Ready for backpacking

By: Lam Linh

Travellive 10/2010 - You have a great plan in mind for your next trip and you are eager to pack for the journey. Calculate what you need to bring. Backpacking means that you have to organize everything yourself, from finding accommodation and transport to plotting your route. So you should prepare much more carefully than for any other trip.

Rucksack

For a three or four-day trip, it’s best to bring a small rucksack. A rucksack with many small compartments will help you to easily access essential items. If you are going camping or climbing a mountain you should buy a rucksack that has a metal frame, with clips which fasten around your chest and your stomach, in order to take some of the weight off your back. In addition, you should buy a rucksack that has a waterproof cover to protect it from the rain.

If you don’t have a rain cover, pack your clothes into waterproof bags in case it rains.

Many shops on the 1^st floor of the Hanoi Towers sell handy rucksacks for mountain climbing and trekking for around 200,000 VND. Equally, you can find one in the shops along Dinh Tien Hoang Street, near Hoan Kiem Lake.

Clothes and footwear

If you’re travelling by motorbike, warm clothes are essential, especially during the winter months when there is a lot of rain and cold wind. Choose a good coat that will protect you from bad weather from a reputable brand like North Face or Columbus. (North Face coats for women are priced at around 500,000 VND and for men at around 700,000 VND). Both brands are available at Made in Vietnam shops around the city. The most effective coat is one with two separate layers that can be taken apart.

A good pair of canvas shoes or sneakers is a necessity. Whilst an old pair is advisable becanew ones might give you blisters, you can get a new pair from Thuong Dinh Shoes in Thanh Xuan District or from Hanoi Shoe Stores at Ton Duc Thang Street, priced from 120,000-300,000 VND.

Sleeping bag and pillow

Never underestimate the importance of a sleeping bag when backpacking. It will ensure you have a good night’s sleep if the accommodation is less than desirable. A sleeping bag can be folded up to the size of a small pillow and easily fastened onto the back of your motorbike.

You can buy a sleeping bag at Metro for 180,000 VND. You can get a silk bag for summer on Hang Bong Street, priced from 40,000-80,000 VND.

A pillow will guarantee you have a good night’s sleep during the trip and can be bought for 80,000 VND atFivimart Supermarket.

Knee covers, gators and gloves

You may be surprised by the number of things you need but will soon discover that all of them are necessary.

Knee pads not only protect your knees from scratches but also help to keep them warm. The elastic knee supports used by sportsmen are suitable for this job. Price: 15,000 VND per pair.

Gators are used to cover your shoes in case of sudden rain. Do not mistake them for the Wellington boots worn by workers. They are small, very soft and can only be used once. Price: 9,000 VND for two pairs.

In addition to gators, protective gloves will give you a better grip when riding a motorbike. They can also obviously help you avoid injury to your hands. You can buy them in shops on Yet Kieu or Le Duan Street.

Medicine and first aid kits

There may be unexpected problems during the trip, so the more carefully you prepare, the more you can put your mind at rest.

In a first aid kit you should include aspirin, pills to treat flu, stomachache, allergies and diarrhea as well as antibiotics, vitamin B3, bandages and antiseptic cream. You can buy all these at drug stores nationwide. If you go in a group, it’s wise to get enough for 2-3 people.

In addition, you should learn some basic first aid – how to clean and dress wounds and give somebody CPR (resuscitation). In case of serious injury, go immediately to the nearest Accident & Emergency Department.

Now you are ready to go backpacking. Safe in the knowledge that the small things are taken care of, you’re ready to take on the big adventures.