Help! The Waitress Stole my Baby!
…Travelling in Vietnam With Children …
My heart was pounding in my chest. Where is she? She was here a second ago. The waitress was playing peek-a-boo with her and now I can’t see her!
I stood up quickly, spilling my glass of water, and scanned the room. My husband was attempting to convince our three and a half year old that spring rolls were indeed edible. The people at the table next to us were deep in conversation. Why aren’t they looking worried!
I opened my mouth to shout, “Help, the waitress stole my baby!”, and then my eyes fell to the piano in the corner, less than ten metres away. I spotted my 11-month-old baby girl, sitting on the waitress’s lap, bashing the piano with her chubby fists in the way that young children do. She looked over at me, smiled, and continued her assault on the piano. Nobody seemed to mind the awful noise she was making.
I, on the other hand, slumped back down into my seat in relief. I felt stupid for over-reacting so badly and thinking the worst. Although this was the first time, it certainly wasn’t the last time a waitress stole my baby when exploring Vietnam with my children.
Vietnam welcomes children and it’s amazing!
Although a little confronting the first time, it is not uncommon for Vietnamese people (especially waitresses) to reach their arms out to young children. In fact, it seems normal here to go out of your way to make baby talk with a stranger’s child, or attempt to interact with them. If your child is happy enough, they will indeed pick her up and walk around the restaurant with her, introducing her to all the other staff and guests.
Not only are children welcome in Vietnam but they are also treated like VIP’s everywhere they go. Especially foreign children! If you were to stroll past a group of Vietnamese women, it is unlikely you will make it past without at least one squeeze of baby’s chubby thighs, or some very serious baby talk and fits of giggles when baby smiles back at them.
Kids are a fantastic icebreaker when travelling. It is so easy to strike up a conversation in Vietnam with children; in fact, a friendly local usually just comes over and starts up the conversation for you. They are genuinely interested in how old and what gender your kids are, and funnily enough, what they like to eat.
Vietnamese people will even ask to take photos with your children. I found this a little weird at first, as back home, taking photos of other people’s children is a bit of a red flag. You can say no, of course. However, I quickly realised it is all very innocent and you will usually be shown photos of grandchildren, children, nieces and nephews in return.
This warm welcome, combined with great food, cheap public transport and affordable accommodation ensures that Vietnam is a strong contender for one of the best places to take holidays with your kids.
My advice for exploring Vietnam with children?
Give in to the welcoming nature of the Vietnamese people. By the end of your travels through Vietnam with children, this ‘it takes a village’ culture will have become a breath of fresh air. Where else in the world will you receive such a warm welcome in a restaurant with young kids.
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!
