This is a question we were asked a number of times by friends and family before we went, along with: ‘are you mad?’ and ‘you’re taking them where?!’

Having already backpacked the length of Vietnam twelve years ago, we knew more or less what to expect… although we had some reservations. The 13 hour flights with two little bundles of energy, the heat, will they like the food, is it too much moving about? However, we hoped that the positives would outweigh the negatives: super friendly people, two weeks of (almost guaranteed) glorious sunshine, swimming every day, fantastic food, beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, travelling in a safe country which is great value… the list goes on! 

Well, they certainly did! There is no more heart-warming question to hear from your four year old than: ‘When are we going back to Vietnam, Daddy? It was my favourite holiday ever!’

Here are some tips and must-see highlights for travelling in Vietnam with children to different parts of this fascinating country.

We decided to start our Vietnam family holiday in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in the south of the country as, although still busy, it is more westernised than Hanoi and there are plenty of child-friendly activities:

Speed-boat ride to the Chu-Chi tunnels. Although much of Vietnam's history is harrowing, conflict and the American war (as locals refer to it) in particular has had a huge impact on the country.  Younger children will be unlikely to grasp the more traumatic aspects of the history but will still be fascinated by searching for the camouflaged entrances on the forest floor, crawling through the tunnels and clambering over old US tanks. The tunnels are an hour and a half outside of the city centre and sitting in HCMC's traffic both ways doesn't compare to taking a speedboat along the Saigon River!

Rooftop cafes/restaurants/bars. The recent rise of HCMC's skyline (almost unrecognisable from my first visit to the city!) has meant there are lots of options to view the city from a bird's-eye-view while enjoying a cold drink or ice cream. We visited both The Saigon Skydeck at the top of the Bitexco Financial Tower, for the ultimate views of the city, and the Rex hotel for a slightly lower perspective but with much more history.

A visit to Ben Thanh Market. This is a fascinating shock to the senses with local handicrafts, textiles, áo dài (traditional Vietnam dresses), souvenirs, as well as many local delicacies some of which you can choose to sample in the adjoining night market!

Day trips to the Mekong Delta. A visit here to see a floating market and take a cruise on a small boat through the myriad of canals is certainly worthwhile; but as the drive is nearly three hours each way I would instead recommend spending a night in the area. Either at a riverside hotel or even on a Bassac boat and use them as a base to tour the Delta.

Hoi An

A trip to the UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient town of Hoi An is certain to be a highlight for any family holiday to Vietnam. You have the option to stay in a historic hotel in the well-preserved old town or in relaxed beachfront resort on An Bang beach, just a five minute drive or twenty minute easy cycle ride away. From either location you will easily be able to enjoy the former port city’s history that is reflected in its architecture; a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colourful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. The town is famous for its tailors, you can get made-to-measure clothes produced for a fraction of the cost of Saville Row in just a day or two! It is also a popular location to do a cooking class. Older children will love learning how to recreate some of the delicious dishes they will have already eaten on their holiday!

Hue

As the historic capital of the country, the city of Hue may at first glance not be an automatic choice for a stop on a family holiday in Vietnam. We spent three nights of our trip just outside the city in the very relaxing Pilgrimage Village Resort & Spa. Two full days of historic sightseeing with the girls in the heat of the day was never a serious option for us. Instead, we used the hotels free shuttle to get into the city for a leisurely morning, taking a boat up the Perfume River to see the Thien Mu Pagoda and spent the afternoon (and the other full day) cooling off in the hotel's huge swimming pool! 

Hải Vân Pass and Son Tra Peninsula

To get between Hue and Hoi An you are driven over the winding, 21km Hải Vân Mountain Pass from which you will glimpse breathtaking views of deserted South China Sea beaches below. The total journey takes three hours or so and includes a stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Lang Co on the banks of Lap An Lagoon, where you can sample the lagoon's famous oysters with the obligatory fish sauce, lime and chilli!

At the southern end of the pass is the Son Tra Peninsula, a national park that is also known as 'monkey mountain' (a term originally coined by the American GIs during the war) due to the large number of primates that live here. It is home to a population of red-shanked doucs langurs, a critically endangered species of South-East Asian monkey. Thanks to our wonderful local guide and much to the delight of our daughters, we managed to see plenty of these colourful little creatures.

