Living in Vietnam with Kids: Our Honest Nomad Family Guide (2026)

Our Vietnam Chapter

We’re writing this from Ninh Binh, partway through our Vietnam chapter with Louie (9) and Leo (2). 🇻🇳

So far, we’ve spent a month living in Da Nang and slowed right down in Ninh Binh. Hanoi is next, then Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island. Our 90-day e-visas run out before Christmas, so after that we cross to Thailand.

And next year? We’re coming back to live in Hoi An. We haven’t even been yet. We decided to save it as a surprise.

This isn’t our first time in the country. Twelve years ago, Marty and I passed through Saigon as a backpacking couple. Doing Vietnam with a toddler and a nine-year-old is a very different trip.

This guide mixes what we’ve lived with what we’ve researched, and we’ll always tell you which is which. If you’re wondering whether your family could actually live in Vietnam, this is the page we wish we’d had.

Not ready for the big leap yet? A month in Vietnam makes a good practice run. Our guide to affordable family holidays shows what a few weeks away can tell you.

The short answer:

• Vietnam suits families who want warm people, great food, slower travel and a lower cost of living than most Western countries.
• It’s harder for families who need a long-stay visa, a clear legal basis for remote work, or cooler weather.
• Budget roughly €1,850 to €2,600 a month for a family of four, including rent (Numbeo averages, checked 28-09-2026).

Where to Base Your Family in Vietnam

Vietnam stretches more than 1,600 kilometres from the mountains of the north to the Mekong Delta in the south. The climate, food and pace change a lot along the way.

Your base shapes almost everything: the heat, the air quality, the schools nearby and what your weekends look like. We’re living this now, with a month in Da Nang, a slower stretch in Ninh Binh, then the north before Christmas.

How many families do it

Rather than committing to one city, many nomad families move between two or three bases and follow the seasons. The visa rules push you that way too, because a 90-day e-visa naturally breaks a year into chapters.

One practical note: in July 2025, Vietnam merged many of its provinces. Hoi An is now officially part of Da Nang city, even though it still feels like its own town.

🌆 Hanoi

Researched. We’re heading to Hanoi next and will update this section.

Vietnam’s capital is busy, historic and full of character. The Old Quarter’s narrow streets, tree-lined colonial boulevards and lakes sit side by side, and the café culture is famous for egg coffee.

For children

For kids, Hanoi works like a living history lesson. The Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology are all popular with families.

Seasons

Unlike the south, Hanoi has real seasons. Summers are hot and humid, roughly May to September. Winters are cool and sometimes grey, roughly November to February, so pack a jacket.

Why families choose Hanoi

• International schools and some of Vietnam’s best private hospitals
• Museums, water puppet theatre, lakes and temples within easy reach
• Trips to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa
• Cooler winters than the tropical south
• An expat community centred around Tay Ho (West Lake)

Working in Hanoi

Coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafés are easy to find, especially around the Old Quarter and West Lake. Spaces open and close often, so check current options and prices before you arrive.

🌇 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

We passed through Saigon as a couple 12 years ago. The family details below are researched.

Vietnam’s biggest city is fast, loud and modern. Skyscrapers rise above colonial buildings, and markets are busy from early morning. Families who love city energy and want the widest choice of services often end up here.

Where families live

Thao Dien, in the former District 2, is the best-known expat family area, with leafy streets, international schools and cafés. Vietnam replaced its district-level government in July 2025, so you’ll see new ward names on maps and addresses. Our Saigon family guide explains the changes.

Good flight connections make trips from Saigon to Cambodia, Thailand and beyond straightforward.

Why families choose Saigon

• The widest range of international schools, Montessori programmes and bilingual kindergartens in Vietnam
• Large private hospitals with English-speaking specialists
• Street food, markets, museums and day trips such as the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta
• Direct flights across Southeast Asia from Tan Son Nhat Airport
• An established expat family community

Working in Saigon

Saigon has Vietnam’s largest coworking scene and a huge café culture. As in Hanoi, spaces change often, so check current options before you commit.

🌊 Da Nang

We lived here for a month with Louie and Leo in 2026.

Many nomad families start in Da Nang, and it’s where we started too. It sits on Vietnam’s central coast, with a long city beach, wide roads and a relaxed pace for a big city.

Louie had his first surf lesson at My Khe Beach, and Marty worked from HI4 coworking. The full story, with our real costs, is in our Da Nang family guide.

