Is Vietnam family-friendly? It’s a fair question, and one we asked ourselves before taking the plunge with kids in tow. After all, Vietnam can be full-on: noisy scooters buzzing past, busy city streets and a language that’s completely unfamiliar. But that’s only part of the picture. This country also delivers jaw-dropping scenery, kind locals, incredible food (yes, even for fussy eaters), and enough adventure to keep everyone entertained. In this article, we’ll break down what it’s really like to visit Vietnam with kids: what works, what’s tricky, and why it might just be one of your family’s best holidays yet.
The people
Vietnamese people love kids, and in fact, foreign kids are treated like VIP everywhere, especially young ones. The ‘it takes a village’ culture is strong in Vietnam, and to be honest, it’s a breath of fresh air most of the time. It’s not unusual for your waitress to put her arms out towards your baby or toddler and parade them around the restaurant while your little one relishes all the attention. Grizzly young children are well tolerated.
The downside to this? Sometimes groups of women will take photos of your kids unannounced. They don’t mean anything by it, and it’s usually followed by a show and tell of their grandkids on their phone.
Accommodation
It doesn’t get much more family-friendly than luxury at affordable prices. Vietnam is great value for money. I’m not saying that it’s dirt cheap, but it’s significantly more inexpensive and has a better standard for the price than in Australia. If you don’t need five-star resorts, even better!
Cots are often available upon request, but don’t expect anything fancy. Young children are often free if sharing the existing bedding with their parents.
Public transport
Train travel is exceptionally good value in Vietnam. 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 toilets on the trains in Vietnam are most certainly not family-friendly. To put it nicely, they can get quite gross. So, make sure everyone goes before they jump on the train and take a stash of wet wipes and hand sanitiser in case you do have to use them. There is unlikely to be baby change facilities on the train.
In addition, don’t expect any special child seats on public transport and if the train is busy, expect young children to attract attention from all the ladies.
Private transport
Affordable private transport makes getting around Vietnam particularly family-friendly. Group tours can be stressful with young kids, as you can’t stop randomly for a snack or toilet, or change your plans if required. Taxis are relatively affordable compared to other countries, as is a private driver for half a day. If hiring a private driver, you can also request a baby or toddler seat.
Food
If your kids are struggling with unfamiliar food, 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 hot chips, spaghetti and pumpkin soup. Solving the picky eater problem makes Vietnam incredibly family-friendly.
However, don’t expect high chairs to be available at every restaurant. There will be times when your young child will be seated on your lap.
Things to do
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 on foot, take a cooking class, hike through rural areas or burn off some energy playing at the beach.
Learning and cultural opportunities
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 war remnants museum in Ho Chi Minh City is very informative, and while you may consider some of the exhibits a bit too confronting for kids, there is a well-stocked playroom on the third floor, making it one of the most family-friendly museums in Vietnam.
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 these different religions.
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.
In general
One noticeable thing that is not family-friendly in Vietnam are the footpaths and roads. Outside of the main area of Ho Chi Minh City, there is usually either no footpath, or no room on the footpath to maneuver a stroller. This is fine if you’re a baby and toddler wearing family, but for those used to a pram, you’ll need to find an alternative in Vietnam.
As for the roads, they’re just crazy busy in the cities. Cars don’t stop at crossings to let you cross. So, you need to hold your child firmly by the hand, and confidently walk out in front of the traffic, trusting blindly that they will stop for you.
In general though, Vietnam simply feels safe. The people are peaceful and most are welcoming, and ready with a smile, even though you don’t speak the same language. There doesn’t seem to be as much ‘scamming’ as in other Southeast Asian countries, either. Of course, you should still take the usual precautions, such as not making it easy for pickpockets and only using reputable taxi companies. However, in general, Vietnam is up there for being safe and therefore family-friendly.
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