As fun as it can be, traveling with your family (especially with senior parents) can be quite challenging. But don't worry, I got you! Here's the travel itinerary I personally prepared for our family's recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
WHY VIETNAM?
Vietnam is the first country my sister and I have been to, and I fell in love with it ever since. They've got great food, nice people, and beautiful culture - plus of course, budget-friendly, especially for Filipino budget travelers like us. It is also my mom's first international trip (after months of passport application), so we want her experience to be as seamless and as fun as possible. I thought it would be better to bring her to a country that I'm already familiar with so we don't have to spend too much time adjusting. I've been to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi) twice already before this trip, so I'm pretty confident I'll be able to tour her around when we get there.
My sister and I's previous Ho Chi Minh visit was short and sweet. We visited for 3 days only as a part of our 10-day Indochina trip, so we thought it would be great to squeeze in some new destinations into our itinerary this time. Here's how it went:
OUR 8-DAY HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM ITINERARY
BONUS TIPS FOR TRAVELING IN VIETNAM
CASH IS KING: Many local shops and eateries don’t accept credit cards or mobile payments. Always have some cash on hand.
ESSENTIAL APPS: WhatsApp for tours, Xanh SM or Green SM for transportation, and Grab for food and transportation
ACCOMMODATION: District 1 is a great choice for accommodation due to its convenience and proximity to attractions
Traffic in Ho Chi Minh City can be challenging, especially during peak hours, so make sure to plan your travels accordingly
Get comfortable with crossing streets. Vietnam is known for its motorbike traffic, so knowing how to navigate the roads will come handy during your trip
AVOID SCAMS: Do your research and learn about the common scams in your destination. Stay alert!
OTHER SPOTS YOU CAN VISIT IN HO CHI MINH
War Remnants Museum
Independence Palace
Ho Thi Ky Street Food Market
Saigon Opera House
Saigon Zoo
Saigon Skydeck and more!
Perhaps family trips are meant to be slow. Take these moments to appreciate the stillness and the comfort of home, even when we're far from it.
DISCLAIMER: All information in this post is based on my personal experience, and research at the time of writing. However, some details, laws, and rules may have changed over time. Always double-check current info before you travel!
Learn more in this video!
