> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fredperrotta.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Packing for an 11-Day Business Trip to Vietnam in a Small Carry On Bag
- URL: https://www.fredperrotta.com/business-trip-carry-on/
- Published: 2026-05-07T16:09:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-28T20:51:31.000Z
- Author: Fred Perrotta
- Tags: Travel, Packing List

My most popular post is about how [my wife and I traveled through Italy for a month while packing carry-on-only](https://www.fredperrotta.com/month-carry-on/). I carried one [(max-sized) carry on bag](https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/travel-backpack-40l?ref=fredperrotta.com) for that trip.

Now, let's talk about traveling for over a week with an *even smaller* bag. 

I'm just back from an [11-day product development trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam](https://www.fredperrotta.com/vietnam-april-2026). I was there to finish up development on a new product that we're launching on Kickstarter this summer: the [Superlite Backpack](https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/superlite-backpack?ref=fredperrotta.com). 

At Tortuga, we believe in [dogfooding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating%5Fyour%5Fown%5Fdog%5Ffood?ref=fredperrotta.com), so I packed for the trip in the Superlite, a 34L (mid-sized) carry on.

Here's what I packed and how I made it work. For reference, HCMC was 95° F (35° C) with 95% humidity.

## Tricks to Make it Work

1. **Start with a carry on**. Then force yourself to cut things until they fit in the bag. Constraints are good.
2. **Read** [**The 7 Secrets of Packing Light**](https://blog.tortugabackpacks.com/packing-light/?ref=fredperrotta.com) to learn the principles of packing less. Then you can figure out how to apply them to your needs.
3. **Divide your trip by two**. For an 11-day trip, I pack for six days and plan to do laundry once. I could pack just as light for a 15-day trip by dividing it into three, packing for five days, and doing laundry twice. Travel is easier when you're carrying half as much (or less) stuff.

****Tip:** If you aren't at an Airbnb with laundry, you can get wash-and-fold done cheaply and quickly in most of the world. I used [Laundry Service](https://maps.app.goo.gl/mhoxEo79iR6Z7uUP6?ref=fredperrotta.com) in District 1\. They did two kilos of laundry for 50,000 VND (\~$1.90 USD) **and* delivered it to my hotel the next morning.

## What I Packed

### Luggage

- **Carry on**: [Superlite Backpack](https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/superlite-backpack?ref=fredperrotta.com)
- **Personal item**: Plastic bag of gifts for our factory team

### Tops

- 8 t-shirts, including one for the gym and one for sleeping in
  - Mostly [Uniqlo](https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E455365-000/00?colorDisplayCode=68&sizeDisplayCode=003&ref=fredperrotta.com) and [Taylor Stitch](https://www.taylorstitch.com/products/organic-cotton-tee-in-vintage-white-2304?ref=fredperrotta.com)
- 1 shirt jacket (worn as a jacket on the plane)
- 2 polos

### Bottoms

- 1 chino pants
  - [Outlier Futureslimworks](https://outlier.nyc/collections/archive/futureslimworks?ref=fredperrotta.com)
- 2 chino shorts
  - [Outlier New Way Longs](https://outlier.nyc/collections/archive/new-way-long?ref=fredperrotta.com)
  - [Flint and Tinder 365 Chino Shorts](https://huckberry.com/store/flint-and-tinder/category/p/72161-365-shorts-9?ref=fredperrotta.com)
- 2 gym shorts
  - [Ten Thousand Interval Short](https://www.tenthousand.cc/products/interval-short?variant=42030069776471&ref=fredperrotta.com)
  - [Ten Thousand Set Short](https://www.tenthousand.cc/products/set-short?variant=42030234959959&ref=fredperrotta.com) (doubles as a bathing suit)
- 6 pairs of underwear
  - [Nike Dri-FIT Stretch Cotton Boxer Briefs](https://www.nordstromrack.com/s/dri-fit-essential-assorted-3-pack-stretch-cotton-boxer-briefs/5739703?ref=fredperrotta.com) ($10/pair at Nordstrom Rack)

### Other Clothes

- 2 pairs of shoes
  - 1 pair of sneakers
    - [On Cloud X 3](https://www.on.com/en-us/products/cloud-x-4-3me3004/mens/ivory-black-shoes-3ME30040791?ref=fredperrotta.com)
  - 1 pair of leather slip ons
    - [Sperry Men's Gold Cup Harpswell Nubuck Driver](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G49DWV4?tag=fredperrott01-20&ref=fredperrotta.com)
- 4 pairs of socks
  - 2 Darn Tough crew
  - 2 no show socks
- Sunglasses with case
- Packable hat
- Leather belt

### Everything Else

- 2 toiletry bags
  - 1 quart-sized bag for liquids: [Nite Ize RunOff® Waterproof 3-1-1 Pouch](https://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-Runoff-Waterproof-3-1-1/dp/B07MBPJRPR?tag=fredperrott01-20&ref=fredperrotta.com)
  - 1 smaller bag for everything else (toothbrush, razor, floss, etc.)
- Laptop
- Kindle
- Pouch with charger and cables
- EarPods
- Notebook and pen
- Wallet
- Passport
- Phone
- Water bottle
- 2 pill bottles: melatonin and acetaminophen

## In Conclusion

If you're willing to do laundry, you can pack everything you *need* for more than a week in just a carry on.

Small bag, light load, total freedom.

If you still need help going carry-on-only, [email me](https://www.fredperrotta.com/contact/).