Vietnam blends ancient dynasties and modern verve into one endlessly photographable journey. From Confucian courtyards and French villas in Hanoi to lantern-lit rivers in Hoi An, history isn’t just in museums—it’s on every street corner, at every market stall, and in every bowl of steaming phở. Families love how easy it is to balance culture, beaches, and nature without long travel days.

Fun fact: Vietnam boasts one of the world’s greatest collections of karst seascapes at Ha Long Bay and river valleys at Ninh Binh, both perfect for gentle boating, biking, and eye-popping photography. In central Vietnam, Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Ancient Town charms with tailors, tea houses, and a river dotted with candlelit boats, while nearby Da Nang offers theme-park thrills atop a mountaintop Golden Bridge.

Practical notes: Vietnam is excellent value for mid-range budgets. Expect easy domestic flights, safe street food culture, and friendly service. Dress for heat and humidity most of the year; pack sun hats for kids, reef-safe sunscreen for beach days, and lightweight rain jackets in rainy season. Book popular cruises and tours in advance during school holidays.

Hanoi

Hanoi is Vietnam’s soulful capital—tree-lined boulevards, lakeside pagodas, and the buzzy Old Quarter where guild streets date back centuries. Start at Hoàn Kiếm Lake, then wander into narrow lanes perfumed with grilled pork, fresh herbs, and coffee roasted dark and strong.

• Top sights: Hoàn Kiếm Lake & Ngọc Sơn Temple, Temple of Literature, Train Street (timings vary), One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Complex, and the French Quarter’s colonial facades.
• Family-friendly eats: Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền (steamed rice rolls), Phở Thìn Lò Đức (beef phở with a smoky wok-kissed broth), Bún Chả Hương Liên (Obama’s bun cha spot), and kem (ice cream) at Kem Tràng Tiền.
• Cafés: Cà phê trứng (egg coffee) at Café Giảng; slow-drip robusta at Đinh Café overlooking the lake.
• Great for kids: Cyclo rides around the Old Quarter, Water Puppet Theatre, and green parks around West Lake.

Where to stay (Hanoi):

• Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa — Old Quarter favorite with family rooms and an on-site spa.
• Somerset Grand Hanoi — Apartment-style suites (kitchenettes) ideal for families.
• Lotte Hotel Hanoi — Modern tower views and pool; easy taxi access to sights.
• Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi — Historic splurge with a serene pool courtyard.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Hanoi | Hotels.com Hanoi

Great tours we’ll use in this itinerary:

• Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vietnam Army Jeep

  

• Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour: Hoa Lư, Tam Cốc & Mùa Cave by Boat & Bike

  

• BEST SELLER - Ha Long 5 Star Day Cruise: Buffet, Wine & Jacuzzi

  

Getting to Hanoi: Fly into Noi Bai International. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Within Hanoi, taxis and ride-hailing are plentiful; for intercity trains in Vietnam, see Trip.com trains.

Hoi An (via Da Nang)

Hoi An is a preserved port town with a cosmopolitan past—Chinese assembly halls, Japanese merchant houses, French shophouses, and a riverside aglow with silk lanterns. It’s tailor-made for families: safe walking streets, easy biking, calm beaches, and delicious food that even picky eaters love.

• Top sights: Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese, Ancient Town ticketed houses, Thu Bồn River, An Bàng Beach, Tra Que vegetable village.
• Family-friendly eats: Morning Glory Original (Hoi An classics), Cơm Gà Bà Buội (chicken rice), Bánh Mì Madam Khánh (the ‘Bánh Mì Queen’), Bale Well (DIY rice paper wraps and sizzling bánh xèo).
• Cafés & quiet corners: Reaching Out Tea House (silent service supports hearing-impaired staff), Hoi An Roastery (cold brew and pastries), Rosie’s Café (smoothies and pancakes).
• Easy day trips: Da Nang’s Marble Mountains and Sơn Trà Peninsula, or Ba Na Hills’ Golden Bridge via cable car.

Where to stay (Hoi An):

• Anantara Hoi An Resort — Riverside, spacious suites, pool, and easy walk to Ancient Town.
• Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa — Direct An Bàng-area beach access with kids’ pool.
• Hoi An Dream City Hotel — Budget-friendly, central, and family-ready.
• Splurge option: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An — Villas and an exquisite family pool scene.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Hoi An | Hotels.com Hoi An

Featured tour in this region:

• Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Deluxe Small Group

  

Getting there from Hanoi: Morning flights to Da Nang take ~1h20m; expect ~$40–90 per person depending on season. Compare on Trip.com flights. Da Nang Airport to Hoi An is ~45–60 minutes by taxi (about $18–25). If you prefer a beach base in Da Nang, family favorites include Furama Resort Danang or, for a splurge, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort.

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi, Lakeside Legends and Old Quarter First Bites

Afternoon: Land in Hanoi and check in. Stretch your legs with a gentle loop around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and visit Ngọc Sơn Temple. For a fun intro, hop a short cyclo ride through the Old Quarter’s guild streets.

Evening: Dinner at Bún Chả Hương Liên (grilled pork and noodles with herbs and dipping sauce). Catch a Water Puppet performance for a kid-pleasing dive into folklore. Dessert at Kem Tràng Tiền, a Hanoi institution near the lake.

