Shopping essentials
Shopping essentials: what to bring, and what to buy in your first week
Your luggage is limited; Walmart is minutes from campus. The rule is simple: bring what is hard to find in the US or needed on night one, and buy locally whatever is bulky, cheap or tied to 110V power. Here is the list, in the order you will actually need it.
US power
110V · flat A/B plugs
Buy first week
Bedding · kitchen · toiletries
Getting there
University shuttle, four days a week
Winter coat
Buy in the US, October–November
Shopping essentials
How to split your luggage
International tickets usually allow two checked bags. It sounds like plenty until you start packing. The simplest split: one bag for clothes and personal items you need immediately, one for things that are hard or expensive to buy in the US — mainly prescription medication, dry seasonings, and a few familiar items that make the first weeks easier.
Do not bring bulky things Walmart or Target sell for less than your excess baggage fee: blankets, pillows, towels, pots, hangers, storage bins. And do not bring 220V appliances — the US runs on 110V with flat plugs, and running 220V equipment through a cheap converter is the fastest way to destroy it or cause an electrical fault in a residence hall.
One small trick that saves your first night: pack a "first 24 hours" bag in your carry-on — toothbrush, towel, a change of clothes, phone charger, personal medication and documents. Long flight, tired arrival, and an empty room waiting.
Bring from Vietnam
- Prescription medication with an English translation of the prescription, enough for the first months
- Glasses plus a spare pair and your prescription (eye care is expensive in the US)
- Commercially packaged dry seasonings with intact labels: stock powder, pepper, cinnamon, star anise
- One formal outfit for conferences, interviews and graduation
- Ao dai or traditional dress for international cultural events
- Original documents: passport, I-20, transcripts, English test certificate, vaccination record
- Small Vietnamese gifts for your roommate and your faculty adviser
Buy in the US
- Blankets, sheets, pillows, towels — bulky and cheaper than baggage fees
- Rice cooker, kettle, pots and pans (correct 110V rating)
- Surge-protected power strips, desk lamp, spare charging cables
- Toiletries, laundry detergent, dish soap
- Winter coat and grippy shoes (buy in October–November when the season stock arrives)
- Stationery, printer paper, a backpack if yours is worn out
- Storage bins, hangers and small shelves to make a dorm room work
Your first-week shopping plan
Three trips rather than one, so you are not carrying everything at once and you learn what your room actually lacks before spending.
| Trip | What to buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day one | Bedding, towels, toiletries, drinking water, quick food for two days | The only group you genuinely need within 24 hours |
| Days 2–3 | Kitchen basics: rice cooker, one pot, one pan, cutting board, knife, containers, dishes | After seeing the shared kitchen you will know how much you need |
| End of week one | Power strips, desk lamp, shelving, hooks, storage bins, room decoration | Organising after a few days of living there works far better |
| October–November | Winter coat, beanie, gloves, shoes with grip | Seasonal stock is full and often discounted |
Do not buy everything on day one. Students routinely over-buy decoration and under-buy basics like power strips and food containers. Living in the room for three days first is the cheapest strategy there is.
Where to shop in Jonesboro
Walmart, Target, Kroger and Aldi are all in town; the supermarket stops sit on the university international shuttle route, which runs Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 4–7 pm and Saturday 10 am–3 pm.
Walmart
The main stop for most students: household goods, kitchenware, toiletries, groceries, basic clothing and everyday electronics — one trip, the friendliest prices.
Target
A little pricier but better dorm goods: bedding, lamps, shelving, decoration. In early August there is usually a dedicated back-to-college section.
Kroger
A full grocery store with good fresh produce and meat; sign up for the free loyalty card on your first visit for member pricing.
Aldi
Fewer choices but the cheapest basics. Bring your own bags and a quarter for the trolley — you get the coin back when you return it.
