The Ultimate Vietnam Luxury Itinerary with Kids

Vietnam ended up being one of those trips that surprised me, not because I expected it to be underwhelming, but because I didn’t expect it to feel so easy with a toddler.

There’s a warmth here that you can’t manufacture. People genuinely light up around kids, and that alone changes the entire experience of traveling as a family. Add in beautiful hotels, great food, and a lot of variety packed into relatively short distances, and it starts to make sense why this was one of my favorite countries to explore as a backpacker and has once again been a place we loved and even returned to.

This itinerary builds on our northern Vietnam trip and expands it into something more complete, adding in Central Vietnam and finishing with a beach stay that feels like a real exhale at the end.

If you’re trying to balance culture, nature, and downtime without feeling like you’re constantly in transit, this is how I would do it.

How to Book with Complimentary VIP Amenities

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Instead of booking on your own, you book through us at the exact same rate—but because of our partnerships, the hotel treats you like a VIP. That’s how you get these perks, without paying anything extra:

✨ room upgrades when available
🍳 daily breakfast included
💵 resort or hotel credits to use on property
⏰ early check-in & late check-out when available
🎁 VIP treatment and priority for special requests

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Days 1–3: Hanoi

We started in Hanoi, which can feel intense at first, especially coming from somewhere quieter. The traffic is chaotic, the sidewalks are busy, and there’s a lot happening at once, but it’s a major hub to fly into and it’s a great jumping off point for other activities up north. For us, it was a great place to get over the jet lag in the unique comfort of Capella Hanoi (contact us to book with advisor benefits – room upgrades, resort credits, and more!), a hotel that had been on my bucket list.

We kept our days simple:

• walks around the lake
• a water puppet show (short and engaging enough to hold attention)
• slow meals and coffee breaks

Hanoi isn’t the place to try to “see everything” with a small child. It’s more about easing into the trip and adjusting to the rhythm.

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Day 4: Ninh Binh

From Hanoi, we did a day trip (or you can stay overnight) to Ninh Binh, which is often described as “Ha Long Bay on land,” and that’s pretty accurate.

It’s one of the most visually striking places in Vietnam, with limestone cliffs rising out of rice fields and rivers winding through caves. The main activity is a boat ride, where someone rows you through the landscape, and it ended up being one of the most relaxing parts of the trip.

This is one of those rare excursions that works well with kids because:

• you’re sitting most of the time
• You can bring your own shade with an umbrella
• there’s constant visual stimulation without needing to move around

I’d strongly recommend arranging a private driver for the day so you can go at your own pace.

Interested in booking this itinerary? We’re a team of luxury travel advisors who can help you do just that! Get in touch.

Days 5–6: Bai Tu Long Bay (instead of Ha Long Bay)

Instead of going to Ha Long Bay, we chose Bai Tu Long Bay, which is quieter and less crowded but visually very similar.

We opted for the 3-day, 2 night cruise, which was one of the better decisions of the trip as an overnight would have been too brief. Considering Vietnam is larger and longer than anyone realizes initially, it’s a 2-3 hour drive to Ha Long from Hanoi.

We went with Indochina Junk which caters to families. The boats are well-staffed, the rooms are comfortable, and there’s enough structure to the day that you’re not constantly figuring out what to do next.

We did some light kayaking, visited a beach, and otherwise just enjoyed being out on the water. It felt more like a reset than an excursion.

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Days 7–9: Central Vietnam (Banyan Tree + InterContinental Da Nang)

After the north, we flew down to Central Vietnam and based ourselves in the Lang Co / Da Nang area. This is where the trip started to shift from cultural to restorative.

Instead of choosing just one resort, we split our time between two, and I would do that again.

Banyan Tree Lang Co

This was the easiest part of the trip.

The villas are large, private, and set up in a way that works really well for families. Having your own pool and space to spread out makes a noticeable difference, especially after a few more structured days.

The beach here is calm, the setting is peaceful, and everything feels low-pressure. We didn’t feel the need to leave the property, which is usually a sign that it’s doing its job.

For a trip like this, with multiple regions, flights, and high-end resorts, I almost always recommend booking through an advisor (and yes, I’m biased as an advisor myself, but there’s a reason for that).

In most cases, you’re not paying more than booking direct, but you’re getting added benefits that actually improve the experience in a noticeable way.

Depending on the property, that can include:

• room upgrades when available (we got upgraded to a club suite at the Intercontinental!)
• daily breakfast (which adds up quickly at these resorts)
• resort credits (usually around $100+ per stay)
• early check-in and late check-out, which can make a huge difference with flight timing
• priority for things like connecting rooms or better villa placement

The bigger advantage, though, is having someone who already knows the properties and can guide you toward what will actually work best for your family.

InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort

This property is visually striking in a way that’s hard to fully appreciate until you’re there.

It’s built into the hillside, with different levels connected by a cable car, and the design is very intentional and dramatic. It’s the kind of place where you find yourself stopping to look around a lot.

This easily became one of my favorite resorts ever, in large part because we’re big fans of the designer, having also stayed at Capella Ubud, Intercontinental Khao Yai, and Capella Hanoi, all by the same team led by Bill Bensley.

There are multi room residences available, a cable car that makes getting around easy, and a nice calm beach to enjoy. We loved the award winning kids club as well.

That said, it doesn’t feel quite as calm and quiet as Banyan Tree, and I think it’s well worth hitting both if you can.

For us, splitting time between the two worked well because they serve different purposes:

• Banyan Tree for space and ease
• InterContinental for design and atmosphere

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Days 10–12: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

We ended the trip here, and I wouldn’t change that.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay is only accessible by boat, which immediately makes it feel more removed from everything else. The setting is dramatic, with jungle, large rock formations, and the ocean all coming together in a way that feels very distinct from the rest of Vietnam.

This was our true “slow down” stop.

We spent most of our time:

• at the villa
• on the beach
• walking around the property

If you’re traveling with young kids, I’d lean toward the beach villas for ease of access. The rock villas are beautiful, but they involve more stairs and can be less practical.

Booking with us here includes:

• room upgrades when available
• daily breakfast
• $100 resort credit
• early check-in and late check-out, which can make a huge difference with flight timing
• priority for things like better villa placement
• Full IHG points

It’s the kind of place where you don’t feel the need to fill your day, which is exactly what we wanted by that point in the trip.

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A few things I’d do again

I would keep transfers private. It makes everything smoother and gives you flexibility when traveling with a child.

I would also avoid overpacking the schedule. Vietnam has a lot to offer, but you don’t need to do all of it in one trip.

And I would always end with a beach stay. It changes how the whole trip feels in hindsight. If you happen to be traveling during rainy season in central Vietnam (which can be the perfect time for northern Vietnam), you can do as we did and hit the north followed by Cambodia, one of my favorite countries ever. Thailand is always a good idea too!

If you’ve already done northern Vietnam, this version of the itinerary fills in the gaps in a way that feels intentional rather than overwhelming. And if you haven’t, it gives you a balanced introduction without sacrificing comfort along the way.