Traveling to Vietnam with a Baby & Toddler – Tips, Must-Knows & Our Experience

Traveling to Vietnam is becoming increasingly popular, especially for families with children – and for good reason! The country is family-friendly, offers good infrastructure, and boasts a warm climate, low living costs, and fascinating sights, making it ideal for trips with babies and toddlers.

Before embarking on our parental leave adventure in Vietnam with our daughter, who had just celebrated her first birthday, we had many questions and concerns about whether everything would go as planned.

Looking back, our worries were completely unfounded. Our time in Vietnam with our daughter was absolutely wonderful.
If you're considering embarking on this adventure with a baby or toddler, we'd love to share our experiences with you in this post.
We’ll answer common questions, ease any concerns, and help you with your travel planning.
Hopefully, this will make your preparations even smoother for an unforgettable family trip!

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOUR TRIP TO VIETNAM

1. RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS FOR VIETNAM

The decision to vaccinate your baby or toddler for Vietnam is entirely up to you.
As a parent, you should carefully weigh the health benefits and potential risks of vaccination or non-vaccination and take full responsibility for your choice.
Common recommended vaccinations for Vietnam include Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, and Hepatitis A.

After consulting our pediatrician, we decided not to get any additional vaccinations beyond the standard recommendations for our home country.
Since our daughter was only 8 months old at the start of our 5-month parental leave trip through Southeast Asia, we carefully considered the necessity of extra vaccinations.

2. PEDIATRIC CHECK-UPS BEFORE TRAVELING TO VIETNAM

Before embarking on our extended parental leave trip, we made sure that all scheduled pediatric check-ups were completed by our doctor.
Since our baby had her routine check-up around 7 months, the next one wasn’t due until her first birthday.
This meant that during our five-month journey abroad, we didn’t need to visit a pediatrician.

If a routine pediatric check-up is due during your trip, we recommend discussing with your pediatrician in advance whether it can be scheduled a bit earlier or postponed until after your return.

Our Tip: In case of a medical emergency while traveling, we recommend storing your child’s medical records digitally on a USB drive or external hard drive. This way, you don’t need to carry the entire physical health record with you.

Would you like to know which countries we explored during our five-month parental leave trip through Southeast Asia and what we experienced? Have a look at the following posts!

• Traveling Cambodia with a Baby – Tips, Useful Information & Our Experiences
• Bali Round Trip with a Baby – Route, Tips & Highlights
• Thailand Round Trip with a Baby - Route, Tips & Highlights
• Traveling Malaysia with a Baby - Tips, Facts & Our Experiences

3. BOOKING THE RIGHT ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO VIETNAM

In general, we recommend booking at least the first accommodations in advance when planning a round trip.
This saves you the extra hassle of finding a suitable place after arrival, especially when dealing with jet lag and traveling with a baby or toddler.
For the rest of our trip, we always chose accommodations with a flexible cancellation option in case our daughter got sick and we needed to extend our stay – luckily, that was never necessary.

When choosing accommodations, we prioritized essential amenities such as air conditioning, a private bathroom, and enough space.
Additionally, we always made sure the place had a balcony or veranda.
This allowed us to enjoy the evenings outside without being confined to a dark room while our child was sleeping.
Thanks to our video baby monitor, we could always keep an eye on our daughter and quickly attend to her if she woke up.
We also looked for accommodations with a swimming pool whenever possible, as our daughter absolutely loves the water.
Especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, she enjoyed cooling off in the pool before or after our sightseeing activities.

To avoid long travel times, we always made sure that our accommodation was relatively central and close to the sights and activities we had planned in advance.

Vietnam offers an impressive variety of accommodations – from budget-friendly hostels and cozy mid-range hotels to luxurious all-inclusive resorts.
Whether you're looking for a stylish hotel, a charming apartment, or a private self-catering vacation home, you'll find the perfect stay for your trip!
Platforms like booking.com, Expedia or Airbnb make it easy to find accommodations that suit your needs.

Here’s a short overview of the most beautiful and comfortable accommodations we stayed at with our toddler:

• Hanoi Central Hotel & Residence in Hanoi
• Sapa Rosie House in Sapa
• M'Gloria Cruise by HAG in Ha Long Bay
• Tam Coc Green Mountain Homestay in Ninh Bình
• Mint Hoi An Villa in Hoi An
• The Glomad Boutique Danang in Da Nang
• Vamxang Rustic Home in Can Tho (Mekong Delta)
• Au Lac Charner Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
• Best Western Premier Sonasea in Phu Quoc

Good to know: When searching for and booking accommodations, we only entered two adults, as children under the age of 2 usually stay for free.

