Vietnam with Toddlers: A Parent’s Guide

We plan trips around Vietnam for families all year round, and toddlers are some of our favourite travellers. They nap in the car, make friends at every market stall and think a basket boat is the best thing in the world. What makes a toddler trip work here is not where you go, but how the days are shaped. This guide shares what we have learned from planning trips for families with babies and little ones: where to go, how to pace the days, and what to pack.

A real trip: four weeks with a three-year-old

This year we planned a 29-day family trip from Hanoi to Con Dao for a mum travelling with four children aged 3 to 13. The youngest set the rhythm. We kept most drives under three hours, stayed at least two nights in each place, and left a free day every few days for the pool, a kite on the beach or simply doing nothing. A guide joined on tour days, and the free days were theirs. Four weeks is a long time for a three-year-old, and it worked because no single day asked too much of the youngest.

For shorter trips we follow the same idea. On our 10-day Hanoi to Hoi An trip, families with children under five travel by private car instead of the overnight train, split into shorter legs, so everyone arrives rested.

Where to go in Vietnam with a toddler

Hoi An: the easiest place to start

Hoi An is flat, compact and slow. The old town is closed to cars and most motorbikes for much of the day, the riverside is lined with lanterns, and a gentle basket boat ride through the coconut palms is a hit with every age. It is also close to An Bang and Cua Dai beaches. Many families base themselves here for four or five nights. See our hands-on family workshops for easy, seated activities like lantern making and hat painting.

Da Nang: beach days and easy hotels

Da Nang has long sandy beaches, wide pavements along the seafront and plenty of family hotels with pools. The sea is usually calmest in the early morning. Ba Na Hills is a good day out with little ones because cable cars do the climbing; we go early, before the crowds (Ba Na Hills, early morning).

Hanoi: short, sweet and best by cyclo

Hanoi is lively and busy, and the Old Quarter pavements are often full of parked motorbikes, so a stroller is hard work here. A cyclo ride and the water puppet show are the perfect toddler afternoon: you sit down for almost all of it (Old Quarter by cyclo & water puppets). Around Hoan Kiem Lake the streets close to traffic on weekend evenings, which is a lovely time for a family stroll.

Ninh Binh: rivers and caves, by boat

In Ninh Binh, the Trang An boat trips are seated, slow and come with life jackets, so toddlers and grandparents can both join. We skip the long staircases, such as the 500 steps up to the Mua Cave viewpoint, when travelling with little ones (Ninh Binh family day trip).

Places that need more planning

Some favourites are harder with a toddler: Sa Pa and the far north mean long, winding drives and walks on steep paths, and very long day trips such as a full Mekong Delta loop from Saigon can be tiring in the heat. They are not off the list, but we plan them as overnight stays rather than long days.

How to pace each day

The rhythm that works best for most families with toddlers looks like this:

• 8:00 to 11:00: out and about while it is cooler: a boat, a temple garden, a market.
• 11:30: an early, simple lunch.
• 12:30 to 15:00: back at the hotel for naps, the pool or quiet time.
• 15:30 to 19:00: out again: a beach, a lantern-lit old town, a puppet show, an early dinner.

We also keep travel days short. Our rule of thumb is about three hours on the road at most, with a stop every hour or so, and two or three nights in each place so you are not packing every morning.

Heat, naps, food and nappies: practical tips

Heat and sun

Vietnam is warm most of the year and the sun is strong. Hats, light long sleeves and high-factor sunscreen are worth more than any gadget. Keep water within reach, and plan the middle of the day indoors. If you can choose your dates, our guide to the best time to visit Vietnam with family explains the weather region by region.

Naps

Most toddlers nap happily in a moving car, so we often time short drives for nap time. A carrier or a stroller that reclines helps for naps on the go, and a portable blackout cover is useful in bright hotel rooms.

Food

Vietnamese food is wonderful for small eaters: rice, noodle soup, grilled chicken, banh mi, fried rice and an endless supply of fresh fruit. Ask for dishes khong cay (not spicy); chilli is usually served on the side anyway. For little ones we stick to bottled water and freshly cooked, hot food, and fruit you can peel.

Nappies, formula and baby supplies

Nappies, wipes, formula and baby snacks are sold in supermarkets and convenience stores in every city. If your child is attached to a specific brand of formula or milk, bring enough for the trip. Baby changing rooms are common in airports, malls and bigger hotels, but rare elsewhere, so a portable changing mat is handy.

Strollers and carriers

Bring both if you can. A light, foldable stroller is great in hotels, airports, Hoi An old town and along Da Nang beachfront. A carrier is better for busy streets, temples, boats and caves, where there are steps or uneven paths.

Mosquitoes and health

Use a repellent suitable for young children, especially at dawn and dusk, and choose rooms with screens or air conditioning. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about vaccinations before you go. Pharmacies are easy to find, and if anyone feels unwell during your trip, we help you get to a clinic.

Getting around with little ones

A private car with a driver makes everything easier: you stop when you need to, the luggage stays in the car, and there is always somewhere cool to rest. For the long distances, Hanoi to Da Nang is about 1 hour 20 minutes by plane, which is usually far easier than a full day on the road. Overnight trains are an adventure for older children; with under-fives we usually suggest a car or a short flight instead.

What to pack for a toddler in Vietnam

• Light, foldable stroller and a baby carrier
• Sun hats, light long-sleeved tops and high-factor sunscreen
• Child-safe mosquito repellent
• A favourite formula or milk brand, if your child is fussy
• Portable changing mat and plenty of wipes
• A small first-aid kit and any regular medicines
• Swimwear and a quick-dry towel
• Snacks and a refillable water bottle for the car

Our Vietnam family trip checklist has the full list, including documents and what to ask before you book.

How we plan trips for families with toddlers

Every trip we plan is private, so the day follows your child, not a group. We keep drives short, book family rooms and cots in advance, choose hotels with pools for the afternoon break, and plan each visit in its easiest version. In Da Nang and Hoi An, we can arrange a babysitter on request so parents get an evening to themselves. You can start from one of our sample family tours, add a few family day trips, or ask us to plan from scratch.

Vietnam with toddlers: FAQ