I Went On A 9-Day Trip With Only A Carry-On (And Here Are My Tips If You Want To Do The Same)

Packing for three cities in Vietnam with different weather for each... Challenge accepted.

My villain origin story begins as follows: Every time I check a bag, it ends up lost. Especially if my flight has a stopover. So when I took a nine-day, multicity trip to Vietnam, I was determined to only pack a carry-on.

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I knew this would be a challenge considering the robust itinerary of my trip: I traveled with Intrepid Travel for a tour including stops in Hanoi, Hoi Ann, and Ho Chi Minh City. I knew there’d be a mix of activities, from sweaty bike rides through rice fields during the day to group dinners at night, which enhanced the “what to pack” challenge. Plus, Vietnam’s landscape is unique — Hanoi is far cooler than Ho Chi Minh City, so I knew I’d be wearing a sweater in one place and a bathing suit in the other.

From one anxious "I will lose my suitcase if it's checked" traveler to another, here's my advice on how to take extended trips with only a carry-on. (This is based on my successful Vietnam getaway!)

1. Choose a hard-sided carry-on. I've traveled to six continents with my Away "bigger" carry-on and love it.

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I'm sure you've seen the Away suitcase all over your Instagram and honestly, it's worth every penny. It measures at 22.7” x 14.7” x 9.6” (20% larger than their original carry-on), is accepted by most major airlines, and easily fits in the overhead compartment. 

Small caveat — I flew twice domestically while in Vietnam (to Hoi Ann and Ho Chi Minh) with VietJet Air and they actually determine "carry-on" status by weight.

2. Pick a personal bag that has a wide bottom (like a duffel) instead of being long and narrow (like a backpack), as this makes it easier to pack and stack more items.

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Another Away winner for me is the everywhere bag. Here's how I pack it: extra leggings, underwear, socks, and tank on the bottom of the bag; dopp kit with toiletries and clear case for makeup on top of the clothes; book, hair brush, computer charger on top of that; laptop in the laptop sleeve; and I still have room to spare. 

It's a splurge at $195, but the quality is fantastic (I've had it for years and there's zero times of wear). It can also fit a ton of stuff, plus there's a trolley sleeve that slips over your suitcase handle for easy transport. I've heard really good things about this Amazon alternative if you're not looking to spend a ton! (It's got nearly 3,000 reviews and caps at $29.) 

And honestly, my golden rule when picking a personal item is to avoid excess pockets. They're great in theory but not in practice. Extra pockets = extra bulk, additional material that won't even keep you organized. 

3. Pack two cosmetics cases — a clear bag for makeup and a dopp kit for toiletries, skin, hair essentials.

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I strongly advise two separate cases to simplify the game of packing Tetris. Plus, it makes it way easier to stay organized and quickly pack up if you're traveling from city to city.

4. Don't fill your entire suitcase with packing cubes (that's actually not helpful). Instead, rely only on packing cubes for smaller items and everyday basics.

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It took me many trips to understand that packing cubes are helpful only if you use them right.

Dedicate half of your suitcase to the one-off outfits — the dresses, skirts, and flare jeans you may only wear once. Use the Marie Kondo method of folding to keep everything neat and compressed. (It's really easy to squeeze additional items in that way.)

The other half of your suitcase should be for packing cubes. Use them for intimates (bras, socks, underwear) and the basics you'll be reaching for constantly (tanks, leggings, shorts, button-downs). Put shoes in packing cubes, too, to keep everything clean.

5. Be tactical about the clothes you're packing. This is the hard one.

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This is very, very important! Don't forget the basics you can sweat in. Because my trip went from chilly Hanoi to humid to Hoi Ann to very, very hot Hot Chi Minh City, I made sure to pack layers that I can easily take on and off. 

—Jean shorts (I'm a big Abercrombie & Fitch curve love fan) 

—Black leggings

—White tee (this Everlane option is 100% cotton and doesn't smell if you're wearing it for hours and hours) 

—Button-down (can't go wrong with a white one)

—Black Skims tank dress (this is a great $25 alternative) 

—Gray hoodie (it was so chilly in Hanoi) 

—Wide-legged linen pants 

—White + black Amazon tank (see below)

And if you're wondering "why is this girl walking on train tracks is that not dangerous," I'm on Train Street in Hanoi! A train passes through about two or three times a day and it's surrounded by local coffee shops and businesses. 

FYI: A shoutout is in order for this cheap Amazon tank. I wore it almost every day and *muah* — it wicked sweat during bike rides through rice fields and hours-long market walks, gave me enough support so I could go sans sports bra, and was super comfortable.

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And if you're thinking "that is absolutely disgusting that you wore the same two shirts every single day" well a: I had two, one in black and the other in white, and b: portable laundry soap and a sink. These laundry papers dissolve with water, are great for hand-washing, and are TSA-approved. Plus, some hotels offer laundry services! I had a bunch of my clothing washed toward the tail-end of my trip for less than $1.

6. Fanny pack > a purse. If your trip errs on the adventurous side (hikes, beach days, so. many. walks.) then put down the rattan purse — it's far more practical to wear a fanny pack to the airport and rely on that for the duration of your trip.

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I'm a Lululemon belt bag gal myself but this Amazon alternative looks basically the same and is half the price. 

Plus, wearing a fanny pack reduces your chances of being pickpocketed and can comfortably fit all your essentials: passport, cash, cards, hand sanitizer, and lip balm. 

7. Shoes take up a ton of valuable real estate. Be choosy with your footwear choice. (Same with jewelry! You don't need to pack your entire collection, even if it's a good excuse to buy one of those aesthetic jewelry cases you've seen on Instagram. Just! My! Opinion!)

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Before asking yourself the question of "do I pack these shoes or not," look at your trip itinerary. If you're going to be trekking through caves and walking through temples, the stilettos are unnecessary. I packed my New Balance sneakers, black flip-flops, brown sandals, and wedges for "fancy" occasions. I did not wear the wedges a single time and re-packing them was actual torture. 

8. Look closely at your hotel amenities: do you actually need to bring your own?

Every hotel I stayed at offered complimentary toiletries. That being said! If you're not picky and your hotel shower comes stocked with toiletries, then there's really no need to pack silicone tubes of shampoo, body wash, and conditioner. It's bulky for no reason. And 99% of the time, I feel like the shampoo ends up exploding!? Or is that just my bad luck?

Consider the above golden rules for getting the most out of your carry-on. Happy travels!

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