How to do Vietnam with kids
- Asia Family Traveller
- 5 hours ago
- 10 min read
Get the best out of your next family trip with our exclusive guide to family-friendly Vietnam
Vietnam with kids - the southeast Asian country is one of the most popular regional holiday destinations
Hanoi
Vietnam’s busy capital will keep you on your toes. There’s plenty to see and do - just watching the never-ending stream of cyclos, motorbikes and mopeds pour down the city streets is mesmerising enough.
Hanoi has a rich history; it has been the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, with most Vietnamese dynasties leaving their mark. The name ‘Hanoi’ means ‘inside the river’ and the city is indeed bordered by the Red and Black Rivers.
When the French took control of Vietnam in 1888, Hanoi became the capital of all of French Indochina and one of the most important cities in the region. As a result of this abundant heritage, the city hosts more cultural sites than any other in Vietnam.
To this day it retains a strong French influence which is evident in both its architecture and cuisine. Head to the French Quarter for elegant French buildings and wide, leafy boulevards. The Hanoi Opera House and the Presidential Palace are both prime examples of French colonial architecture in the city.
Hanoi underwent rapid development after the Vietnam war but favourably for the city, the government implemented a low-rise policy around Hoàn Kiem Lake in the heart of the city. Take a stroll around the lake, or plunge into the labyrinth of laneways that make up the Old Quarter, with traditional shops and landmarks that date back to the 14th century.
Where to stay
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel Hanoi
Vietnam with kids - the historic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel has a war bunker beneath its pool
The century-old Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel Hanoi sits in the heart of Hanoi’s old city and is a recognised heritage landmark. It has recently emerged from an extensive refurbishment of its Heritage Wing and for families offers connecting rooms, babysitting services and child-friendly menus. The outdoor pool is also an attractive draw for children wanting to escape the heat. Don’t miss the historic tour of the hotel’s underground bunker, a warren of bomb shelters and tunnels hidden beneath the hotel’s Bamboo Bar.
What to do
Cyclo tour of the Old Quarter
Picking your way around the 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter can be a challenge. For a more relaxed experience (and to give little legs a rest) hire a local cyclo driver - check prices with your hotel concierge before bartering.
Train Street
A perennial favourite on social media, Hanoi’s Train Street is tucked away in a narrow alleyway of the Old Quarter, not far from Hanoi Railway Station. The railway tracks run through the street, squeezing past houses and cafés, and trains cause quite a stir when they pass through.
Water puppet show
Vietnam with kids - Hanoi is famous for its water puppet shows
Enjoy this traditional form of Vietnamese theatre that dates all the way back to the 11th century. The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is one of the most famous venues in town and shows last around an hour.
Museum of Ethnology
There are 54 ethnic groups that make up the Vietnamese population, find out more at this fun and engaging destination with traditional Vietnamese stilt houses to explore and displays highlighting cultural ways of life.
Food tour
Combining walking and eating is a popular way of exploring Hanoi. Book a guide and weave through the city streets, stopping to try Vietnamese delicacies like bun cha (grilled pork and noodles), banh mi (meat and herb-stuffed baguette) and ca phe trung (sweet coffee with egg yolks).
Halong Bay
Vietnam with kids - messing about in boats at Halong Bay
Three hours from Hanoi is Halong Bay, a must-visit destination on any northern Vietnamese holiday itinerary.
The area is made up of towering limestone formations that rise from the emerald waters of the bay. Book a cruise - you can sail for a half or full day or head out for a longer stay, sleeping onboard - and explore the magnificent karsts dotted throughout the bay. Discover ancient grottos, view floating fishing villages, snorkel, dive, hike, kayak and even rock-climb.
The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and takes its name from
Vietnamese legend. Ha Long means ‘the descending dragon’ and according to myth, a mother dragon and her children soared across the sky releasing jewels and emeralds into the sea which are said to have shaped the towering limestone karsts that make the area so popular today.
Where to stay
InterContinental Halong Bay Resort
Vietnam with kids - InterContinental Halong Bay Resort has great views over the bay
This recently opened hotel is positioned as an ideal stay option pre- or post-cruise. The hotel takes its watery design cues from the surrounding area; the lobby is inspired by Vietnam’s traditional bamboo basket boats and rooms featuring turquoise blue upholstery and textures and hues that replicate rippling water and iridescent pearls. Facilities include six dining spaces, a spa and ‘recreational programming’, with beach volleyball and archery, a Planet Trekkers kids’ club, a games room with a cinema and three outdoor pools. The hotel can also arrange cruises on Halong Bay.
