Vietnam family holidays

Family holidays in Vietnam are some of the most versatile in Asia, offering city thrills, beautiful beaches and wild wanderings all under the same umbrella.

From delighted squeals as your Vespa weaves between Hanoi’s streetfood stalls, to awestruck gasps at Halong Bay’s towering limestone karsts, Vietnam serves up moments that can fully capture a kid’s attention.

Whether you’re dreaming of Saigon vespa tours or getting hands on in rural rice fields, we’ll tailor your Vietnam family holiday to fit as perfectly as a bespoke princess dress from a Hoi An tailor!

Highlights of a family holiday in Vietnam

Cycle along dusty roads in rural Vietnam, exploring the hills, lakes and villages on two wheels
Get hands on with day-to-day rice farming and fishing in Ninh Binh, learning from the locals
Commission sharp (matching?!) suits and bespoke princess dresses from Hoi An’s amazing 24-hour tailors
Snorkel in Phu Quoc’s crystal-clear waters, among extraordinary nudibranchs and hundreds of rainbow-hued fish

With a UK based team of Destination Specialists with offices and partners across Asia, ensuring we focus on staying really local in our approach. Our specialists have travelled extensively in Vietnam and throughout Asia, many having also lived in the region.Along with enjoying great travels, the team regularly inspect the best hotels, seek out new activities and design new routes – for inspiration we’d suggest taking a look through some of their Favourite Journeys. The weather during any of the kids holiday dates is always an important consideration and we have that covered with our best time to visit Vietnam section.

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Vietnam with your kids - what to expect

Versatile Vietnam creates truly unique family holidays, and no two visits are ever the same. Your trip can be finely tuned to your family’s ages, interests and energy levels, and there’s the bonus of direct flights from UK to boot.

A big city start can bring plenty of wow factor from day one. Even young kids will love a Vespa ride (sandwiched between parent and driver) through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City in search of the best streetfood. Maybe marvel at a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi? Or cycle through Hoi An’s streets to get measured for tailor-made suits (or princess dresses!)?

A stay with locals in Ky Son Village can give you an authentic glimpse of rural Vietnamese life. Children are always affectionately fussed over, and the whole family becomes part of the village’s friendly community.

Private junk cruises in the world-famous Halong Bay can offer a welcome moment of chilled out coastal bliss. There’s plenty of opportunity for older kids to kayak and swim around the jungle-topped islands as you sail away from the bay’s main crowds...

Younger families might prefer to hop over to Phu Quoc’s hip island haven. The gently sloping, sandy beaches are ideal for littlies to splash in the shallows, while older kids can snorkel offshore. Back on dry land, you can catch breathtaking glimpses of monkeys, bats and wildcats in the lush national park interior.

It’s well worth mentioning that Nha Trang’s famous beaches have loads to offer families. Although the main resorts have become very popular, you can combine the best of both worlds by staying just a short drive down the coast, where you can retreat to a laid-back Long Beach family villa, and drive 20 minutes into town for barbeques, beachtime, and perhaps even a cheeky day at the local theme park.

Things you’ll all love in Vietnam

What to do in Vietnam: Discover more with our hand-picked experiences & highlights

Get to know local families in a welcoming Ky Son homestay

Vietnam easily keeps pace with contemporary life and luxury, and tends not to pine for the past - but this may partly be thanks to the many historic traditions that thrive alongside its modern success. A homestay in the centuries-old village of Ky Son offers a wonderful chance to experience these older ways of life first hand.

Channel your kids’ inner Masterchef with a hands-on Hoi An cookery class

The scenic, boutique school is perched on a peaceful riverbank just outside Hoi An - a gorgeous place for a gourmet afternoon. After cooking up a lunch to remember, you can stretch out in the tropical sunshine and digest your culinary experience - in more ways than one.

Sleep surrounded by starlight in glamping chalets on the banks of Lake Lak

Explore rural village life in Vietnam on the M'Nong villages around Lake Lak, a vast but tranquil stretch of water in Vietnam's central highlands. Discover the traditional culture that thrives here, and explore the lake by boat, watching fishermen cast their nets as the glassy surface reflects the picturesque rural scenery.

Where to rest your head..

Halong Glory Legend Junk

Halong Bay

Emeralda Ninh Binh Resort & Spa

Ninh Binh

Boutique Hoi An Resort

Hoi An

Our Vietnam Specialists' top tips for families

With quite a few parents among our well-travelled Destination Specialists, we know how important it is to get the finer details sorted before travelling with kids, and we always go the extra mile to make sure they are. We want everyone to enjoy each moment without sweating the small stuff.

