Vietnam: electric plug type?
 

Hi
I have read conflicting reports about what types of plug sockets there are in Vietnam and am confused about what type of convertor plug to take for my stuff inc. iPOD charger! Can anyone advise?
Thanks a lot
Cathy

This web site will solve your dilemmas re electricity permanently. Type in Electricity Around the World -- gives you all the nations, all the plug types, all the various voltages.

to USNR: What a fabuloius web site. thank you. now, do I need an adaptor as well as the plugs for SEA? what kind of adaptor (for dig camera charger.)

By "an adaptor" do you mean something that will allow your flat-pronged American-type charger to be plugged into the two-round-holes that you find in SE Asia? I simply put my Canon recharger (which works on either 110 v or 220 v) into the back of my two-hole gizmo that goes into the wall outlet. If you have questions once you get there, I would ask anyone at the hotel desk. This must be a common question there.

well, I think I am talking about 2 things. the first is the plug itself that accepts my charger's plug and 'adapts" (i.e.: fits into an Asian wall outlet). the other is the converter that goes between the adapter and the asian wall outlet. obviously, I am challenged in this area. can you help?

<b>Janak626 &amp; others -</b>

I know you been asking about this on two current threads, but I hope this will answer it. First look at the stuff sold at Brookstone:

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/thumb...egory_code=497

An <b>adapter</b> doesn't change the voltage. It simply lets you plug into the wall socket. Your appliances or charges must say something like 110-240V or 110/240. There are several styles of these things - all work the same way.

A <b>converter</b> changes 200-240 voltage into 110. It is required if your appliances or charger only take 110V. However, you may see that one converter that Brookstone sells says &quot;do not use battery charger, computers,&quot; etc... Seems to me that these types of portable converters may not give you a stable voltage for small current. A converter kit is often an adapter, so you don't need to buy both.

Now, many travel stores or Radioshack sell some of these stuff too. I simply use the Brookstone.com webpage as an example. I am not saying you need to buy them there.

Also, to find out what type of sockets they use in each country, try a page like this one:

http://www.converterstore.com/voltage_chart.htm

Oh, and they sell adapters and conveters there too. And it's almost always cheaper to just buy the seperate adapters you need, instead of a kit like those sold by Brookstone. Or just buy one after you arrive at your destination. And many hotels will provide one for you to use for free if you ask.

<b>Specifc for Janak626 -</b>

You mentioned you want to recharge AA-type batteries in your other post. Now, these above voltage converters probably won't work with the recharger you have. A few things you can do. 1) To find out if the maker of your rechargeable AA batteries make a recharger that works with 200-240V; 2) just buy a recharger that works with the type of batteries you have after you arrive in Southeast Asia; 3) just buy disposable AA batteries when you're there.

<b>CathyY -</b>

Apple makes a very elegant &quot;World Travel Adapter Kit&quot; for use with the white iPod/iBook transformer, part number M8794G/B. It's about $40, from the Apple Store, or anywhere that sells Apple products. Not cheap, but neither is the iPod or anything that Apple makes.

And keep in mind that because of Vietnam's turbulent history in the past century, they use several types of sockets. Read carefully and make sure you have more than just one type.

From memory the most common outlet configurations in Vietnam are the two-round-pin European type and the flat-pin US type. The type of wall outlet (Eur or US) you see isn't invariably a reliable pointer to which voltage (a nominal 110 or 220) your hotel is supplying you with.