In my family’s 3 week trip to Vietnam, the majority of the photos we took were in our 3 days in Vinh Hy Bay. Not only is it a serenely beautiful part of the country but it also has a unique rural and cultural charm as its off the tourist radar. We were lucky to have a wonderful guide who had the knowledge of a local but the eyes of a tourist (a German who has been living in Vietnam for many years).
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I have put together this simple guide to help you plan your trip to Vinh Hy Bay as I could not find a lot of info online for planning before we went! Because Vinh Hy Bay is a little off the beaten track there isn’t a whole lot of information available about what to see and do either. Therefore, I have provided some useful details in my post Itinerary: 3 days in Vinh Hy Bay here. Please take a look to help you plan your visit. Or see my Vinh Hy Bay Photo Essay if you need some more convincing!
I hope this helps you to venture to this part of Vietnam as we were so happy we did!
Getting there and away:
Vinh Hy Bay is a bit out of the way and therefore a little tricker to get to than most spots in Vietnam.
The bay is approximately 1 hour drive from Camh Ranh Airport (you can also take a boat from near the airport to the bay! From the airport get transport to My Thanh Bridge – speedboats are available to transfer passengers to Vinh Hy bay from here.) We left Vinh Hy via Camh Ranh airport to travel back to Hanoi and it was an incredibly lovely drive along some of the most stunning coastline in Vietnam.
You can also get to Vinh Hy Bay via train but the closest train station is also some distance from the Bay at Thap Cham Station. We took an overnight sleeper train from Da Nang which took about 12 hours. Trains from Vinh Hy Bay to Hanoi leave from Thap Cham at 02:40; 03:54, 12:11; 16:36 and 22:05 while trains from Thap Cham to Saigon leave at 00:46, 11:12; 20:40; 21:19; 22:32 and 23:45.
The official Vietnam Railways website is https://dsvn.vn/#/ but you can also book through Baolau.
Accommodation:
You can see all 11 hotels available in Vinh Hy Bay on booking.com. The options are pretty limited! We stayed at Chanh Ranh House which was clean and comfortable and looked over the bay.
Food:
Restaurants
There are 2 restaurants in the bay with English menus (one of which is owned by Chanh Ranh House) both have good basic local fare. We preferred the other one – called Madame Hoang.
Vinh Hy is also known for its seafood restaurants (Vinh Hy Bay’s primary source of income is as a fishing village). Many of them are only open in the weekends on off season and all of them have a wider range of seafood in the weekends. We went to Quán Hải Sản Phước Thủy which is really just an open air kitchen with some plastic outdoor tables set up. But it was really nice.
The absolute BEST place to eat in the area is Doai Vegetarian Restaurant. Its a bit of a trek from the village in a rural area next to Nui Chua National Park. We went with our guide as part of our tour and had a set meal all of which was delicious. The setting is also spectacular as the restaurant is hidden in the forest and the outdoor seating sits on a wooden platform built around a rocky outcrop with stunning view of the bay.
Cafes and Bars
Ginger beer is a specialty in the village so make sure to stop at one of the cafes and give this a try! We liked the Ginger Beer at La Mer because there were also lots of weird and wonderful things preserved in jars.
Fresh Juices are always a good option in Vietnam and there is a great juice stall set up at the local playground in the evenings for your juice fix.
Also worth a stop is Yêu Biển bar which is a converted campervan parked up outside Chanh Ranh House. The drinks are very overpriced though so I suggest sticking only to Happy Hour!
Getting around:
Vinh Hy is pretty tricky to get around as a foreigner that doesn’t speak Vietnamese. The majority of international tourists that come through are travelling on motorbikes. You can also hire a driver but we found it was best to hire a guide which then means you don’t have to worry about your transport either and you can take advantage of all the forms of transport available (see my top tip below).
Vinh Hy Bay is very small so you can easily walk around the town itself. Boat and electric golf carts are other popular ways to travel considering the area you are in.
Top Tip:
If budget allows and you want to learn about the local culture, fruit, indigenous people and nature then I suggest hiring a private guide. I don’t always think this is the best way to travel (in fact I rarely hire a guide or go on a tour) but in locations such as this it was really helpful to have someone show us around, adapt itineraries and information based on our interests and give us insider tips.
In Vinh Hy Bay we found a wonderful tour company and guide: Vinh Hy Blue Skies where we received a fascinating private tour, had pre-arranged transport and yet had plenty of time to explore on our own, relax and find our own way.
I hope this guide has been helpful and gives you the information you need to take the road less travelled on occasion!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to book a stay or purchase an item I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Vinh Hy Bay is a local paradise in Vietnam. It’s relatively unknown to international tourists unless they are visiting the insanely luxurious Amanoi Resort. I didn’t think anywhere in Vietnam could be off the beaten track but Vinh Hy certainly was! We started off our journey by travelling overnight in one of Vietnam’s sleeper trains (7 of us sharing a cabin on a cramped overnight journey – myself sharing my narrow bed with my 2 month old baby in her travel bassinet) which definitely felt like the start of an adventure and a bit of a change from our last few days getting room service and lounging by the pool in our 5 star hotel (It was great! Click the link to book!). We wanted to go somewhere that tourists don’t usually venture and Vinh Hy bay sure did not disappoint. See my Vinh Hy Bay Photo Essay for inspiration to venture off the beaten track.
