Five International Travel Products: Slowing Down in Vietnam

Most travelers follow a well-marked highway of historic sites and tourist traps through Vietnam.  Stray from the beaten path and adventure is yours for the living. Motor biking, road cycling, rock climbing, canyoneering and surfing reside in every direction if you’re willing to reach a little further.  Make wrong turns the right decision with five key products.

Arcteryx Kata 37 Backpack: Consolidation For Your Back’s Sake

Arc’teryx Kea 37 Backpack

The South East Asian Backpacker Uniform (SEABU) specifies a big backpack slung on the traveler’s back and smaller bag on the chest. Wrong, as that configuration is terribly (read, painfully) inefficient. Instead, consolidate into the streamlined ease of Kata 37. The bag’s brain creates easy access to essentials while the kangaroo pocket stashes rain gear and a light fleece. Durable and light, Kata intuitively navigates the city streets and jungle trails of Vietnam.

Best For: Ultralight backpacking, minimalist international travel

Eagles Nest Possum Pocket Pack: Featherweight Freedom

Eagles Nest Possum Pocket Pack

Safely store your larger backpack in hostel or hotel and downshift to a smaller daypack for quick jaunts. This Eagles Nest travel sling compresses to pocket size and opens to fit a travel guidebook, notepad, DSLR camera, phone, wallet, sunglasses and a few smaller must-haves. Traipsing through town with Possum is the best way to see it all – with time to grab a beer and fried rice before sunset.

Best For: Day trips, efficient traveling

Patagonia Sun Mask: The Polyester Shield

Patagonia Sun Mask

Scooters and motorbikes own Vietnam’s city streets and atmosphere. On a motorbike or not, employ Sun Mask to block exhaust and dust. Sun Mask also protects neck, ears and face from solar overload. In any case, this Patagonia piece steps in as an emergency napkin for spilled ca phe sua da (iced coffee). Here, versatility is a virtue and Sun Mask is elegant polyester at the ready.

Best For: Sun protection, defense against diesel

Chaco Unaweep Z/1 Sandal: The Old Reliable

Chaco Unaweep Z/1 Sandal

With Unaweeps, strap in and stomp around any terrain. Whether trekking the villages in the northern mountains of Sapa or wading into the waters off Phu Quoc Island, these sandals step in with all-day support and stick-to-it outsoles.

Best For: Warm weather travel, short hikes, wet terrain

The North Face Hybrid Venture Jacket: Revel In The Rain

The North Face Hybrid Venture Jacket

Come monsoon season, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and the entire northern region is engulfed in an endless rain cloud. The Vietnamese revel in the promise of a strong rice yield; you’ll celebrate the cloudburst bounty in Venture. Extend your trip into the mountains, caves and cities of the north in a jacket breathable enough for hiking on muggy days; windproofing shows up when riding a motorbike or enjoying a blustery day on the beach in Vietnam’s south.

Best For: A packable rain solution, warding off wind