[skepticaemia]

Okay, I have only booked the international flights at each end, and we go in less than 2 months. I know this "belongs" in travel, but figure I will find more of you here.

How would you fill the 3 weeks, with two "tweenies" kids????

I have broadly planned a week in HCMC (with an overnight Mekong Delta), a week in the "middle" (Da Lat, Na Trang), and a week out of Hanoi (with an overnight Halong Bay - ?Sapa?)

[TillyTake2]

I haven't been with "kids" but I think a week in hcmc is a lot & would be better spent in Hanoi/Sapa.

We loved Sapa & I think teens would too. Do an overnight trek with home stay. It is not that physical if you are of average fitness (I'm very overweight & was fine).

We enjoyed halong bay but 1 night was enough.

[skepticaemia]

Thank you! I had heard others highly recommend the central regions and Hanoi, and probably less about HCMC.

[TillyTake2]

We also really liked hoian.

We did 3 days hcmc (including a day to the tunnels which was great). The flew to hanoi & straight to 5 days in Sapa (overnight train & 2 days trekking plus a day going to another village. Overnight in halong bay, 4 days in Hanoi (lots to see), a week spread out down the middle (we flew to hue & then hired a driver). Most was spent in Hoian, it was lovely. Then at the end another day in hcmc (I personally hated the feel of hcmc).

We were there for 3 weeks. It was great.

[TheSmithFamily]

We did a month south to north with kids aged 4 and 9 months.

We loved every bit of it!

Highlights were Hcmc, HoiAn, and Sapa.

HoiAn is beautiful and perfect to hire push bikes and explore.
Night sleeper train to Sapa is wonderful as is the scenery and walks
I preferred Hcmc to Hanoi just seemed more friendly but busier

The trains were great to travel on and we also did an internal flight with jetstar.

Cheers bron

[sueiain]

We spent 2 weeks in September with my 9 & 10 yo, as it was only 2 weeks we didn't want to rush things and we were flying in & out of HCM so our itinerary was. 3 nights HCM (we flew in at 7.30pm so we only really had 2 days in HCM) 1st day we did a walking tour with Saigon Hotpot, they are Uni Students who meet and walk you around the city to places like the Reunification Palace and War Mueseum, you are not supposed to tip or pay them only provide their lunch, this was a great day. 2nd day we went on a day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels. (if we had longer I would have loved an overnight trip to Mekong Delta).

We then flew to Hue we had 2 nights in Hue, that afternoon we toured the imperial city by ourselves and the next day we hired a driver and toured 3 different Emporers Tombs.

From Hue we caught the train to Danang and then taxi to Hoi An. Absolutely love love loved Hoi An, the old town is great to just wander around and a 5 minute taxi ride and you are at the beach. We could have done more here but we manily just walked around enjoying the place. It is on my must go back to list.

From Hoi An we caught a sleeper train from Danang to Nha Trang (quite an experience but kids enjoyed it) we had 3 nights in Nha Trang, the day we arrived we just hung out on the beach, there was inflatable climing sliding stuff for a small charge which the kids enjoyed. 2nd day we went to Vinpearl amusement park which the kids really loved and 3rd day did a day cruise with snorkelling etc which was enjoyed by all.

From Nha Trang we caught a bus to Mui Ne and just spent 2 days doing nothing really (Mui Ne has a very high Russian tourist population and this was the only place we had a lot of problems trying to communicate)

From Mui Ne we bused back to HCM for a night.

My next Vietnam trip Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa are in my sights.

[Chief Pancake Ma...]

I second Hoi An. Its great and kids will love taking cycling trips around the country side. They might also like the overnight train.

[Boombox]

Great memories from our Vietnam holiday! We travelled with 3 kids aged 4, 6 and 8.

We had three weeks from north to south, Hanoi, Halong Bay (1 night on boat), Hoi An, Nha Trang, HCM and 1 night in mekong homestay.

Highlights were bike riding in Hoi An (Heaven and Earth tours). Vinpearl in Nha Trang- kids LOVED it! Walking around village areas in Mekong homestay. The general craziness of Hanoi and HCM is great fun, crossing the roads was hilariously terrifying! And eating! I ate everything, salads, soups, street food etc. I thought if I'm there why miss out. I took plenty of gastro medications (didn't need any) and the addresses of good hospitals in every place we visited.

We flew between places except for Da Nang to Nha Trang which we also did the overnight train- filthy is one way to describe it! But nice the see the early morning life as the train went along.

I'd also love to do Sapa if we go back. I thought the kids might not be up to the long journey there, or the hiking.

[nlman]

We've been to Vietnam 4 times- you'll love it! You could also consider Phu Quoc which is an island off the coast of Vietnam. I went 5 years ago and I would imagine there has been a lot of development since then, but it was very relaxing with very little to do.

Our favourite place is Hoi An, highly recommended!

[skepticaemia]

Thank you all!!!! Lots of food for thought here.