This summer, a dream of mine came true~ We took our 9 month old Baby on his first trip to Vietnam! It is mai dream to be able to bring the kid(s) back to Vietnam every summer, so that they have the same experience and connection to Vietnam that I did growing up. I would love for them to feel like Vietnam is their second home-away-from-home.

Our trip to Vietnam lasted 3 weeks, and this was the first time I traveled to the Central and North Vietnam. Our extended family lives in Saigon, so growing up we would always stay in the South. The whole country is gorgeous, with so much natural beauty, and each region is different in terms of weather, cuisine, and dialect.

However, visiting different regions meant a lot more traveling: plane rides, bus rides, car rides. Plus, there were the initial *long* plane rides to Vietnam and back. All that traveling can be hard with a Baby, but Mai Little Lover had the most amazing trip. From bearing the warm and humid weather, trying so many new foods, and meeting new people, to adjusting to the time difference, riding on motorcycles limousine buses, and bus rides, he had the best attitude with every new experience.

In our traveling group: Me, Husband, Baby, Mai mama, younger brother, and a family friend from Vietnam

Below I am sharing what Baby Essentials helped us the most during out travels, including toys, clothes, carriers, and other traveling details with a Baby, and I documented a quick recap of our stay in each region: where we stayed, some of the major highlights of each region, tours, etc.

If you have any question about traveling with Baby, or Vietnam, leave them in the comments below!

Check out mai Instagram Story Vietnam Highlight for video footage of our trip!

Traveling with Baby: Baby Essentials:

We tried to pack as light as possible. For our 3 week stay, for Baby, Husband and I, we packed 2 overhead-bin sized suitcases (but ended up checking them in since they were too heavy), a backpack for our computers/ chargers and other personal items, and Baby’s diaper bag. We would have access to washing machines so didn’t back too many clothes. I shared my suitcase with Baby so packed all of his clothes with mine. Husband used his suitcase for his own clothes, and then filled the other half with diapers and Baby wipes. Check out more details below:

Diapers

We decided to pack as many diapers as possible, rather than buy them in Vietnam. This was the advice I generally received when I asked other parents about diapers and traveling. Most of them recommended to pack your own since it can difficult to find the right brand/ quality that you and Baby are used to when traveling abroad.

For our 3 week trip, we packed 75 diapers, 15 swim diapers, and 2.5 cases of Baby Wipes. (We stuffed diapers everywhere! The majority went in Husband’s suitcase, but I had a handful in my suitcase pockets, the diaper bag held as many as possible in all the pockets, and our backpack had a stash). The diapers actually lasted us almost perfectly! We used the last diaper on the last airplane ride home. We did however buy a case of 25 diapers while in Vietnam, just in case since we were cutting it close. We ended up only using 1-2 of them however, because they turned out to be pull-up diapers, which weren’t ideal for our 9 month old, and were harder for us to change him, especially when he pooped (We had to use scissors to cut off the diaper instead of pulling it off).

Carseat

Originally we weren’t planning on bringing the carseat. This is because Vietnam does not use carseats. Even though we traveled by taxi and bus the majority of the time, it is standard for babies to ride on their parents’ lap. Because of the traffic speed and flow, this was and felt totally safe! (I was worried Baby would have a hard time adjusting to the carseat once coming back home, but the transition was smooth).

The only reason we ended up bringing a carseat was because we took a Lyft to the airport, and needed to transport Baby. We checked in our carseat at the airport, and then traveled around Vietnam with it, leaving it in our apartment/hotel room and taking it with us when transporting to different regions. It was a slight inconvenience, but nothing major. If we had driven our own car to the airport, we would have left the carseat in the car.

Bassinet

The airplane ride to Vietnam was broken into 2 flights: a 14 hour flight to Hong Kong, and a 3 hour flight from HK to Vietnam.

Tip: We booked overnight flights so that Baby would sleep through most of it. Our first flight was at 1am, and Baby slept for the first 6-7 hours. On the way back home, we also took an evening flight, and once again Baby slept.

