Backpacks

These days I use a soft cabin bag, which converts to either a travel pack, shoulder bag, or hand held suitcase. It cost only $30 in Adelaide and has been on many trips to Vietnam, and even to China. I find it more convenient that a suitcase with wheels. You won't need a lot of luggage.

same quality if you select well and much cheaper
They are cheap knockoffs. The quality is not the same as a real version.

Good, medium sized and REAL north face backpacks for under $20.

Unless they were stolen out of the factory, they are not real TNF packs.

I'm with you there, #11. Last time I checked the price of a pair of Nike shoes in Saigon, it was very much the same as in the U.S..

I'd love to hear if anybody can tell me where exactly you can get those "cheap knockoffs". Although many things are made in VN & then shipped out to other countries, but that doesn't mean that you will find great deals there.

We arrived in Hanoi with backpacks, and bought a smallish, hard-sided rolling suitcase from one of the shops near the water puppet theatre to carry around our touristy souvenir tat and gifts. We got it for maybe a bit more than 20 bucks. It survived the trip fine, but we didn't take a bus tour, so we don't know what they allow.

I agree that those bags you see with North Face tags are probably not real. The Vietnamese have a healthy disrespect for brand ownership and are clever enough to have figured out what makes people think something is authentic. Still, though, tug at the zippers, test the straps, and if you're satisfied, what's the big deal?

In conclusion: organized tour. Wheeled hard shelled suitcase...Samsonite. Buy a fake daypack locally.