Family holidays to Vietnam

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.

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.

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.

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 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. The NHS Travel Vaccinations site has up-to-date information on vaccinations and other travel health.

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.

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.

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.

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.