Travel · Vietnam · Type A/C/F · 220V
Vietnam: a two-pin country at 220V.
Vietnam mixes American flat pins with European round ones — Type A, Type C and the grounded Type F all appear — and runs the lot at 220V, 50Hz. The practical consequence is that the two-pin plug is king and a grounded three-prong US cord is the thing most likely to leave you stuck.
Match the plug you are holding to the wall
Rather than a socket census, work from your own gear. This is what actually happens when each kind of plug meets a Vietnamese outlet.
| What you are holding | In a Vietnamese socket | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| US two flat pins (Type A) | Often fits a hybrid or Type A opening | Nothing, if the brick reads 100–240V |
| US three-prong, grounded | Usually will not seat | Use the device's USB brick, or a grounded Type F adapter |
| Europlug, two round pins (Type C) | Fits Type C and Type F openings | Nothing — this is the most universally accepted shape |
| Grounded Schuko (Type F) | Fits recessed Type F sockets only | Fine where fitted; ground is not guaranteed everywhere |
| Anything 120V-only | May fit, will be destroyed | Leave it home |
The label is the whole safety story
Vietnamese mains is 220V — 83% higher than the 120V your devices see in the US. Every switching power supply sold in the US is built for that range and says so: the input line reads 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz in small print on the body of the brick, usually on the flat face next to the prongs. Devices with that line need a plug adapter only. Devices without it need a voltage converter, which is a transformer, not a plastic shell, and which almost no traveler should carry.
The kit that covers Vietnam
- Type C
Type C plug adapter (US to round pin)
The single most accepted shape in Vietnam: two 4mm round pins that fit Type C and Type F openings alike.
- Output plug
- Type C, 4.0mm pins
- Function
- Shape only
- Also covers
- Most of Europe
- Universal
Zendure Passport III 65W
Universal adapter with GaN charging built in — no separate brick, no ground pin to worry about.
- Class
- 65W GaN, multi-port
- Plug heads
- Universal
- Passes
- 220V unchanged
- 65W
UGREEN Nexode 65W GaN 3-port
Two-prong, dual-voltage, and enough output for a laptop plus a phone from one scarce hotel socket.
- Output
- 65W shared
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Input
- 100–240V
What works as-is
Anything with a USB connector on the output side: phone chargers, tablet bricks, laptop USB-C supplies, camera and drone battery chargers, e-readers, power banks, electric toothbrushes, cordless shavers. All of these are 100–240V and all of them care only about plug shape.
What genuinely needs a converter: hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons, travel kettles and any corded appliance with an AC motor that is rated 120V only. On 220V a resistive element draws about 3.4 times its design power. Buy a dual-voltage travel version instead — the reasoning and the exceptions are covered in adapters vs voltage converters.
Regionally, Vietnam sits between two different regimes: Thailand's hybrid sockets take your US plug, while Indonesia takes round pins only. A single adapter with both heads covers a multi-country route, and the country-by-country shapes are indexed in plug types by country.
Nearby guides
FAQ
What plug adapter do I need for Vietnam?
A Type C two-round-pin adapter covers the widest range of Vietnamese sockets. Many outlets also accept US flat pins, but a room with round-hole-only sockets is common enough that the adapter is worth its weight.
Is Vietnam 110V or 220V?
220V at 50Hz. Any charger labelled 100 to 240 volts handles that without modification; 120V-only appliances do not.
Will my three-prong laptop cord work in Vietnam?
Often not, because much of the wiring is two-pin and the grounded plug will not seat. Use the two-prong duckhead many laptop bricks accept, or switch to a USB-C GaN charger.
Do I need a voltage converter in Vietnam?
Only for single-voltage heating appliances and AC motors. Phones, laptops, cameras and every USB charger sold in the US are dual-voltage and need a plug adapter alone.