If you have any questions, or want to have a chat about planning your family holiday to Vietnam, we'd love to have a chat. In the meantime, here are a few FAQs to help you get started…

Get on yer bike!
Being able to confidently ride a bike opens up many exciting opportunities in Vietnam, especially in rural areas. Get the kids - and adults! - to brush up on their cycling skills before you go.
When is the best time of year for a family holiday to Vietnam?
Being such a long country, Vietnam’s weather patterns vary greatly from north to south. Happily, this means that parts of the country will be at their best whenever you visit. However, it also means that the destinations on your wishlist may not all have good weather at the same time. Combined with the need to avoid a lot of long journeys, this means it’s crucial to plan when and where to go if you want to get the best from your trip. For UK summer holidays, Central Vietnam offers the best of the hot and dry weather. The north around Hanoi is driest from November to April, and this is also when the southern beaches come into their own, so both are good for Christmas and spring breaks.
Do I need a guide in Vietnam?
Having an experienced, knowledgeable and welcoming local guide on hand during your trip is absolutely invaluable. They’ll be able to meet you upon arrival, act as translator, transfer you between locations, and generally make everything go as smoothly as possible. They’ll leave you to your own devices as much or as little as you wish, but we think a good guide is essential for a successful family holiday. We pride ourselves on using only the best guides in a given region. All our guides are trained to the highest level, and fully certified and licensed. The feedback we get from our clients is that the guides make a great trip into an outstanding one. Find out more about our brilliant guides here
Is Vietnam safe for families?
Vietnam is becoming an ever more popular destination for family holidays. Much of the reason for this is the welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere you’ll find wherever you go. Even the famously bonkers city traffic isn’t quite as bracing as its reputation might have you believe, and you soon get used to going with the flow! As with any new destination, some things will definitely differ from what you’re used to, but most places feel secure, safe and reassuring. If you need anything, or have any queries once you’re there, our guides are always on hand to help.
What vaccinations do I need for Vietnam?
When planning a trip to Asia, it’s always important to consider the possible requirement for vaccinations and immunisations. Most importantly, we stress that you should contact your doctor or medical practitioner well before you depart to get their advice on any vaccinations and medication you may need for your trip. If you’ve travelled recently and believe that you are already up-to-date, it is still worth checking as vaccinations have a varying life span. Most of Vietnam has been declared low to no risk for malaria on the NHS Fit for Travel map, and NHS Travel Vaccinations site has lots of up-to-date information on vaccinations and general travel health.
Do I need a visa to go to Vietnam?
It’s a bit of a complicated one! Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Vietnam for a maximum stay of 15 days: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy (plus nationals of a few Asian and Scandinavian countries). This 15-day visa exemption is only for single-entry arrivals up until 30th June 2021 and is applicable to all border arrivals (regardless of whether you arrive by air or land). For all other nationalities and anyone staying longer than 15 days, a visa is required. Your visa must be arranged in advance of travelling to Vietnam. The standard tourist visa is a single entry visa that allows you to travel in Vietnam for 30 days from the date of your entry.
What should I pack for a trip to Vietnam?
Though you can most things you’ll need in the bigger cities, we’d recommend bringing your own supplies of any essentials, such as favourite nappies, formula etc, as well as your preferred brand of sunscreen and a good insect repellent. Light, long sleeved shirts, a light scarf or two, and long trousers or skirts will mean that you’re prepared for any eventuality, including modest dress codes at sites of religious significance. They’ll also help provide valuable protection against strong sunlight and mosquitoes. If you’re travelling with tinies, consider taking a really good baby carrier, as push-chairs might be a pain to get around with.
What’s the best currency to take to Vietnam?
Until recently you could not obtain the Dong outside of Vietnam, but some foreign exchange outlets in the UK now stock it. In reality this has had little impact on our advice for visitors, as ATM machines dispensing Dong are widely available across Vietnam and at all major airports. It’s essential to arrive with some US$ if you are obtaining your pre-arranged visa-on-arrival entry stamp, when you must have US$ cash. ATM machines usually offer good rates of exchange, often better than any currency exchange bureau or hotel. Whilst you can use US$ at times in Vietnam, Dong is the primary currency, and traveller cheques are no longer accepted.
Is there wildlife to see in Vietnam?
Wildlife might not be top of Vietnam’s list of attractions, but anyone keen to do some wildlife watching can get their fill in a couple of key spots. Phu Quok, as well as being one of Vietnam’s top beach island destinations, is a major national park. It’s protected interior is home to many interesting species, including macaques, hornbills, and dozens of bird, reptile and amphibian species. If you take your wildlife search offshore, you can snorkel over the surrounding reef and might spot turtles or even dugong as well as many smaller fascinating creatures. Further north, Cuc Phuong National Park protects an extraordinary number of Vietnam’s rarest species, including leopards, bears, gibbons, flying squirrels and hundreds of different birds. Hike along marked trails with a guide, visit the huge network of limestone caves at the centre, and watch the mesmerising sight of clouds of butterflies rising from the grass.

