We went to Vietnam in the April–May period, travelling north to south with Dhruthi. This is our route: city days and boat trips, a quieter beach day, lanterns and shows, with room for food, sleep and changing plans.
The days below are numbered so you can adapt them to your own trip. ★ marks places or activities we especially recommend with children.
A flexible 15-day April–May family itinerary.
Hanoi: lakes, puppets and boat trips
Hanoi was our first base. We combined city sights with the water puppet show, then made space for Trang An and a Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay cruise. These are substantial outings, so leave the evenings easy and build in food breaks.
Da Nang and Hue: protect the rest day
Day 6 is deliberately light. Ba Na Hills follows, with its cable car and Golden Bridge. Hue and the transfer to Hoi An make the next day longer; you can reduce the stops to suit your children.
Hoi An: lanterns and a show
Our summary groups the farm visit, cooking, lanterns and Hoi An Memories into the Hoi An stop. Choose the activities that fit your energy rather than squeezing every option into one day.
★ Coconut Village basket boating is another family favourite. Add a Hoi An night or swap an activity if you want to include it. Gentle cycling is also lovely when the route, weather and equipment suit your family.
Ho Chi Minh City: a flexible finish
Allow time for the flight south and the central city landmarks. The Cu Chi and historical visits have two flexible days around them; this does not mean two full days at the tunnels. Shorten the visit or use the extra time for rest.
The Mekong outing brings the journey back to the water. Keep shopping, packing and the return journey flexible around your flight.
Our route at a glance
| Day | Base / travel | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Hanoi | Travel from Bangalore to Hanoi; arrive, check in and rest. |
| Day 2 | Hanoi | Tran Quoc Pagoda, Imperial Citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. ★ Water puppet show; an easy evening with local food. |
| Day 3 | Hanoi base | ★ Trang An / Ninh Binh: a boat ride through river caves, limestone scenery and temples. |
| Day 4 | Hanoi base | ★ Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay cruise: limestone islands and time on the water. |
| Day 5 | Hanoi → Da Nang | Choose from Hoa Lo Prison, the cathedral, Opera House area, Train Street and Ho Chi Minh’s residence. Take the evening flight south; leave time for transfers. |
| Day 6 | Da Nang | A rest day: hotel time, swimming or an easy beach outing. |
| Day 7 | Da Nang | ★ Ba Na Hills: cable car, Golden Bridge and French Village. |
| Day 8 | Da Nang → Hoi An | Hue excursion: Imperial Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda, then transfer to Hoi An. This is a long day; shorten it if needed. |
| Day 9 | Hoi An | Farm visit and cooking, optional herbal massage, lantern time and ★ Hoi An Memories show. ★ Gentle cycling if it suits your family. |
| Day 10–11 | Ho Chi Minh City | Fly south and explore central landmarks: the Central Post Office, cathedral area and city streets, with breaks between stops. |
| Day 12–13 | Ho Chi Minh City base | Cu Chi excursion and historical exhibits, with a flexible second day for rest or city time. Choose the length and content of the visit around your children. |
| Day 14–15 | Ho Chi Minh City base | ★ Mekong Delta boat outing, then shopping, packing and the return journey. Keep the final day flexible for your flight. |
What I’d keep when adapting it
- Keep a few bases and take day trips from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- Protect the quieter Da Nang day.
- Plan meals and sleep breaks alongside sightseeing.
- Add time in Hoi An if you want Coconut Village and a slower pace.