Vietnam

Vietnam family holidays

South East Asia is an area that is particularly well suited to family travel, and Vietnam is no exception. It encapsulates everything that you want on an Asian family holiday, with dramatically beautiful scenery, a rich and vibrant history, wonderfully family-friendly activities and a sensational coastline full of palm-fringed beaches.

This is a country that gets under your skin and has a unique appeal; there’s something about the contrast between the breath-takingly beautiful scenery, with mist covered mountains, meandering rivers and verdant paddy fields, and the crazy, colourful mayhem of modernity. It’s the drifting smoke of an incense stick burning in front of a temple, set against a sky-scraper and the buzzing of 20 million motorbikes.

Crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels, near Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), if you can fit!

This is a land of competing cultural influences, where French, Chinese and Thai traditions all collide, making something uniquely Vietnamese. On a family holiday in Vietnam you’ll see locals sitting down to a steaming brew of French coffee in the morning and then picking up chopsticks to slurp up some pho (noodle soup) for dinner. This is a place where history is visible in every corner (whether it’s a peeling picture of Ho Chi Minh pinned up in a rural village, or an Emperor’s tomb quietly languishing in the fields), but where life also zips along at the fast pace of the 21^st century.

Family cycling in Vietnam, family itineraries

Explore Vietnam on two wheels, through back streets and paddy fields

Why take the kids to Vietnam?

From north to south, Vietnam stretches more than 1,500km and it’s packed with wonderful activities to do with the children. From history to food, from traditional handicrafts to adrenalin adventure, there’s something for everyone.

Some of our favourite things to do with the children on a Vietnam family holiday are:

Touring the streets of old Hanoi by cycle rickshaw
Cycling through paddy fields and small villages
Crawling through the Cu Chi tunnels
Swimming and kayaking from a traditional junk in Halong Bay
Shopping at a night market lit by traditional lanterns
Learning to cook delicious local dishes
Taking a zip-line into a vast cave

Also check out our Vietnam with Kids blog which features some of our favourite family-friendly activities, with photos and more.

Along the way, you’ll find a fabulous selection of hotels, from sleek luxury beach properties to cosy hill-tribe guesthouses with extraordinary views. And the food….ooh the food! There’s nothing quite like it, from spring rolls to fried rice and everything in between.

Family enjoying the beach in Vietnam whilst on holiday

Family holidays in Vietnam can include time at the beach as well as a wealth of fun activities

Getting around Vietnam

Being such a long thin country, it’s important to plan your itinerary carefully to prevent too much need for back-tracking. We suggest starting your Vietnam family holiday in the north, in Hanoi. Here you are immediately immersed in a vibrant Asian city, complete with narrow streets crammed with stalls and tiny restaurants serving steaming bowls of noodles. You will know you have arrived in Asia!

From here you can slowly work your way south, perhaps passing through the spectacular rice terraces west of Hanoi and the limestone peaks of Halong Bay in the east. Time permitting, you can choose to end your journey in the picture perfect town of Hoi An, home to a thousand tailors waiting to make teen fashion dreams come true, and also offering a blissful sweep of beach.

Whatever your interests, our team of Vietnam specialists will be delighted to advise you on the best route for your family.

Family holiday itineraries to Vietnam

All of our itineraries are bespoke which means that they are tailor-made for your family. We always take into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget, and so on. However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in Vietnam, take a look at our sample itineraries Highlights of Vietnam and Northern Vietnam. If you are planning to travel at Christmas, see our Cambodia and South Vietnam itinerary ideas.

You can also check out some of the other places that you might like to visit on your trip and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our Vietnam photo gallery.

Lastly, don’t forget to check what the weather will be like when you want to travel. Or simply get in touch and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best Vietnam family holidays that will work for you and your children.