My parents made plans to visit our family in Vietnam this year and I realized this would be the perfect opportunity for my kids to explore our cultural heritage together. I was apprehensive at first: what if they hated it? But it turned out great!
Traveling with my parents, we opted to keep things simple and stayed in the Southern area, visiting Ho Chi Minh, the Mekong Delta, and the beach town of Mui Ne.
HO CHI MINH (HCM)
We only stayed for a day, had a fantastic time and also felt it was enough. We packed our morning with visits of the city’s famous landmarks: the Cathedral, the Post Office (where our kids each bought a postcard and posted it to their friends in France) and Book Street (Đường Nguyễn Văn Bình) a lovely pedestrian street lined with cafes and bookstores (mostly Vietnamese, but also English books for children and adults).
From there, we took a cyclo for 10min to the History museum. We gave kids a camera and let them explore mostly on their own. Although the museum itself is a bit old, we all learned some things about the country’s history during the hour we spent there.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed a leisurely walk around central Ho Chi Minh (which reminded us of how much we miss walking!) and stopped at Ben Thanh Market and on Ho Chi Minh square to take a few photos.
AO Show is an absolute must-see, and for me, it is reason enough to travel to Vietnam. My mother and I were blown away by the show’s ability to portray the richness of Vietnamese culture in a way that feels current, while my kids thoroughly enjoyed the humor and acrobatic performances. If you happen to visit Hoi An, the same company offers another show there that is also worth seeing.
Where to eat in Ho Chi Minh:
- Quan Bui (several outlets in the city): this place has an extensive menu and is a great place to experience various regional dishes
- Quan Nem: This restaurant specializes in barbecued meat (pork) and deep fried crab springrolls, both absolutely delicious
- Chả Cá Đế Vương (several locations) this restaurant specializes in grilled marinated fish served with fragrant herbs like dill, green onions, cilantro…
Where we stayed in Ho Chi Minh:
Upon arrival, we were a group of 10 and stayed at this Airbnb. It was perfect for us: lots of rooms, a convenience store at the ground floor and an indoor pool where the kids enjoyed a splash. Only 10min by car to all touristy spots.
We spent another night in HCM before leaving Vietnam in this Airbnb and it was great too, also had a convenience store at the ground floor.
MEKONG DELTA
Next, we headed to the Mekong Delta, where we spent a few days immersed in the countryside. Experiencing the local way of life and soaking in the lush surroundings while cycling and kayaking along the Mekong with my kids and parents was memorable.
What else did we do? Enjoyed the slow paced life, napped in the hammock, ate the most delicious homemade food, read books, drew and coloured, learned how to make coconut candies, went fishing… We all felt rejuvenated by this experience and hope to be back soon.
About the Airbnb, It’s important to note that there are 2 houses: one with 2 bedrooms and 2 en-suite bathrooms. The other house has 6 bedrooms (or more?) with shared bathrooms located in a separate building. The bedroom walls are made of wood that dont go all the way up to the ceiling so there is no noise or light insulation. Our friends stayed in that house and slept well for the most part.
The place is owned and run by the loveliest family who took great care of each and everyone of us: cooked my parents favorite dishes (the food was phenomenal), taught my daughter how to make traditional desserts, prepared my son’s catch of the day for dinner…
MUI NE (beach town – 3 hours from HCM)
We picked Mui Ne for its proximity to HCM and surfing/windsurfing opportunities. The kids and I are all beginner surfers and had so much fun taking classes with Mui Ne Local Surf School.
Traveling with multi generational groups, it can be challenging to find common activities (besides eating) but here are two:
- Minigolf!
- We booked a jeep for a half day trip in the sand dunes which turned out to be the most fun we’ve had in a long time. The desert landscape was stunning, we all went crazy on the ATV (available for rent at the White sand dunes) and sliding down the dunes. (we booked our car with our hotel, but here’s a reviewed package)
Where to eat in Mui Ne:
- A stay in Mui Ne wouldn’t be complete without a proper seafood meal. There are many many seafood restaurants along the main road serving the same menu. Quan Bi Bo was recommended by our surf coach.
- Since we were a large group with diverse preferences, food courts turned out to be great options. We enjoyed Dong Vui and Big Chill which had everything from Vietnamese options, to pizzas, Indian, Lebanese… It’s not the best food out there, but worked out best for us.
Where to stay in Mui Ne:
We stayed at this Airbnb which was reasonably priced, had everything we needed and was well located between the several surf spots and 5 min walk from the beach and the food court.
Our friends stayed at the Centara Mirage which has great family facilities (large pool with a pirate ship, game arcade…).
Important note: Mui Ne is only 3 hours away from Ho Chi Minh, which means it can get crowded on weekends and public holidays and is mostly empty on weekdays.
What else?
Download Grab: We moved around Ho Chi Minh and Mui Ne using Grab exclusively and never waited more than 3 minutes.