The one thing to plan around

Central Vietnam’s wet season runs roughly from September to December, with heavy rain and the risk of storms. Many families plan to be elsewhere for the wettest weeks.

Why families choose Da Nang

• A long, easy city beach with plenty of space for kids
• Vegetarian cafés and beach restaurants around My An and An Thuong
• Marble Mountains, the Son Tra Peninsula and Hoi An close by
• Modern infrastructure and dependable services
• A growing number of international and bilingual schools

Working in Da Nang

Most of the nomad scene sits around An Thuong, near the beach. Marty worked from HI4, and there are plenty of other coworking spaces and cafés nearby. Check current prices directly.

🏮 Hoi An

Why we’re moving here next year

Hoi An ticks almost every box on our family’s list: worldschooling communities, vegan food, the beach, cycling and rice paddies. It’s also ridiculously photogenic. 🚲

We’ve been close by, but we’ve kept it as a surprise on purpose. So everything below is research for now. We’ll update this section with real stories once we’ve unpacked.

What we’ve found so far

The old trading port is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a lantern-lit old town, riverside cafés, tailors and rice fields right on its edge. Beaches such as An Bang are a short bike ride from town.

For remote workers, Hub Hoi An is a well-known coliving and coworking space in the rice fields. It’s members-only and you need to book ahead, so contact them before you arrive.

Why families choose Hoi An

• A worldschooling community, which is a big part of why we chose it
• A UNESCO-listed old town, traditional crafts and cooking classes
• Cycling through rice paddies to the beach
• Lower average rents than Da Nang, according to Numbeo, though Hoi An’s data is limited
• Lantern festivals and cultural events through the year

Working in Hoi An

Beyond Hub Hoi An, there are laptop-friendly cafés in town and near An Bang. We’ll share what works for Marty once we’re there.

🏖 Nha Trang

Researched, not visited yet.

Nha Trang is a beach city on the south-central coast, with a long sandy bay, islands offshore and warm weather much of the year. It suits families who want beach life at the centre of their days.

The nomad and expat community is smaller and less organised than in Da Nang or Hoi An, and there are fewer international school options. Private healthcare is available, but check what’s near your accommodation.

Dalat, in the highlands, is a few hours away by road and makes a cooler escape.

Why families choose Nha Trang

• Beach living in a smaller, simpler city
• Snorkelling tours and island day trips
• A quieter pace than Vietnam’s big nomad hubs
• Dalat for cool mountain breaks

⛰ Sapa

Researched, not visited yet.

In Vietnam’s far north, terraced rice fields climb misty mountains, and markets bring together Hmong, Dao and Tay communities. Sapa isn’t a coworking hub, and there are no international schools. It’s a place for a shorter, slower chapter.

For worldschooling families

Rice farming, textile weaving and mountain ecology become things kids can see rather than read about. Trekking with local guides and homestays are popular with families, so choose ethical, locally run operators where you can.

There’s internet in town, but for work that needs steady, fast connections, two to four weeks may suit Sapa better than a long stay.

Why families choose Sapa

• Cultural encounters with northern ethnic minority communities
• Terraced fields, mountain peaks and cloud forest
• Cool mountain weather, a real contrast to the coast
• Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak, reachable by cable car or on foot

Choosing the Right Base for Your Family

There’s no single best city. For schools and healthcare, look at Saigon or Hanoi. For beach life with city services, Da Nang is hard to beat, and it worked well for us with a toddler.

For community and a slower pace, Hoi An is where we’re heading. For mountains and culture as a shorter chapter, consider Sapa.

Daily Life and Food in Vietnam

Food has been one of the best parts of Vietnam for us. Marty is our adventurous eater. He’s tried frog dishes, chicken feet and plenty more that the rest of us happily left to him. 🐸

Louie, Leo and I have been very happy with noodle dishes and fresh rice paper rolls. In Da Nang, we also found good vegetarian cafés near the beach.

If you eat plant-based, learn the word chay, which means vegetarian. Look for it on signs, because Buddhist vegetarian restaurants are common across Vietnam.

Leo, the small celebrity

Nothing prepared us for how much people here love children. They light up the moment they see Leo. Some days it feels like we’re travelling with a tiny celebrity.

Most of the time, it’s one of the loveliest parts of life in Vietnam. Once or twice, though, someone has wanted to pick him up, and Leo doesn’t like that from strangers.

It’s okay to smile, step in and keep your little one close. You don’t need to feel rude about it.

