Charging the iPhone 3G from a power outlet in Vietnam

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet with the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a 2 pin Type C power adapter, charging the iPhone 3G using a Type G USB charger and charging the iPhone 3G using a two pinned Type A power adapter

Vietnamese power outlet

When organizing a holiday it's useful to know in advance if you'll be able to charge all your vital gadgets that you are bringing along. But by not knowing which wall socket is used in Vietnam you are likely to bring the wrong adaptor, thereby leaving you having to purchase a potentially expensive adaptor on arrival that could be incompatible and damage the iPhone 3G. Various combinations of voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country especially for the first time traveller. With only a handful of different types of plug sockets used throughout the world this guide shows exactly what you'll need to pick up in advance to charge your iPhone 3G . This guide has been written to prevent visitors having to worry if they can charge the iPhone 3G when they're travelling to Vietnam.If you're planning a holiday to Vietnam the following useful instructions show how to charge your iPhone 3G by using their standard G, A or C type Vietnamese 220 volt 50Hz plug outlets, Type G wall outlets are typically used by most Vietnamese. When travelling to Vietnam from a different country please check the iPhone 3G can accept a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) make sure that the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional power transformer to avoid the device from being damaged when charging it. If you plan on staying in a place such as Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi please refer to the Vietnamese Wikipedia page [1] for more indepth information. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 4 or greater on the iPhone 3G.

Charging the iPhone 3G in Vietnam

Can you use the iPhone 3G in Vietnam?

You can use the iPhone 3G in Vietnam.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 3G in Vietnam?

If you are travelling with more than your iPhone 3G the best international travel adapter for Vietnam is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three standards of wall outlets that Vietnamese use (G, A and C) and using a travel adapter like this will ensure that you are covered for both types A, C and G. As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle from 100 to 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa simply by switching the supplied plugs over. If your type of iPhone 3G supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from faster charging times by using one of these USB travel chargers, plus additional support for certain power hungry devices.

Having a four port adapter means you can recharge multiple devices simultaneously without needing to buy seperate travel chargers on your Vietnamese trip or using up additional power sockets. Only bringing a single international travel charger will keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand luggage while travelling. Because of their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets, phones and e-readers with just a single power outlet.

We recommend buying a versatile power adapter like this at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose travel charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries.

Alternative travel adapter for Vietnam

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices using USB, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These travel adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Vietnam and over 150 destinations:

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

How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Vietnamese power outlet

A guide showing how to power the iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet using a 30-pin Apple cable with a Type G USB charger.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 3G from a Vietnamese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (usually supplied with the device by Apple).
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type G USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the Vietnamese power outlet. This plug supply (technically called the Type G power outlet [3]) looks like 3 vertical holes with plastic shutters in a triangular shape.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Switch on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPhone screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is charging which typically takes around one to four hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for recharging your iPhone 3G from a Vietnamese power outlet

Powering the iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Instructions showing how to recharge your iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet using a 30-pin Apple connector with a Type A USB adapter.

  1. To charge the iPhone 3G from the Vietnamese power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (typically already included with the device by Apple).
  2. First you'll need to plug the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Vietnamese power outlet. You can recognise this plug supply by the 2 thin adjacent slots for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the mains power charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Switch on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 3G screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the mobile is charging and takes around one to four hours to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet with the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a 2 pin Type C power adapter.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 3G using the 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], typically already included with the device by Apple.
  2. Start by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the power supply. This ungrounded plug supply, also known as a Europlug, can be recognised by 2 round holes adjacent to each other where the live and neutral pins slide into.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3G.
  4. Turn on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your cell will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 3G is powering up which typically takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3G with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Vietnamese Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3G 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 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..