HONG KONG AND VIETNAM
So it starts of with a 9 hour flight to Hong Kong from Melbourne on a midnight flight. Alot of people are not fans of Midnight flights but i actually dont mind them, especially when your travelling with a little one.
Reason i picked these flights was because we had flown the red eye flights befofe with Rubi and she slept the whole time, this time was no different.
She has become the ultimate little traveller (she didnt really have much choice with a travel agent mum).
She slept the whole 9 hours over and 9 hours home and slept in the car on the way home. AMAZING!
Going overseas with children can be a little daunting, especially if you are NOT organised.
I prepared for packing and getting things ready and making sure i had everything but the kitchen sink for her 2-3 weeks before we were due to depart.
It pays to be prepared as you never know what travel can throw at you. From Sickness, Diorreah, heat stroke, sunburnt, travel sickness, ear infections from flights or swimming, you name it anything can happen.
We started with two nights in Hong Kong as we flew Cathay Pacific, i specifically picked this flight because i was yet to see Hong Kong, this was a good excuse!
2 nights accommodation at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Kowloon. What an amazing 5 star property, even better when you get upgraded to a suite!
Great location with shopping centre at your door step, restaurants, railway station just below the hotel and everything at your fingertips.
We made our way from the airport to the accommodation using the MRT railway, airport to Kowloon in just 20 minutes. Its an amazing service that is fast, reliable, clean and comfortable. Its then just a quick transfer by bus which is free from there to accommodation in Kowloon.
Taxis in Hong Kong we found, WILL NOT pick you up unless you have a card from the hotel. We did not work this out until we left Hong Kong. This is the way they can understand where you need to go so they can trust you are going to pay and becuase they do not understand english the best so this is the best way. Taxis are cheap though and very accessable, once you have your hotel card!
Disneyland got a visit from us but it wasnt all it was cracked up to be for us.
It was a very very hot day and the lines to all of the rides were 40 minutes or more, and with a 3 year old in tow, its not a comfortable day. We were there for a few hours and she did love the experience of "Disneyland"
From here we then took a flight to Hanoi where we spent 3 nights and one night in Halong Bay.
Firstly Hanoi- Its Busy! Taking a 3 year old to a place that is foreign, noisy, busy and where people look different can be a little overwhelming for them. Rubi was surprisingly good. She did not want to be put down in the city though which is understnadable. Its daunting for an adult if you havnt been there, imagine what its like for a child!
You cannot use a pram in Hanoi due to all the motorbikes, cars and Cyclo's on the footpaths, so yes you will have to carry them alot. I knew this so i was prepared. (its a good weights session)>
The people in Vietnam are just genuinely beautiful. They cannot do enough to help you.
We stayed in two properties, the first one was the INtercontinental Westlake and the Sofitel. Both amaxingly beautiful properties and not smack bang in the middle which i didnt want with a little one.
Taxis are amazingly cheap to get around so use them when ever you can. They are everywhere.
Markets are aplenty with some cheap shopping of jackets, shoes, bags and sunnies and jewellery are the major ones that you will see everywhere.
They love to Barter so dont feel bad when you cut the amount in half. If you say no though, they will not chase you down the road like Thailand of Bali.
Halong Bay was Breathtaking- We sailed on the Huong Hai Sealife Cruise which was just beautiful.
Its one of the largerst boats which each room has its own balcony- no others do so thats a plus.
We stopped and looked at the houses where people actually live in the bay. This is a little hard to comprehend that people live in Boats and cubby house looking houses in the ocean (in the bay). They even have little kids living out there. From here we got onto a little boat and paddled out way through the cliffs and past the houses. Its hard to explain but exactly what you would see on a post card but even better. We took the one night cruise due to available time but i would do a 2 night cruise next time.
This again was absolutely fine with children. They are very accommodating and all of the staff loved playing with Rubi.
Next stop was Hoi An- This was a short 1 hour 20 minute flight and this place didint disspoint.
Flying into Danang which is the airport city and then its a quick 40 minute transfer to Hoi An.
We stayed at the Almanity Resort and Spa which was just beautiful.
Perfect property for families, couple, singles and all inbetween.
The package included full breakfast and each person gets a 90 minute massage/spa treatment which is just amazing!!!
The staff at the property cannot do enough for you. Its cheap and they have happy hour from 4-8pm every day which includes buy one drink get one for free (bare in mind cocktails are only $5.00 each anyway!!)
We hired push bikes and rode out to the beach (38 degrees and 90% humidity). Its a beautiful ride and you can go for a dip once you get there.
We rode around the town of Hoi An checking out different shops, houses, restaurants and everything inbetween.
The shops in this city are a little different. Here they Taylor Make shoes, dresses, jackets etc. Its beautiful quality and only takes 1-2 days for them to custom make it for you.
They have alot of jewelery shops and dress shops.
Restuarants are very very good here. Two of my favourites were Good Morning Vietnam (Italian restaurant which is the BEST i have EVER HAD!)
The other one was Mango Mango. If your ever there, go and check them out.
Taking children to restaurants is easy and no trouble. They accommodate the kids and some of them even have little drawing packs for them ready to go and have the full kids meals like we do here.
IN a nutshell, if you want to go somewhere different, Vietnam is the place! Its safe, fun, cheap and so much to do in every city.
Take the kids and go and explore!!!
Enjoy!