How to get there
For northern Vietnam, fly into Hanoi International Airport. Halong Bay is around a two-hour drive from the airport.
Hoi An
Vietnam with kids - explore the lantern-strewn laneways of Hoi An
Pretty Hoi An is an incredibly well-preserved example of a 15th century Southeast Asian trading port. Its Old Town is UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed and is a fusion of Japanese, Chinese and European influences. It’s particularly renowned for its meandering, bougainvillea-filled laneways and delicious restaurants. The town really comes alive after dark as diners spill onto terraces and lanterns float ethereally along the Thu Bon River.
Explore the Old Town with its pastel-hued timber frame houses, pagodas and markets. The surviving wooden structures and street plan remain intact, showcasing a traditional hundreds-year-old townscape. The town continues to function as a trading port and centre of commerce. There is a ban on vehicles in the Old Quarter making it particularly conducive to exploring with children.
Away from the town, families can head to An Bang or Cua Dai beaches, or take a basket boat tour of the canals of the Bay Mau coconut forest. Older children will enjoy the many foodie bicycle tours on offer which take you across town and out to the paddy fields, organic farms and riverside eateries. Many restaurants in Hoi An also offer traditional Vietnamese cooking classes which are a fun way of introducing kids to the local cuisine.
Where to stay
Marriott Resort & Spa Non Nuoc Beach Villas
Vietnam with kids - there's plenty for families at this beachfront resort
While Hoi An does offer hotel accommodation, the kids might prefer the seaside city of Danang which is no more than an hour away and offers a plethora of sandy beaches and international resort options. Marriott Resort & Spa Non Nuoc Beach Villas is an all-villa resort on Danang’s beautiful Non Nuoc beach and just 20 minutes from Danang International Airport. The resort boasts five dining and social venues plus a wide range of leisure activities, including a beachfront pool, spa, kids’ club and two tennis courts. Villas are generously-sized with two, three and four-bed configurations and some with private pool.
Hue
Vietnam with kids - fishing at dusk on the Perfume River
History-rich Hue sits on the banks of the idyllic-sounding Perfume River. It was the capital of unified Vietnam from 1802 and was the political, cultural and religious centre of the country under the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam’s last royal dynasty, which lasted from 1802 until 1945. As such, the city is strewn with UNESCO-designated imperial palaces, temples and tombs.
Visitors head to the Imperial City, a sprawling citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty with a moat, fortified city walls, palaces and shrines. Other sites to see include Thien Mu Pagoda perched on a hill overlooking the river, Dong Ba Market with local crafts and food and Thanh Toan Bridge, a charmingly tile-roofed historic bridge. Boat trips are also available on the Perfume River, known for its fragrant flowers and beautiful scenery. Another highlight is the Incense Village where visitors can view the incense-making process. Hue is 100kms from Danang, a journey of around two-and-a-half hours.
How to get there
Hue is a two-hour drive from Danang.
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam with kids - commemoration of the Vietnamese Communist revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh
Buzzing Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is named for a Vietnamese Communist revolutionary who served as the president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945 to 1969. Ho Chi Minh is predominantly known for leading the country’s fight for independence from French colonial rule and against the US in the Vietnam War.
This populous city (it has more inhabitants than Hanoi) offers a wide range of attractions, including many historical landmarks, markets and dining experiences. It’s particularly well known for great coffee stops.
Sites worth the trip include the War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Thanh Market and the Independence Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace. Head to Ben Nghe Streetfood Market for a smorgasbord of affordable casual dishes. Or for a dose of French Colonial architecture, the Saigon Opera House is a must-see.
Where to stay
Park Hyatt Saigon
Vietnam with kids - cool off in the courtyard at Park Hyatt Saigon
One of the best hotels in the city, Park Hyatt Saigon, sits in the heart of the action and is walking distance from many attractions. This French colonial-style property was built in the 1950s and served as a US military base during the war. Notable occupants include DJ Adrian Cronauer, who was the inspiration for the film ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’. The building was renovated and opened as the Park Hyatt Saigon in 2005. The hotel’s al fresco courtyard pool is particularly lovely after a hot day’s sightseeing.
What to do
Cu Chi Tunnels
Explore the network of tunnels at Cu Chi war memorial park. The tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War and were used by Viet Cong soldiers as weapon stores, makeshift hospitals and living quarters.The Cu Chi Tunnels are located on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City and around 70kms from the city centre.