Because Vinh Hy Bay is a little off the beaten track there isn’t a whole lot of information available online with practical information about your stay. Therefore, I have provided some useful details in my post Planning a Trip to Vinh Hy Bay to help you plan your visit.
Otherwise, please take a look below for some insight into all Vinh Hy Bay has to offer!
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Ninh Thuan Rock Park
This is a gorgeous walk and viewpoint covered in..you guessed it. Rocks. Such picturesque rocks EVERYWHERE. The standout is the end of the short 20 min walk which comes out into a clifftop view of the ocean. There is also a little swing for the perfect photo op! There is nothing to do here except relax and enjoy the view but I hear there’s plans for a cafe in the near future.
Nua Chua National Park
About 15 minutes from Vinh Hy Bay you will find Nui Chua National Park and you can cross a suspension bridge to wander a local ethnic minority (Raglai) village situated inside the national park. From here you will then walk through the forest experiencing the fresh mountain air. Doai Vegetarian Restaurant is a short walk away via a peaceful stream and interesting flora and fauna. Stop for lunch (if you have booked in advance) or a cool drink.
Visit a Grape Farm
This area of Vietnam is known for its grape farms. Not wineries. Grape farms. We visited one in the Thai An valley. All you can see is vines for miles around but then you can find man-made holes along the edge, duck underneath to come out underneath the vines and the grape farms have set up little plastic tables. They produce a grape liquor which you can taste test along with grape cordial for the kids and they serve these along with lots of grape snacks. My kids were in heaven with all these free taste testers and the novelty of the child size location where the adults have to duck under the vines. The sealed bottles make for good souvenirs.
Walk a rocky pathway to a hidden beach
At the northern end of Vinh Hy bay the road abruptly ends and there is a hidden pathway covered in spiky cacti and branches. To walk along it you need to scramble over rocks and slip and slide down loose dirt. You come out on a little scenic beach with calm water good for swimming. Unfortunately a local business owner likes to take tour groups out here for lunch on a boat (and pretend its only accessible this way) so the path is not maintained or signposted but you can find it if you know what you are looking for.
Take a speedboat out around the bay
The scenery around Vinh Hy bay is best explored via boat. Taking a speedboat out allows fantastic views of the surrounding cliffs and hidden beaches along the coast. There are many little beaches here where you can swim and snorkel and relax in a beautiful part of the bay away from the fishing boats that sit in the water around the village itself.
Observe local village life around the bay
Vinh Hy bay has lots of winding narrow streets leading off the main street. Its in these quieter areas where most of local life takes place. We took some time to walk around and check out the market and the local homes and relaxed at the main square and playground where the village comes alive in the evenings.
Hang Rai Sea Cave
Hang Rai is an area of rock that has become a tourist attraction mainly because of a stunning picture a photographer took of water cascading over the top which is all over the internet. The funny thing is that the main part of Hang Rai actually sits far out of the water. Its a large rock you can climb on and see how it resembles the surface of the moon. The Hang Rai made world famous is actually a small coral reef area and rock to the left side of this one and only visible at low tide. Its also not signposted or obvious at all. The waterfall effect that looks so beautiful in the photograph is very difficult to capture as it requires being there at exactly the right time. The place is cool though and worth a walk through. There are some crazy looking rocks in this area. We didn’t have time to explore and see if we could view the other part of the rock but if you do I suggest bringing your togs! It looks like people climb right in and sit in the natural rock pools the tide creates here.
Next time I visit I would love to spend some time at Cam Lap Promontory also as this is nearby. Nui Chua National Park also has some good multi-day hiking trails but I wasn’t prepared to undertake this with young children in tow! I hope this guide has been helpful and inspires you to take the road less travelled on occasion.
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Sunworld Amusement Park is a very strange (but quite typical for Asian countries) Theme Park. It is noticeably devoid of rides. It is in a crazy location. It is very opulent and extravagant. The entry price is very expensive for Vietnam and its probably not worth it unless you make a full day of the theme park; BUT there are a few worthwhile attractions here such as a very very high cablecar, a stunning bridge called the Golden Hand Bridge, a traditional french village and a few good rides.
The opulence of this place is incredible and they are still building more. The weirdest thing is that there isn’t a huge amount to DO but plenty to wander around and admire.
Top Tips for Visiting Sunworld Amusement Park:
If you decide to visit Sunworld Bana Hills and pay the huge entrance fee its probably to see the Golden Hand Bridge. Don’t get me wrong this place is very impressive but its still a lot of money and time out of your way to visit a bridge that is completely covered in tourists. I recommend making a full day of it (the complex is open from 7:30am until 10pm) as there are many other parts of the complex that are worth seeing while you are there anyway and you can make your day much more relaxed and comfortable by following a good plan. There are also some benefits to staying for a long day which I will go through in the ‘What to Expect’ section below.
