tips

Posted by : Rebecca in Viet Nam Adoption Blog at 12:58 pm , 402 words, 207 views
Categories: The Adoption Process, Travel

Traveling to adopt your child can be an extremely emotional and stressful experience. I found that the preparations for travel were actually more stressful than the travel itself. The lists and planning and packing and repacking can become overwhelming. Here are some packing tips that I would recommend when traveling to Viet Nam:

Carry your prescriptions, money and documents on you at all times. It sounds like common sense, but the advice bears repeating. Be sure to carry these important and irreplaceable items with you-do not check them in your luggage.

Check with your hotel to find out what kind of adapter you will need. Oftentimes your agency or other families who traveled recently can advise you. The adapter that we brought from Radio Shack (after being advised on it by the salesperson) was completely wrong. Luckily we were staying with other adopting families who were generous and shared their adapters with us.

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Cut your packing list by at least twenty five percent. We greatly over packed for fear of not being able to purchase certain items in Viet Nam. We couldn’t have been more wrong; you can purchase just about anything you need for your stay at reasonable prices. If you are staying in Hanoi, ask your cab driver to take you to the Hanoi Towers. There are shops on the ground floor that carry virtually everything you could want, including many American products like peanut butter, snacks, baby items, health and beauty items and more.

Bring clothing that does not wrinkle easily and can be rolled or crushed into a ball. These will take up less space in your luggage and can be hand washed in your bathroom sink easily. A few dresses or shirts like this can get you through many weeks in Viet Nam. Your hotel will most likely have a reasonably prices laundry service, so you can get by with less clothing that you launder often.

Remember that you will be coming home with gifts and souvenirs. We packed a full suitcase of items to give to Ella’s baby center along with food and snacks. Within the first few days, this suitcase was empty and ready to be filled with items we bought along the way. You can also easily purchase a suitcase in Viet Nam to carry your items home in.