There is a wealth of activities available for children in Vietnam. The Vietnamese love kids and every city has something to offer, such as boat trips, zoos, elephant riding, go-karts and so on. In addition, Vietnam has stunning beaches which are ideal spots for kids to while away the day building sandcastles and paddling.

Boat Trips
If you happen to be in the south of Vietnam, then taking a boat trip in the Mekong Delta is an absolute must, especially if you have kids in tow. Canals, swamps and rivers inhabit this breathtaking part of the country which contains rice paddies surrounded by swamps and forests. While in the region, you may also like to tour the Saigon River by river cruise. Those visiting Hue can also explore the picturesque Perfume River.

Elephant Riding
Not many kids can say they’ve ridden an elephant before, yet elephant riding is a popular pastime in Vietnam and a common means of transport for country folk. The best place to go elephant riding in the country is in Da Lat at Tuyen Lake with its large range of beasts and fabulous setting. Elephant riding offers a great experience at a reasonable price.

Water Slide Parks
Water parks are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam and can now be found in most big cities, with Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat having the most well known ones. Saigon Water Park in Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh was Vietnam’s first water park, but has since been superseded in popularity by other water parks in the city.

Zoos
There are two main zoos in Vietnam; the oldest zoo is in Ho Chi Minh in the south and the other one in Hanoi in the north. Both zoos have a good complement of indigenous animals as well as plenty of exotic and fluffy creatures from around the world. Both zoos have extensive grounds which also contain other attractions and niceties, such as aquariums and temples. Saigon Zoo also has a museum onsite. In addition, Cuc Phuong National Park, near Hanoi Zoo, has a good selection of native Vietnamese animals in the wild.

Many cultural attractions in Vietnam revolve around religious buildings and the Vietnam War. There are some fascinating yet disturbing museums in the major cities that cover the atrocities of the war, while Vietnam’s chronological history is well documented at the Hanoi History Museum. Nature is also well represented at the National Preserve of Cuc Phuong, and the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh are Vietnam’s busiest cultural attraction.

Cu Chi Tunnels
Lying in the Tay Ninh suburb of Ho Chi Minh City, the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels span nearly 300 miles of dense jungle and are a massive draw in this part of the world. Many facets of the tunnels survive today and include bedding, kitchens and even printing presses which were once used by the National Liberation Front (NLF). Tours are hugely popular and go from Ho Chi Minh City throughout the year.

Cuc Phuong
The National Preserve of Cuc Phuong just outside of Hanoi is a rarity of the modern world; a tropical primeval forest. Situated deep in the Vietnam countryside, the park is huge and one of caves, grottoes and a large number of rare fauna and flora. There are dozens of species of animals here and literally thousands of fine examples of plants that have long disappeared in similar existing environments in other parts of the world. Of the more intriguing of the animals are flying lizards and awkward monkeys.

Du Hang Pagoda
There are many ancient pagodas in Hai Phong, and the Du Hang Pagoda is perhaps the most fascinating. Built in the 1700s, the huge temple sports some amazing decorations and ancient furnishings. Phone: +84 4 755 7542

Hanoi Opera House
French colonists erected this monumental opera house in downtown Hanoi between 1901 and 1911. The Hanoi Opera House is a small-scale Palais Garnier replica – a famous Paris opera house – and puts on some exquisite performances throughout the season. The nearby Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel takes its name after the opera house. Ho Chi Minh also has a fine opera house dating from about the same time, yet it was built on a much smaller scale. Phone: +84 4 933 0113

Reunification Palace
The Reunification Palace of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Independence Palace, is a restored five-floor snapshot of Saigon before the war. The palace was formerly South Vietnam's Presidential Palace and features a natty recreation room complete with circular sofa and a basement stocked full of vintage items such as 1960s phones, radios, and office equipment. Tank #843 drove through the gates of the palace at the end of the war on 30 April 1975, and is still parked on the lawn to this day. Tourists can take a guided tour or browse independently. The café on the grounds adds a nice touch.

War Remnants Museum
Located on Vo Van Tan street, a block from Reunification Palace, the somewhat biased War Remnants Museum takes a look at war crimes. The museum was formerly known as the Exhibition House of American War Crimes and was opened in a series of warehouses soon after the fall of South Vietnam. Included in the displays are many photos, deformed foetuses supposedly a result of Agent Orange, and a simulated ‘tiger cage’ prison. Other displays include various armaments outside such as jets, Huey choppers, and tanks. Phone: +84 930 2112.