Another thing to be aware of is that children under 1 metre enter free but there really isn’t a huge amount for them to do. The main drawcard for kids is the indoor arcade area which has a play area and arcade rides just for young kids. Ideally you want to bring enough adults so you can take turns spending time with the young kids in the arcade and visiting the rest of the park.
Where to stay:
I recommend staying in Da Nang or Hoi An – although it is possible to stay in a hotel in Sunworld itself you are far away from any other activities, stuck paying overpriced prices for food from the restaurants here and you don’t even get your cable car tickets for free. I recommend La An Central Boutique Villa in Hoi An as a good mid-range option and Paris Deli Danang Beach Hotel in Da Nang for something a bit more luxurious. There are tons of other options on Booking.com in both these locations too. Just do Sunworld as a day trip.
Getting there and away:
Sunworld Amusement Park is about 40 minutes drive from Da Nang or 1 hour drive from Hoi An. Da Nang is a major city with a busy airport with flights all over the country and Da Nang Train Station also has trains travelling the length of the country.
Getting around:
The best way to get to Sunworld is to hire a private driver. I suggest making use of a transfer between Hoi An and Da Nang but you can just hire a driver for the day to get there. Although there are plenty of tours available they require you to be back at a certain time and its best to not have a strict deadline while you are here right in the busiest part of the day. We hired Mr. Tim (Private Car with Driver – Watsapp +84 (0) 775 518 084) who we found online to take us from Hoi An back to Da Nang with a stop at Sunworld – he waited for us and continued to Da Nang when we were ready.
Food:
The food is pretty overpriced so make sure you expect to spend a bit of money and maybe take a few snacks in your bag to tide you over until mealtimes. The German Beer Hall is a good central spot to get a drink and a light meal after many of the other restaurants are closed around 6pm.
What to bring:
I suggest bringing a light jacket as it is much cooler up in the mountains. Also as mentioned above pack some extra snacks so you don’t need to stop for food all the time; and take your camera – this is a fascinating place that is worth snapping some memories of.
What to expect:
The complex is open from 7:30am until 10pm so I recommend you arrive as early as possible and stay until evening. BUT many of the eateries and rides etc. close up much earlier than 10pm and/or are closed due to weather and there isn’t really any information provided about this.
Arrive when you can in the morning (the earlier the better as many tourists are not morning people or are relying on tour buses) and making your first stop the Golden Hand Bridge especially as its just off the first cable car (which takes approx. 20 minutes). Then you have seen it once in case things get hectic in the evening – take lots of photos if their aren’t many people and enjoy the views but usually this place is pretty busy. Once you have checked the bridge out I would head straight up the next cable car to the top of the mountain and go on the outdoor rides. As you are so high up the mountain these are often shut down in ANY adverse weather conditions – when we were there it was just a bit of rain so get on these while you can even if the queues are long.
After you have had enough of the outdoor rides you can explore the indoor rides and arcade and the french village and get some lunch at one of the many eateries here. Have a proper sit down lunch as snacks are all that will be available later in the evening.
Here’s the really important bit – all the day-trippers are trying to leave around 5pm so the cable car line becomes out-of-this-world long. Don’t wait in this line – go and have a drink and dinner, spend some more time at the arcade or wander the complex and then try heading down the cable car after 6. The whole hall in the photo below was filled with people waiting in line to go down in the cable car at 5pm.
When you do eventually saunter to the cable car when there is no line, if you have time stop again at the Golden Hand Bridge. It’s really quiet here in the evenings and you are likely to catch the bridge right at sunset for breathtaking views.
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Recently, myself and my family went on a Halong Bay Cruise. We are not big cruise people, but since this was only 2 nights and is the best way to see Halong Bay we went for it. The only other time I have taken a Cruise was in the Galapagos Islands.
The main reason we chose this cruise was the range of activities on offer which we felt would be suitable with young children, the reviews were in general very good, the boat was luxury without being ridiculously expensive and the area the boat visited was Lan Ha Bay which is much quieter and less frequented than the main Halong Bay area. See my post here for information about the cruise we went on and what we did.
When choosing a cruise there are 5 main things to think about:
Location
Firstly, assess how important location is for you. Halong Bay is a large area with not a huge amount to ‘do’ other than enjoy the view. You can visit the very famous (and overrun with tourists and trash) part of Halong Bay which has the most impressive and numerous cliffs OR the quieter areas of Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay which really aren’t much different just less frequented by tourists.
Time
The other important choice to make is how much time you have to visit. You have the choice of a day trip, 1 night cruise and 2 night cruise for your Halong bay trip. We chose a 2 night cruise as its a very long way from Hanoi for a day trip (especially with kids) and I feel with a one night trip you don’t get a lot of time to relax on the boat (or much time for activities as we only did very short excursions on the first and last day).
Activities
Make sure to select a trip with activities you actually want to do. When booking a cruise you can always see its itinerary (although this is subject to change) and select from there. I disregarded a few cruises as the activities didn’t seem like things my kids could stay occupied doing or many be a bit too strenuous physically for my 3 year old or for me carrying a 3 month old. For example, the cruise we went on had the option to skip biking to a village and take an electric car instead without missing the entire activity.
