Vietnam Travel: 10 Unforgettable Destinations for a Family Holiday

Vietnam Travel: 10 Unforgettable Destinations for a Family Holiday

Planning your family’s next big adventure can be tricky, but Vietnam travel offers a world of discovery where the payoff is well worth it. Sharing a gorgeous view with those closest to you or watching the kids be amazed by new experiences is a core part of any great Vietnam travel experience. Want to make those memories in Vietnam? A well-planned Vietnam travel itinerary can make all the difference. These ten accessible spots are perfect for family-focused Vietnam travel and guarantee an unforgettable vacation you will reminisce about for years to come. This guide will help you plan the perfect Vietnam travel holiday. Check them out below.

1. Hanoi

Vietnam’s charming capital is an essential first stop for any family. The city is a whirlwind of culture and history, but with plenty of kid-friendly fun. Take the family to a traditional water puppet show, a magical art form that will fascinate all ages. Explore the bustling Old Quarter on a cyclo ride, wander around the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake, and spend an afternoon at the fantastic Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, where kids can explore life-sized traditional houses from across the country.

2. Lan Ha Bay

For a truly magical experience, skip the crowds of Ha Long Bay and head to its stunning and serene neighbor, Lan Ha Bay. The limestone karsts and emerald waters are just as breathtaking, but the calmer atmosphere is perfect for families. The best way to see it is on an overnight cruise, where you can wake up surrounded by incredible scenery. Spend your days kayaking through quiet lagoons, swimming off the side of the boat, and exploring hidden beaches and caves. It’s a real-life adventure that will be a highlight of your trip.

3. Mai Châu

Only two hours from Hanoi, Mai Châu is easy to reach yet full of rewards. Spend a few nights in a traditional stilt house homestay to make the most of this charming valley. Check your stress at the door, these spectacular rice paddies will help even the busiest parents find some peace of mind. Take the family hiking in Pù Luông Nature Reserve, or cycle along the trails that cut through waving rice fields. A White Thai textile workshop is a great opportunity to broaden children’s perspectives and learn more about ethnic cultures in Northern Vietnam.

4. Sapa

By now you’ve probably heard of the incredible landscapes in Sapa. If the mountains surrounding this town seem intimidating for a family trip, don’t be deterred. There are countless ways for families to explore Sapa in comfort. Admire the rice terraces from the comfort of a mountain lodge, take an easy walk for a picnic by a waterfall, or ride the 15-minute cable car to the top of Mt. Fansipan, for glorious views of clouds and scenery below. Sapa boasts a number of sustainable tours and workshops with ethnic minorities, which offer plenty of teachable moments for future responsible travelers.

5. Phong Nha

Home to some of the world’s most spectacular cave systems, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is an adventurer’s paradise that is surprisingly accessible for families. While the multi-day expeditions are for experts, you can easily explore the park’s wonders. Take a dragon boat ride through the enormous Phong Nha Cave, marvel at the otherworldly formations inside Paradise Cave (accessible via a wooden walkway), or simply enjoy cycling and kayaking along the serene Son River, surrounded by lush jungle and limestone cliffs.

6. Hoi An

Hoi An is a lot more than the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town. Those who venture to its outskirts will find a peaceful way of life in the Vietnamese countryside that you can’t help but fall in love with. Your family can choose to spend a few days on An Bàng Beach or in the rice paddies in Cam Thanh. A beach day means jumping the waves and dining on fresh seafood with your toes in the sand. The countryside brings adventures through rice fields and vegetable villages. Hoi An is also a great place to introduce your loved ones to Vietnamese cuisine, with many engaging classes for cooks of all ages.

7. Nha Trang

Sunny Nha Trang is a foolproof choice for family beach holidays. The Cam Ranh International Airport makes getting here amazingly simple. Book a snorkeling tour to Hòn Mun Island to see colorful marine life, and learn more about Nha Trang’s fishing roots at the Oceanographic Museum. Parents looking to unwind should give Nha Trang’s warm mud bath and hot spring resorts a try. Hòn Bà Nature Reserve, about two hours away, is where you can lay out a picnic blanket right next to a foaming waterfall.

TIP: VinWonders Nha Trang is a fantastic spot to spend a day with the children. The waterpark alone is enough to entertain the whole family.

8. Mũi Né

Learning to kitesurf in a day? Surely even the most uninterested teenagers will want to give this addictive sport a try. The coastal town of Mũi Né is a quick train ride from Ho Chi Minh City and is the home of kitesurfing in Vietnam. The red and white sand dunes just out of town are a massive sand surfing playground. Children can exhaust their energy reserves by riding makeshift sand surfboards to the bottom of the dunes again and again.

9. Phu Quoc

Airports across Asia have direct flights to Phu Quoc, which makes a stay on this idyllic island equal parts tempting and accessible. Phú Quốc is especially suitable for families, with a wide variety of places to stay. Visit fishing villages and bee farms to immerse in local culture, take the kids on the world’s longest oversea cable car ride, and spend days surrounded by sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Family-friendly resorts on Long Beach and Ông Lang Beach are more relaxed than those around Dương Đông Town.

TIP: InterContinental Phu Quoc occupies one of the most beautiful stretches of golden sand on Long Beach and has an excellent children’s club.

10. Can Tho

Can Tho is one of those destinations that gets better the longer you stay. Take the whole family for a getaway in a hotel or homestay along the riverfront. Wake up to the sights and sounds of life along the water, and experience the Mekong Delta’s famously warm hospitality. An early-morning boat ride to the Cái Răng Floating Market will fascinate the whole family, and there are countless countryside roads where you can cycle together or visit rice paper and coconut candy workshops.