“Go to Pho Thin Restaurant in Hanoi for the most delicious ‘Pho’ - they sauté the meat with garlic first. Located in the French Quarter, pay approx. NZ$5 per bowl when you enter, pull up a wooden bench at a steel table and your garlicky hot Pho will arrive shortly after. ”
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7 Days in Vietnam with the Kids
Think Vietnam is solely for backpackers and couples without babies? Wake up and smell the family-sized Nam deals. For families in search of a holiday with a difference, step away from the obvious and into the remarkable.
From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the serene waters of Halong Bay, the lantern-lit charm of Hoi An, the coastal allure of Quy Nhon, and the vibrant energy of Ho Chi Minh City, there's something for everyone.
Here's our suggested itinerary for an unforgettable 7 days in Vietnam with the kids, packed with adventure, culture, and fun for all ages!
Best time to go
In the north: November to April is cooler and dry. In the south: it's dry and hot from November to April, and warm but wet from May to October.
Day 1
Hanoi there!
To ease your way into the Vietnamese lifestyle, start in Hanoi. The north is less chaotic than the culture-explosion that is Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam’s south. Districts that are so French you'd be forgiven for wearing a beret, to Buddhist temples, a million bicycles and locals in signature cone hats, Hanoi is a hocus-pocus mix of culture, history and character. The chaotic streets will leave your eyes wide and your children’s even wider. Visit the Presidential Palace and historic Dong Khoi Street and then a famed Thang Long Water puppet show. They can tell quite the story those puppets, even if the acting is a little wooden – gah!
Day 2 - 3
They call it Halong, Bay-by!
Two-day jaunts around breath-taking Halong Bay will allow parents to sunbathe under giant junk boat sails, while kids burn kilojoules on kayaks and in caves etched from ancient stone. If anything can get ‘generation tech’ to look up from their iPads, it’s an enormous limestone karst; jutting from the water like a gigantic green giant.
Day 4
Hoi An, here we come
Hoi An is the water-fringing township that perpetually glows with paper lanterns and twinkling yellow restaurants.
Between the shops selling colourful knick-knacks, to tailors making impeccable threads for a fraction of the NZ price, stop for a breather at Reaching Out Tea House. Nestled at 131 Trần Phú, Sơn Phong, this peaceful café not only serves exceptional coffee, tea, and biscuits, but it also empowers the hearing-impaired by employing only individuals from the community.
An oasis of calm in busy Hoi An, communicate through worded wooden blocks and indulge in traditional, locally-made delights. communicate using worded wooden blocks and feast on traditional, locally made treats.
Day 5
Quy Nhon - Quy YES!
Fancy a holiday from your holiday? The city of Quy Nhon is a lively little nook on the coast. With scattered beaches, the Binh Dinh Museum and its main pagoda, noted for its 17-metre high Buddha, there is plenty to do. And once you’re done seeing and doing, abscond to Ho Kho Island for an afternoon of relaxation and little else.
Take a tour and pack a picnic; for a lazy few hours you can sunbathe, snorkel and swim in crystal-clear water.
Day 6 - 7
A Ho Chi Minh finale
Ho Chi Minh is surprisingly kid-friendly; between the standout educational attractions such as the War Remnants Museum and the Vietnam history museum, outdoor play areas are as vast as they are fun. Favourites include Công Viên 23 Tháng 9 Park because it’s packed with playhouses and climbing frames.
Then there’s Suối Tiên Amusement Park; a Buddha-themed amusement park where ancient mythology and modern fun collide. Located just outside Ho Chi Minh City, this unique park offers themed zones dedicated to Vietnamese folklore and Buddhism. Kids will love the Crocodile Kingdom and the thrilling rides, while the whole family can enjoy cultural shows and performances.
Get in touch with one of our Vietnam specialists to start planning your ultimate family holiday in Vietnam.
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