Convenience
For us, travelling in a large family group, it was more convenient to take a cruise as everything is organised for you (including getting from one place to another) and everything is designed to be pretty relaxing and activities not too strenuous. However, you may decide not to take a cruise at all. Most tourists visit Halong Bay via a cruise but it is also possible to stay on Cat Ba Island – you can get there via ferry.
Cost
We went for a pretty luxury cruise because it seemed like a time you would actually use a lot of the hotel’s (in this case boat’s) features (ie. your only options for food, activities and spending your free time are on the boat). Also, all the cruises were pretty pricey (for Vietnam) so we saw no harm in spending a bit more for a luxury experience. However, there are much cheaper options and as you spend a lot of your time on a day boat theres really no harm going for something basic but maybe take some extra snacks and things in case the food is awful.
I hope this guide helps you to select a cruise (or not a cruise) to visit Halong Bay. Enjoy!
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Halong Bay is a bit of a tourist trap – but even so its still an un-missable destination on your trip to Vietnam. This is a post on what we did on our cruise as a big family group (5 adults and 2 very young children – 3 months and 3 years old) on a 2 night 3 day cruise. Hopefully it helps you to select a cruise thats right for you or helps you to figure out if you want to go on the Mon Cherie Cruise as we did.
Top Tips for your Halong Bay Cruise on Mon Cherie:
Try to participate in all the activities – It’s what you are there for and they are great to experience the bay. Yes you can look at the views and relax on the boat but you still have plenty of opportunity to do that AND participate in the activities. The only exception is the swimming on the first day off the boat – its not worth it. Have a bit of a kayak and then head to the pool instead. This activity is easy to cut short as you are based at the boat anyway and its nothing special.
Buy snacks and drinks from the little local boats that pull up alongside the cruise for the experience of it – but make sure to haggle! Also try to get drinks that are cold to begin with as your little mini fridge will struggle to cool them down.
Best time to get in the pool is after your day of activities just on or before happy hour – get a drink by the pool, hop in the cool water and watch the sun go down.
Don’t order anything at the cruise port just because you are waiting around – its very overpriced and you don’t want it. Once you get on the cruise you will be served a huge lunch anyway.
Getting there and away:
Halong bay is 3 hours drive from Hanoi. Your cruise will probably offer transfer from Hanoi but it won’t be included in the price of the cruise. I don’t recommend booking this if you are a larger group as the price is per person and its not a private transfer so they will likely still pick up or drop off other people and you will need to wait around for that.
We arranged one way private transfers because we wanted to get to Halong Bay from Ninh Binh (3-4 hours drive) so as not to backtrack. I highly recommend a private transfer because you want to make sure you don’t miss your cruise boarding time and this will drop you door to door. However, buses are an option from both Hanoi and Ninh Binh. Your hotel can arrange private transfer for you or for transfer from Ninh Binh you can also contact Ninh Binh Tourist Center (I cannot recommend them enough the driver had some English and was happy to do an extra stop when my toddler decided she needed the bathroom in the middle of nowhere).
Getting around:
You will spend a lot of time on a smaller day boat going to activities and to and from the main boat when boarding and disembarking the cruise. I did expect this but I didn’t expect how much travel time on the boat itself we would have. Sure you can laze around in the sun but make sure to bring a book or a tablet with movies or games (particularly for children) for when you want to hide out inside.
Food:
Many of the reviews mention the food on the cruises isn’t great. We thought it was pretty fantastic on the Mon Cherie. It’s not exactly gourmet dining and its not exactly traditional Vietnamese cuisine so don’t expect too much! However it is usually a buffet with Western Asian fusion (and lots of seafood). They also served a la carte on occasion with LOTS of courses so if you don’t like something there is still enough food. The vegetarian in our group was served individual dishes that covered their dietary requirements and our 3 year old was also served a children’s menu. Both could then still approach the buffet for items they were interested in.
There was definitely enough food for everyone also although a lot of the luxury items ran out quite quickly (ie. lobster, lychees).
What to bring:
For Yourself:
A reusable water bottle: the Nalgene water bottle is a great size. There is filtered water provided on the boat but you need something to fill up for activities and in your room.
A sarong – great for wearing out on excursions and using as a towel to dry off and also perfect for wearing up to the bar if you are going to have your cocktail in the pool.
Packing Cells – you are only on the boat for 2 nights so don’t waste time unpacking. Keep everything organised in your suitcase instead.
For Young Children:
children’s lifejackets – the ones available are quite large and your child won’t want to wear them. This way they can be comfortable and safe all trip.
A tablet to keep them occupied during transfers and if they get bored at mealtimes.
Also take some snacks on board with you – meals are huge but little kids eat a lot more regularly and you will need snacks on hand.
What to expect:
DAY 1
On the first day we waited around at the dock for a while then boarded a small boat which transported us to the Mon Cherie. Here, we had a safety briefing and some information provided about the cruise. Once arriving on the main boat we were served a welcome drink (watermelon juice) and lunch. After lunch, we did a short kayak (from the boat so when you felt tired you could just turn around and come back) and then swum from the side of the boat. This was a pretty disappointing activity as the itinerary was for a visit to Dark and Light Cave and the water around the boat wasn’t exactly the mostly exciting or clean for swimming.