Handicrafts are a big seller in Vietnam; raw materials are easy to come by and crafts can be made cheaply at a high quality. Reed mats, embroidery, lacquer painting, made-to-measure ao dai (female national costume), furniture, and mother-of-pearl ornaments are among the best buys. Ho Chi Minh has the best shopping options with excellent clothing choices in the markets.

If you are in the market for antiques, the best place by far is Hanoi, where replicas as well as the real thing are readily available. Be aware, however, that the Vietnamese are touchy on the export of antiques and if you don’t have the right certification for genuine articles, you may have them confiscated and/or a fine imposed at the airport.

Everywhere you go in Vietnam, food is readily available and as with the rest of Asia, hawker stalls are ubiquitous. There are literally hundreds of dishes on the menu in Vietnam with the food varying slightly from region to region, yet al dishes are accompanied by rice or noodles. You can also indulge in international gourmet at top-notch hotel and restaurant chains as well as at the snazzy malls in Hoh Chi Min and Hanoi.

Prices at the hawker stalls are really cheap as they cater mainly to the local population, while the more sterile-looking government-run restaurants, favoured mostly by tourists, like to add a 10 per cent service charge. As with elsewhere in Asia, tipping is not a custom in Vietnam, although it is becoming commonplace in tourist-focused areas. Rounding up the bill as opposed to percentage tipping is recommended in these areas.

Rice is the main staple and boiled rice is generally consumed with all three main daily meals. Fragrant rice, such as tam thom and nahg huong, is also popular, while grilled rice is a favourite in the autumn and is eaten with eggs, bananas and sapodillas.

Another must-try is banh chung, a traditional sticky rice cake made with glutinous rice, pork and green bean paste that is then wrapped in bamboo or banana leaves. Baguettes are about the cheapest food item you can get here and are an obvious influence from the French. The small white bread loaves are often sold containing spicy meat and vegetables as a sandwich.

One of the most typical Vietnamese foods is pho, a spicy noodle soup with meat. Pho is really cheap and the main variations include pho bo (beef), pho ga (chicken), and pho bo tai (fish).

With its extensive coastline, Vietnam is a master in the seafood department with fresh fish available just about everywhere. Fried fish slices known as cha ca and originating in the north are popular, while nuoc mam, fermented fish sauce, is used liberally.

Other popular bits and pieces include duck eggs consisting of a partly developed foetus that includes feathers, limbs and a beak. Snake is a must-try for those in the south and is thought to be delicious by many.

Domestic beers are popular, yet imported beer is available just about everywhere and preferred by many tourists over the local brews. Rice wine is cheap and popular, as are the many local fruit wines like apricot, orange, and lemon, while restaurants also stock classic European numbers.

With its vast mountain ranges and thousands of miles of coastline, you will never run out of options for getting physical in Vietnam. Numerous beaches up and down the coast offer all manner of water sports activities including kayaking, while horseback riding, trekking and hiking over some of the most delectable terrain in the world are also available.

Caving
The Phong Nha River caves to the northwest of Dong Hoi are among the most heavily visiting in the country, and for good reason. These magnificent caves with stalagmites and stalactites, huge walls of glistening sediment and massive caverns are a highlight for many visitors. Established caves can be found all around the mountainous interior, although you should hire a guide to explore as opposed to going at it alone.

Trekking and Hiking
The Ho Chi Minh Trail is the main allure for trekkers visiting Vietnam, the series of trails, paths and tunnels used by the Vietcong during the war. The trail runs from the north to the south through the Truong Son mountains and ends up in western Laos. The Cu Chi near Ho Chi Minh and the Vinh Moc tunnels are the most expansive and visited of the tunnels. Tours go through the tunnels, but conditions are cramped and claustrophobia can be a problem for some visitors.

Water Sports
There is more than 1,800 miles of coast in Vietnam, meaning a lot of beaches and a vast scope for water sports. Vung Tau and Nha Trang near the Mekong Delta and Da Lat are among the best beaches, with typical turquoise waters where the snorkelling and diving is superb. Equipment can be rented from a number of beach resorts in these areas, and lessons and tours are also available. Phan Thiet in the centre of Vietnam is also a good bet, while Mui Ne has some awesome sand dunes. Ha Long Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin is ideal for the adventurous with its large collection of jungle islands.