Visiting Vietnam with kids must be on a thousand family bucket lists. We have been really lucky to have had the chance to visit this dream destination with our two young children recently.

But what was visiting this diverse and rapidly developing Asian country with a toddler and a preschooler really like? Did it meet our expectations? Would we recommend it to our readers? What is there to do in Vietnam with kids? Read on to find out.

Where to visit in Vietnam with kids?

It’s long, slender shape makes Vietnam the perfect destination for a North-South or South-North multidestination family adventure. It’s easy to fly in and out of Hanoi (in the North) and Ho Chi Minh City (in the South). We decided to start in Hanoi in the North and slowly wind our way south.

Years ago as a solo female backpacker, I’d explored a lot of the towns along the coast of Vietnam including the famous Halong Bay and Sapa, a town high in the Northern hills. Travelling with two young children we decided that fewer places for longer would work better. Giving the children a chance to relax and get to know each destination.

DID YOU KNOW?  That Vietnam is home to not one but two amazing museums dedicated to women’s history and culture. If you’re visiting Hanoi be sure to visit the fantastic Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

Things to do in Vietnam with kids

 Vietnam Highlight #1: Ninh Binh

Charming, meandering rivers surrounded by limestone cliffs and vivid green paddy fields make Ninh Binh a magical, must-see family travel destination in Vietnam. Why did we think it was so perfect? Find out in our Ninh Binh with Kids post.

Vietnam Highlight #2: Hoi An

The super family-friendly town of Hoi An may have lost its authenticity but is still the stuff of travellers’ dreams. Lantern festivals, delicious food, beautiful beaches, cafes with playgrounds, buildings steeped in history, ancient ruins and boutique hotels.

Vietnam Highlight #3: Hue

The Perfume River winds through this vibrant modern city built around the elegantly restored Imperial City. Spend a few days here to explore the tombs of long-forgotten Emperors. Find out why Hue is a great place to explore with toddlers.

Vietnam Highlight #4: Vietnamese Women’s Museum

One of the world’s best museums dedicated to the lives, culture and history of women. Don’t miss the excellent Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hanoi

Vietnam Highlight #5: Old Town, Hanoi

Old Town, Hanoi might be bustling and chaotic but you shouldn’t miss it. Read our tips on how to make your visit to Hanoi’s Old Town with toddlers a little less stressful. Make sure you plan 2 days in Hanoi into your Vietnam itinerary.

Our Vietnam Family Travel Tips

• Visiting the large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh can be overwhelming for small children – think traffic, noise, pollution and general bustle. Plan your days with plenty of chill-out time and rest stops.

• Vietnamese food is a great introduction to Asian cuisine for little kids. It’s easy to order non-spicy food with lots of fresh vegetables. Our little ones love fresh summer rolls.

• Travel by train if you can. We were too organised (for once) and booked several domestic flights but train travel is a really easy way to see the country. We caught trains from Da Nang to Hue and from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The kids loved being able to wander around and explore and lay down and play on the sleeper beds.

• Consider a trip to Ninh Binh rather than a Halong Bay boat cruise if you have young children who cannot swim and might struggle to live on a boat (with lots of strangers) for a few days.

• We found some really great Korean-owned soft plays in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau. If the kids are really going wild, pop to a shopping mall and let them loose.

Our 21 day Vietnam itinerary with kids

Our day by day Vietnam itinerary includes all the Vietnam family travel highlights described above as well as some other places that didn’t quite make the ‘highlight’ cut. This itinerary is full of great things to do in Vietnam with kids.

Transport used: We used a whole range of transport during our stay including private car transfers, short-haul flights, trains and mini-vans.

Days 1-3: 2 days in Hanoi

Vietnam’s capital city is bustling, vibrant and busy. Find out why I love Hanoi but Hanoi with toddlers left me ripping my hair out!!

Don’t worry though we still highly recommended this captivating world city. We’ve written you a handy guide of 15 Tips to make exploring Hanoi with a toddler less stressful!

