Vietnam family-friendly travel guide

There’s no good or bad season for a visit to Vietnam. Southern Vietnam has a tropical climate and is warm and humid year-round. The hottest time is between February and May, while the wet season is from May to November, with June to August being the rainiest months. North Vietnam has a more moderate climate, with mild, damp winters  from November to April, and hot summers from May to October. The central coast, including Nha Trang, is wettest between December and February.

For Australians travelling to Vietnam, you must have a valid visa, a visa exemption document or a written approval letter for a visa on arrival. Your passport must also have at least six months’ remaining validity at the time of your arrival. 

Entry visas to Vietnam can be applied by post or in person (by the applicant or anyone on his/her behalf) at the Embassy.

Vietnam has also recently introduced an online information portal containing visa information, including which type of visa you should apply for. There is also an application form which you can complete online, print and take to the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam.

For further information go to vietnamembassy.org.au

Vietnam is served by three main international airports: Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang International Airport (DAD).

When visiting Vietnam with family, travelling with a small family-friendly tour group eliminates the logistical hassles of getting from place to place with impatient kids in tow. However, if you wish to travel independently it’s easy to hire drivers for reasonable fees and public transport is readily available and extremely cheap. 

Bus travel can mean getting on uncomfortable, overcrowded and rickety vehicles that feel decidedly unsafe – train travel is a more relaxing option, although the trains can be very slow. 

Flying may be the best option for travelling longer distances, particularly as domestic flights are usually quite reasonably priced.

For getting around town, taxis and cyclos (rickshaws) are always waiting outside hotels, shopping centres and tourist attractions.

Vietnamese cuisine has become popular the world over. Vietnamese recipes use plenty of fresh vegetables, and dishes are commonly flavoured with fish sauce, soy sauce, lemongrass, lime, coriander and mint. 

Fish, prawns and pork are the most commonly used meats; chicken and beef are also readily available. As in most of Asia, rice and noodle dishes are staple meals. 

Popular dishes include pho (noodle soup), nema ran (spring rolls) and chao tom (ground prawns on sugar cane sticks eaten with fresh vegetables and condiments). 

The French influence on Vietnamese cuisine can be seen in the delicious banh mi baguettes commonly sold by street vendors. Stuffed with steamed or grilled marinated pork, meatballs or chicken with fresh salad and soy mayonnaise, these familiar-looking treats should please fussy kids, and they’re a tasty, bargain-priced meal for grown-ups too. 

Fruit, including lush tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, rambutan and dragon fruit, should also keep the young ones happy. 

Popular tourist destinations have a wide range of restaurants offering Chinese, Indian, Japanese, French, American and other western foods and most of the big hotels offer an international buffet.

Vietnam has a myriad of colourful markets to explore, as well as small local shops, boutique stores and air-conditioned shopping centres. Ho Chi Minh City has the best buys for modern goods like books, CDs and fashion items, while Hanoi is the place to hunt for antiques and replicas.

Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, although it is becoming more common in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and other cities frequented by tourists. Most upmarket hotels and restaurants add a five to 10% service charge to their bills. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, however, you can offer local guides and drivers a tip at the end of your trip.

Remove your shoes when entering a private house. Don’t pat or touch an adult (or child) on the head, as this is considered rude. It’s also good practice to avoid pointing your feet at people or sacred objects such as buddhas.

Electricity mainly operates on 220 volts, the same as Australia, although you will occasionally find 110 volt sockets. The two-rounded pin standard Asian plug is used in most parts of the country.

It is important to see a doctor before you travel to Vietnam and get the necessary vaccinations. Malaria is not prevalent in the major centres, however, liberal use of mosquito repellent at all times is strongly recommended. 

The tap water in Vietnam is not safe to drink. Drink only bottled water from bottles with unbroken seals and make sure ice is made from bottled water.

The official language is Vietnamese and is spoken in variation throughout the country. Although people do speak English in most major tourist areas, learning a few basic Vietnamese words and phrases will prove invaluable in getting to know the local people… and the kids will have a blast learning another language! 

Hello – Chao
Goodbye – Chao tam biet!
Thank you – Cam on
How are you? – Ban co khoe khong?
I’m fine thanks – Cam on ban toi khoe
What’s your name? – Ban ten gi?
My name is… – Toi ten la…
I don’t understand – Toi khong hieu
How much is this? – Cai nay gia bao nhieu?

My Son Sanctuary is a series of tower temples dating back from the 4^th to the 13^th century and is as impressive in history as it is in sight. These Hindu temples were constructed by the Champa Kingdom and today some of the original buildings still remain. You can take a tour through the sanctuary in order to learn the history behind this UNESCO World Heritage site or make your own way there and wander through the various complexes which are divided by letter with group B, C and D being the best preserved. Head there early to avoid the crowds and catch sunrise over the temples.

From afar, the terraced rice fields look otherworldly with stair-like ledges sloping down the mountains in shades of bright green. The fields are believed to date back to the 15^th century and were formed by minority ethnic groups in Sapa. While any of these fields is sure to stun, two of the more popular ones are The Ta Van – Lao Chai group field which stretches across nearly 1,000 hectares and the Vung Lung Sung field of Trung Chai which reaches up 121 steps. Unfortunately, there’s only a single crop every year so be sure to secure your snap when visiting from July where the fields are bathed in green to September where the crops turn gold.

The Temple of Literature in Hanoi was originally built as a university in 1070 and today is home to a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity and a range of pavilions and courtyards that provide you with a serene escape from the happening city centre. The temple is dedicated to Confucius and is dotted with stone statues and features and immaculately kept gardens. Take your time to wander through the five courtyards and look out the Stelae of Doctors, a number of turtle statues carved out of blue stone and inscribed with the names and birthplaces of graduates from Vietnam’s Imperial Academy.

Cai Rang is the biggest floating market on the Mekong Delta featuring a range of local produce for sale. The market was initially formed around 100 years ago to make trading easier when the road system was not yet developed, and today it still stands (or rather, floats) and is in full operation. The best time to visit is in the early morning where you can set up camp on the overlooking bridge and peer down on the trading below before trying your own floating market fare with a freshly cooked breakfast from one of the boats.

Tet Nguyen Dan, or Lunar New Year, is one of the biggest events on Vietnam’s calendar where across the country families come together and honour their ancestors while praying for luck, prosperity and health in the coming year. This week-long holiday sees the hustle and bustle of the cities increase as people prepare, but don’t be put off by the crowds. Tet Eve sees fireworks light up the major cities as makeshift alters line the curbs. During this time, Ho Chi Minh city hosts the largest flower show in Vietnam creating a unique background for any family photo. Be wary however as many businesses and restaurants are shit for the first few days of Tet, so take this opportunity to see the sights with less crowds.