Stories from Vietnam

28^th June 2019

15 best boutique hotels and eco lodges in Vietnam

Our Vietnam Specialists share their favourite fifteen boutique hotels and eco lodges in Vietnam that stand out from the crowd...

1^st August 2018

Vietnam: home to the world's rarest rabbit (with photos!)

14^th June 2018

Vietnam’s unexplored north: Ha Giang

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24 April, 2022

We hired Selective Asia to help organise a trip to Sri Lanka for our family of 3 (one 10 year old child). This was our first experience of Selective Asia We sincerely hope it won't be the last. Prior to travel the communication with Andrew frequently went above and beyond. He very carefully took the time to get to know us and understand our trip requirements. The result was a perfectly judged, perfectly paced itinerary which included stays in some truly exquisite locations. Once on the ground in Sri Lanka the excellent service continued. Safely escorted by Miral our very knowledgeable guide & driver, we were able to enjoy a completely stress free experience. Selective Asia's planning and organisation ran like clockwork from the first moment to the last. For that, huge credit goes to both the UK and Sri Lankan based SA teams. Thank you Selective Asia for a great holiday!

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29 March, 2022

We first used Selective to book a dream Vietnam trip just as the pandemic was starting. At the time they gave us huge flexibility as to proceed or not and with the information available we decided to travel. The on-ground team in country were brilliant as were the first few days and we were very excited about the itinerary and adventure ahead. Unfortunately then we were quarantined as there was a CVOID outbreak on the boat. This is where Selective shined - Nick was on the phone personally all hours of the day and night and his crew locally stayed near the hotel so they could bring us food/drinks and even a chess board;) These people ensured a horrible situation was as bearable as possible and I will be forever be grateful. Everybody went well above and beyond! Then when we returned home whilst other travelers fought to get refunds or insurance Nick refunded immediately. Combine their expert country knowledge, fantastic tours, value for money, the best in country teams with an owner who truly cares and you have the perfect travel partner. That's why we have booked our next trips already and recommend so strongly!

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14 March, 2022

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28 June, 2020

This was our third trip with Selective Asia and it was just amazing. They don’t just provide an excellent trip but take the trouble to really get to know their clients and can make recommendations and suggestions that will enhance an already great experience. It’s the tiny details that can make the difference between a good holiday and an amazing experience. Karl knew our time limitations and managed to create a great itinerary that allowed us to make the most of our time in India but also allow downtime to relax. The hotels he suggested were perfect and he was always honest about what would be the best place for us to be. Our guides and drivers were perfect and a great part of the SA team. I would never travel to Asia with any other company.

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4 June, 2020

Firstly how strange it is to review a holiday company for a holiday you never got to go on! That said I have to say this wasn't our first trip with Selective Asia, our honeymoon in 2011 was also booked through them and was amazing, from booking to completion everything was seamless. Fast forward 9 years and 2 children later we wanted to book the "trip of a lifetime" and Selective Asia was foremost for our booking. I actually went to multiple bespoke agents and Selective were the only ones who stuck to budget, considered who I was travelling with (2 young children) and actually listened to what we wanted out of our trip. Their advise and suggestions were well considered - whilst we may be "experts" on our children - we've never travelled long distance with them and the recommendations from Andrew, our consultant were exciting for us as parents, giving us the potential to feel like we were having the adventure we craved - but keeping the kids engaged and part of it. We came up with a fabulous itinerary with beautiful, individual places to stay and interesting places to visit. Everything was set. Roll on to March and with 3 weeks to go - everything changes in the world and Coronavirus changes the game. This is where things could have gone wrong - but I can't fault Andrew at Selective. He has kept us informed every step of the way and his insightful advise has just reassured me that their are companies out there (unlike my insurer!) that will act responsibly and fairly. Anyone with an internet connection can sell you a flashy holiday but the true measure of any company is how they treat you when things go wrong - and Selective Asia have been faultless in a situation that was entirely blameless. When the world opens up again, Selective Asia won't just be my first port of call, they will be my only and I would urge anyone to support this superb, small and ethical company,

