Vietnam Family Holiday
A Vietnam Family Holiday is surprisingly easy. Vietnamese people live by the “it takes a village” ideal when it comes to children. Someone is always reaching out to pick up your child, or playing peek-a-boo with them. Don’t worry, nobody is trying to steal your baby!
If you wish to skip the overview, scroll down a bit further to see all of my blog posts on Vietnam with kids
Your child’s new-found celebrity status is actually what makes your Vietnam family holiday really easy. Complete strangers are always distracting them for you. Nobody seems to be mind if your baby is grizzly, or your toddler is ‘spirited’. Basically the pressure is off!
I travelled with my husband and young kids from Hanoi in the North, down to Phu Quoc Island in the South, stopping at various places in between.
Great Places to Visit on Your Vietnam Family Holiday
Hoi An
Hoi An was one of our favourite places in Vietnam due to the beaches, charming city and proximity to My Son ruins. This city is easily explored on foot and so is the Hoi An Ancient Town area which is UNESCO listed. Check out my post on Hoi An With Kids for more information on what to expect and things to do in Hoi An.
I recommend staying at the Hoi An Beach Resort. It’s in a fantastic location between Cua Dai Beach and the De Vong River. The staff even surprised us with a cake for our daughters 1st birthday! In nearby Danang, the Centara Sandy Beach Resort is another upmarket choice. The beach here was really lovely when we visited.
Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh was great because it’s not an overly chaotic or large city. It’s also not pretty but it’s a convenient place to base yourself to explore all the beautiful rural surrounds. Most people only visit as a day tour from Hanoi, but it’s worth taking your time for a few days here. Ninh Binh is easily accessible via a two hour train ride from Hanoi, bus or private transfer.
I recommend staying at the Legend Hotel on the outskirts of the city. It’s an upmarket hotel with large rooms, incredible food and very helpful staff. Check out my post on Escaping the Chaos to Ninh Binh for more information on why we enjoyed Ninh Binh so much.
Hanoi
The Old Quarter of Hanoi is incredibly chaotic and fascinating. Although I wouldn’t spend more than a few days here, there is plenty of things to see and do. Watch how the locals cross the road before you attempt it yourself.
I can’t recommend the hotel we stayed at because it was, well……gross. Check out Agoda for some great deals and make sure you tick the box that only brings up hotels with excellent guest ratings.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh (formerly known as Saigon) is now officially my favourite large asian city. I really wasn’t expecting to like it and only planned two days there before we flew out. I could easily spend another couple of days here! It’s just a pleasant city with great food, plenty of things to do and it’s easy to get around on foot.
This city is one of the few places in Vietnam with enough sidewalk area to easily maneuver a stroller or pram. I recommend staying at the Grand Hotel Saigon if your budget allows it. It’s quite expensive as far as Vietnam goes, but it’s always lovely to end your holiday with a couple days of luxury before heading back home to reality.
Check out my post on Ho Chi Minh City With Kids for ideas on what to do with the kids here.
…for next time
The next time we set off on a Vietnam family holiday, I plan to explore the rural areas in the North, like Sapa and also spend some extra time on the beaches. I’ll also make sure we spend a few days at Halong Bay, as lack of time meant that we had to choose between Halong Bay and Ninh Binh for this trip.