⚠️ The Honest Challenges of Living in Vietnam

The heat

The heat is harder on Marty than on the rest of us. Coming from the Netherlands, he’s just not used to it. So we plan our days around it, and we don’t try to squeeze in too much.

Toddler time

With a two-year-old, some activities get cut short. That’s life with a toddler anywhere, but heat and long travel days make it more likely here.

What caught us out

In much of Vietnam, you don’t put toilet paper in the toilet. The pipes can’t handle it and they block, so it goes in the bin beside the toilet. It took some getting used to.

Then there was the plate. One broke where we were staying, and I thought nothing of it. Plates break! But we were told we needed to pay for it. It felt so strange to me. Now we ask about breakages when we check in, so there are no surprises.

No digital nomad visa

Vietnam has no visa designed for remote workers. Working on a tourist e-visa isn’t formally authorised, so families who want a clear legal basis for remote work may prefer countries with a nomad visa.

Traffic and footpaths

Traffic in Hanoi and Saigon is intense, and motorbikes dominate. Footpaths are often blocked by parked scooters, which makes a pram hard work. Grab cars are the easy option, but most don’t have car seats.

Air quality

Hanoi and Saigon often have poor air quality days. That matters for young children and anyone with asthma. Coastal towns and the mountains usually have cleaner air.

Healthcare outside the cities

Private hospitals in the big cities are modern. In rural areas and small towns, facilities are limited, so plan where you’d go and have good insurance before you need it.

Language

Vietnamese is a tonal language and takes real effort to learn. English is common in cities and tourist areas, but less so elsewhere. Translation apps help, and a few basic phrases go a long way.

🏡 Family-Friendly Accommodation in Vietnam

Furnished apartments with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a kitchen are easy to find in the main cities. In quieter towns, houses and villas give you more space and outdoor areas.

For our first month in Da Nang, we chose a hotel with breakfast and a pool. An apartment on a monthly lease would usually cost less.

What families can expect to pay

These are Numbeo’s averages for a three-bedroom apartment, from outside the centre to the city centre (checked 28-09-2026):

• Hanoi: about €465 to €750 a month
• Da Nang: about €690 to €900 a month
• Ho Chi Minh City: about €625 to €1,090 a month
• Hoi An: about €470 to €530 a month, based on limited data

They’re crowdsourced averages, not guaranteed prices. Monthly and longer leases usually get better rates than short stays. Many families book two weeks somewhere first, then look at apartments in person.

Before you sign

Ask whether electricity is included, how the deposit works, and what happens if something breaks. After our plate surprise, we always ask.

Local Facebook groups and agents are common ways to find longer rentals. Read more in our guide to accommodation for nomad families.

💻 Working Remotely in Vietnam

Internet in the main cities is fast enough for video calls, and most modern apartments and cafés have Wi-Fi. Marty worked from HI4 coworking in Da Nang during our month there.

Speeds vary from building to building, so test the connection before you commit to a lease. Our internet speed guide ranks 50 nomad cities.

Coworking

Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang all have plenty of coworking spaces, and Hoi An has Hub Hoi An. Spaces open, close and change prices often, so check current details directly.

One reminder: Vietnam’s tourist e-visa isn’t a work visa. See the visa section below, and our guide to remote work for nomad families.

🎒 Education and Childcare in Vietnam

We worldschool Louie, so we haven’t used schools in Vietnam. Here’s what our research shows.

Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang have international schools, bilingual programmes and Montessori options. Fees are high: Numbeo’s averages for international primary schools range from roughly €13,000 a year per child in Da Nang to €24,000 in Hanoi. Check each school’s website for current fees.

Smaller towns have fewer formal options. Worldschooling and homeschooling communities, especially around Hoi An, are one reason we chose it.

Worldschooling in Vietnam

Vietnam gives kids plenty to learn from. Temples and citadels teach history. Markets teach food, maths and language. Rice paddies show where food comes from.

In Ninh Binh, Louie planted rice and fished the traditional way on a farm, then asked to go back the next day. We share how we fit learning into travel days in Homeschooling on the Move, and how our first weeks in Vietnam went in How to Start Worldschooling.

Childcare

Private kindergartens and nannies are available in the main cities. Numbeo’s average fee for a full-day private kindergarten varies widely, from about ₫4.2 million (€140) a month in Da Nang to ₫19.1 million (€640) in Hanoi.

Ask other parents for recommendations and always check references. Read more in our guide to education and childcare for nomad families.

