Vietnam is one of our favourite Southeast Asian country to visit, it has scenic sites, thrilling adventures, and sumptuous cuisine (plus great coffee) all at an accessible price point just a short flight away. We decided to visit Hanoi, Sapa and Ninh Binh since we had already visited Ho Chi Minh City and Mui Ne, as well as Danang.
Visiting Hanoi, Sapa and Ninh Binh – 10 Day Family-Friendly Itinerary
Our trip would consist of the comforts of city life, the beauty of mountains, valleys, cliffs as well as mesmerising charms of old towns. We flew into Hanoi then “escaped” to the mountains in Sapa then toured Ninh Binh in our 10-day itinerary.
Hanoi Day 1 to 3: Exploring Old Quarters, Local Food, Complex 01 & Hoa Lu Prison
Our starting point was Hanoi – a vibrant city offering delectable cuisine, with a colourful history and rich culture and the quintessential chaotic Viet traffic. If you can look past the honking and over stimulation, there’s plenty to discover in Vietnam’s capital. The cool temperature also made it attractive as a destination end of the year.
The agenda was to chill, explore and visit cafes in the Old Quarter where we stayed for three nights. Our accommodation (Salut Premium) was located a short walk away from the heart of the Old Quarter where most of the sights and bookmarked food places were. It was also quiet enough for us to enjoy peaceful evenings and quality sleep.
Our first stop was a hearty bowl of pho at Pho 10, also near St Joseph’s Cathedral where there were Christmas lights on display. We tucked into our savoury bowl of beef pho after an afternoon flight into Hanoi and it was so satisfying we finished the bowls in no time!
With happy bellies, we strode on down the street and popped in and out of cute souvenir stores selling various knick-knacks.
Vietnamese dessert is a must and we recommend this spot called Ann Dessert. It serves soy pudding with pearls much like the soy beancurd we enjoy, mango sticky rice with coconut ice cream, kumquat tea and more.
On day 2, the full day of exploration began with a stroll to Hoan Kiem Lake. This was also where locals like to take their pictures with the scenic view of the city and historic spots. We wandered a little more to buildings like the Opera House and also checked out ancient relics left standing, juxtaposing brilliantly with the modern architecture right next to it.
Train Street was where many tourists go to for pictures at cafes right next to passing trains. We missed the timing of which the train would pass, but also we weren’t too enthusiastic about squeezing with the hordes of tourists.
We tried Bun Cha for lunch – deep fried rice rolls paired with noodles and meat balls in a savoury broth. This is a must-try local delicacy for everyone!
For a post-lunch activity, we learnt about the history of Hanoi and how the former French colonial stronghold became the central gathering point of anti-colonialists resulting in Ho Chi Minh’s reign beginning in Hoa Lu Prison. The details of the prisoners’ plight could be quite grotesque for little ones, but this museum served as an educational pitstop on Vietnam’s independence and history.
The day ended with a walk back to Old Quarters where we chanced upon a photography exhibition in a park on Lao Cai – which was incidentally our next destination. Banh mi and Chao Suon (pork porridge) filled our tummies for dinner. Sitting on little plastic stools by the road indulging in what the locals enjoy is a quintessential Viet experience!
For the next day, we ventured to a less touristy spot after playing pickleball as a family. Yes Pickleball is huge in Vietnam and since the empty courts were beckoning, we couldn’t resist!
Complex 01 is a revamped warehouse with eateries, craft shops and also where you can get hands-on crafting. It’s a great place to enjoy the industrial vibes and soak in the beautifully done interiors, as well as purchase souvenirs by local artisans.
Sapa Days 4 to 7: Lao Chai, Fansipan, Hmong Villages, Alpine Coaster, Glass Bridge
For some mountain air, we took a 5-hour limo-bus journey to Sapa. Long story short, our KLOOK booking for a sleeper train got cancelled pretty last minute hence we opted for the limo-bus for USD20 per pax. This was a blessing in disguise as the travel time by limo-bus was shorter, cheaper and much more comfortable.
We stayed at a beautiful accommodation (Maison de Lao Chai) overlooking the Lao Chai valley for one night. This was 20 minutes from Sapa town but it was a very quiet stay giving us breathtaking views especially at dusk and dawn. We did walks to the vicinity just to soak in the views.
Sapana Café is one spot we highly recommend for a cuppa, or a warm cup of red date tea surrounded by mountains and clouds. We learnt that almost every café in Northern Vietnam had pet cats we could pet freely. Of course, we went around petting cats and dogs in cafes, stores and attractions.
Heading to Sapa meant more thrilling adventures perfect for our teen and tween. This included getting to the roof of Indochina – Fansipan 3143 metres above sea level.
We were decked in our winter clothes ready to brave the wind and cold, took the cable car and then 600 steps to the summit. Though visibility was poor at the summit, our cable car ride was still a stunning one with the valleys, rice terraces, undulating hills beneath us.