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden
One of the world’s oldest zoos, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden was opened in 1869. Today, it contains nearly 600 animals of 125 species and almost 2,000 trees and plants, some of which are over 100 years old. The space is divided into an animal conservation area, a plant conservation area, an orchid garden and an amusement park.
Landmark 81
Vietnam with kids - Landmark 81 dominates the Ho Chi Minh skyline
At 81 floors, this is the tallest building in Vietnam and the second tallest building in southeast Asia. The SkyView observation deck on floors 79 to 81 offers sweeping 360-degree views of the city, stretching across the urban sprawl to the Saigon River and the horizon beyond. Downstairs is shopping and an international-standard ice rink.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta trips from Saigon are popular, with one-day excursions or multi-day tours offered. A one-day trip might include a visit to a coconut farm and a local lunch and can also be combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels (see above). Longer trips involve overnight stays in homestays and visits to floating markets.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street
This is a popular pedestrian-only zone in District 1, stretching from the Saigon River to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building. Stroll the street and enjoy the lively atmosphere and live street performances. The historic Café Apartment Building is a popular stop, filled with shops and cafés. At night, the street is beautifully illuminated.
Cam Ranh and Nha Trang
Vietnam with kids - acres of sand down on the beach at Cam Ranh
Cam Ranh and Nha Trang are popular beach destinations in Southern Vietnam and benefit from recently reopened direct flight routes with Hong Kong.
Nha Trang is a good destination if snorkelling and beach days are your family’s thing, with plenty of sand and turquoise waters. Nha Trang was recently voted one of Asia’s most exciting upcoming dive destinations, with plenty of colourful marine life and conservation spaces. The Hon Mun Marine Protected Area boasts clear waters and abundant reef life for divers to explore. For beaches, .Nha Trang city beach is popular, but other sandy strips to explore include Doc Let, Bai Dai, Hong Chong and Robinson beaches. The nearby islands of Hon Lan and Hon Tre are also worth the trip.
Just south of Nha Trang lies Cam Ranh, once a US military base and now opened for tourism. The quaint city is considered an upscale alternative to Nha Trang with golden sands and family-friendly resorts dotted along a peninsula that faces the South China Sea. Top spots for lazing beside the balmy waters include Bai Dai beach and Binh Lap and Binh La islands.
Where to stay
Alma Resort Cam Ranh
Vietnam with kids - water park fun at Alma Resort
With no fewer than 12 pools and 14 dining areas, Alma Resort in Cam Ranh has plenty for everyone. The resort offers 580 suites and pavilions; the three-bed beachfront pavilions come particularly recommended featuring a private pool, dining area, living area and kitchen and all just a stone’s throw from the beach. The expansive array of dining options mean even the pickiest of eaters are catered for; at breakfast, there’s a full daily buffet at Alma Garden as well as a (quieter) à la carte option at La Casa. Kids will love the Splash Water Park with a lazy river, water slides, wave pool and a kids’ pool. There’s also a science museum, cinema, youth club, kids’ club and 18-hole putting green. More sports include football, tennis, basketball, volleyball and archery.
Phu Quoc Island
Vietnam with kids - lazy days on Phu Quoc Island
Fringed with picture postcard white-sand beaches and covered in tropical jungle, Phu Quoc Island in the Gulf of Thailand is quickly becoming the Southeast Asian destination of choice for families seeking an easy fly ‘n’ flop island option. Similar in size to Phuket, Phu Quoc is much less developed but has no shortage of quality accommodation. Once a sleepy backwater, nowadays the island is host to myriad luxury international hotels and dining experiences.
Phu Quoc Island is great for families with child-friendly attractions like VinWonders Phu Quoc (Vietnam’s largest theme park), Vinpearl Safari and the Hòn Thom Cable Car. There’s also a shopping and entertainment complex, Grand World Phu Quoc.
Phu Quoc Island benefits from recently introduced daily direct flights with Hong Kong courtesy of HK Express.
Where to stay
Vietnam with kids - JW Marriott Emerald Bay offers three pools with a dedicated kids' pool
JW Marriott Emerald Bay Phu Quoc promises a quirky beachside stay at its Bill Bensley-designed resort. The resort has been designed as a 1920s art deco-style university with huge attention to detail. Accommodation is arranged according to faculty and includes large bathrooms with tubs and showers and deep, covered balconies. Three, shady pools run along a grassy strip fronting onto the creamy sands of Khem Beach. For families, there’s a dedicated kids’ pool and shallow paddling on the beach, as well as a children’s club, craft space and plenty of sports and watersports on offer. Dining options include breezy breakfasts on the verandah at Tempis Fugit, watching the world go by.
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