🧘 Health and Wellness in Vietnam

Private hospitals in Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang have modern facilities and English-speaking doctors. Vinmec, Hoan My and FV Hospital in Saigon are names you’ll hear often from expat families.

In smaller towns and rural areas, facilities are limited. For anything serious, expect to travel to the nearest big city, so know where that is before you need it.

Before you go

International health insurance is essential. Our health insurance guide explains what to look for, and our travel vaccinations guide covers what to ask a travel clinic.

Heat and everyday health

Heat is usually the first everyday health issue families notice. Drink plenty of water, plan outdoor time for mornings and late afternoons, and let kids rest in the middle of the day. In Hanoi and Saigon, check the air quality too.

🛵 Getting Around and Family Days Out

Our overnight sleeper train

We travelled from Da Nang to Ninh Binh on the overnight sleeper train with Lotus Train. Louie loved it, and we all slept okay. 🚆

Lotus Train runs its own sleeper carriages attached to Vietnam Railways trains. They have private 2-berth cabins and 4-berth cabins, so a family of four can book a whole cabin. The evening train from Da Nang reaches Ninh Binh the next morning, about 15 hours later. Check current times and fares before booking.

Other ways to travel

Domestic flights are quick for longer hops. Within cities, Grab is cheap and easy, but most cars don’t have car seats, so bring your own if that matters to you.

Big family experiences

Ha Long Bay’s limestone islands are one of Vietnam’s best-known trips, and we’re heading there soon. Hue’s imperial citadel, Hoi An’s old town, the Cu Chi Tunnels near Saigon and the caves of Phong Nha are other popular choices. The bigger caves suit older children.

With a toddler

Keep plans short and flexible. Beach mornings, boat trips and early market visits tend to suit little ones. With Leo, some of our days out have ended early, and that’s okay.

What It Costs a Family of Four to Live in Vietnam

Our real number: our month in Da Nang cost about €2,265 (A$3,670) for the four of us, in a comfortable hotel with breakfast and a pool. An apartment on a monthly lease would usually bring that down.

The estimates below assume a furnished three-bedroom apartment on a monthly lease, and no school fees, because we worldschool. They’re indicative averages, not guaranteed prices.

Want to compare Vietnam with other countries? See Where Can Nomad Families Afford to Live? 50 Destinations Compared.

Visas for Families in Vietnam

Rules checked 28-09-2026. Always confirm on the official portal before you book.

Our experience: all four of us used Vietnam’s e-visa, and the process was smooth. Our 90 days run out before Christmas, which is why Thailand comes next.

The e-visa

Vietnam’s e-visa is open to all nationalities. It’s valid for up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry.

• Where to apply: only through the official portal, evisa.gov.vn
• Official fee: US$25 for single entry, US$50 for multiple entry
• Refunds: the fee isn’t refunded if your application is refused
• Timing: apply well ahead and check current processing times on the portal
• Every family member, including babies, needs their own e-visa or exemption

Visa-free entry

Some European passports get up to 45 days visa-free, including the UK, Germany and France. The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and several others were added from 15 August 2025 until 14 August 2028. Australians need the e-visa.

You can’t extend a visa-free stay from inside Vietnam, so anyone planning to stay longer than 45 days needs a visa.

Mixed-passport families

In families like ours, entry rules depend on each person’s passport. Marty’s Dutch passport could get 45 days visa-free, but all four of us used e-visas. If your kids hold two passports, choose one and use it for both entry and exit.

Staying longer

Plan your exit date from the day you arrive, and don’t count on extending an e-visa from inside Vietnam. Most families leave, often via Cambodia or Thailand, and apply for a new e-visa from outside.

Our guide to staying longer without a digital nomad visa has more ideas.

Remote work and the new UĐ visas

Vietnam has no digital nomad visa. A tourist e-visa is for tourism, and working on one isn’t formally authorised. Keep that in mind, and check your employer’s rules too.

The new UĐ1 and UĐ2 visas, which started on 1 July 2026, are employer-sponsored routes for digital technology talent. They aren’t designed for nomad families.

Tax residency

Long stays can make you a Vietnamese tax resident, broadly at 183 days or more in a calendar year or in 12 consecutive months from arrival. Tax residents can be taxed on their worldwide income, so speak to a tax adviser before planning a long stay.

Before you fly

Vietnam has started introducing online arrival declarations, beginning at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon. Check whether your arrival airport requires one.

Read more in our visa guide for nomad families.