Top tip: We did this tour after the Hải Vân pass on our way to our beach hotel so it was a long day travelling, but we can just as easily arrange it as a stand-alone tour from your Danang/Hoi An hotel.

Our family adventure finished in the north of Vietnam, in the capital Hanoi. Centred around the Hoan Kiem Lake, which is certainly worth an easy 40 minute stroll around to see locals partaking in Tai'Chi sessions. The city is an intriguing mixture of narrow chaotic streets in the Old Quarter to the north of the lake and elegant, French colonial buildings set back from tree-lined boulevards to the south. The city has many attractions for visitors of which these are the most child-friendly:

Visit the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre for a performance of this traditional art-form that dates to the 11th Century.

Taking a cyclo ride (a bicycle rickshaw in which you sit on a comfortable seat on the front of a bike and are pedalled around by the cyclo driver) through the backstreets of Hanoi is a great way to enjoy the mayhem of the Old Town without having to worry about the thousands or mopeds or the lack of pavements; a really fun thing to do with kids in Vietnam.

Although not as high as HCMC, Hanoi does have some rooftop bars, the best of which are in centre of the old town where you have great views of the lake.

The Vietnam Museum Of Ethnology focuses on the country's 54 officially recognised ethnic groups and was certainly worth a few hours. The traditional houses in the outdoor exhibition area proving a big hit with my daughters.

Top tip: In HCMC and Hanoi we opted for family suites rather than two interconnecting rooms which allowed us lots of space and can often be better value. We also had club access in Hanoi which gave you free afternoon tea and happy hour drinks and snacks, a very welcome change for Molly after two weeks of spring rolls and noodles!

Vietnam's long coastline means there are many different resorts suitable for a family beach holiday. You will need to consider which season to travel to Vietnam for the beach, as the large distances between these destinations means many have separate weather patterns and nobody wants to spend a week on the beach in the rain...!

These are the main beach resorts, the best time to visit and key reasons to choose them for your beach time on your Vietnam family holiday.

Danang (and Hoi An itself)

Within easy access to international airport and the beautiful city of Hoi An.

Best time to visit: March to September

Phu Quoc and Con Dao

Both an hour flight from HCMC, Phu Quoc is home to growing number of luxury resorts, good snorkelling and diving; while Con Dao is much less developed and has been kept very exclusive.

Best time to visit: November to May

Nha Trang and Mui Nue

A short flight from HCMC or Danang, Nha Trang has the most choice of beach breaks, with lively resorts in the city or more peaceful resorts in a number of nearby secluded bays. Mui Nue is further South, just a four hour drive from HCMC, and is a relaxed resort famous for its kite surfing.

Best time to visit: January to August

We travelled on a tailormade private tour, and it would certainly be my suggestion for other families with younger children in Vietnam. Getting Trailfinders to organise a trip like this will:

• Mean you can stay for as long as you want in each location,

• Give you private transfers with child seats, air con and even Wi-Fi (very useful to help pass those long journeys!)

• Allow you to choose family friendly hotels with swimming pools,

• Give you the choice of private tours or (as we booked) a guide and driver for half-day bespoke sightseeing.

We generally spent the mornings visiting a few sites and the afternoons by the pool, which worked well for us but as these tours are tailormade we can arrange exactly what you want.

Some alternative options for your Vietnam family holiday include… 

Small group tours. For holidays with older children, we can also help with small group tours designed especially for families where you can experience the country with other like-minded families. Some of these trips are even more specific with more active tours, departures for just families with teenagers, single-parents and even single-fathers all available!

Beach breaks. If the idea of moving hotel four or five times in a fortnight with children in tow fills you with dread, Vietnam can also offer a far more relaxed holiday. There are flights via the Middle East into Danang airport from where you can be in a luxury family friendly resort within an easy 15 minute transfer. With a slightly longer transfer and you could be in an equally suitable hotel just outside the charming Hoi An. The half day's sightseeing we spent in the pretty old town full of boutique shops was certainly a hit with Niamh!

Two centre holidays. A full tour of the country or just a beach break are not the only options; we can easily organise a two (or even three!) centre holiday. With an extensive and cheap network of domestic flights you can easily combine a city break in Hanoi or HCMC with a relaxing beach break and/or a visit to one of Vietnam’s gorgeous rural or aquatic destinations.