How to charge the iPhone 5 when planning a trip to Vietnam

Instructions showing how to power your iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using an Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Europlug Type C power charger, charging the iPhone 5 using a Type G USB adapter and charging the iPhone 5 using a Type A power charger

Vietnamese power outlet

If you are organizing to travel it can be helpful to know if you'll be able to power any vital gadgets such as mobile phones or laptop computers when you're there. But without knowing which wall socket to expect you may bring the wrong power adaptor, meaning needing to borrow a suitable adaptor on arrival. Different region codes and plugs can all be daunting when planning to travel to a different country, especially if you've never visited before. These instructions have been written to prevent you needing to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPhone 5 abroad.The following simple guide shows exactly how to power your iPhone 5 when you're travelling to Vietnam using their types G, A or C Vietnamese 220 volt 50Hz plug outlets, Type G plug outlets will be typically used by most Vietnamese. Power will differ depending on which region you are in so please read the travel power supplies page for a complete list of countries. If visiting Vietnam from a different country make sure the iPhone 5 can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts make sure your device is dual voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional converter to stop the device from overheating whilst powering it. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in Vietnam

Can you use the iPhone 5 in Vietnam?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5 in Vietnam.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5 in Vietnam?

If you are travelling to more than one country then the best international travel charger for Vietnam is a multiple USB adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Vietnamese use three different standards of wall outlets (G, A and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for both types A, C and G. As these types of chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle 100 volts to 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa just by switching the plugs over. If your model of iPhone 5 is compatible with Fast Charge (note not all USB devices do) then you'll benefit from quicker recharging times by using one of these types of power chargers, along with additional support for certain power demanding devices like tablets.

Having a 4 port charger will also allow you to charge multiple devices at once without needing to buy multiple travel chargers for your trip. By only bringing a single USB travel charger will also keep the overall weight down, making it perfect to fold up and store in hand luggage as well as being convenient for recharging your iPhone 5 at the airport or on a flight. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of chargers can be used at home so when you’re not on holiday they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple phones, tablets and speakers without needing an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling on a regular basis we recommend buying this type of flexible travel adapter online. The travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for charging multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Vietnam

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices via USB, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to regions with unreliable power supplies. These travel adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact option for travellers originating from America visiting Vietnam using 3 pin type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and is a much more cost effective alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a generous 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Vietnam. [10] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5 in Vietnam?

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

Using the Lightning Apple cable with a Type G USB adapter to charge your iPhone 5 from a Vietnamese power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPhone 5 from the Vietnamese power outlet you'll need a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], Apple will usually supply the USB cable when you purchase the iPhone 5.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type G USB power plug adapter in the power outlet. This power outlet (sometimes known as the Type G power outlet [3]) can be identified by three vertical slots with plastic shutters in a triangle configuration for live, neutral and earth pins.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Apple Lightning charging cord into the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 found at the bottom of your iPhone 5.
  4. Turn on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right hand corner of the cellphone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is recharging and takes roughly 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a Lightning Apple connector with a Type A power charger to charge the iPhone 5 from a Vietnamese power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 5 using the Vietnamese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], normally supplied with the iPhone 5.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter in the power supply. This plug outlet (sometimes known as the Type A power outlet [6]) can be identified by the two slots next to each other.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Lightning charging cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5.
  4. Switch on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 5 will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging and takes between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Using an Apple Lightning connector and a two pinned Europlug Type C power charger to recharge the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 5 using the Vietnamese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], normally supplied with the iPhone 5.
  2. Begin by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter in the power supply. This plug outlet is recognised by the 2 holes adjacent to each other.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Lightning charging cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5 situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5.
  4. Switch on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 5 will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is charging taking between one to four hours to recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Vietnam country entry on Wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  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 Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  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..