After our swim right next to the boat we headed up to the bar for happy hour and some complimentary snacks were offered. Then we had a cooking class where we learned to make fresh Vietnamese spring rolls before dinner.
After dinner there was squid fishing available off the side of the boat which was apparently pretty fun (I didn’t participate).
DAY 2
After a leisurely breakfast we were transferred from our main cruise onto a day boat which was nice with lots of lounging areas. This boat took us to Cat Ba Island where we visited Viet Hai Village (you could take an electric car or bicycle here through the rice fields from the boat). Here we had a walk around and had some fish eat the dead skin off our feet (barf). Lunch was served on the day boat.
In the afternoon, we visited a stunning cove and beach where we could relax and swim. This was the highlight of the cruise for me and what we expected of Halong Bay. We had to kayak to the beach from the day boat which wasn’t noted in the original itinerary but it was a very easy kayak and you could use the kayak to explore the area further if you so desired.
We arrived back on the cruise in time for happy hour and a dip in the pool while the sun went down. Again there was a cooking class, this time we made fried spring rolls and then dinner was served.
DAY 3
Today we were due to disembark the cruise. The itinerary included a quick stop via a small boat and then a bus to visit Trung Trang Cave. This was a walk through a cave on Cat Ba Island that has beautiful stalactites. It was nice to be in a forest area for a short while to escape the heat of Vietnam. After this whirlwind visit we returned to the boat to have brunch and check out before transferring back to a seperate boat to return to the port for midday.
I hope this post helps to show you the realities of a Halong Bay cruise or specifically a cruise on the Mon Cherie.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to book a stay or purchase an item I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Ninh Binh is known as the Halong Bay on Land and when you arrive you can see why! Particularly around June (when we were here) Ninh Binh and its surrounds are lush, green, hot and beautiful with touches of bright yellow and dramatic limestone cliffs adding to the endless gorgeous rice fields and rivers. It reminded me a lot of rural Bali (but better!). It’s a great place for endless outdoor adventures.
GENERAL INFO
Getting there and away:
Ninh Binh is an easy hop skip and a jump from Hanoi. The best way to get here is via train and it only takes 2-3 hours from Hanoi Old Town to Ninh Binh. All the good stuff in Ninh Binh is somewhat rural so you will then need to get a taxi to Tam Coc or the nearby area that you are staying in but your accomodation will be able to arrange pickup for you for approximately 200,000 VND.
From Ninh Binh we visited Halong Bay. There are no trains in this direction but you can catch a bus or organise private transport. If you are on your own or in a couple your cruise may offer the best price for a car (bear in mind you will likely be sharing with others) but for a group you should book through your accomodation or through Ninh Binh Tourist Center.
Accommodation:
We decided to stay right in Tam Coc as then we could walk to get food, cash, beers etc. easily. There are plenty of places to stay here but we stayed at Tam Coc Marina Villa which is very centrally located; newly built; has some nice places to relax and recover and has very attentive helpful staff.
Food:
Tam Coc town has plenty of cheap local options for food – all local food in Vietnam is pretty great but most of these don’t stand out in any way. We did really enjoy a meal at Father Cooking – on the corner of the main road just across from the Tam Coc Wharf.
Getting around:
The attractions around Ninh Binh are quite spread out and therefore its best to hire a car and driver to get to most of them. Ninh Binh Tourist Center can arrange this for you in advance for a reasonable price.
For the closer locations, you can also hire bicycles. Tam Coc town itself is easily walkable.
Top Tip:
Allow for some downtime here in Ninh Binh. All the activities are exhausting – either physically demanding or out in the sunshine for long hours. I would limit to 2 locations/activities a day so that you don’t wear yourself out!
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Trang An Landscape Complex
Trang An Landscape Complex is a scenic boat trip that goes through limestone caves and past temples (you can get out of the boat and explore). The trip takes 2-3 hours and costs 250,000 VND per person (children under 1 metre free). There are 3 different routes – I suggest taking Route 3 as this goes through the longest cave and also past the very beautiful temple on the water. Be aware if you are claustrophobic that the cave height can get very low and you need to lie almost flat to avoid hitting your head in some points.
Before you head out on the boats there is a snack shop if you need food, cold drinks or coffee. Tam Coc Wharf also has boat tours but Trang An is much better.
Hang Mua (Lying Dragon Mountain)
Hang Mua is a steep mountain with a beautiful view of the surrounding area including the scenic river system and the ancient capital. The hike is challenging (especially in the heat of the day) so it is best attempted in the early morning. Also you should wear proper walking shoes and take plenty of water with you but be aware there is no toilet located at the top (there is a small shop part way up that sells ice-creams and drinks). Taking the left fork on your way up leads to a stone dragon statue. The other path has great views too so do both if you can.
You should also allow time for a bit of a wander around before or after: the complex has lots of photo opportunities and cute things to look at. There is also a cave at the bottom of the mountain that you can explore inside. Hang Mua costs 100,000 VND to enter and parking is free.
Tam Coc Town
Tam Coc town has touristy small town vibes but is nice to have a little wander around , particularly if there is a celebration going on. You can go shopping (make sure to bargain) or watch the colourful boats leave from Tam Coc Wharf. At night see if you can spot the Gaudy party buses – they are hilarious!
