Travel Through Vietnam (And Other Countries) With Kids
We recently spent two months living in Vietnam with our toddler and have some tips to make it easier. Travelling in Vietnam as a family with a toddler is more of a challenge than our previous trips without kids! But it is doable!
Getting around Vietnam can be chaotic. Motorbikes zipping around, crowded sidewalks, and less-than-ideal road conditions. Planning ahead and giving yourself extra time to get from point A to B is crucial.
We stayed primarily in the Long Bien district in Hanoi. We travelled across the city and spent time in Hoi An, Da Nang, Sa Pa, and Hue. This let us experience a wide range of terrain with our daughter.
There are a few options out there for getting around town and for getting from one destination to another.
Don’t Want To Read The Whole Article? Here Is A Quick Summary:
- Get a car seat that is easy to get in/out and lightweight: I recommend the Doona, Ride Safer Travel Vest, or WAYB Pico.
- Getting Around the City: Use the Grab App (like Uber)
- Walking around the city or your destination: Get a carrier that works well for you and your kid. Doona Stroller works well but some areas are tough to get around, other strollers can be difficult.
- Excursions and short trips between cities: private car/bus booked with or without a tour.
- Longer trips between cities or regions: Hop on a short flight
- From the Airport to Hotel: Vinasun or Mai Linh Taxi at the airport or book a ride through your hotel. Cheaper options: Walk to a Grab pickup location or take the bus.
Car Seats in Vietnam
Before we talk about getting from one place to another let’s talk about car seats. While you don’t have to use a car seat in Vietnam, I still prefer to use one. They are not used much at all locally.
You will see tons of kids riding with parents on mopeds or sitting in a car unbuckled so any car seat is going to be a step up from that. Most grab/taxi drivers opened the trunk for us thinking it was luggage because they didn’t recognize it.
You are going to want a car seat that is easy to get in and out quickly. Most rides are going to be using Grab, taxi, or tour bus.
We used a Doona Car Seat/Stroller combo and it made things so easy. Check our Gear Recommendations post for more info and other options for bigger kids.
One issue is a decent amount of Grab drivers remove the seat belts in the backseat. The majority of the cars did have seatbelts. But there were multiple times where we had to cancel a ride and wait for another. If that happens you should be able to get a refund or not be charged.
From what I understand seat belts aren’t widely used in part because riding in a car is seen as very safe compared to riding a moped. So many drivers don’t see a need for them or remove them completely if broken.
I think there is also some superstition about bad luck or the passenger thinking the driver isn’t competent.
Top Car Seats For Traveling in Vietnam
Getting Around In The City: Grab Car
Grab is going to be one of the best options to get around town in most cities in Vietnam. It is basically the Uber of Southeast Asia. We use it a ton when we are in Vietnam.
You can pay with credit card or cash. You don’t have to worry much about communicating where you are going. Just put your pickup and destination in the app and go.
The cheapest option is typically going to be a Grab Bike (ride on the back of a moped/motor bike). But if you have kids with you (or even just a group of 2+) the Grab Car will be best.
A Grab Car is still going to feel pretty cheap if you are used to paying for Uber.
We did run into the issue of not having seat belts a few times during our trip. It was really annoying. It is not uncommon for drivers to tuck the seatbelt away or even remove it completely. We had to cancel a few rides because of this. But I think we were able to get refunds on each.
You can also take a taxi but these are more difficult to find outside of airports and tourist areas. You can also end up getting overcharged if you don’t take a taxi from a reputable company.
Tours Outside of the City or Excursions: Private Car or Bus
Short trips between cities or destinations like Ha Long Bay are frequently booked through tour companies or as part of a package with a hotel, cruise, or tour.
These trips will usually be in either a larger “sleeper bus” or in a “limo bus” for smaller groups. These buses/vans are large sprinter vans with nice seats, charging ports, wifi, and room for luggage. You can also book a private car/driver if you prefer.
You will see a lot of these buses and vans picking up and dropping off groups in tourist-heavy areas like the Old Quarter in Hanoi. We haven’t done the large sleeper bus but have taken the smaller van/limo bus privately and with a small group of strangers.
For the private ride we did a group trip (6 Adults + 2 Toddlers) from Hanoi to Sapa and hired a “Limousine Bus” for the trip.
The trip included going there and back but also having the driver and van available while we were in Sapa.
This made it one of the easier trips for us because we could leave the car seat, diaper bag, and everything in the car and just call the driver to be picked up or if we needed something out of the car.
A driver on call and vehicle like that is going to be more expensive than just doing grab here and there. But if you are going as a large group or just want an easy trip it could be worth it.
Some tour packages will include this and some may charge extra. It will also depend on the location you are going to and how close you are staying to the places you want to go.
Taking The Train
You can also take the train between many cities in Vietnam but we have not done this yet. With a toddler we didn’t want the extended travel time being cooped up in a train. It might be something we try on our next long stay in Vietnam.
When I looked into it the general recommendation is booking the higher class sleeper berth or a private berth. I would try to book a whole soft sleeping berth if doing overnight (4 beds).
If you do a shorter day trip you could forgo the privacy and get soft seats. Just make sure that you are in an airconditioned car! Most also recommend doing one of the shorter trips, not the 30+ hour ride from Hanoi to HCMC.