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1 June, 2020

From the time I first contacted Selective Asia, when I had a very useful conversation with Aaron about the type of trip we had in mind, to the very end of our holiday and return home, they provided excellent service. Aaron worked hard to create an itinerary that would suit us, we were very happy with the hotels and tours they booked for us, and on the whole were more than satisfied with the local guides.

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18 May, 2020

We booked a holiday of a lifetime to Borneo, which was extremely well planned, accommodation was great and very much enjoyed it until the Malaysian government closed the country due to Covid and we had 24 hours to leave the country. SelectiveAsia were responsible for all travel while in Malaysia but I’d booked the flights to and from the country through BA. While Nick and his team were working at 1am in the morning to get us out the country, BA wouldn’t answer the phone and refused to get us home. The SelectiveAsia team managed to get us from the middle of the borneo rainforest to KL and home within 24 hours, were constantly in communication throughout. While we were already very happy with the holiday, it is times like this when you realise why local travel agents are so important! Nick and his team were doing everything they could for us and while we were happy with the holiday before this event. We will now ensure every trip we make to Asia is with this company.

“Forceibility Quarantined in Vietnam - would I use again!”

5 May, 2020

Hell yeah! Booking: a pleasure working with Maryisa to exactly specify the trip that meet our exact wishes and needs. Once this was all confirmed we had access to a great app that had all the information required to make a stress free trip. Always willing to answer any little question. Quarantine Support: There was nothing that Nick or the team could have done about this it was simply the Vietnese overnment being ultra cautious. HOWEVER whist most tour operators abandoned their quests Selective ensured we had a rep onsite at the facility who would bring us food and drink and even a pack of cards. Nick was always available day and night to answers questions and update us on what they were doing to support our early release. Post Quarantine Support: Once back in the UK unlike many of the big tour operators Selective managed to refund a significant portion of our trip which meant insurance paid out on the rest quickly. Other tour companies could learn a lot from Selective! Horrible experience as we lost our dream holiday to Vietnam but this wasn't Selective fault and they did they best to help us.

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4 May, 2020

This is the second holiday we have enjoyed with Selective Asia. Right from the initial contact the company is very helpful, the team listen to what each customer wants in terms of an overall experience and tailor their suggestions to the customer’s requirements, creating the best experience they can. The team have an excellent knowledge of each destination and do include unusual and interesting details to the itinerary which allows for a rich experience of the culture and daily life of the country in question. The team also pay attention to each customer’s budget and tailor make the holiday accordingly. They are also very mindful of the effects tourism can have on the environment and aim to lesson its impact as much as possible.

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30 April, 2020

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18 March, 2020

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18 March, 2020

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13 March, 2020

Selective Asia is the perfect way to see Asia. They carefully listen to your requirements and needs, add a considerable amount of value with their experience and knowledge of the location, then craft you the perfect holiday. From there on your mind needs to just absorb the culture, surroundings and above all have fun. They take care of the bookings, the logistics, their attention to detail is second to none. Absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who wants to explore Asia.

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12 March, 2020

Excellent from start to finish. Frequent communication, listened to what we wanted offered advice when asked for. It really was tailor made for our needs as a " getting on in years" group. If not in the office when we sent a message always got back to us straight away. Would , and have already , recommended Selective Asia to others.

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12 March, 2020

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10 March, 2020

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7 March, 2020

We received an excellent service throughout our holiday in Vietnam. The guides were knowledgeable and pleasant, the drivers courteous and careful, and the suggested itinerary suited us well.

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11 February, 2020

The preplanning of the holiday was interactive, so S.A. was able to offer exactly what we wanted. The coordination leading up to the holiday was detailed and left us free of concerns. The holiday itself went like clockwork, guides and drivers were good and on-time. Boats were waiting for us and all the accommodation arrangements went well. Things can go wrong and when something did, S.A. dealt with it very professionally.