Another Tip: If traveling with a Baby on an international flight, book the seats with the Bassinet! The seats are at the front of the section, and a sturdy tray table folds down for the flight attendants to attache a bassinet. We contact-slept our baby the whole flight, but when he was awake, the bassinet was a lifesaver! We were able to put him down in it to give our own arms and bodies a break, and he was able to sit and wiggle and play in a contained area on the airplane!

Toys

Since we tried to pack as light as possible, we took a limited amount of toys with us: 8 in total. These 4 however were the most helpful and entertaining for Baby, especially during travel on airplanes and car rides. Whenever he would start to get fussy, these would help distract and entertain him for exended periods of time.

• Sensory Toy (aka Jelly): This was the #1 toy of the trip. Especially during car rides and the plane, Baby loves chewing on all the unique textured and shapes strings, and recently discovered the little pop-its on the side and the sliding disc.

• Nursery Play Little Frog Book: At home, this was Baby’s #1 entertainment toy whenever he was in the car. On the trip, it was also helpful in the car and as a toy. He loves chewing on the feet and arms, and playing with the ribbons.

• Egg shaker: Obsessed with making music and sound and waving his arms with the egg shaker!

• Flower Suction Spinner: Just recently has been discovering how to make this spin. Love that it suctions to surfaces so we can take it out on tables and windows and don’t worry about Baby dropping or throwing it.

Clothes:

The weather in Vietnam is very humid and hot, especially in the summer. Summer is also raining season. We needed to pack Baby light, airy clothes that could “breathe.” We packed him around 14 outfits. Since we had access to laundry, this left us a good amount of extra outfits for blowouts and multiple changes throughout the day if he got dirty or too sweaty. Here are a few of our favorite outfits that were perfect for the weather.

• Bonsies: The stomach flap is designed to open for skin-to-skin, but we also used it to give Baby some air in the humid and hot weather!

• Angel Dear: The Bamboo material of their play shortie rompers was perfect for the hot, humid weather! So light and airy for Baby.

• Swimzip (Code: maistorybook20 for 20% off): Love that they have family matching swimsuits, and all of their swimwear is UPF 50+ protected! We did plenty of swimming, and I felt good that Baby was protected from the sun in his bodysuit.

Carrier:

We did not bring a stroller to Vietnam, so we relied on our baby-wearing-carriers to help carry Baby. Especially in the cities, the streets are crowded and using a stroller isn’t practical. I actually rarely saw strollers, or baby carriers. Most parents just carry their littles on their hips. I saw the most strollers in Ha Noi, but it was still the minority to see. These are the two carriers we loved, that gave us the most support, and used throughout our trip

• Ergobaby Aerloom: Both Husband and I use this one and carry Baby facing both frontward and inward depending on if he was napping or awake. Super supportive so that we were able to hike up mountains and climb to caves while carrying Baby.

• Hippie Joey (Code: MAISTORYBOOK10 for 10% off): This carrier is made-to-size so I use it to carry Baby. It is the so soft and cozy! Baby almost always instantly naps when he’s in it, and I love that I can carry Baby on my hip.

Food/ Feeding

Baby tried so many new foods while in Vietnam: pho noodles, all types of broth, rice, rice rolls, spring rolls, meatballs, fish, his first shellfish, and more! Since he is only 9 months, I did limit sodium as much as I could, but also let him eat with us as much as possible. However, I did still buy and bring him his own foods when we went out for meals, just in case we had something he couldn’t eat or that was too seasoned or slaty for him, and for him to have all his nutrients! Our go-to’s for Baby were sweet potato, mango, avocado, hard boiled eggs, and banana while we were in Vietnam.

• Austin Baby Silicone Bento Box: Super helpful for carrying Baby’s foods and storing different foods in different compartments. Also super easy to wash an doesn’t leak.

• Lalo Feeding Plate and Bib: Non-breakable plateware was super important, and this plate also suctions to the surface. We like the pocket on this bib to catch food, and it came with the set.

• Olababy Silicone Training Cup: We taught Baby how to drink from a straw starting at 6 months, so this was super convenient to make sure he stayed hydrated throughout our trip. Love that the straw has a blocker on it so Baby can’t pull it out of the cup.

