 Vietnam is a country that has emerged from war with its head held high. The hard work ethic of the Vietnamese people has helped the nation get back on its feet, from the enterprising businessmen and women in the flourishing, increasingly cosmopolitan cities of Saigon and Hanoi to the arduous field workers in the brilliant green rice paddies of the Mekong Delta. Vietnam offers some of the most spectacular natural scenery in southeast Asia, from magnificent limestone cliffs, to lush tropical forests and long, empty beaches. For families and children with an adventurous spirit, Vietnam is an exciting and rewarding destination, offering unique lessons in culture that are not soon forgotten.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is a bustling, chaotic and vibrant metropolitan, while Hanoi, with its leafy gardens and gracious French colonial architecture is one of Asia’s most beautiful cities. If the pace of the city is a little too frantic, take some time out and sail through the breathtakingly beautiful Halong Bay on a traditional Chinese junk, or head for one of Vietnam’s beach resorts, where there are a wealth of water-based activities for kids to enjoy. There are spectacular mountain and jungle treks to suit adventurous families, from the tranquil hill station of Dalat in the south, to the enchanting valley of Sa Pa in the northern highlands. Kids should find no shortage of things to do on a holiday in Vietnam. As well as the wonderful experience of getting to know the local children, there are activities like boat rides, kayaking, cycling, elephant riding, go karting, swimming and watching the fascinating performances of the traditional Vietnamese water puppets.
Where is it and how do I get there?
Vietnam is almost in the centre of south-east Asia, a long and narrow country with a long coastline stretching across the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. It borders Cambodia and Laos to the west and China to the north. Sydney and Melbourne can connect to Ho Chi Minh City on a direct flight. Several airlines offer flights from most capital cities to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City via Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
To Ho Chi Minh City (excluding layover)
| From |
Hours |
| Sydney |
8:35 |
| Melbourne |
8:10 |
| Brisbane (via Sydney) |
10 |
| Perth (via Singapore) |
7 |
When to go, Weather
Vietnam extends across two climatic zones, meaning if one region is too hot or wet, the other is probably just right. Therefore there’s no good or bad season for a visit to Vietnam. Southern Vietnam has a tropical climate and is warm and humid all year round. The hottest time is between February and May, while the wet season covers May to November, with June to August being the rainiest months. The north has a more moderate climate, with mild, damp winters (November to April) and hot summers (May to October). The central coast, including Nha Trang is wettest between December and February.
Hanoi
Average Daily Temperature (celcius) Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)
May – October 22 – 32 242
November - April 13 - 28 54
Ho Chi Minh City
Average Daily Temperature (celcius) Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)
May – November 23 - 32 264
December - April 22 - 34 22
Where to stay
The three main areas with the widest choice of accommodation and activities for kids are Ho Chi Minh City in the south, the capital Hanoi in the north, and the central coast resort of Nha Trang. Other popular areas with a good choice of self-contained units, resorts and family-friendly accommodation include Dalat, a cool hill resort nestled in the beautiful northern countryside, the quaint riverine town of Hoi An and the mountainous region of Sa Pa, home to many of Vietnam’s hill tribe families.
Accommodation is plentiful and very affordable in the main tourist regions. Mid-range hotels with reasonable facilities generally range between $20AU and $50AU per night, while budget travellers can get by on much less. Deluxe hotels with the full suite of luxury amenities, activities and childminding services cost upwards of $70AU a night.
HO CHI MINH CITY
Sedona Suites
These fully serviced suites are located in Ho Chi Minh City’s business centre, a short walk from Benh Thanh Market and the Opera House. Very family-friendly, the hotel’s recreational facilites include a children’s swimming pool, tennis court, putting green, kids playground, kid’s club and baby sitting services.
Sheraton Ho Chi Minh City
Close to many of Ho Chi Minh City’s most famous attractions, this four-and-a-half star hotel boasts impressive service, kid-friendly staff and a range of activities including a children’s pool, games room, indoor tennis court and a daily buffet that should please the whole family.
HANOI
Sedona Hotel
Overlooking West Lake, the Sedona offers larger, family-sized rooms including three-bedroom apartments and deluxe serviced villas. The hotel boasts great facilities including squash and tennis courts, lakeside barbecues, mini golf putting green, babysitting and a children’s playground.
