Why we went…
The food, the culture and the history! We love Vietnam and wanted to share it with our kids.
How we got there…
This was our most ambitious travel with the kids to date. We flew 14 hours from LAX to Taipei and then another four hours to Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Airways. We took a short flight from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang on Viet Jet. Traveling coach increased our jet lag, but it was nothing a dip in the pool, a little coffee and some pho couldn’t fix. Our return flight felt easier. We took a 5 hours flight from Nha Trang to Seoul, Korea, spent 24 hours in Seoul and then an 8 hour flight on Korean Airlines to LAX.
Where we stayed in Ho Chi Minh City…
Park Hyatt Saigon – Luxurious oasis in a marvelously chaotic and vibrant city. We loved the elegance and modern amenities of this historic hotel. The breakfast buffet was superb and the pool was refreshing after a long hot day exploring the city.
What we did in Ho Chi Minh City…
Jeep Tour Saigon – This is a really great and safe way to see the highlights in Saigon. It was also very very hot and humid when we visited in April. The kids would have been miserable walking everywhere. We hit most of the main tourist attractions (Reunification Palace, the Central Post Office, the War Remnants Museum, the Emperor Jade Pagoda, and Ben Thanh Market) and learned a lot along the way from our very informative guide.
Massages – Always a good idea in Southeast Asia for a break from walking and the heat. It is helpful for jet lag too. We found two spots near our hotel that had good reviews online.
Cu Chi Tunnels – A must do! Not the most “fun” activity, but certainly the most impactful. It is hot, the spaces are cramped and dirty, and at one point you hear a lot of gun fire from the range. This helped us gain a huge appreciation for what the horrors of fighting in the war was like for both sides.
Where we ate in Ho Chi Minh City…
Anan Saigon – The only Michelin star restaurant in Vietnam! Excellent flavors, beautiful presentation and fun location in the wet market.
Saigon Breweries – We tried both Pasteur Street Brewing and 7 Bridges. They were great and have pub food if you need a break from Vietnamese flavors.
Saigon Street Food Man Tour – A highlight of our time in Saigon! The food was fantastic, and we enjoyed discovering a new part of the city. Come hungry! We were very full by the end of this one.
Where we stayed in Nha Trang…
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – Truly magical! This is the second Six Senses hotel that we have stayed in. The brand recognition was strong, but we felt like it was still a unique experience from our time in Fiji. We loved the farm to table food options, the emphasis on sustainability and wildlife preservation, and the personalized service which made the hotel feel like home.
What we did in Nha Trang…
We spent our entire Nha Trang stay on the hotel property. It was not what we were planning, but Ainsley was under the weather one of the days and Rick needed to get some work done.
The hotel has plenty to do for all ages. With kids, we highly recommend the family day which included a number of the hotel activities curated by our GEM (personal concierge). We did tubing, sea scootering, fishing, collected eggs for our breakfast, we went on a sustainability tour of the property and even planted our own jack fruit tree. The day was capped off with a family BBQ on the beach and a private outdoor movie screening. We also turned in our phones at the beginning of the day, so we were fully focused on family.
Other activities at the hotel that we enjoyed included badminton, jewelry making, a farm tour, and early morning fishing.
What we ate in Nha Trang…
We ate all our meals at the Six Senses. We highly recommend trying the traditional Hot Pot, fishing with the captain and then having the chef prepare the meal and indulging each morning in the breakfast buffet. The food here is clean and fresh and we felt great everyday with our meal choices.
Traveling Lyons 