Charging the iPhone 4 from a power outlet in Vietnam

A guide showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet with the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a three pin Type G power adapter, recharging the iPhone 4 using a 2 pin Type A power charger and how to power the iPhone 4 using a Type C USB plug

Vietnamese power outlet

When organizing a trip it's useful to know if you can power all your devices at your hotel. However, by not knowing which wall socket is being used in Vietnam you are more likely to bring the wrong adaptor, therefore needing to borrow a potentially expensive charger when you're there that could be incompatible. Various combinations of region codes and sockets can often lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country, especially to the first time traveller. These instructions have been written to help assist people wanting to power the iPhone 4 when they are abroad.The following useful guide tells you exactly what you'll need to charge the iPhone 4 when you're travelling to Vietnam using their standard G, A or C type Vietnamese 220 volt 50Hz power outlets, you'll discover a majority of Vietnamese typically use Type G power outlets. If you are travelling to Vietnam from a different region please check the iPhone 4 can be used with a 240 volt supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110v) ensure that your device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to prevent the device from overloading when powering up. If you plan on travelling to a Vietnamese city like Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang please refer to the wikipedia entry about Vietnam [1] for more indepth information. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 4.

Charging the iPhone 4 in Vietnam

Can you use the iPhone 4 in Vietnam?

You can use the iPhone 4 in Vietnam.

What is the best power adapter for recharging the iPhone 4 in Vietnam?

If you are travelling with more than your iPhone 4 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 4 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 4 in Vietnam?

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

A guide showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet with the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a three pin Type G power adapter.

  1. To charge your iPhone 4 using the Vietnamese power outlet you will need to use 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. Insert the Type G USB power plug adapter into the Vietnamese power outlet. This power outlet, sometimes known as a Type G power outlet [3], looks like three rectangular slots containing shutters forming a triangle pattern for live, neutral and ground pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Turn on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 4 is powering up and takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type G USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet with the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a 3 pin Type A power adapter.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 4 using the Vietnamese power outlet you will need to buy 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. Start by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. This ungrounded plug supply (technically called the Type A power outlet [6]) can be recognised by 2 thin slots next to each other where the live and neutral pins sit.
  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 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  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 4 is powering up taking roughly 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Vietnamese power outlet

Using the Apple USB 30 pin connector with a 2 pin Type C power adapter to recharge your iPhone 4 with a Vietnamese power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPhone 4 from a Vietnamese power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple will usually include this USB cable with the iPhone 4).
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter in the wall supply. You can identify the power supply by the two holes adjacent to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect one end of the charging cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 dock connector is found at bottom of the iPhone 4.
  4. Turn on the Vietnamese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging, typically taking between 1 to 4 hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 4 from a Vietnamese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia entry about Vietnam
  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 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..