WHAT TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR TRIP TO VIETNAM WITH A BABY OR TODDLER

1. LONG-HAUL FLIGHT WITH A BABY OR TODDLER – TIPS FOR A SMOOTH JOURNEY

Before our first long-haul flight with a baby, we had so many questions on our minds!
Would she handle the pressure changes well? (By the way, a pacifier works great for that!) Would she sleep?
And how would we keep her entertained in such a confined space for so long—especially since she was already crawling?
We also wondered how our fellow passengers would react if she started crying.
In the end, everything turned out to be much less stressful than we had feared.
She did demand our attention almost constantly, but we were prepared for that!

Parents should remind themselves to stay relaxed, as children often mirror their parents' calmness.
Try not to see the flight as an obstacle but rather as the first part of your journey.

Children under the age of two do not require their own seat on a flight, but many parents choose to book an extra seat for added comfort.
For both long-haul and short-haul flights, we never booked a separate seat for our daughter; instead, we always held her on our lap.
During takeoff and landing, we secured her with a loop belt provided by the airline.
This additional strap attaches to the parent's seatbelt, and for us, it was completely sufficient.

When it comes to toys, we prefer not to give general recommendations, as each child is unique.
Our daughter, for example, was fascinated by books with faces, a small doll (especially the face), rattles, spinner toys, colorful stacking cubes, some sand toys, and pretty much anything that mom and dad were holding.
She was also incredibly intrigued by emptying our bags.

On her second long-haul flight, when she was already a toddler, it was even easier.
She was much more interested, was easier to entertain, and we had again chosen a night flight – so she slept through almost the entire flight.

For the meals, we brought over a liter of water for the formula and two jars of baby food.
The security check went smoothly – when they saw our daughter, there were no further questions.
Onboard, we were offered several times to heat both the bottle and the jars.
Overall, we found that the cabin crew was extremely considerate of the youngest passengers and their needs.

2. MEDICAL CARE IN VIETNAM

In Vietnam, you don't have to worry about receiving medical treatment from a doctor or in a clinic during a medical emergency.
Especially in tourist centers like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or Hanoi, the medical practices and clinics for tourists meet Western standards.
Some are even more modern than in other developed countries.
Therefore, in case of an emergency, it's advisable to seek medical advice, especially when it comes to the health of your baby or toddler.

The range of products in pharmacies is also very extensive and, most importantly, affordable.
You will definitely find everything you need here. Unlike in many countries, most medications are available without a prescription.

Besides quick medical treatment, the payment for the treatment and medications should not be overlooked, as this is also an important aspect.
These costs are not covered by public health insurance in many countries.
Therefore, for us, taking out private travel health insurance in advance was essential.
We compared insurance plans through Check24 and then chose the one that suited us best.
The insurance usually costs only a small amount per year, and in case of an emergency, it is worth every penny.

Our tip: When signing up, make sure the plan includes full coverage without limits, as well as emergency repatriation in case of serious illness.
Additionally, it's important to keep all receipts for medical treatment and any medications you paid for upfront, so you can submit them to your insurance later or have proof of the expenses.

All further information can be found in our separate article 'Vietnam Travel Guide: Essential Tips & Information for your Trip'.

3. FOOD & DRINK FOR BABIES IN VIETNAM – FORMULA, BABY FOOD & MORE

This topic was perhaps the one we thought about the most in advance.
In addition to bottle feeding, we had already started with solid foods (baby-led weaning and fruit purées).
This raised questions about whether the right milk powder would be available, as well as healthy, age-appropriate food for our daughter and, if so, where we could find it.
Once again, we worried way too much in advance. Yes, there are babies in Vietnam who also need food.

You can find a selection of formula milk, baby food powders (mostly rice-based), squeezable pouches, and occasionally some fruit jars (very limited selection) in large supermarkets such as AEON, LuLu Hypermarket, VinMart/WinMart, Co.opmart, Lotte Mart, and Big C.
Additionally, baby food can be found in drugstores like Guardian or pharmacy chains such as Pharmacity.
In small 24/7 convenience stores (e.g., 7-Eleven), you’ll mostly find only formula milk – and with a limited selection.