The best activity we did was a guided walk by a Hmong guide to two Hmong villages (Ta Van and Lao Chai). We descended to the valleys after visiting the peak. I had specifically requested for the trek to be less easy than the usual since I had two rambunctious boys. Walking through the padi fields, seeing the farm animals like bullocks, cows, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens up close was a real treat for city folks.
We could also soak in the fresh air surrounded by the mountains while taking a peek into what Hmong village life is like with the Hmong people wearing their traditionally made outfits from headdresses to skirts and bags. Cutting across meandering streams and paths took us from one village to another. Our Hmong guide even made us a horse using a Lalang reed.
Since we booked a private tour for two days, our itinerary was also packed with visits to the Glass Bridge, a waterfall, Heaven’s Gate, Moana Sapa, Pet Safari and the Ban Mong Alpine Coaster.
While I wouldn’t recommend visiting all the touristy spots just for the pictures, the Alpine Coaster was one we would greatly recommend both for the adrenaline surge and the unbeatable views of Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range on the ride.
If we had more time, we would have tried the adventure portions at the Glass Bridge which included a flying fox, a swing, bridge crossing and other thrilling adventures.
After our Sapa adventures, we headed back to Hanoi via a sleeper train from Lao Cai. It was a new experience for the boys and the “luxury cabin” came with snacks and four beds. The overnight train meant we could spend the night commuting and resting after a long day of touring.
Ninh Binh Days 8 to 10: Ninh Binh, Mountain, Tam Coc Bike Ride, Hoa Lu Old Town
Known as Halong Bay on land, we picked Ninh Binh 1.5 hours from Hanoi for its limestone karsts and dramatic natural formations. We set off to Ninh Binh in the early part of the morning with a guide for a full day in Ninh Binh.
We would visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital which was the capital of Vietnam for a brief period of time. Learning about the different political dynasties helped us to understand a little more about the rulers of Vietnam in the 10th century.
Then we headed to Trang An Grottoes – limestone cliffs with numerous caves on a traditional sampan for a 2-hour ride down the river. This was a relaxing experience looking at natural formations and perhaps a live lesson on geography for the teen.
The UNESCO World Heritage site was also where they filmed the movie King Kong and our boat lady pointed out the cliff that really looked like King Kong’s head.
More steps awaited at Mua Cave where we trekked up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain watching the rice paddies in the distance shimmering in the light of the setting sun. We were quite amused by the mountain goats traversing the cliffs skilfully and also harassing tourists for food.
Since it was a full day of activity, we were glad to check into our homestay in Tam Coc overlooking the rice paddies.
We went cycling around Tam Coc the very next day which was a really memorable activity enjoying the sights at a leisurely pace. We rode through the padi fields in the cool weather, soaking in the scenic magic surrounded by limestone cliffs.
To end our two-day trip in Ninh Binh, we took a Grab to Hoa Lu Old Town which was a quaint town turned into streets with beautiful lights, souvenir stores, cafes, restaurants right next to the river. The street was restored to resemble a trading lane from the Dinh and Le dynasties with wooden facades, red lanterns, clay-tile roofs. It reminded us of Hoi An in Central Vietnam without the crowds.
Hanoi Day 10: Truc Bach & Souvenirs
To catch our flight back, we headed back to Hanoi not before some more shopping. It is best to get all your souvenirs before heading to the airport due to price differences. We chose to stay at the West Lake district for our last night since it was a quieter area without the chaos at Old Quarters.
Of course, indulging in more Viet cuisine is a must and we went to Pho Cuon 31 known for its rolled pho paired with beef, garlic, fresh herbs. Other dishes we ordered include deep fried rice noodle, fried carp fish and shrimp with vermicelli, This was possibly the best meal we had in Hanoi.
We also visited a café filled with cats – as if we didn’t make enough fur friends in Northern Vietnam! Like many other wise tourists, we went to Lotte Mart to get coffee and other delicacies for friends and family. For something more unique, we bought colourful “kueh” that locals love called Bánh Cốm and Bánh Xu Xê home from Bánh Cốm Nguyên Ninh. That marked the end of our 10-day trip to Northern Vietnam.
Visiting Vietnam with a Tween & Teen
Northern Vietnam offers plenty of adventures, natural wonders and thrilling activities for older children. The screen-free fun and physically challenging parts of our trip drew them away from devices to actively learn more about the lives of others around the world. Our trip definitely slowed our pace of life and it was a welcome break from the hectic city living we grew accustomed to.
Seeing and understanding new cultures broadens our perspectives and helps us be more aware that we have more similarities than differences. Travelling with littles has transitioned well into travelling with adolescents who are much more aware and independent. I do hope our adventures as a family will continue, just as our memories together will be fondly recalled as we travel as four.
Till next time, Vietnam!