Traveling throughout Vietnam: Our Itinerary

Below is a brief outline of our itinerary in Vietnam. I linked the tours, destinations, and air bnbs that I was able to find websites to. Our trip started in the South in Saigon, and then we made our way through the mountains, to the Central region, and then up north to Ha Noi.

Saigon

While in Saigon, we mostly reacquainted with family and friends for meals, and ate at local restaurants and cafes. We didn’t do too many tourist things or travel far from our location since we’ve been to Saigon before. (Otherwise, visiting the MeKong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels is for sure a must!)

Ben Thanh Tower Apartments: This apartment included two separate rooms: one with 2 bedrooms, one with 1 bedroom. Both rooms had a kitchen, a bathroom with a tub, and a laundry machine. There is a stunning rooftop pool and a gym. It is centrally located, in District 1 right in the city center, walking distance to the famous market and boardwalk. (The link takes you to several apartment listings in the tower)

Highlights:

• Ben Thanh Market: This was our go-to for meals. The stalls usually overprice their items, so I’d be prepared to overpay or bargain, but the food court area is reasonably priced and they have huge menus with all of the traditional Vietnamese dishes to try! We loved their beef stew, noodle soups, and steamed rice cakes. We were able to try something new every time we visited! Also, look for the carts outside the market selling the sweet sticky rice with sugar, peanuts, and coconut cream at night.

• Maison Marou Chocolate: Vietnam’s famous chocolate~ all the ingredients are sourced from Vietnam. They have a shop in Saigon (about 2 minutes from where we were staying). You must try their decadent Signature Chocolate drink (you can get it hot or cold- we got it cold), and all of their pastries are delicious! They even drizzle their savory croissants and salads with chocolate! They also set out a ton of samples of all their bars.
• Saigon Center: If you are looking for a respite from the heat, this massive mall features all the luxury and brand name stores, and an international food court. We loved their Japanese BBQ!

Da Lat

Da Lat is a beautiful mountain town in South Vietnam. Because it is in the mountains at a higher elevation, the weather is actually a lot less hot. It’s not as humid, and the temperature is around mid-70s, making it a nice respite from the humidity and heat. Da Lat has one of the best night markets as well, and beautiful waterfalls!

To Da Lat: We drove to Da Lat from Saigon- about a 8 hour drive- in a Limousine Sleeper Bus! It was an incredible experience since the bus had private bed compartments for each passenger so you could lay down and sleep! It was perfect for Baby because there was plenty of room to crawl and move around during the long drive.

Wooden House Air BnB: This is the most beautiful place we stayed at. The house is made with a dark wood, the wall paper designs were exquisite, the plants in the house were beautifully curated, and their were vinatage items used as decor scattered around. Included 2 bedrooms and a third larger room in a loft area on the second floor.

Highlights

• Datanla Falls + Alpine Coaster: This gorgeous set of waterfalls is most fun viewed by Alpine Coaster! Ride in a little coaster cart (you control the speed), to check out the seven waterfalls. There is a height requirement for the full Alpine Coaster experience, but I was able to go on a mini version to visit one waterfall with Baby. Other attractions include zip-lining, kayaking, a high rope course and more!
• Pongour Waterfall: A stunning massive waterfall! There are trails and space to walk around at the base of the waterfall, and small pools and streams that trickle off from the falls. Baby enjoyed splashing in one of the small streams- very refreshing in the heat!
• Lumiere Da Lat Light Garden: This installation is beautiful to walk through. It’s not super big, but if you take your time to enjoy each light installation, it could take about an hour. There is a mini infinity room, a wall of glowing lanterns, and our favorite part was the VR area where you can play a VR match against each other.

• Cao Ngueyn Hoa Da Lat Garden: This garden was stunning! There are so many gorgeous plants hanging from everywhere. Everyone thing was beautifully landscaped. We felt like we were in a heavenly space of nature! Our favorite was a big swing that they would seat you on (two-seater), and they would push you to swing over the ledge of the mountain so that you are swinging about the lush valley below! Highly recommend for pure beauty!

