ietnam has been one of the families’ most loved nations in the world! We’ve been to Vietnam with our children different times, and we’re always looking for reasons to return. The amazing country is filled of delicious cuisine (and stool-sized for children) and welcoming people, a fascinating landscapes and a vibrant culture. There’s plenty to offer everyone even children!
When to Visit Vietnam
In my opinion, Vietnam is a great place to visit any time of the year!
Vietnam is a small nation with a fascinatingly diverse climate. It can be as hot as to 30C during the South to below freezing, with freezing in the North and at the same time of the year! In general, the desirable time to visit is from October through November and February-March.
It is possible to (mostly) stay clear of the snowfall in SaPa fog in Halong Bay and extreme monsoon season all over the country. If you’re in search of some more details, Rough Guides has a fantastic month-by-month summary of the weather in the country.
How to Get Around Vietnam
We’ve tried almost every type of transport with our children in Vietnam including cyclos, motorbikes, pedal bikes boats, trains, buses planes, and more. You name it, we’ve ridden it!
Planes
It’s the most cost-effective means to travel around the country it’s the perfect choice for those who are in a hurry. It’s quite affordable (compared the cost of flights in North America) and is the most efficient method of moving across long distances within Vietnam. I always begin with Momondo when looking for flights because I’ve found that it has the majority of discounted airlines and offers that aren’t found elsewhere!
Trains
Traveling by train is one of my favorite mode of travel, and it has the least ecological impact (aside from self-propelled types of transportation). There is a train called the “Reunification Express” runs from Hanoi to HCMC stopping at all major cities throughout the route.
It is possible to spend up to 36 hours in a sleeper for the entire journey or take shorter seats that are soft or hard. You can check out the schedule and reserve tickets online through Vietnam Railways, or at any of the stations.
If you’re traveling a lengthy distance, or are looking for an easy sleeper on an night train strongly suggest booking in advance. In the case of shorter travel distances at least a day or two prior to departure is acceptable. If you do not want to face the barrier of language when you book at the station, most hotels will happily make reservations for you at an (very) reasonable cost.
Automobiles (Bus, Van, Etc).
Vietnam travel by bus is the excellent method to connect destinations that aren’t served by train or airport. There are numerous bus companies, all of which offer comfortable buses for tourists to any location. A lot of travel buses for tourists are sleeper coaches that have lay-down (not very smooth) seats, toilets as well as wifi and televisions.
vans can also be a very popular mode of transport. You can hire an individual van or an upgrade to a luxurious minivan for smaller distances. We took advantage of this service to travel to and from airports as well as to travel between Hoi An as well as Da Nang.
It’s the easiest way to reserve through your hotel and especially if you’re searching for a private vehicle feature. For those traveling with small children and wish to have the choice of using the car seat it’s the excellent feature.
There are two specific purposes for strollers: the time for napping and eating. It is SO warm during the summer in Vietnam so it was great to be able to place the baby Kacela into the stroller and sleep in it. The stroller was also beneficial during meals since it helped keep the toddler Calais at bay (while an uninvolved person carried her around! ).