Meliá Hanoi
This luxurious 5 star establishment is located right in the historic French Quarter, close to many major tourist attractions and shopping areas. Some of the rooms have views of the Old Quarter and Sword Restored Lake, and all luxury amenities and services are provided.
NHA TRANG
Sofitel Vinpearl Resort
One of the best resorts in Nha Trang, the Sofitel boasts 700 metres of private beach and one of the largest swimming pools in Vietnam. The resort can arrange great activities for families and there is a Kid’s Club and there’s a games room, tennis court and beach volleyball. Children 6-12 receive a 30% discount on all rates, under 5s are free.
Sunrise Beach Resort
Set in lush parkland adjacent to lovely Tran Phu beach, this deluxe resort is perfectly suited to active families. The watersports staff arrange everything from snorkelling to parasailing and the kid’s club is well equipped with toys and games. Babysitting is available from morning to dawn.
Food and Drink
Vietnamese cuisine has become popular the world over. Vietnamese recipes use plenty of fresh vegetables, and dishes are commonly flavoured with fish sauce, soy sauce, lemongrass, lime, coriander and mint. Fish, prawns and pork are the most commonly used meats; chicken and beef are also readily available. As in most of Asia, rice and noodle dishes are staple meals. Popular dishes include pho (noodle soup), nema rán (spring rolls) and chao tom (ground prawns on sugar cane sticks eaten with fresh vegetables and condiments).
The French influence on Vietnamese cuisine can be seen in the delicious banh mi baguettes commonly sold by street vendors. Stuffed with steamed or grilled marinated pork, meatballs or chicken with fresh salad and soy mayonnaise, these familiar-looking treats should please fussy kids, and they’re a tasty, bargain-priced meal for grown-ups too. Fruit, including lush tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, rambutan and dragon fruit should also keep the young ones happy. Popular tourist destinations have a wide range of restaurants offering Chinese, Indian, Japanese, French, American and other western foods and most of the big hotels offer an international buffet.
Shopping
Vietnam is a brilliant destination for shopping. There are a myriad of colourful markets to explore, as well as small local shops, boutique stores and air-conditioned shopping centres. Ho Chi Minh City has the best buys for modern goods like books, CDs and fashion items, while Hanoi is the place to hunt for antiques and replicas. Local handicrafts include lacquerware, reed mats, embroidery, tailor-made ao dai (the female national costume, an elegant long dress), mother-of-pearl inlays on ornaments and furniture, and of course, the iconic conical hats.
Airport
Vietnam has three international airports. Most Australians will arrive via Hanoi (Noi Bai Airport) or Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhut Airport). Both airports are modern, international standard facilities (Hanoi Airport in particular has undergone a major refurbishment in recent years), easy to negotiation and hosting banks and money changers, shops, dining areas and comfortable lounges.
Transfers From Airport
Transfers can be arranged with your hotel upon booking, or you can book transfers in advance with a private transport company.
At Hanoi Airport, Vietnam Airlines runs a regular shuttle bus into town. Tickets are 45,000d per person. Buses depart when full and the trip takes around 40 minutes.
Ho Chi Minh City Airport is serviced by a free hotel shuttle bus that stops at or near most of the mid and high range hotels. The ride takes about 20 minutes, although traffic can slow things down considerably. Both airports have a fleet of taxis in the ranks outside.
Getting Around For Families
When visiting Vietnam with family, travelling with a small family-friendly tour group eliminates the logistical hassles of getting from place to place with impatient kids in tow. However, if you wish to travel independently it’s easy to hire drivers for reasonable fees and public transport is readily available and extremely cheap. Bus travel can mean getting on uncomfortable, overcrowded and rickety vehicles that feel decidedly unsafe – train travel is a more relaxing option although the trains can be very slow. Flying may be the best option for travelling longer distance, particularly as domestic flights are usually quite reasonably priced.
For getting around town, taxis and cyclos (rickshaws) are always at the wait outside hotels, shopping centres and tourist attractions.
What to Wear
The Vietnamese dress quite conservatively and it is polite for visitors to do the same. Women should dress modestly and not reveal too much skin. In popular beach areas like Nha Trang it’s acceptable to wear bikinis, but swimwear should be worn at the beach or poolside only, certainly not in town. Don’t wear singlets, shorts, short dresses or short skirts to temples and pagodas, as this is considered extremely offensive.