Source: A-State International Programs · City of Jonesboro · Updated 08/2026
Buying second-hand: cheap, done right
Late April and May, when graduating students clear out their rooms, is the best moment to pick up good equipment for very little: mini fridges, microwaves, fans, desks, even bicycles. Neighbourhoods around Jonesboro also hold garage sales on Saturday mornings — households selling goods on their own driveway, prices negotiable and the atmosphere friendly.
Facebook Marketplace is the most-used channel, especially the groups for A-State students. Small furniture, kitchen items and textbooks all resell for a fraction of new prices. It is also where fake accounts and familiar scams live.
The safety rules never change: meet in a busy public place in daylight (many police stations have a designated exchange zone), bring a friend, pay only after you have seen and tested the item, and never send a deposit to someone you have not met. If a seller pushes urgency or asks for gift-card payment, walk away.
Buying second-hand: cheap, done right
- Meet in public, in daylight, with a friend
- Inspect and test before paying
- No deposits before meeting in person
- Never pay with gift cards or crypto
- For electricals: plug it in and test on the spot, check cable and plug
- For furniture: measure your room before you buy
SIM, eSIM and a US phone number
You need a working phone number the moment you land: to reach whoever is meeting you, to reach the international student office, and to register for nearly every service afterwards. The cleanest route is to activate a travel eSIM before leaving Vietnam, keep your Vietnamese number for bank codes, then move to a US plan once you have an address and a bank account.
Details on eSIMs, carrier options and activation are covered on the Getting to Jonesboro page — read it at least a week before departure so you have time to test your phone.
Winter clothing: the best money you will spend
Jonesboro winters are noticeably colder than Hanoi: January averages 8°C by day and −2°C at night, with occasional snow and a few icy days. A light Vietnamese jacket is not enough, but you also do not need polar equipment.
The best strategy is layering: a thermal base layer, a fleece or wool mid-layer, and a windproof, water-resistant outer coat. Buy in the US in October or November when winter stock lands and discounts appear. Shoes are the item Vietnamese students most often forget: you need closed shoes with real grip, because early-morning ice is genuinely slippery.
Source: NOAA / NWS Memphis — climate normals · Updated 08/2026
Winter clothing: the best money you will spend
- Windproof, water-resistant outer coat rated for 0°C
- Thermal base layers (two or three to rotate)
- Beanie covering the ears, gloves, scarf
- Closed shoes with grip and thick wool socks
- Moisturiser and lip balm — indoor heating is very drying
- A sturdy umbrella or packable rain jacket for the wet spring
Frequently asked questions
Should I bring a rice cooker from Vietnam?
No. The US uses 110V power and flat plugs, while Vietnamese cookers are 220V. Running one through a cheap converter risks the appliance and breaches residence-hall fire rules. Buy a rice cooker at Walmart or Target in your first week.
Is bringing bedding from home cheaper?
No. Bedding eats an enormous amount of luggage space and prices at Walmart or Target are reasonable. Use that space for medication, dry seasonings and documents.
How do I shop in my first week without a car?
Use the international office shuttle (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 4–7 pm and Saturday 10 am–3 pm, stopping at Kroger, Aldi, Walmart and the Asian Food Market) or the GOJO city bus, free with an A-State ID. Orientation week usually includes shopping trips for new students too.
Is Facebook Marketplace safe for second-hand goods?
It is, if you keep the rules: meet in a public place in daylight, bring a friend, inspect and test before paying, never send a deposit in advance, and never pay with gift cards. A seller pushing urgency is your signal to stop.
When should I buy a winter coat?
October or November, in the US. Winter stock is complete, discounts appear, and by then you know how well you handle the cold. Do not buy a heavy coat in Vietnam and carry it over — it takes space and is often not warm enough for the wind here.
How much should I budget for initial shopping?
We do not publish a fixed number because it depends on your room type, whether you buy second-hand and your own habits. Set aside a separate first-week amount on top of your monthly budget, and contact our office for an estimate based on your specific case.
Want a packing checklist for your exact situation?
Our Vietnam office sends a detailed list based on your major, room type and intake season — free of charge.