Vietnam with Kids

Is Vietnam a Good Destination for Kids? You Bet it is!

I have wanted to travel to Vietnam my entire life. But, when it came time to take our two small children I was worried it may be the wrong time. My wife and I had talked about biking the country for several years, this, of course, wouldn’t work for this particular gap year, so would we find ourselves frustrated, or disappointed. The answer, as we have found always on this trip, was no. We had a bit of a mishap in Hoi An (as you will see below) and although we had to leave Vietnam on a sad note, we all want to return in the near future. Beautiful, inexpensive, exotic, chaotic and intense are just some of the words I would use to describe Vietnam. Since we didn’t get to visit what many people claim to be the most beautiful part (the north) I can only comment on what I saw. And what I saw leaves me wanting to see a lot more!

Vietnam Photos

Our (Abbreviated*) Vietnam Destination and Accommodation Guide for Families

1. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 4 Nights

Where we stayed: Dragon Palace Hotel District 1 $35 per night

Nice hotel centrally located, comfortable, smallish rooms with a great location. They have a sister hotel next door that is cheaper with bigger rooms and you get the same great breakfast.

WiFi – Excellent

Insiders tip: Make sure you do a Homestay on the Mekong Delta and eat some traditional Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup full of mint!

Ho Chi Ming City (formerly Saigon) is a big bustling city full of people and lots and lots of motorbikes. The main backpacker’s district is centered around district 1 where there is a big central park, tons of booking agents and lots of good places to eat. There is an overpriced central market, the war remnants museum, rooftop bars, and lots to see and do. The small side markets sell live fish and there are many of lively locals. You can pay way too much to take a ride on one of the front riding bicycles or get around much cheaper by private taxi. The city is fairly easy to navigate, but watch out for motorbikes and your kids on the busy streets.

Củ Chi tunnels

The Cu Chi tunnels are horrific and humbling. The tour itself is mostly above ground and culminates with an optional short or long walk through one of the tunnel systems. My son and I chose the short walk, and I can tell you after just 2 minutes below ground I was ready to get out. The experience itself will give you a new respect for the Vietnamese and the sacrifices the locals made during the war. The tour starts with an old black and white propaganda filled video which rightly calls out the Americans as “evil devils” – despite the video our tour guide assured us that the Americans are welcomed here in Vietnam now, and I have felt that way with everyone I meet. The tour takes you on and around the grounds where you will bear witness to animal traps designed to snare human bodies and ingenious systems for ventilation and entrance/exits to a complex tunnel system. This is a must see, that although gruesome in some parts can be done with children in a tasteful way. Just like Cambodia and the Killing fields or the S21 prison, children can gain a respect and understanding of war and the tragedies that ensue when people chose to point guns at one another. It is a hard pill to swallow but one that can be a teaching experience if you do it well.

Mekong Delta – 2 Day Homestay

A trip to Mekong Delta is a must. There are lots of ways to get to the Delta which is a 3-hour bus ride away from Saigon but I think the easiest and the best is to simply book a tour through your hotel or one of the many travel agents that line the backpacker’s district. They will arrange transport and accommodations for you, which takes a lot of pain out of the process. Although it is a bit touristy they will take you to a coconut factory, rice paper factory, fruit farm, a tropical fruit farm and of course the floating market as well as a trip down the Mekong in a traditional Vietnamese boat.  There are 3 options, a one-day tour, or a 2 and 3-day tour with a homestay or a hotel stay. We chose the 2-day tour with a homestay which cost us $45 and had a wonderful experience.

Where we stayed: the Hung family Homestay where the family made us feel at home and culminated with their 18-year old son coloring our son’s hair green! Maybe a lapse in judgment on our behalf, but it made for a great cultural experience!

2. Mũi Né

Where we Stayed: Huang Kim Hotel $26 per night for a family room

The hotel doesn’t seem like much at first, but if you can get one of the bottom floor bungalows you will have direct access to the beach, a nice pool and a great play area for the kids. We ended up really liking our stay here.

WiFi – Excellent

Mui Ne is a small fishing village just 4 hours north of Ho Chi Ming City. it is a logical next stop if you are going from Saigon to Hanoi and Halong Bay. It is best to travel here by passenger bus which is comfortable, air conditioned, $7 per ticket and not too long of a journey. The town itself is one long strip especially tailored for tourists, with lots of places to eat and massage parlors, as well as many hotels and shopping. As you have probably read, it is home to kitesurfing and windsurfing and if you want you can take affordable courses here. We were feeling lazy and instead enjoyed a couple of days of downtime rented mopeds, enjoyed the beach and the pool and took a wonderful walk up Fairy Stream.

Fairy Stream

Fairy Stream is easily accessible, just 5 minutes from our hotel by motorbike. Simply park in one of the designated lots (some are free and others are paid) take off your shoes and start walking up the stream. It is a memorable experience for the family as you stomp through mud, sand, and leeches making your way to the end of the stream where there is a small waterfall. The kids loved it and so did we!

3. Nha Trang

Where we stayed: LeSimoLe Boutique Apartments $60 per night for 8-bed family room with a kitchen (we were staying with grandpa)

Excellent kitchen apartment for families right in the middle of downtown within walking distance to the beach and all the good stuff. I have to admit this apartment was so great we ended up becoming very lazy.

WiFi: Excellent

VinePearl

VinePearl is an amusement park and just happens to be an island boasting the world’s longest air tram. The ride to the island alone is worth the $25 admission fee. With one paid admission you get access to the entire park, including all the rides, a downhill luge, 4D movie theater, water park, wave pool, and aquarium. It makes a great day trip! Be forewarned if you have kids less than 1.3 m they might be a bit disappointed as there are many rides they won’t be tall enough to enjoy.

4. Hoi An

Where we Stayed: Starfruit Homestay

Oh Hoi An, you were such a beautiful little city with such tragic circumstances. This is where our trip through Vietnam was cut short. Just after checking in at the Starfruit Homestay and taking out a bike for a peddle around the city Wendy was struck by a moped while walking her bicycle across the street. This is what happened next…

WiFi: Excellent

Staff: Saved Wendy’s Life!

Next stop – A Cessna airlifted my wife to Bangkok Bumrungrad Hospital where we would meet her the following day.