10 Things I Stopped Packing While Traveling Around Asia
Honestly? I used to pack my suitcase as if I were going to live for about six months without the opportunity to buy anything. But after a couple of trips to Southeast Asia — Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, the Philippines — I realized that I simply didn’t need more than half of the things I packed. Here’s my list of what I gave up — and what I replaced it with. Perhaps it will come in handy if you, like me, don’t want to lug around a storage unit
Paper guides
Yeah, I thought Lonely Planet was cool and travel-friendly too. I even bought it in a bookstore in Kyiv before my trip to Bangkok. I read exactly one chapter on the plane, and that was it. Then I downloaded Maps.me, a couple of Google Docs, and started googling on the go, because local advice or Reddit posts work much better.
What I replaced it with: offline maps (Maps.me), Google Docs with notes, Telegram channels like “Siam on the minimum”.
A bunch of adapters and tees
I once took 4 adapters with me: for Europe, for the US, for the UK, and one “just in case”. As a result, most guest houses had universal sockets, or I just borrowed them from the reception. Now I take one, maximum two, and even more for peace of mind.
What I replaced it with: One universal adapter (I took it in Chiang Mai for 90 baht), and the rest was decided on the spot.
Camping Towel
Those microfiber things dry great, but have you ever tried to dry yourself off with them properly? It’s like hugging a plastic tablecloth. Almost everywhere I’ve stayed, there were towels. Even budget hostels. And if it’s really bad, you can buy a bath towel at your local 7-Eleven for $2.
What I replaced it with: I just take a small beach towel. Everything else is there.
DSLR
I took a Canon 70D with me on my first big trip. I carried it around like a lemur on my back. I got fed up. In the end, I still took 90% of the photos on my phone, because it’s faster, easier, and doesn’t attract unnecessary attention.
What I replaced it with: iPhone 13 Pro + Lightroom. The photos are fine, and my shoulder doesn’t fall off.
Too many things
When I went to Cambodia for a month, I took 17 T-shirts. SEVENTEEN. As a result, I washed them every 4-5 days and wore the same things. Now I travel with a 40-liter backpack, where only the necessary things are: 5 T-shirts, 2 shorts, 1 pants, a swimsuit, and a raincoat.
What I replaced: The minimum set + laundries on every corner (in Hanoi — 15 thousand dong per kg!).
Cash for every country
At first, I withdrew cash at airports (the dumbest idea ever) and also exchanged currency in the city. Then I realized: with a Wise or Revolut card, you can simply withdraw local currency with a minimal commission. And almost everywhere in Asia, you can now pay with your phone or card.
What I replaced it with: Wise card + a little cash (I exchange $50–100 when necessary).
SIM cards for each country
Here I stepped on the same rake. Flew to Thailand — stood in line for a SIM card. Flew to Cambodia — again search, buy, activate, configure. And so every time. Until I accidentally came across the TooSim app in Kuala Lumpur. Bought, downloaded the profile, and that’s it — it works. Since then, I have switched completely to eSIM, especially since now you don’t even have to wait — everything is done online in 2 minutes.
What replaced: eSIM for Asia, for example, you can buy eSIM for Asia, starting at $3.96/GB. TooSim Works in most countries in Southeast Asia. No hassle.
Lots of chargers and cables
Previously, I used a separate cable for each device — phone, headphones, camera, power bank… All this quickly turned into a tangle of wires in which it was difficult to find anything.
What I replaced it with: Now I get by with one universal 3-in-1 cable and a small charging unit with two ports. This is enough for all gadgets. Plus a compact power bank — it saves on long journeys, especially on trains in Vietnam, where not all seats have sockets. Fewer wires — less confusion and excess weight.
A first-aid kit like a hiker’s
I was carrying bandages, iodine, activated charcoal, throat lozenges, ointments for bites, and a bunch of other stuff. And then I realized that you can buy everything you need at any pharmacy, and doctors in Asia are much more accessible than at home.
What I replaced it with: Bandages, paracetamol, something for the stomach — that’s it. I buy the rest on the spot, if necessary.
Conclusion
Every trip to Asia taught me something new, including the fact that half of the things I considered “essential” were getting in the way. The less luggage, the easier it is to move forward — both literally and figuratively. You worry less, adapt faster, and feel freer.
Local markets, night buses, budget airlines — all this is much easier when you are not dragging a bunch of unnecessary things around with you. And if you need something, you can almost always buy it on the spot, and often at a cheaper price than at home. Travel is not about how many things you take with you, but about how many impressions you take back.
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