Vietnam for a family holiday?

[Kurgen]

I'm thinking of taking the wife and kids (7+15 years old) to Vietnam for a weeks holiday.

None of us have been before. So, good idea, if so where to go?

[katie23]

Where do you plan to go? North, central or South?

South - Spend a few days in Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City. Do the Cu Chi tunnel tour (half-day, you can get a tour from one of those agencies at Pham Ngu Lao street) or book thru your hotel. Your kids will like it (if they're the adventurous type). You can do a walking tour of the city - Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, Post Office, War Remnants Museum. You can also do the Saigon River tour or the Mekong Delta tour. From Saigon you can go to Vung Tao if you want the beach. You can also go to Da Lat if you want some mountains and cool climes. You can view my Saigon thread if interested.

Central - there's Hoi An (ancestral town) and Da Nang (beach). BLD has Hanoi & Da Nang threads. Crocman has a thread too - many threads abt Vietnam.

North - I haven't been there, but have a friend who did. She did the city tour of Hanoi then went to Sapa for a mountain trek and saw some hill tribes. You can also do the Halong Bay tour from Hanoi.

Cheers and post pics!

[Kurgen]

Cheers and post pics!

thanks for info and please read my signature

[Neverna]

I'm thinking of taking the wife and kids (7+15 years old) to Vietnam for a weeks holiday.

None of us have been before. So, good idea, if so where to go?

Yes, a good idea.

Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City would be my choices.

Time wise, it depends how you travel. If you fly from Hanoi to HCM, it can be done. You'd be pushing it to do all of that in a week if you didn't fly. In that case miss out HCM/Saigon. For a more relaxed week, perhaps choose either Sapa or Hoi An rather than do both.

[Kurgen]

we will be flying so within travelling distance of an airport is good

[Dillinger]

Fly to Hanoi, take in the dulcet tones of a million horns on your taxi ride to your hotel, play real life frogger walking across 7 lane motorways to show the Missus and kids an unburied dead guy and a shot down B52 bomber during the 'American War',visit a lake like the one near your house then try and drown it all out by getting wankered with the locals on bia hoi whilst wondering why your kids hate you

[Norton]

Dalat is by far my favorite place in VN. Up in central highlands so cool. Beautiful scenery. Hotels and resorts to fit any budget. Plan a couple days there. Plenty to see and do for the whole family.

[katie23]

@kurgen - what abt your signature???

Since you'll be bringing the kids, I suggest to limit the temples & museums. Spend more time in the mountains or the beach.

My niece, who was 10 at the time, enjoyed the Cu Chi tunnel tour.

[Kurgen]

@kurgen - what abt your signature???

a bit weird, yesterday I changed my sig from Kiss It to Life's to short to post pics on here.

I am now wearing a tin foil condom, just in case

[hallelujah]

I'm thinking of taking the wife and kids (7+15 years old) to Vietnam for a weeks holiday

None of us have been before. So, good idea, if so where to go?

I really like Vietnam, but it can be quite challenging oop norf. The people of Hanoi can be utter wankers to westerners, which is probably understandable considering the yanks parked up on their beaches and chucked bombs at them for a few years.

Highlights pretty much as Katie said, but try Tam Coc near Ninh Binh. About an hour and half from Horrible Hanoi on the rattler.

[toslti]

Head down to Nha Trang, safe beaches and Vinpearl resort on Hòn Tre island is fun for kids. Cheap food and beer also.

[Kurgen]

That looks great Toasty, cheers.

Next silly question, obviously me being from the motherland I will need a weesa, or is it on arrival?

Do Thai's need weesas?

[ChristineLamote]

A week in Vietnam, I think you should travel the north or the south of Vietnam only. You can refer an itinerary Hanoi - Halong Bay - Mai Chau - Hanoi. From Hanoi to Halong, you can catch bus at My Dinh station or shuttle in Old Quarter. Furthermore, you can book free tour or day tour in Hanoi to travel such as Vietnam Tour Booking, Hanoi Free City Tours.

[ChristineLamote]

A week in Vietnam, I think you should travel the north or the south of Vietnam only. You can refer an itinerary Hanoi - Halong Bay - Mai Chau - Hanoi. From Hanoi to Halong, you can catch bus at My Dinh station or shuttle in Old Quarter. Furthermore, you can book free tour or day tour in Hanoi to travel such as Vietnam Tour Booking, Hanoi Free City Tours.

[cyrille]

@kurgen - what abt your signature???

a bit weird, yesterday I changed my sig from Kiss It to Life's to short to post pics on here.

Yes, that is a bit weird. You might want to change it to something that makes sense.

[cyrille]

A week is very short, especially with a family.

Maybe a night in Hanoi then fly up to Nha Trang for a few days at the beach? It's not rainy season there.

[Neo]

Fly to Hanoi, take in the dulcet tones of a million horns on your taxi ride to your hotel, play real life frogger walking across 7 lane motorways to show the Missus and kids an unburied dead guy and a shot down B52 bomber during the 'American War',visit a lake like the one near your house then try and drown it all out by getting wankered with the locals on bia hoi whilst wondering why your kids hate you

Quite a memorable family holiday then

[chrisphh]

You want to travel with your kids and wife so big cities seem to be suitable for your family. I think Nha Trang, Da Nang-Hoi An-Hue, Halong Bay are good choices. Your family meambers can relax in beautiful beaches and hike in ancient streets.

[cyrille]

You want to travel with your kids and wife so big cities seem to be suitable for your family. I think Nha Trang, Da Nang-Hoi An-Hue, Halong Bay are good choices. Your family meambers can relax in beautiful beaches and hike in ancient streets.

ie completely avoiding the 'big cities [which] seem to be suitable for your family'?



Those are good suggestions, though.

[Cold Pizza]

I lived in Saigon for years.

Honestly, I would not even go to Saigon, especially if you only have a week.

There is nothing to see there, IMO.

A war museum, and the Cu Chi tunnels, and that's it. A flat polluted place with traffic.

As for the tunnels, they are in the farther burbs, and made to be a bit of a generic tourist site.

Just MO.

[Kurgen]

Doesn't sound like much fun for the kids, or me for that matter. Cheers.

[Iceman123]

Don't go to Halong Bay, the water is polluted and full of crap. Just buy a postcard. One night on a boat there was 23.5 hours too long.

Don't go to Hanoi the locals hate us, the taxi drivers will rip you off and there is fuck all worth doing there.

Go to Hoi Anh if you want cheap made to measure clothes/shoes that are made from the cheapest material available on the planet - and won't fit anyway!
Saving grace, they did have some decent artwork at reasonable prices.

[Kurgen]

Shut the thread down, we're of to Khiri Khan.

I may have mentioned there is no Thai food available in Vietnam to the wife

[chilaaogiac12a14]

With one week only, you can not expore all the places in Vietnam. You can visit North of Vietnam with the following itinerary: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Su Pan - Sapa - Lao Cai. If you want to visit South of Vietnam, Saigon - Mekong - Phu Quoc will be good choice. Another choice is Saigon - Chau Doc - Ha Tien - Can Tho - Soc Trang. In the Central Vietnam, you can come to Hue – Lang Co – Da Nang – Hoi An – My Son – Da Nang.

[cyrille]

Shut the thread down, we're of to Khiri Khan.

Looks like there are still more new members who'll register just to help you out.