PRE-formula is not as commonly available in Vietnam, as most infant milk formulas start with follow-on milk, which differs from the typical availability of PRE-formula in other regions. If you prefer to feed your baby exclusively with PRE-formula, it’s advisable to bring it with you from home.

Our tip: Buy an adequate supply in larger cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang, as the selection may be much more limited in smaller towns.
This way, you can be sure and well-prepared.

Generally, we recommend bringing food from home at least for the beginning, to gradually get your little one used to the local food.
Keep in mind that your baby or toddler will likely have enough to deal with, including jetlag, the high temperatures, and the many new stimuli.

Those who prefer to prepare food for their child themselves will find nearly all the basics in supermarkets that are commonly available elsewhere: oats, pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh meat, plain yogurt without sugar, a wide variety of fruits, and much more.
The only downside is that you'll need accommodation with a kitchen, which may limit your choice of places to stay.

Generally, our rule – not just in Vietnam, but throughout our entire journey through Southeast Asia – was: 'Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it'.
We only drank bottled water and never tap water.
Of course, we washed our daughter's water bottles with tap water, but we regularly rinsed or boiled them with hot water.

4. DIAPERS & WET WIPES IN VIETNAM

Diapers and wet wipes are widely available in Vietnam. Small packaging units can be found in every 7-Eleven, while larger supermarkets like AEON, LuLu, and others offer a much wider selection, including bulk packs. If you prefer a quality comparable to 'Pampers', we recommend the brands Merries or Huggies.
They are priced similarly to Pampers, making them relatively expensive by local standards.

Do you prefer traditional diapers with side fasteners, as commonly used in many countries?
Then you should pay attention when purchasing, as in Vietnam, diaper pants are mostly available from size M onwards.
It was a small adjustment for us at first, but we quickly got used to it.

Swim diapers are practically unavailable in Vietnam. Therefore, we recommend bringing a reusable swim diaper from home.

Changing tables are rarely found outside of large shopping centers.
Therefore, we often had to improvise and quickly change our baby in a quiet corner of a restaurant, on a quiet side street, or on a park bench.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
We were especially grateful for our washable changing mat in these situations, which turned out to be a real lifesaver and a must-have.

5. DOING LAUNDRY IN VIETNAM

Doing laundry in Vietnam is straightforward. In the cities, you’ll find many laundry services ('Laundry Service' or 'Giặt ủi' in Vietnamese), and many apartments are equipped with washing machines – which was usually the case for us.

If there was no washing machine available, we used the laundry service.
Our conclusion: Just like in many countries, there are both good and less reliable laundries here.
Generally, our clothes were cleaned well, kept their color, and didn’t usually have a strong fragrance. Billing is typically done by weight.

6. SUN PROTECTION & MOSQUITO PROTECTION IN VIETNAM

When it comes to sun and mosquito protection, opinions tend to differ more with babies than with older children, who are simply lathered with sunscreen or mosquito spray. Some parents rely solely on physical protection, like suitable clothing and mosquito nets, while others additionally use chemical products like sunscreen and insect repellent.

Back home, physical protection may be sufficient. In the tropics, however, it wasn’t enough for us. From morning till evening, the sun was often shining.
Of course, we sought shade whenever possible and avoided the midday sun, but it wasn’t always feasible to keep our daughter exclusively in the shade, especially when she was in the water or on the beach.
The same applied when we were out and about. In the buggy and carrier, she was always exposed to the sun, even though we covered her with a thin cloth.
For this reason, we applied sunscreen whenever necessary. Long clothing was only an option in the evenings, as even lightweight clothing felt too warm during the day, and we didn’t want to put our daughter through that. Even wearing a short-sleeve bodysuit, she often sweated heavily.

In the water, she wore additional longer UV swimwear. One thing we wouldn’t be without is her baby sunglasses. Initially, we were concerned that she wouldn’t want to wear them, but it turned out she liked them a lot, especially since the bright light was often overwhelming for her. The attached elastic band kept them securely in place.

To reduce the risk of dengue fever or malaria, we also applied mosquito repellent lotion or spray, which we purchased locally.
These products are available in almost every supermarket, and in some restaurants, the staff even offered us mosquito spray, suggesting they use it themselves.

7. BUGGY AND/OR BABY CARRIER IN VIETNAM

We took both a compact travel buggy and a baby carrier, and this decision turned out to be just right.

