The majority of us don’t leave home without our phones. Especially on our travels, where we want to take pictures and create Instagram stories or TikTok videos. Photography enthusiasts even carry a digital camera, although it’s not always easy to pack. Some people also take a selfie stick with them, many others pack an external battery, and the more adventurous among us also take a sports camera. But on top of all that, there’s another useful, less-talked-about gadget we should bring along on our travels: a smart tracker, like the new Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2. Here’s what such a device does and how it came in handy on my recent holiday in Vietnam:

Visiting the Samsung Experience Store

The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 was launched as I was preparing to fly to Vietnam on what was to be the longest and most exciting holiday of my life so far. Samsung contacted me shortly after I arrived and asked if I was interested in testing their new product. I liked the idea. I had two first-generation Galaxy SmartTags with me and found having another smart tracker useful. So I decided to go into the nearest technology store in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) to buy a Galaxy SmartTag2. I was happy to see there was a Samsung store quite close to where I was staying. I had never been to any of the Korean company’s stores before and was impressed by the Samsung Experience Store in downtown Saigon. It’s a large, two-story, beautifully designed shop where you can play with Samsung’s latest phones, headsets, accessories, and other products.

The Samsung Experience Store in Saigon

The store also includes a dedicated area for smarthome products from the Bespoke line, where it’s easy to get a better understanding of the company’s portfolio and choose which products fit your home. I also came across a dedicated gamer area, where you could try out the latest gaming monitors or play games on console and Neo QLED 8K TVs. The service area was also well-spaced, providing a pleasant environment to help customers when they encounter problems. After wandering around a bit to become acquainted with the store, I found the Galaxy SmartTag2 displayed front and center, next to a Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 and Galaxy S23 Ultra

The store employees were polite and helpful. We were able to communicate well in English, a language not widely spoken in Vietnam. So in less than five minutes, I bought a Galaxy SmartTag2 and walked out of the store with it.

Meeting the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2

The first thing I liked about the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 was its shape: this tracker is more narrow and thinner than its predecessor, making it easier to attach to your keys or place in your wallet, purse, or anywhere else. The generous opening at the top makes it easy to attach even to a pet’s collar, unlike the previous generation Galaxy SmartTag.

Galaxy SmartTag2 vs Galaxy SmartTag

The second aspect I liked was how easy it was to install the Galaxy SmartTag2. I unboxed it, and my Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone spotted it immediately. I chose to add it to the SmartThings app, allowed the tracker to use the location information, and followed the steps of the setup wizard.

Galaxy SmartTag2 is quick to install

After less than a minute, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 had the necessary updates and was ready to use, showing me its location on the map.

The location of my SmartTag on the first day of use

After a recent trip to the Netherlands, where my wallet was either lost or stolen, complete with cash, ID, and cards, I decided to get a tracking system for my important items. So I had two Samsung Galaxy SmartTags with me: one to track the backpack I take on my travels and the other to track my wallet. I decided to use the new Galaxy SmartTag2 to track my keys. During my trip to Vietnam, I had many overnight accommodations where I would receive new sets of keys. I attached them to my keychain, alongside the ones for my home in Romania and my new SmartTag2.

How I benefited from using the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2

The tracker proved useful the very next evening after buying it. I had a long day, visiting several Saigon attractions, including the Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda. This site impressed me with the number of Buddha statues inside, as well as its artwork, unique energy, and the spirituality of the people worshiping here. It’s a special place that leaves you with an introspective feeling of well-being.

The Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda

I then went to an art gallery showing the works of contemporary Vietnamese artists. Some of them were beautiful, deserving quiet admiration. Here’s one of my favorite paintings. I felt it was representative of the colors, vegetation, and ambiance in Vietnam.

Vietnam colors in a painting

In the evening, before returning to my room, I enjoyed a delicious meal of Bun bo nam bo, a southern Vietnamese dish made from a mixture of tender beef with crunchy peanuts, bean sprouts, fish sauce, chili peppers, and lots of fresh herbs. Dinner was great, and the conversation with my other Vietnam travel companions was very entertaining. So I also ordered a Saigon beer and stayed for a couple of hours chatting, exchanging experiences and remarks from the day.

Bun bo nam bo is delicious

A few hours later, I was tired and decided to head back to my room. I barely made it inside the building where I was going to sleep when I noticed a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 notification on my phone. It told me I didn’t have my keys with me, just my backpack and wallet.

Oops, I forgot my keys

Needless to say, I panicked a little when I got the notification. Fortunately, I tapped on the icon for my keys, which had the Galaxy SmartTag2 attached to them, and saw on the map that I’d forgotten them where I’d had dinner. I called a fellow group member, who was still in the restaurant. He found them, and then I retrieved them a few minutes later, after walking through the residential complex I was in. And look how a scenario that could have been quite complicated, was resolved quickly and smoothly, without any inconvenience.

I could see on the map where I left my keys

After my stay in Saigon was over, I flew to Phu Quoc Island, a paradise with beautiful beaches, snorkeling spots, and jungle hikes with great views at the end.

Phu Quoc Island is heaven on earth

One evening, I had dinner with my group at a crowded beachfront restaurant. On the way out, the Galaxy SmartTag2 proved useful when I couldn’t find my wallet. I wanted to pay the bill, but couldn’t see it. The SmartThings app told me my wallet was somewhere near me, even though I couldn’t find it. So I used the Search Nearby feature. Guess what: it was on the corner of the table I was sitting at with my group. Someone came in from the beach and put a towel over my wallet, so I couldn’t see it. Another problem solved quickly and easily.

Search Nearby lets you find your SmartTag when it's close, but you can't see it

On my Vietnam holiday, the smart tracking system helped me prevent unpleasant situations and gave me reassurance that important things were always within reach and not lost or stolen. The day I returned, I found out that another person in the group also had a similar smart tracker system and was monitoring the location of their luggage. He’d had problems in the past with lost or delayed bags, and he could now see if his luggage was transferred correctly from one flight to another.

Would you buy a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2?

If you’re interested in learning more about the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2, I recommend this detailed review we published recently. In addition to the experiences I just shared in this article, the review includes technical details about the product and a full list of its features and abilities. Finally, I’m curious about your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2. Do you like what this product has to offer? Would you purchase it to take with you on vacation and keep track of your important items? Comment using the options below, and let’s chat.