At that point you are probably just doing it for the experience. One benefit of the train you can ride overnight. That means sleeping on the train instead of paying for a flight plus a hotel. It could be a fun experience but just make sure you know what to expect a head of time.
With kids it is probably easiest to fly and it won’t cost that much extra. But if your kids LOVE trains it could be a fun experience!
Between Regions: Flying
Flying is the easiest way to get from one region or major city to another. Flights are quick and affordable.
The major international airports in Vietnam are in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC/Saigon), and Da Nang. Your flight into Vietnam will likely land at one of these three airports. Especially if you are flying from the US, Europe, or Australia.
If you are just landing in Vietnam grab a local SIM card and some cash (dong) at the Airport. You may be able to get one a SIM cheaper outside the Airport. But it is going to be very helpful to have internet right way. This is also probably the easiest way to get one if you don’t speak the language.
There other international airports as well but they primarily have domestic flights plus flights from a few countries.
There are also domestic airports in many of the large cities to let you see a lot of the country in a short (or long) trip.
Getting from the airport to the hotel in Vietnam
You have a few options to get from the airport to your destination. The options that will work best for most families with kids are: Book a hotel transfer, get a taxi at the airport, or use the Grab App.
You can also take a bus from many airports. The Buss will be cheaper but may be difficult with kids and luggage.
Grab App- The “Uber” of Vietnam
Research the airport and know where the Grab pick up is going to be. You will want to have Grab downloaded ahead of time to make it easy.
Many airports in Vietnam do not allow Grab Drivers to pick up directly at the airport. Some will have a parking lot or waiting area close by that you can walk to.
I would also book an XL or other large vehicle if you have a decent amount of luggage or more than 3 people. Most grab cars are very small sedans.
Taxi
This is one of the few times that it can be easier to take a taxi than a grab. Be sure to pick a taxi from a reputable company and see that the meter is running.
There are some reports of being overcharged/scammed by airport taxis. The main scam besides overcharging is the taxi driving off with your luggage still in the trunk. To avoid this just be sure to have the driver get out and open the trunk before you get out.
Taxis from Vinasun and Mai Linh are generally considered the most reputable. Make sure your family and all of your luggage will fit in a standard sedan. If not you will have to try and find a van taxi or go with a hotel transport.
Book With Your Hotel
The easiest option is likely going to be getting a hotel transfer through your hotel. This is probably going to be more expensive than a taxi. But it may be worth it for peace of mind.
The hotel or booking company will either have their own driver pick you up or book a taxi for you. Many will have someone meet you at arrivals to direct you to the right car.
Just be sure to have a clear idea of what you should expect at the airport when you book it. You don’t want to be scrambling or trying to call the hotel when you land.
You can also take a bus into the city from some airports. I would only do this with kids if the bus drop off is right next to where you are staying. Walking with luggage and a kid through Vietnamese streets can be rough. Moreso if it is your first time in the area.
Walking Around The City: Carrier or Stroller
This is going to vary a lot depending on the city and neighborhood you are in but most of the areas we traveled in Vietnam pushing a standard stroller is going to be a challenge. I used the Doona Stroller/Car Seat all around Vietnam and it worked great but still ran into some issues.
Overall I recommend getting a good carrier that you and your kid like even if you plan on using a stroller too. Get it well ahead of the trip and do some test runs.
Most areas we traveled had pretty bumpy sidewalks at best and sidewalks used as parking lots or restaurant seating at worst. And don’t be surprised when a stream of mopeds use the sidewalk to get around traffic.
This means a lot of going around obstacles like cars, mopeds, and restaurants by going out into the street or weaving through a path too small for most strollers.
So be ready to pick up your stroller frequently. The Doona works well because you can move the handle quickly to the “lift” position like a normal car seat to lift over a moped or drop down the curb.
It makes a big difference being able to lift the stroller and kid with one hand vs having to bend down and grab it awkwardly with two hands. Or having to get out of the stroller for a while to get around some bigger obstacle.
What I Used: Doona Stroller Car Seat
My recommendation again is a Doona if your child fits in it. Especially if you want a regular car seat as well. Otherwise something small and lightweight that you can carry when needed. We used it a ton on our trip.
If you can’t use the Doona find a lightweight, portable stroller. Look for one with large wheels to help with the uneven ground. I would try to find one that folds up decently and is easy to carry.
If your stroller is not going to handle the uneven ground, I would aim for the lightest, easiest to carry option.
For most areas, especially busy city streets or outdoor areas, I preferred a baby carrier.
Carrier or Baby Backpack
In many areas you will be better off going with some type of wearable baby carrier or baby backpack. We used one of these frequently too when we were walking somewhere and we didn’t need a car seat.
I would make sure you get this well in advance of your trip to test out. Do multiple test runs to make sure it fits well and your toddler tolerates it.
We used the ErgoBaby Omni 360 which worked well for us. Our daughter loves being carried in it and will ask for it if she sees it.
The only thing I don’t like about the ErgoBaby is the back carry position. It doesn’t keep her seated high enough to see above our shoulders. That means her head has to stay turned to one side or the other.
We both prefer the front facing option most of the time so it wasn’t a big issue. It is nice to have multiple carry options so you can switch if needed.
Keep in mind that this can get pretty warm for you and your toddler so take breaks and dress appropriately.