We specifically bought a travel buggy for our Southeast Asia trip.
When choosing one, we prioritized features that were essential to us, such as a reclining position, sunshade, and a spacious storage basket.
It also needed to be affordable, compact, and lightweight. The Hauck sport buggy met all these criteria and proved to be a versatile companion.
When there was no high chair available, we used the buggy, where she could sit safely to eat.
Afterward, we could entertain her with some toys while we ate relatively peacefully.

Most airlines allow up to two items of baby gear free of charge, so we could easily take the buggy up to the plane.

Despite the stroller, our Manduca carrier was used just as often.
In big cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, we found it quite tiring to navigate with the stroller, as the sidewalks are often in poor condition.

Anyone who, like us, frequently uses Grab taxis knows the problem: the stroller has to be emptied, folded, and stored in the trunk every time.
This not only takes time but also patience.

The carrier had always been a place of safety and comfort for her since birth, helping her process the many new impressions without stress.
When it became too much for her, she could easily take a “safety nap” in the carrier.
A big advantage of the carrier is that it’s very handy and lightweight, taking up little space in a suitcase or backpack.
It also allows hands-free movement, unlike a stroller.

An additional advantage of the carrier: it is lightweight, takes up hardly any space in the suitcase or backpack, and doesn’t add much weight.
Furthermore, unlike with the stroller, you always have both hands free, which makes traveling much easier.

8. TRANSPORTATION & CHILD SEATS IN VIETNAM

Opinions about transporting babies and toddlers in Vietnam vary widely. What’s considered an absolute no-go back home may be normal for the Vietnamese.
So, it’s essential to note that we are merely sharing our experiences and views. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if this is right for you.

In Vietnam, as in other Southeast Asian countries, it’s common for children of all ages to travel in cars without a child seat.
If you order a taxi, Grab, Bolt, or similar service, expect that it will likely not have a child seat.
In this case, you’ll have to hold your child securely on your lap. However, this doesn’t mean child seats are unavailable in Vietnam.
When you book a transfer in advance, for longer trips or to the airport, many providers offer a child seat upon request, often for a small fee.

Every child seat we received was secured with a 3-point seatbelt, as Isofix is either unknown or not yet widespread.
This was completely sufficient for us. It’s also essential to know that these are simple child seats or baby seats.
Don’t expect all the features and extras you’d find at home.
If you find this too risky, consider bringing your own child seat.
However, remember that the seat may only be used briefly and will then sit unused in your accommodation.
If you continue traveling and flying, you may have to check the child seat as oversized luggage for an extra fee.

For many, more concerning than driving without a seatbelt or car seat is riding a scooter with a baby or toddler.
However, in Vietnam, this is part of everyday life. Families often ride with several children on the scooter, and the youngest are usually held in the arms.

We had thought a lot about it beforehand. However, since we are experienced scooter riders ourselves, we decided to go with our instincts once we arrived.

During our time in Vietnam, we rode scooters almost everywhere within cities, except for the largest cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang, where we found the traffic too chaotic. Throughout the entire trip, we had no close calls, as we always drove cautiously and responsibly.
From dusk onwards, we tried to avoid riding the scooter whenever possible. Our daughter was always in the carrier and sat between us.
Her arms and legs were protected from the sun with a cloth, which we attached to our clothes using clothespins.

Baby-sized helmets are not available for purchase in Vietnam – the youngest children ride without helmets. It was only for slightly older children, around 1.5 years old, that we found helmets locally.

You can find more tips on riding scooters in Vietnam in our article 'Renting a scooter in Vietnam – Helpful Tips & Information'.

9. PACKING LIST: TRAVELING TO VIETNAM WITH A BABY OR TODDLER

You can find our detailed packing list for a trip to Vietnam or Southeast Asia with a baby or toddler in our article 'Packing List for Traveling with a Baby to Asia'.
We hope it can be helpful for your own travel preparations.

WAS THIS POST NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? YOU WANT MORE TIPS, INSPIRATION, AND SIGHTSEEING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR VIETNAM TRIP? THEN BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR FOLLOWING POSTS:

• Vietnam Travel Guide: Essential Tips & Information for your Trip
• Renting a scooter in Vietnam – Helpful Tips & Information
• Can Tho in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta – Best Floating Markets & Must-See Attractions
• Discover Ho Chi Minh City: Top Attractions, Insider Tips & Highlights

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Find affordable Transfers with 12Go.com
• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Discover the best accommodations
• The best Travel Guides for Vietnam
• Unique Excursions to Experience in Vietnam

‍Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we receive a small commission. There is absolutely no change in price for you.