The tourism industry in Vietnam has grown tremendously since the mid 90’s. In Vietnam, you have the opportunity to create a family trip that suits everyone’s needs because it is still relatively cheap to travel and easy to find activities that the whole family will enjoy. Here are my top 3 specific travel tips for those of you travelling with children.
PLAN AN ACTIVITIES BASED TRIP
An easy way to keep you and the kids happy during a trip to Vietnam is to plan activities that are ‘hands-on’, but still appeal to both the younger and older crowd.
Northern Vietnam
Halong Bay is a great spot for family friendly adventure in Vietnam. During most cruises in Halong Bay, there are plenty of opportunities to kayak in the bay, swim in the ocean, lay on the beach, go squid fishing or take cooking classes.
Halong Bay
Hanoi, being the capital of Vietnam, has many museums and landmarks that you can visit. If you want to enjoy some open space, the parks near Hoan Kiem lake are usually not too crowded and there is plenty of room for kids to run around.
Central Vietnam
The culture and environment in central Vietnam can be quite diverse from city to city. Along the coast, you will have many opportunities to enjoy water sports. In contrast to Nha Trang and Mui Ne, Hoi An is a much more relaxed town and is a place to experience a different city vibe in Vietnam.
Southern Vietnam
One of the biggest appeals of Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and chaotic nature of the city. If you want to take some time away from the chaos, I recommend visiting Dam Sen Water Park or Suoi Tien Amusement Park. The Mekong Delta is also a nice family friendly destination.
Check the Weather – The weather in Vietnam is incredibly varied not just by latitude but also by time of year. The last thing you want is to be stuck somewhere that is blazing hot or currently in typhoon season.
Ho Chi Minh City
STAY SAFE
It is well known that the lifestyle in many parts of Vietnam is chaotic, to say the least. I highly recommend taking planes or trains from city to city rather than a bus. Fortunately, most cities, even small ones, have airports so very few places in Vietnam are inaccessible by plane. Crossing the road in Vietnam is a bit of an art. Make sure that your kids walk between you and cross in a straight line.
Getting Lost – Losing your children in a sea of traffic and people is a parent’s worst nightmare. Take every precaution and keep a piece of paper with them with all the necessary information for them to find their way back to you.
STAY HEALTHY
Short vacations can be easily ruined when children get sick. Vietnam can be a very hectic place. That, combined with the heat and pollution, can really wear you and your family down. When travelling with kids to a new country, eating healthy is a big issue. I encourage you to be smart with food choices. It may be a good idea to bring food items that your kids are familiar with if they decide not to eat local food.
Water Safety: Make sure that your family, and kids especially, have received all their recommended shots before coming to Vietnam. Be sure to drink bottled water only and even brush teeth with bottled water.
Some areas in Vietnam like the Mekong Delta are quite swampy and mosquito ridden so use strong insect to avoid any issues and bring anti-itch cream with you.