Day 2: Hanoi Highlights, Museums, and a Foodie Jeep Ride

Morning: Breakfast of bánh cuốn at Bánh Cuốn Gia Truyền. Visit the Temple of Literature—Vietnam’s first university—then the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area (view exterior or time your visit for queues).

Afternoon: Slurp lunch at Phở Thìn Lò Đức. Explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or the Women’s Museum for engaging, well-curated exhibits. Coffee break: Café Giảng for classic egg coffee.

Evening: Join a family-friendly vintage jeep tour—food, culture, and the city’s best night views.

Hanoi Jeep Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vietnam Army Jeep

Day 3: Ninh Binh Day Trip — Karst Valleys by Boat and Bike

Trade city streets for river valleys. This full-day tour pairs a rowboat ride through limestone caves at Tam Cốc with a gentle countryside bike ride to pagodas and rice fields. Climb Múa Cave viewpoint (500 steps) if the family is up for it—sunset views are spectacular. A local lunch is typically included, with chances to sample goat dishes and crispy rice (cơm cháy).

Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour: Hoa Lư, Tam Cốc & Mùa Cave by Boat & Bike

Day 4: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise — Karsts, Caves, and Cameras Ready

Depart Hanoi early for Ha Long Bay (about 2.5–3 hours by highway). Board a 5-star day boat with buffet lunch, sundecks, kayaking or bamboo boat options, and time to explore a grotto. It’s an unforgettable family photo day—with calm waters and plenty of space for kids to wander safely onboard. Return to Hanoi in the evening.

BEST SELLER - Ha Long 5 Star Day Cruise: Buffet, Wine & Jacuzzi

Day 5: Fly to Da Nang (Morning), Settle in Hoi An’s Ancient Town

Morning: Fly Hanoi → Da Nang (~1h20m). Compare fares on Trip.com flights. Transfer by taxi to Hoi An (45–60 minutes).

Afternoon: Check in and wander the Ancient Town with your entry ticket (choose a few historic houses and assembly halls). Pause for tea at Reaching Out Tea House—cards help you communicate in quiet, a lovely experience for kids.

Evening: Ride a lantern boat on the Thu Bồn River at dusk. Dinner at Morning Glory Original (try cao lầu noodles and white rose dumplings). Browse Hoi An Night Market for silk lanterns and souvenirs.

Day 6: Countryside Biking, Basket Boats, and An Bàng Beach

Morning: Guided bicycle loop through Tra Que vegetable village and the coconut palms of Cẩm Thanh. Kids love learning how farmers plant herbs and trying a short basket-boat spin in the nipa palms.

Afternoon: Lunch at Bale Well (grilled pork skewers, bánh xèo, and herbs you wrap yourself). Beach time at An Bàng—rent loungers, order fresh fruit shakes, and build sandcastles. Consider a family spa hour back in town (Palmarosa Spa or Na Spa Village offer gentle treatments).

Evening: Tailor stop for quick-turn outfits (Yaly Couture is efficient for families). Dinner at Cơm Gà Bà Buội (fragrant turmeric rice with shredded chicken, herbs, and pickles). Ice cream stroll under the lanterns.

Day 7: Ba Na Hills & the Golden Bridge (Full-Day)

Head for the mountains. Ride one of Asia’s longest cable cars to a whimsical mountaintop park: the Instagram-famous Golden Bridge held aloft by giant “hands,” French Gardens, and the indoor Fantasy Park with kid-friendly rides and arcades. Cooler air and sweeping views make it a relaxing, low-effort family day. Return to Hoi An in the late afternoon.

Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Deluxe Small Group

Day 8: Easy Morning — Coffee, Tailors, and Farewell

Morning: Relax with pastries and cold brew at Hoi An Roastery or pancakes at Rosie’s Café. Final fittings at your tailor or a quick stroll for last-minute lanterns and silk scarves.

Afternoon: Head to Da Nang Airport for your flight home. Check fares on Trip.com flights. If you’re extending your beach time, consider an extra day for the Sơn Trà Peninsula’s viewpoints or Marble Mountains’ pagodas and caves.

Getting Around & Budget Notes

Transit times: Hanoi ↔ Ninh Binh (2–2.5 hours by road), Hanoi ↔ Ha Long (2.5–3 hours by highway), Hanoi → Da Nang flight (~1h20m), Da Nang → Hoi An (45–60 minutes by taxi).

Estimated costs (mid-range family): Airport taxi $12–20; domestic flights $40–90 pp; day tours $45–120 pp depending on inclusions; sit-down meals $4–10 pp; beach loungers $3–6 per chair; tailor-made shirts/dresses vary by fabric and complexity.

Where to Sleep Each Night (Suggested)

• Nights 1–4: Hanoi — Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa or Somerset Grand Hanoi
• Nights 5–7: Hoi An — Anantara Hoi An Resort or Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa

In eight days you’ll taste Hanoi’s history, glide through Ha Long’s limestone cathedrals, bike past emerald paddies in Ninh Binh, and float under Hoi An’s lanterns—while leaving space for beaches, snacks, and naps. It’s a balanced, family-friendly Vietnam itinerary you’ll remember every time you pour a strong Vietnamese coffee back home.