Bai Dinh Pagoda
Bai Dinh Pagoda is the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam. It combines an ancient and new complex and it takes about 30 minutes to walk from one end of the complex to the other (after taking an electric car to the entrance). Its free to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda but the electric car costs 30,000 VND per person. There is some incorrect information online about there being a vegetarian restaurant inside the complex. There are a couple of places where you can get cold drinks but no Restaurant. Don’t get stuck wandering around in the middle of the day heat starving with a toddler and unable to find food.
Thang Nham Bird Park
This is a slightly more off the beaten track destination and was definitely not busy when we went there. It’s best to come here in the late afternoon. Nothing is signposted so it can be quite confusing to find the boat to the birds – allow yourself time). After purchasing tickets you walk along a long flat bridge and then on your left is a short boat trip through a cave. After getting of the boat you can continue to the right of the bridge onto a little island which has lots of gorgeous photo spots. The main attraction is another boat journey to see all the birds return to their nests at dusk. Entry costs 120,000 VND per person (includes both boat tours and the entrance fee). We loved it here – it was relaxed and beautiful.
Next time I am here I would like to visit Van Long Nature Reserve. This is a much quieter place for boat rides (and is a bit of a journey from Tam Coc). The boat rides here are really cheap; only last about 1 hour and you have an opportunity to see the endangered langur monkey that is found in this area. Let me know what you thought of this place if you have been and any other must sees for Ninh Binh.
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Hanoi is chaotic, frantic, hot, full of petrol fumes, chock-a-block with traffic, bright and colourful and absolutely charming. Read below on how to make the most of your time here even if Hanoi is just a necessary stop to catch your flight.
GENERAL INFO
Getting there and away:
Hanoi airport has flights all over the world and Hanoi also has bus and train connections all over Vietnam – anywhere you want to go, you can.
Most accomodation will book a transfer to/from the airport or to anywhere else you want to go if you prefer to travel by car. We spend approximately 30 USD each way on our airport transfers for a 16-seater car. A standard car will be much less!
Another transfer that tourists often make by car is to Halong Bay (its quite a long journey by bus and bus is a little too unpredictable if you are getting on a cruise, plus there are no trains that cover this route). Our family of 7 took a 16-seater private car and paid 140 USD for the one way journey – again you can book this through your hotel. I don’t recommend booking a transfer through your cruise company as they charge per passenger and will pick up other passengers rather than provide a private transfer (making the journey longer and less comfortable).
Accommodation:
In Hanoi, it is best to stay in the Old Quarter area which sits to the north and west of Hoan Kiem Lake. If you are staying in Hanoi on multiple occasions (ie. after and before your international flight) then its a good idea to stay in a couple of different hotels so you can explore a slightly different area of the old town.
Our top mid-range picks are Hanoi Media Hotel and Spa which has incredibly friendly staff, family rooms, breakfast included and is only 1 minute walk to the lake or Maison D’Orient Hotel which has lots of character and is close to great shops and eateries but there is no lift so expect to walk up lots of stairs.
Food and Drink:
Hanoi has lots of fantastic options for food and drink. The street food is also amazing here but we prefer restaurants as they are more comfortable with kids, and are an escape from the heat. Here are some of our favorite finds:
Cong Caphe – There are lots of branches of this chic cafe styled on communist era Vietnam. We enjoyed coffees at the one on Phố Nhà Thờ, 27 near St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Met – There are 2 branches of this chain restaurant in Hanoi Old Town. It serves really tasty local food at reasonable prices. They also have lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
Café Ga Đông Dương – This is a sweet little cafe on train street serving up drinks and giving you the best seats to watch the train go by.
Laika Cafe – Great coffee, smoothies and juices. They only serve drinks.
S’Patisserie – coffee and pastries right next to the lake
Luk Lak Vietnamese Restaurant – a bit out of the way and very overpriced but amazing local food with a gourmet twist.
Tiệm Mỳ Tiên Sơn – Noodles and Dimsum – Excellent noodles and dim sum – cheap and cheerful quick eat.
Getting around:
You can walk anywhere around the old city – a Cyclo is another great option if you need to get somewhere a bit further afield or are too hot to walk. Both of these options mean you can see all that Hanoi has to offer which is often just hidden around the next corner.
Top Tip:
Learn to cross the road like a local – you will need to in Hanoi. Always walk slowly forwards into traffic (never backwards) and the motorbikes and cars will navigate around you.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
Water puppet show, Hanoi
This is a delightful and short (60 minute) puppet show in water unlike anything you have ever seen before. Centrally located in the Old Town of Hanoi you will be able to walk there from your hotel. It’s great for adults and children alike. Tickets were very affordable too. Show times vary but generally take place 5 times a day at approx. 3 PM, 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. You can buy a ticket on the day. Make sure you go to the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre as there are a few other shows around.
Old Quarter Night Market, Hanoi
The Hanoi Night Market is only on on the weekends but is a great experience if you are in Hanoi at the right time. The streets around the market become pedestrian only so you can wander at leisure and the market has lots of great souvenirs to purchase as do all the shops surrounding it. There are also a few stalls selling food and drink. You can purchase ANYTHING from children’s toys, local crafts, electronics to shoes. The market starts up about 7pm and is open until 11pm.
