Traveling to Vietnam with kids: tips, activities and where to stay

Vietnam is a long country with three climates, so the month matters more than the destination. The north is cool and often misty from December to March; the centre is driest from February to July; the south is hot year-round with a wet season from May to October. With children, aim for the dry shoulder weeks rather than the peak heat.

Entry rules depend on your passport, and the visa or exemption you use decides how long you can stay. Check the current rule for your nationality before booking flights, and keep a printed copy of the approval letter if you apply online.

Step 1: choose two regions, not four. A common family shape is Hanoi and the north for four or five nights, then a flight south to Đà Nẵng for Hội An and the beach, then home from there or from Ho Chi Minh City. Internal flights are cheap and cut 12–20 hour train rides down to about an hour.

Step 2: book the first two nights only. Jet lag with children is easier to manage when you can change rooms after seeing the neighbourhood. In Hanoi, the Old Quarter is loud but walkable; in Hội An, stay between the old town and An Bang beach if you want a pool and space.

Step 3: build in a pool or beach day every third day. Temples, museums and markets are tiring for small children, and the heat between 11am and 3pm is the hardest part of the day. Mornings for sights, afternoons for water.

Step 4: sort transport. Private cars with a driver cost more than a bus but let you stop for toilets and food. Overnight trains are an adventure for older children and hard work for toddlers. Book sleeper berths early in peak season.

Step 5: pack for heat, rain and stomach trouble. Light long sleeves, hats, mosquito repellent, oral rehydration salts, a thermometer and any prescription medicine in original packaging. Pharmacies are everywhere in cities; brands differ from home.

Vietnam is one of the cheaper family destinations in Asia, but resort islands and private transfers push the total up quickly. The figures below are 2026 estimates for a family of four, mid-range, excluding international flights.

Hanoi suits families who want food, lakes and short day trips. The Old Quarter is dense and motorbike-heavy, so a hotel on the edge of it, near Hoàn Kiếm Lake, gives you walkable evenings and a quieter room. Water puppet shows are short and indoors, which helps on a rainy day.

Hội An is the easiest place in the country to slow down: flat streets, a river, tailors, cooking classes and a beach 15 minutes away by taxi. Đà Nẵng next door adds a long beach, a big aquarium and theme parks. Ho Chi Minh City is busier and hotter but has the widest choice of hospitals, malls and indoor activities for a rainy afternoon.

For a beach week, Phú Quốc has resorts and a 30-day island exemption, and Quy Nhon is quieter and cheaper with a long city beach. Đà Lạt is the cool-weather option in the south, with pine forest, boats on the lake and coffee farms.

Health: tap water is not for drinking anywhere in Vietnam; use sealed bottles or a filter. Ice in cities is usually factory-made, but be careful with crushed ice from street carts. Dengue and other mosquito-borne illness occur, so repellent and long sleeves at dusk matter, especially in the south.

Roads: traffic is the main risk. Cross slowly and predictably, hold children's hands, and avoid renting motorbikes with children aboard. Car seats are rarely available in taxis; if you need one, arrange it in advance with a private transfer company.

Food: children often do best with rice, grilled meat, noodles and fruit they can peel. Introduce street food gradually and keep oral rehydration salts in the day bag.

Money and admin: many hotels and restaurants take cards in cities, but markets, small shops and taxis are cash. Keep small notes. Emergency numbers are 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance.