Family Travel in Vietnam: Best Places and Tips for Traveling with Kids

Food: Local meals like phở, cơm gà, and bánh mì cost as little as $1–3 USD. Many family-run restaurants offer fresh, healthy meals that appeal to both adults and kids.

Accommodation: Comfortable 3 or 4-star hotels, boutique homestays, and beachfront resorts are available at very reasonable rates. Family rooms are common and spacious.

Transportation: Domestic flights are cheap and fast. Trains and sleeper buses are affordable and adventurous for older kids. Apps like Grab (Vietnam’s Uber) make getting around cities easy and safe.

Cooking Classes: Learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls, pancakes, or even rice paper from scratch. Many classes are kid-friendly and held in local homes or gardens.

Cycling Tours: Take a guided bike ride through quiet rice fields, villages, and countryside paths — especially in places like Hoi An, Ninh Binh, or the Mekong Delta.

Boat Trips: Cruise through Ha Long Bay, explore floating markets in Can Tho, or row through limestone caves in Trang An.

Colorful temples and pagodas with dragons, bells, and incense.

Traditional craft villages where kids can watch or try pottery-making and lantern crafting.

Water puppet shows with music and folklore storytelling.

Festivals like Tet (Lunisolar New Year) that showcase music, dance, and local customs.

Trekking in Sapa or Mai Châu, meeting ethnic minority groups along the way.

Beach time in Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang, or Phú Quốc with clean sand and gentle waves.

Exploring caves and nature parks in Phong Nha or Cúc Phương.

Kayaking or bamboo boat rides in Hạ Long Bay and Ninh Bình.

Ziplining, mountain biking, and nature walks in Đà Lạt.

Water puppet shows at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theater.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake and weekend walking streets.

Vietnamese Women’s Museum with kid-friendly exhibits.

Several coffee shops serving egg coffee for parents, and fresh coconut for kids.

Overnight cruises with kayaking and cave visits

Visit Titop Island or Surprise Cave

Enjoy seafood and sunset views on the deck

Boat tours in Tam Cốc or Tràng An: Drift through caves and valleys on a traditional sampan boat, rowed by friendly locals (sometimes with their feet!).

Bicycle rides through the countryside: Rent bikes and pedal past peaceful rice paddies, water buffaloes, and local villages.

Climb to Hang Múa Viewpoint: For older kids and teens, the 500-step climb leads to stunning panoramic views.

Visit Bích Động Pagoda: A mystical temple built into a mountain, fun to explore and full of photo ops.

Wildlife spotting in Cúc Phương National Park – Vietnam’s oldest national park features easy trails and a primate rescue center the kids will love.

Lantern-making workshops: A fun and creative hands-on activity where kids can make their own souvenir.

Bicycle rides to the beach or countryside: Flat roads and beautiful scenery make it easy for families to ride together.

Cooking classes: Learn to make spring rolls and Vietnamese pancakes in family-friendly classes.

Evening lantern boat rides: A magical experience floating on the river under the glow of lanterns.

Tailor-made clothes: Even kids can get custom outfits made in just a day or two!

Mỹ Khê Beach: One of the cleanest and safest beaches in Vietnam. Shallow waters and soft sand make it ideal for young children.

Bà Nà Hills & Golden Bridge: Ride the world’s longest cable car to this mountaintop amusement complex, where you’ll find a European-style village, gardens, fun rides, and the famous Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands.

Asia Park (Sun World Danang Wonders): A theme park featuring gentle rides, a monorail, and cultural zones representing different Asian countries.

Ngũ Hành Mountains: A gentle climb and short caves to explore, great for adventurous kids.

3D Trick Eye Museum & Helio Night Market: Fun indoor entertainment for evenings or rainy days.

Visit the Áo Dài Museum or Artinus 3D Art Museum: Explore Vietnam’s traditional clothing through interactive exhibits at the Ao Dai Museum, or have fun posing with optical illusions at the Artinus 3D Museum — perfect for creative kids and photo-loving families.

Try a guided cyclo (pedicab) ride: Let the kids experience the charm of old Saigon while you relax in a cyclo, a traditional three-wheeled bicycle taxi. It’s a fun and safe way to explore downtown sights.

Explore Suối Tiên Theme Park or Đầm Sen Water Park: These amusement parks are designed with kids in mind. Suối Tiên mixes mythology with rides and water zones, while Đầm Sen offers thrilling water slides and kid-friendly pools.

Visit the Củ Chi Tunnels (best for older kids and teens): Take a short day trip to explore the famous underground tunnel system used during the Resistance War Against America to Save the Nation. It’s a fascinating and eye-opening experience, especially for children who enjoy history and adventure.

Boat rides through canals: Glide through narrow waterways lined with lush greenery and coconut palms. The peaceful ride is exciting for kids and relaxing for adults.

Visit floating markets: Watch vendors trade fruits, vegetables, and snacks from boat to boat in vibrant morning markets like Cái Răng or Phong Điền. It’s a colorful, chaotic, and totally unique experience.

Explore coconut candy and rice paper workshops: See how local treats and staples are made by hand. Kids can sample sweets and even try rolling their own rice paper in some places.

Stay in a family-run homestay: Spend the night with a local family, eat home-cooked meals, and join in daily activities like fishing, gardening, or cooking. It’s a wonderful way for children to learn about Vietnamese culture firsthand.

Pack a basic first aid kit with insect repellent and sunscreen.

Stick to bottled water.

Avoid raw food for kids, unless from reputable places.

Always watching your kids.

Use private transfers or reputable taxis (like Grab) for comfort.

Consider night trains or short domestic flights to save time and energy.

For longer stays, book family-friendly hotels or homestays with extra space.

Lightweight, breathable clothing.

Hats and sunglasses.

Wet wipes and hand sanitizer.

Entertainment for long travel days (books, games, devices).

Cơm (rice).

Phở or bún (noodle soups).

Bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches).

Fresh fruit (mango, watermelon, dragon fruit).

Teach kids to remove shoes when entering someone’s home or some temples.

Encourage polite behavior — Vietnamese people love respectful children!

Smile — it goes a long way here.