If you aren’t in Hanoi for a weekend there is still lots of great shopping to be had everywhere. Hang Ma street is a great option for starting to wander the shops – then you can branch off in any direction to continue.
Train Street, Hanoi
Train Street in Hanoi is the coolest experience – seeing a train pass by you so close is such an adrenaline rush. It’s also a great spot for pictures. Obviously caution is recommended but its actually pretty safe and the locals are great at making sure you are never in danger. The trains are scheduled at set times of the day so you will have a lot of advance warning of the approaching train and the locals will let you know when you need to get out of the way and where it is safe to watch from. The Train Street is ‘officially’ closed but if you turn left when facing the main entrance to the street and then right down the next road someone will find you and lead you through a tunnel to come out into the open of the street. Try to arrive 30 mins before the train is expected to get a good spot. The train definitely comes through at 3:30pm every day and then 7pm in the opposite direction.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake is lovely and peaceful to walk around in the mornings, particularly if you like to take it easy or just watch and observe city life. Grab a pastry and a coffee and take a detour to take a look at the impressive Hanoi Opera House and on the other side of the lake St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Ride a Cyclo around the city
Hanoi is such a great place to watch all the hustle and bustle of a city and what better way to do that than the novelty of a Cyclo. The Cyclo is a bicycle taxi that you can find all over Hanoi. They are pretty pricy and more of a tourist attraction than an actual convenient way to get around but they are such a novelty and the slight breeze provides a welcome break from the heat of the city.
Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison is otherwise known as the Hanoi Hilton. It was Hanoi’s prison through many distinct periods of Vietnam’s history and so a visit gives you a lot of insight into Vietnam as a country, the Vietnam war and American involvement in Vietnam. Its a fascinating part of ther country’s history. The prison is open from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and then from 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM and its an easy walk here from the Old Town.
I hope you find these tips helpful and let me know if you enjoyed your visit to Hanoi!
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Vietnam is full of great activities for children. Although it can be a bit of a ‘tricky’ country to wrangle your children in (think hot, chaotic, dirty, noisy) it’s worth it for the wonder and excitement that it brings and all the cool things available for them to do. Also the Vietnamese people are so friendly and love children so I highly recommend visiting with children.
Here are our top activities in Vietnam for children:
Water puppet show, Hanoi
This is a delightful and SHORT (60 minute) puppet show in water unlike anything you have ever seen before. Centrally located in the Old Town of Hanoi you will be able to walk there from your hotel even with young children. My 3 year old was transfixed the whole time despite me being convinced we would have to walk out halfway through. Even my 3 month old baby loved it. Tickets were very affordable too. Show times vary but generally take place 5 times a day at approx. 3 PM, 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. You can buy a ticket on the day.
Old Quarter Night Market, Hanoi
The Hanoi Night Market is only on on the weekends but is a great experience for kids if you are in Hanoi at the right time. It gets dark early in Hanoi so kids get the excitement of being out and about when its dark without staying up too late past their bedtime. Plus the market has lots of fun things to look at and buy for cheap so you aren’t breaking the bank including lots of kids clothes and toys and junk that kids like to collect or ‘tat’ as we call it. There is also some food and drinks to purchase. My 3 year old acquired a purple crocheted turtle which has a measuring tape inside that you can pull out at this market and she LOVES it.
Ride a Cyclo around Hanoi
Hanoi is such a great place to watch all the hustle and bustle of a city and what better way to do that than the novelty of a Cyclo. The Cyclo is a bicycle taxi that you can find all over Hanoi. They are pretty pricy and more of a tourist attraction than an actual convenient way to get around but your children will love them and the slight breeze provides a welcome break from the heat of the city.
Try all the fresh fruit juices available
Kids love fruit and they looooove juice. Vietnam is a paradise as they can get a huge variety of fresh fruit juices on the street anywhere in the country. Made fresh in front of you its great to keep your kids hydrated and get in their 5 plus a day. We love watermelon, lime, passionfruit and mango juices!
Train Street, Hanoi
Train Street in Hanoi is the coolest experience for kids – nowhere else in the world are they going to see a train moving by at that speed up close. It’s also a great spot for pictures. Obviously caution is recommended and you need to be actively parenting your children while you are here. However, the trains are scheduled at set times of the day so you will have a lot of advance warning of the approaching train and the locals will let you know when you need to get out of the way. The Train Street is ‘officially’ closed but if you turn left when facing the main entrance to the street and then right down the next road someone will find you and lead you through a tunnel to come out into the open of the street.
Trang An Boat Ride, Ninh Binh
Kids love every form of transport – a little rowboat is definitely an exciting experience. Add to that a trip through gorgeous green landscapes with big limestone karsts, long caves where the adults need to duck so that they don’t hit their heads and lots of chances to get out and stretch their legs. The kids will decide that sightseeing is cool and be way more patient at the next stop. I highly recommend bringing your own children’s lifejackets on this boat ride as the ones provided were very ill-fitting.
