A Carry Kit for Night Trains and Buses
Pack one small bag for the night, so the big suitcase can stay out of the way.
Pack a small bag for the night with the things you will need within arm’s reach, and leave the rest in the big case. The list is short: a light layer, wipes, snacks and water, a charged phone, a torch and small cash. Everything else can ride in the rack.
What goes in the small bag?
Keep this bag under your head or beside you in the berth.
- A light layer or sarong: air conditioning runs cold, and bedding can be thin.
- Wet wipes and tissues: for hands, faces and the toilet.
- Water and dry snacks: biscuits, nuts or fruit that will not spill.
- A small torch: your phone light wakes the compartment.
- Earplugs and an eye mask: for light and voices.
- Documents and small notes: passport, cards and cash in a zipped pocket.
Which money should be with you?
Carry a few small notes for snacks and toilet stops. Vietnam’s banknotes in frequent use range from 1,000 to 500,000 dong2, and a large note is hard to change at a roadside stop. Keep the large ones in your zipped pocket, not in your hand.
How do you keep your phone charged?
Charge your phone and power bank before you board. Most Vietnamese households use sockets that accept type A and C plugs1, so a Malaysian type G plug needs an adaptor. Do not count on a socket working in your berth.
What stays in the big case?
Change of clothes, toiletries and anything you will not need until the morning. On a sleeper bus, the large bag goes in the hold, and you will not reach it until you arrive. On a train, it sits in the rack or under the berth.
What should you add for a child or an elder?
- For young children, a spare set of clothes and a motion-sickness pack if advised. See overnight transport with young children.
- For older travellers, medicine in a labelled pouch, kept with you.
- For anyone who needs halal food, a meal bought before you board.
What should you check next?
Look at the berth type in train cabin classes, or read how a sleeper bus works if the bus is your plan. If you are still weighing the night option itself, our guide on whether overnight transport saves a hotel night can help. More route help lives in Getting around Vietnam.
Tell us the leg you are taking and who is coming, and we can adjust this carry kit for children, elders or a long ride.
Common questions
What is the one thing people forget?
A light layer. Train and bus air conditioning can run cold even in a warm country, and the blanket may be thin or shared. A scarf or thin jacket in the small bag keeps you comfortable and takes almost no space.
Should I bring my own pillow?
Bring a small inflatable neck pillow if you sleep lightly. Ask whether bedding is supplied on your train, and expect quality to differ. On a sleeper bus, a thin sarong or light blanket for the berth is more useful than a pillow.
How do I keep valuables safe while I sleep?
Keep passport, phone, cards and cash in a zipped pocket or small bag that stays with you in the berth, not in the luggage rack. Lock the large bag if you can. Do not leave a phone charging out of reach.
What should I eat before a night journey?
Eat a normal meal before boarding and carry dry snacks and water. Avoid heavy, spicy food just before a bumpy ride. If you need halal food, buy it before you board, since stops on the road are not predictable.
Keep planning
Tell us the leg you are taking and who is coming, and we can adjust this carry kit for children, elders or a long ride.