Nomad Community and Networking in Vietnam

You won’t be the only travelling family. Da Nang, Hoi An, Saigon and Hanoi all have expat and nomad communities, though each city’s community works a little differently.

Hoi An’s worldschooling community is one of the big reasons we’re moving there. We’ll share how easy it is to find once we arrive.

Finding people before you land

Local Facebook groups for expats, nomads and parents are the most common starting point. Search for your city plus “expats”, “digital nomads” or “families”. Once you’re there, coworking spaces and kids’ activities are good places to meet people.

Practical Tips for Living in Vietnam

Get a local SIM or eSIM

Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone are the main networks. You’ll need your passport to register a SIM, and an eSIM is easy if your phone supports it. Numbeo puts a monthly plan with 10GB or more at around ₫130,000 to ₫160,000 (about €5).

Use Grab, and bring a car seat

Grab is Vietnam’s main ride-hailing app for cars, motorbikes and food delivery. It’s cheap and easy, but most cars don’t have car seats.

Cross the road slowly and steadily

Traffic flows around pedestrians rather than stopping for them. Walk at a steady, predictable pace, hold little hands tightly, and don’t stop suddenly or run.

Toilet paper goes in the bin

In many places, the pipes can’t handle toilet paper. Use the bin beside the toilet, and remind the kids before they go.

Check the air quality

Hanoi and Saigon can have poor air, especially in the dry season. Check an air quality app before planning outdoor time, and consider an air purifier for longer stays.

Know your visa exit date

Write your exit date down on arrival and plan backwards from it. If you need a new e-visa, apply from outside Vietnam with plenty of time to spare.

🌿 Culture and Travelling Lightly in Vietnam

In Vietnam, culture is part of daily life rather than something staged for visitors. Water puppet shows in Hanoi, lanterns in Hoi An, Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations and the weaving traditions of the north all belong to ordinary life.

Small things work differently

Our broken plate taught us that everyday expectations aren’t always the ones you bring from home. Ask when you’re unsure, stay polite, and assume there’s a reason behind the rule.

Travelling lightly

Learning a few Vietnamese phrases, eating at local family restaurants, buying directly from artisans and choosing trains or buses over short flights all help. Carry a reusable water bottle and bag, as single-use plastic is still common.

FAQs

Is Vietnam good for families with young children?

In our experience, yes. People are incredibly warm towards kids. The challenges are the heat, busy traffic, footpaths blocked by scooters and no car seats in most Grab cars.

How much does it cost for a family of four to live in Vietnam?

Roughly €1,850 to €2,600 a month including rent, depending on the city (Numbeo averages, checked 28-09-2026). Our Da Nang month in a hotel cost about €2,265.

Do we need a visa for Vietnam?

Most families use the e-visa, which is valid for up to 90 days. Some European passports get 45 days visa-free. Australians need an e-visa.

Does Vietnam have a digital nomad visa?

No. The new UĐ visas are employer-sponsored routes for tech talent, not nomad visas.

Can we stay longer than 90 days?

Plan to leave before your visa ends and apply again from outside Vietnam. Keep an eye on tax residency if you stay long term.

Which city in Vietnam suits families best?

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang suits beach life with city services, while Hanoi and Saigon suit families who want schools and healthcare. Hoi An is slower and community-focused.

How do we travel between cities with kids?

We loved the overnight sleeper train. Domestic flights are quick, and Grab covers trips within cities.

Can our kids go to school in Vietnam?

Yes. There are international schools in the big cities, but fees are often €13,000 or more per child per year. Many nomad families worldschool instead.

Can you flush toilet paper in Vietnam?

Often not. Use the bin beside the toilet, as the pipes block easily.

When is the best time to go?

It varies by region. Central Vietnam’s wet season runs roughly from September to December, and the north has a cool winter.

Our Takeaways

Vietnam hasn’t been perfect. Marty still wilts in the afternoon heat, we’ve learnt a few lessons about plates and plumbing, and some days the boys run out of energy before the plan does.

But this is a country that makes room for children. People light up when they see Leo. Louie has slept his way up the coast on a sleeper train. And there’s always something on the table worth trying, even if it’s only Marty eating it.

We’ll finish in the north, cross to Thailand before Christmas, and then come back to find out whether Hoi An lives up to the surprise. We’ll tell you when we do. 🌏

Keep reading:

• Thailand vs Vietnam with Kids: Visas, Costs and What We’ve Learnt
• Living in Asia with Kids: 13 Countries Compared