Halong Bay Cruise
What could be better than enjoying some luxury along with your kids? Enjoying some luxury without them. But jokes aside if you have to take your kids along a Halong Bay Cruise is beautiful, entertaining, relaxing and kid-friendly. They can’t escape the boat easily so you can let your guard down a little and there are tons of activities, not to mention a buffet and a pool (depending on your cruise). Also the novelty of sleeping on a boat and buying things from the little market boats that float past does not wear off fast.
The Beach
The classic – if you are ever stuck for somewhere to take your kids in a hot climate, the beach is always a winner. An Bang Beach in Da Nang is perfect as its right in the city and close to lots of amenities + you can get a hotel right by the beach through booking.com. There are nice beaches all over Vietnam though so you can’t go wrong wherever you are going to be based!
Sunworld Amusement Park, Da Nang Hills
This place is CRAZY. It’s not a traditional amusement park so you don’t need to try to entertain the kids while you line up for rides all day. The first attraction that will interest the kids is that you need to take a cable car to get here as its waaay waaay up a mountain. I think you are on the cable car for about 20-30 minutes!! Then once you get up the top there is a giant hand bridge, another cable car, food outlets, a french colonial village to wander through, a cool fountain and some interesting gardens, a full indoor arcade area, a kids play area and some indoor rides for smaller kids and some for big kids/adults. There are a couple of rollercoasters too but these close when the weather is bad as they are outdoors.
Visit somewhere rural
The Vietnamese people are so lovely and even more so when you get out of the cities. It’s a great idea for children to experience the realities of Vietnamese life and get an authentic experience of the country. That’s what travel is about after all! We travelled to Vinh Hy Bay which is very off the beaten track and only popular among local tourists. Our 3 year old had a great time wandering through an indigenous village and also playing at the local playground with some of the local children. Our baby made friends with a local grandmother. I definitely suggest enjoying some everyday activities with your children such as taking a walk and playing on a playground in a place like this.
Stay in a nice hotel
My last suggestion of what to do with children in Vietnam is to have a stay in a nice hotel. Your money goes a lot further here so you can get luxury for less. You can find a great hotel with child friendly amenities on booking.com. Just relax at the hotel and enjoy all the things you can’t normally afford or wouldn’t do at home. My suggestions are:
Hang out at the hotel swimming pool all day
Order room service
Let your children have anything they want at the buffet breakfast and be okay with them leaving piles of food on their plate because they selected too much
Go up and down all the floors in the lift as many times as your kids want
Take advantage of your hotel’s babysitting service (if they have one – many in Vietnam do) and go out for a nice meal while your children make a new friend.
Lie in bed and watch movies
Have a bubble bath
Get your kids special mocktails at the hotel bar
Jump on the bed (especially if they aren’t allowed to at home!)
I hope you have found this list helpful! I also think the Mekong Delta would be an amazing spot for children but we didn’t get down that far south this time around. Please do let me know of any other great activities for kids in Vietnam in the comments!
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Vietnam is a beautiful country with so much to see! This is definitely not an exhaustive list – going back I would definitely try to visit the Mekong Delta and a couple of the Southern islands (such as Con Dao or Phú Quốc). If I didn’t have young children tagging along I may have done a hike through one of the National Parks and braved some of the long rural stretches around northern Vietnam. BUT, this list gives a good mix of amazing places which all have something unique to offer. All were super child friendly locations too!
So here are all my must-see spots in Vietnam (ESPECIALLY if you are visiting with children):
Hanoi
Hanoi is chaotic, hot and frantic but is a must see part of Vietnam. The food and coffee scene is killer and the markets and shops are never ending! Definitely my kind of city!
Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh is beautiful and green – such a great place to just chill out and enjoy nature. There is also a big mountain you can climb if you like to challenge yourself a bit more (its particularly challenging in 37 degree heat!
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is the jewel of Vietnam – we did a cruise through the cheaper and less crowded Lan Ha Bay which is really the exact same as Halong Bay. Go luxury here and enjoy a 5 star cruise if you can because nothing beats sailing through this bay watching the sunset from the swimming pool of your cruise ship.
Da Nang
We stayed by the beach here – it was absolute bliss staying right next to the beach but being so close to all the amenities a city offers! Find a hotel by the beach on booking.com.
Hoi An
Hoi An is one of those towns you just want to keep wandering through as there is something new and beautiful around every corner! It’s also a great idea to time your visit for the monthly lantern festival where the night lights are extra phenomenal (although there is a little bit of this magic every night).
Vinh Hy
Vinh Hy is the place to go to feel those real authentic Vietnam vibes. Its still very much off the beaten track which is so rare these days. Hardly anyone speaks english and tourists are few and far between (international ones anyway!) If you like a local experience with great landscapes and seafood I highly recommend checking this bay out!
We went to Vietnam during rainy season in the south so we didn’t get down to that end of the country – if we had we would have visited Ho Chi Min City (Saigon); Phu Quoc Island, The Mekong Delta and Con Dao Island. If you have been to these places please let me know any must sees! – I’m planning to hit these spots up next time I go.
THE ONLY ERIKA IN THE VILLAGE 