Vietnam with Kids: A 3-Week Itinerary, 7 Destinations, and Real-Life Travel Tips

During the recent High Holidays, we spent three weeks traveling through Vietnam with our two children: Dandan, who was three and a half, and Li, who was ten months old at the time. Traveling with young kids is a completely different kind of adventure, especially when they're at such different ages. On one hand, we had a curious and adventurous toddler; on the other, a baby with an entirely different set of needs.

As with any long family trip, finding the right balance was important to us. We chose to divide our time between different regions: from the large, bustling cities, to lush and peaceful nature, and finally to relaxing beaches where both we and the kids could slow down for a while. Vietnam surprised us as a destination that was far more diverse, convenient, and family-friendly than we had expected—a place that offers both meaningful experiences and moments to simply be present.

Vietnam Itinerary

General Tips for Visiting Vietnam with Babies and Young Children

Mosquito Protection

We brought Para’Kito mosquito-repellent bands from home, along with a child-friendly mosquito repellent. Overall, there weren’t many mosquitoes in the areas we visited, and we only got bitten a handful of times.

Food

Vietnamese cuisine is incredibly diverse, and we found plenty of options that worked well for children. Pho is a classic choice for a family meal, while banh mi is a great grab-and-go option that can easily be ordered plain and without spicy seasonings. In general, we felt there was no shortage of food choices—from excellent local dishes to Western-style restaurants, which are easy to find in most destinations. This made traveling with children much easier.

Vaccinations

About a month before our trip, we consulted a travel clinic. Following the doctor's recommendation, we moved up Li's measles vaccination schedule. Dandan was advised to get vaccinated against typhoid fever, but in the end he didn't need it, as he was still covered by the vaccine he had received before our family trip to Sri Lanka the previous year.

Medications

Before the trip, we consulted our pediatrician and obtained prescriptions for common travel medications, including ear drops, Fenistil drops, Vermox, and other essentials.

Diapers and Wipes

I highly recommend bringing both from home. While there's usually a supermarket within a short drive, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll find the specific products you're looking for. Having familiar diapers and wipes on hand saves time and avoids unnecessary stress during the trip.

Flights

Most international flights to Vietnam arrive at the airport serving the capital city, Hanoi. We flew with two layovers, one in Cyprus and another in Dubai. Before the trip, we were a bit concerned about managing multiple connections with two young children, but in reality, everything went surprisingly smoothly. The layovers actually provided a welcome break between flights and made the journey feel more manageable.

This wasn't our first time flying with Emirates, and once again, the experience was excellent. One thing worth knowing: during layovers in Dubai, strollers are not returned at the gate, regardless of what you may have been told beforehand. If having a stroller during the connection is important to you, consider bringing a travel stroller that can be taken onboard, or make use of the complimentary strollers available throughout Dubai Airport.

Vietnam Visa

All travelers entering Vietnam are required to obtain an e-Visa in advance and will not be allowed to board their flight without presenting an approved visa. The application process is relatively straightforward and can be completed online through the official Vietnamese government website for a fee.

Important: Every traveler must have their own visa, regardless of age—including young children and infants. We recommend submitting your application several days before departure and carefully checking that all details match your passport exactly to avoid any issues.

Itinerary and Getting Around

You can find our full Vietnam itinerary and more general travel tips in a separate post.

Before anything else, it's important to remember that you know your children best. When planning your route, you'll be the best judge of what truly suits your family. My main recommendation for traveling with babies and young children is to maintain as much of your usual routine as possible and minimize the number of destination changes—of course, depending on your child's age and personality.

In reality, we weren't able to keep transfers to a minimum in Vietnam. During our three-and-a-half-week trip, we visited seven different destinations, which meant taking five domestic flights and spending quite a bit of time on the road. Despite our concerns, the kids adapted surprisingly well. Dandan was excited about every “new bed” in a hotel, slept well throughout most of the trip, and handled the constant transitions much better than we expected.

In general, we found Vietnamese drivers to be friendly, patient, and calm. Road trips felt smooth, and we always felt safe while traveling. For the longer transfers that we arranged in advance, we requested a car seat for Li and always received one—sometimes for an additional fee, but never with any resistance or hassle.

Accommodation

When traveling in Vietnam with babies and toddlers, it's important to keep in mind that in most hotels, unless you specifically book a room that clearly states it includes an extra bed for a child, you'll likely receive a standard room without a children's bed or sofa bed. In many cases, it's simply assumed that young children will share a bed with their parents, and this is considered perfectly normal if it works for your family. Before arriving at each destination, we always messaged the hotel in advance to confirm that the room we booked matched our expectations.

At every hotel we stayed in, we were provided with a crib for Li without any issues. The staff was consistently wonderful, kind, patient, and exceptionally welcoming toward children. This warm and family-friendly attitude was something we encountered throughout the trip and genuinely appreciated.

Healthcare

When traveling with young children, it's always wise to plan for the possibility that someone might get sick. Vietnam is a developing country, and while it is a very popular tourist destination, it's worth knowing that high-quality medical care is generally concentrated in the larger cities.

During our stay in Hanoi, Li became ill and needed to see a doctor. We took her to a private children's hospital and received excellent medical care. We were genuinely impressed by the speed of service, the professionalism of the staff, and the thoroughness of the examination. The experience gave us a great deal of reassurance and peace of mind as parents while traveling.

Babysitters and Nannies in Vietnam

I'll start by saying that, for us, traveling with a dedicated nanny is a game-changer. That said, this is highly personal and certainly not the right fit for every family. We've traveled to several destinations where we've used childcare support in different ways, and Vietnam was no exception.

Before the trip, I searched for recommendations in Israeli and international travel groups. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find an available local nanny, nor did we come across many firsthand experiences that could shed light on the option. The only services we found were babysitting agencies in Hanoi and hourly babysitting services offered by some hotels through their concierge teams.

In the end, we went with a more unconventional solution: we invited our nanny from Thailand to join us on the trip. This is definitely not a simple arrangement, and I'm not sure it would suit every family. The fact that she agreed was largely thanks to the trust and relationship we had built over time.

Throughout the trip, we relied on her in a variety of ways. She helped during nap times, stayed with Li while we took Dandan on activities that weren't suitable for a baby, joined us on some outings to provide an extra set of hands, and came in the evenings so we could occasionally enjoy some time on our own. We arranged the overall framework with her before leaving home, provided accommodation, and, of course, covered all transportation and travel-related expenses.