Is Vietnam family friendly?

To cut a long story short … yes, Vietnam is incredibly family friendly. Here’s why you should consider Vietnam for your next family vacation.

Vietnamese people love kids

In fact, kids are treated like VIP’s everywhere. The ‘it takes a village’ culture that you experience when travelling in Vietnam with young kids is a breath of fresh air. This alone makes Vietnam one of the most family friendly destinations in the world.

^{Ripley (aged 3.5 years) helping out at Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh, Vietnam} ^{© Jessica Palmer}

Luxury accommodation at affordable prices

It doesn’t get much more family friendly than luxury at affordable prices and Vietnam is great value for money. I’m not saying that luxury is dirt cheap. However, for around AU$100 – $200 a night you can get a standard of accommodation that would be AU$350 upwards in Australia.

If you don’t need five-star resorts, even better! Just make sure the property has good reviews before booking.

^{Long Beach Resort on Phu Quoc Island} ^{© Jessica Palmer}

Cheap and easy public transport

Train travel is exceptionally cheap and easy here. You can opt for different class carriages with either hard seats and no air-conditioning or soft seats with air-conditioning. Don’t assume the most expensive tickets in Vietnam are the most family friendly as sometimes the lower cost tickets result in a near-empty carriage like the one below.

^{The cheapest ticket! Hard seats with no air-conditioning and a virtually empty carriage © Jessica Palmer}

Affordable private transport

Affordable private transport makes getting around Vietnam particularly family friendly. Tours can be hard with young kids as you can’t really stop randomly for a snack or toilet break or change your plans if required. Taxis are relatively cheap, as is a private driver for half a day. Just ask your hotel which Taxi companies are reputable in your area.

^{Getting around in a row boat © Jessica Palmer}

Food for the pickiest of eaters

If your kids don’t like noodles, there is a noticeable French influence lurking around every corner. Combine that with lots of fresh fruit and smoothies and it’s not hard to find something every family member is happy with. Most hotels/resorts sell comforting international foods like spaghetti and pumpkin soup.

Solving the picky eater problem makes Vietnam incredibly family friendly.

^{A fresh fruit smoothie for this little picky eater….who then couldn’t drink it because it was yellow © Jessica Palmer}

Active family travel

There are lots of activities in Vietnam that are family friendly, even with young kids. Hire pushbikes, learn how to use a bowl boat, explore a city by foot, take a cooking class, hike through rural areas or burn off some energy playing at the beach.

^{I just love these round coracle style boats © Jessica Palmer}

War history

Vietnam’s war history is fascinating, depressing and well-documented. Visiting the various museums and of course, the famous Cu Chi tunnels are a great opportunity for kids to learn about the war.

It’s also a good opportunity to see information from the Vietnamese perspective. The warm remnants museum in Ho Chi Minh City is very informative, and when the kids get bored, there is a well-stocked playroom on the 3rd floor making it one of the most family friendly museums in Vietnam.

^{US Army Tank at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City © Jessica Palmer}

Culturally fascinating

Officially, Vietnam is an Atheist state, however, many of its citizens are religious with the three main religions being Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. This is a great opportunity to visit beautiful pagodas and temples and learn about a different way of life.

^{Bich Dong Pagoda in Ninh Binh, Vietnam © Jessica Palmer}

Beaches

No holiday is complete without a family friendly side trip to the beach and Vietnam has some great ones! Popular places include Hoi An, Nha Trang, Danang, Hue and Phu Quoc Island.

^{A beach in Hoi An, Vietnam © Jessica Palmer}

It feels safe

When you are travelling in Vietnam, it feels safe. The people are peaceful, and in general, most people are welcoming. There doesn’t seem to be as much ‘scamming’ as in other South East Asian countries.

You should still take the usual precautions, such as not making it easy for pickpockets and only using reputable taxi companies. But in general, Vietnam is up there for being safe and therefore family friendly.

Looking for more awesome family holiday destinations?

For more information on visiting Vietnam, make sure to visit our Vietnam page. Alternatively, head back to the home page for inspiration on more destinations worldwide.

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Resources for booking a family holiday to Vietnam

Flights

Most international flights will land in either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Search Trip.com for a great deal on flights to Vietnam.

Accommodation

We have stayed at and loved the following hotels and resorts in Vietnam:

HOI AN – The Hoi An Beach Resort
NINH BINH – The Legend Hotel
PHU QUOC Island – Long Beach Resort
HO CHI MINH CITY – The Grand Hotel Saigon

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend the hotel we stayed at in Hanoi as it was less than ideal!

Activities and tours

Viator is a great choice when it comes to selecting activities and tours. Just click on the banner below!

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Is Vietnam family friendly?