How to charge the iPhone when staying in Vietnam

A step-by-step guide showing you how to charge the iPhone with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 30 pin Apple connector and a Type G power charger, charging the iPhone using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter and powering the iPhone using a Type C power plug

Vietnamese power outlet

If packing for a vacation it can be useful to know in advance if you can power your essential gadgets that you'll be bringing with you. By not knowing which power supply is being used you may bring the wrong charger, leaving you needing to purchase a potentially overpriced adaptor when you're there. Varying different combinations of voltages and standards can all be daunting when planning to stay in a foreign country if you've never visited before. With only a handful of different types of common standards used in the world this guide shows exactly what to buy in advance to charge your iPhone in Vietnam. This page has been specifically written to stop travellers needing to worry if they can power the iPhone when going to Vietnam.When visiting Vietnam the following instructions show powering your iPhone using their standard Type G, A or C Vietnamese 220 volt 50Hz plug outlets, please note that Type G plug outlets will be normally used by most Vietnamese. When you are visiting Vietnam from a different country double check your iPhone can be used with a 240v supply. If it came from a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) make sure the iPhone is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to prevent the device from being damaged during charging. If you are planning on visiting tourist destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City or Vung Tàu we suggest referring to the Vietnamese Wikipedia page [1] for further details prior to travelling to the area.

This page details the iPhone first generation, the original iPhone is missing some features which have since been introduced to more recent iPhones. Visit the Apple category page for a full range of Apple iPhones. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 3 or greater on the iPhone.

Charging the iPhone in Vietnam

Can the iPhone be used in Vietnam?

You can connect the iPhone to a Vietnamese power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone in Vietnam?

When you are travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for Vietnam is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three types of wall outlets that Vietnamese use (types G, A and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for both types A, C and G.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your iPhone is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from quicker charging times with one of these types of USB travel adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

This means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers. Only packing a single lightweight USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple tablets and phones without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel frequently we recommend searching for a flexible travel adapter like this at an electronics retailer. The power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Vietnam

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world who only have USB devices such as the iPhone, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be necessary when visiting counties with unreliable or unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Vietnam and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Vietnam.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting Vietnam. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone in Vietnam?

How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet

Using a USB 30-pin cable with a 3 pinned Type G USB charger to recharge your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone using a Vietnamese power outlet you will need a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone.
  2. Begin by taking the Type G USB power plug adapter and inserting it into the Vietnamese power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 3 vertical rectangular holes with plastic shutters forming a triangular pattern for live, neutral and earth pins.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone. The iPhone dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone.
  4. Switch on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging and takes between one-four hours to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet

Charging the iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions on how to recharge your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet with the 30 pin Apple connector and a Type A power adapter.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone using a Vietnamese power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple should typically supply this USB cable with your iPhone.
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Vietnamese power outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 slots next to each other where the two blades slide into.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone. The iPhone dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone.
  4. Turn on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet

Using a USB 30-pin connector and a Type C power charger to power your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet.

  1. To supply power to the iPhone using a Vietnamese power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone.
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the power supply. This unearthed wall supply can be identified by two circular holes adjacent to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple 30 pin USB cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone. The iPhone dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone.
  4. Switch on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is charging which should take roughly 1 - 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone from a Vietnamese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Vietnamese Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - the original iPhone product manual
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable charging..
  5. USB to Apple 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  7. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  8. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  10. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..