Your packing list will depend on which areas you would like to visit. The northern highlands can be quite cool, so warm, layered clothing is recommended. The Vietnamese “summer” can be extremely hot and humid. T-shirts and thin cotton pants are recommended. Brief, torrential rain can be expected in the wet season, so be prepared with good raincoats.
Population
Vietnam’s population is made up of 84% ethnic Vietnamese and 2% ethnic Chinese. The rest of the population is made of up of Khmers (Cambodians), Chams (descendants of Vietnam’s ancient Champa kingdom) and members of over 50 ethnolinguistic groups.
Culture/Religion
Buddhism is the principal religion but Vietnam is also home to sizeable Taoist, Confucian, Christian and Muslim minorities. The Cao Dai faith, said to be a unification of Buddhist, Tao and Confucian beliefs was founded in southern Vietnam in 1926 and their colourful temples can be seen all along the Mekong Delta. The communist government sought to suppress religion for many years after the Vietnam War. They were never really successful, and in today’s new climate of tolerance, Vietnam’s religions are alive and thriving.
As a guest in Vietnam, it is respectful to learn and observe a few important local customs. Always remove your shoes before entering Buddhist pagodas or a person’s home. You can usually keep your shoes on when entering Chinese temples. Don’t face the soles of your feet towards a person or sacred monument such as a statue of Buddha. Never show anger or confront someone aggressively – the Vietnamese find this behaviour extremely embarrassing and it will cause you to lose face. A gentle handshake is the most appropriate manner of greeting.
Language
The official language is Vietnamese and is spoken, with minor regional variations, throughout the country. English is prevalent throughout the major tourist areas so communicating should cause few problems. Other languages spoken in Vietnam include Chinese, Khmer, Cham and the various languages of the minority tribes. Learning a few basic Vietnamese words and phrases will prove invaluable in getting to know the local people. Although the Vietnamese use the Roman alphabet, Westerners often have difficulty with the tonal nature of the language. Vietnamese uses six tones which change the definition of a single syllable. Even if you struggle with the tones, most Vietnamese will patiently decipher your words and will be impressed by your enthusiasm to learn their language!
Hello - Chào
Goodbye - Chào tam biêt!
Thank you - Cam on
How are you? - b?n có kh?e không?
I’m fine thanks - Cám on b?n tôi kh?e
What’s your name? - B?n tên ǵ?
My name is… - Tôi tên là...
I don’t understand - Tôi không hi?u
How much is this? - Cái này giá bao nhiêu?
Where is the toilet? - C?u tiêu ? dâu?
 Time
The local time zone in Vietnam is GMT+0700. It is three hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
Currency
The currency of Vietnam is the Dong.There are banknotes of 200 Dong, 500 Dong, 1,000 Dong, 2,000 Dong, 5,000 Dong, 10,000 Dong, 20,000 Dong and 50,000 Dong. Currently, $1AU is equivalent to roughly 11,500 VND.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Vietnam although, it is becoming more common in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and other cities frequented by tourists. Most upmarket hotels and restaurants add a 5 to 10% service charge to their bills. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, however you can offer local guides and drivers a tip at the end of your trip.
Electricity
Electricity mainly operates on 220 volts, the same as Australia, although you will occasionally find 110 volt sockets. The two-rounded pin standard Asian plug is used in most parts of the country.
Health Precautions
It is important to see your GP before you travel to Vietnam and get the necessary vaccinations. Malaria is not prevalent in the major centres, however liberal use of mosquito repellent at all times is strongly recommended.
Tap Water
The tap water in Vietnam is not safe to drink. Drink only bottled water from bottles with unbroken seals, and make sure ice is made from bottled water.
Passport and Visa
You must obtain a visa prior to your arrival in Vietnam. Contact your nearest embassy on consulate to arrange tourist visas and be sure to observe the conditions listed on the immigration stamp which you will receive on arrival. You need to have a valid National Passport valid for at least 6 months to enter Vietnam. The Vietnamese Government requires all arriving passengers to complete a health declaration. Travellers may be subject to medical assessment. |