• Night Market: Da Lat had my favorite night market! It was huge, and their specialty was “Vietnamese Pizza”- a grilled rice paper topped with sausage, egg, green onion, special sauce and wrapped up like a burrito, They also sell skewers that you can choose and they will grill on the spot for you. The whole street is bustling with stalls, fruits, and foods!

• Xuon Huong.Lake: This lake is right in the center of the city and is gorgeous to walk around. You can even rent a swan boat to paddle on the lake, We just walked, but at night, they have pretty light installations around the lake where you can take pictures.

Da Nang

The Ocean Resort Home Air BnB: Beautiful house with a small pool! Included 3 bedrooms, a beautiful kitchen, and lovely modern design.

Highlights

• Hoi An: I would have loved to spend more time in this ancient city. Come nightfall, the lake lights up with lanterns on boats, and you can buy prayer candles to light and float on the river. They also have a massive night market and the while city is aglow by lanterns!

• Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary: This site was the capital of the Champa Kingdom. The Cham people are indigenous to Vietnam and were driven off their land. The temples and buildings were destroyed during the Vietnam war and you can see the bomb craters.

• Beaches: Da Nang is becoming increasingly famous for its idyllic beaches! The ideal time to go to the beach is actually in the evening, around 5 pm as the sun is starting to set. During the day, it’s often too hot- so as the sun dips, everyone comes out to swim in the warm water for a refreshing dip. It’s a beautiful sight to swim with the colors of the sunset in the sky, and if you are near the city, it’s beautiful to see the city lights!
• Marble Mountain:  Consists of 5 limestone peaks and includes a network of caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas built by Mahayana Buddhists. Their are a lot of stairs to prepare to climb, but the caves and tunnels are fascinating to walk through.

Hanoi

Vincom Tower Apartment: This apartment is located in the center of the city. We were on the 42nd floor and the view was stunning! Included 3 bedrooms, laundry and dryer, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen. The views from each room were amazing during the day and night!

Highlights

• Ha Long Bay Tour: My favorite part of this tour was watching the sunset between the islands from the boat. The tour included the most delicious seafood lunch (fish, shrimp, squid, clams- be prepared to enjoy seafood!), then we visited an island to swim at the beach (Baby enjoyed that part), we made a stop to kayak through a cave, and then made another stop to hike up about 150 steps to explore a cave.

• Train Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter: This place is fascinating. The train tracks are literally right next to the buildings, and you can sit at a cafe and watch the moving train zoom by you right in front of your face. It is the closest you will ever be to a moving train.

• Ninh Binh Tour: This was my favorite tour! We explored a temple and the grounds around the temple were stunning with a lotus flower field, a lake, lanterns dangling, and you could walk through a cave that was used as a hospital during the Vietnam war. We had a delicious lunch featuring Northern cuisine ( a lot of goat!), and then rode bikes to the original capital of Vietnam to visit another temple. The bike ride was only about 10 minutes, but the scenery is beautiful. (Baby rode on a motorcycle with mai mama and family friend!). Ninh Binh is also known as Ha Long on land because it has the same majestic island formations. We took a 1.5 row boat ride through caves formed by the land masses. Baby was able to sit and enjoy the ride with entertainment from his toys.
• Hoan Kiem Lake : This beautiful lake is popular to walk around at night. Lights are glowing, and every night the streets are blocked off from traffic so people can walk around.

• Kim Dong Books Publishing House: While in Hanoi, I had the honor of being invited to one of Vietnam’s publishing houses. They had a wonderful selection of bilingual stories and folktales for children!

Overall, it was the most incredible trip. Baby was so stimulated by the environment around him~ in the best way~ and people there are so helpful and kind with babies. Adults would come up and fan Baby, make sure I had a seat if I was carrying Baby, they would talk to him, hold him~ I would love for Baby to grow up surrounded by a large and loving community.

We ate the best foods, saw the most beautiful sites, and soaked in the language and culture. As I mentioned, it is my dream to return to Vietnam annually, so I cannot wait to go back soon!

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions!

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*~Also, I’d love to  see and hear about your own irl adventures and reading adventures you are having with your little learners, so please share your story times and family travels below in the comments ~ Or Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary , FaceBook , find me onTikTok, or contact me via email . I’d love to hear from you!~*~*