If you’re interested in women’s history, don’t forget to check out the interesting and eye-opening Vietnamese Women’s Museum, Hanoi near Hoan Kiem Lake. 2 days in Hanoi is the ideal amount of time when travelling with kids.

Days 4-6: Ninh Binh

The perfect alternative to Halong Bay when travelling Vietnam with toddlers is Ninh Binh. An area of outstanding natural beauty, sublime limestone karsts, verdant paddy fields and tranquil boat rides Ninh Binh should be a highlight on your Vietnam itinerary with kids.

Check out why we rave about it so much in our post

Days 7-10: Hue

So many tourists skip Hue, the former capital of Vietnam but why? Hue is a fantastic city to explore with young children. The Imperial City is slowly being renovated to its former regal glory. You can cruise down the Perfume River in a traditional houseboat. Oh and the food. The food is so good in Hue.

Find out how we explored Hue with our toddlers and had two (honestly) amazing days there.

TOP FAMILY TRAVEL TIP: Hire a driver to take you between Hue and Hoi An. A day’s drive between the two will give you the chance to visit the beach for a yummy seafood lunch, ascend Marble Mountain and explore its grottos and take some amazing photographs from the top of the Hải Vân pass.

Days 11-14: Hoi An

Of course, you could never leave, Hoi An, the jewel in Vietnam’s tourism crown off your itinerary. Whilst the Old Town may have become seriously gentrified and commercial since my last visit (many, many years ago), we were delighted to find that it’s morphed into an ideal Vietnam family travel destination. Toddlers will love the local beaches, the play cafes (thanks expats!) and exploring the dusty red ruins at My Son.

Days 15 – 18: Vung Tau (or swap for Mui Ne)

We headed to Vung Tau, a popular Vietnamese beach city, in Southern Vietnam to meet up with friends.

Vung Tau was fine for some beach time and catching up with some good friends. The beach was covered with litter at low tide. It gets really crowded at the weekends as thousands of locals from HCMC descend on the beaches. If you stay here with toddlers and it starts raining, there is a super soft-play at the Lotte World Mall.

A more popular independent traveller beach option is the kite-surfing town of Mui Ne a little further north. Alternatively, skip the eastern beaches entirely. Catch a flight to Vietnam’s most famous beach island: Phu Quoc in the southwest of the country.

Day 19-21: Ho Chi Minh City

After spending time in Ho Chi Minh City over a decade ago, both Rhino and I were adamant that we didn’t want to go back. Our (separate) memories were of sleaze, poverty and pollution with not a lot to see or do.

We couldn’t avoid going back to HCMC this time. We had friends staying there and our onward flights were from nearby Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

No worries, we were in for a surprise. Ho Chi Minh City was interesting, highly walkable (even with a stroller) and great fun on a night out.

Will children like the food in Vietnam?

Vietnamese food is generally not too spicy and has a lot of vegetables in it. Our children ate a lot of rice and chicken  (as usual). They also really enjoyed fresh summer rolls with prawns or tofu.

My new favourite dish is Cha ca. An absolutely delicious meal of sizzling fish with copious amounts of dill that you eat with noodles and peanuts. The kids adored it too!

Would we recommend visiting Vietnam with kids?

Yes. Totally. 100%.

Culture. History. Breathtaking landscapes. Delicious food. Vietnam has it all in abundance. There are so many amazing things to do in Vietnam with kids.

If you travel in the school holidays, you will see so many families travelling with children of all ages. We even saw one family cycling up incredibly steep Hai Van Pass with toddlers in bike trailers. I was in awe – they must have been SO sweaty and exhausted. Well done, you super adventurous people!

Do lots of research before travelling to rural or remote areas. Especially about health issues and vaccinations. Large towns and cities have excellent private medical facilities. You can buy diapers/ nappies easily and obtain most Western food and products that your babies might need.

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Comments Welcome! Help other families have a great time in Vietnam with kids. Welcome to the World for a Girl community. Please share your own ideas and thoughts about Vietnam family travel. Do you agree with our Vietnam highlights or do you have others to add? What tips do you have for Vietnam family travel? What other things to do in Vietnam with kids could you add on our itinerary?