Page 30 - Explore Magazine Autumn 2017

28

FAMILY FUN IN

VIETNAM

Mary Buckley, Owner/Director of helloworld Milford, savours the vibrancy of
Ho Chi Minh City, relaxes in Hoi An and offers some tips for tropical holidays with children.

During the September school holidays my husband
and I enjoyed a family holiday in Vietnam with our Vietnamese food is
nine- and 11-year-old children. Although Vietnam
is a wonderful and vibrant destination it is hot and a delightful combination
humid all year-round, which can be challenging
for youngsters as well as adults. We found that by of sweet and savoury,
carefully selecting our sightseeing and not trying to
pack too much in, everyone stayed refreshed and with some of the most
thoroughly enjoyed their trip. surprising combinations
Our holiday began in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
with its distinctive smells and the constant buzz of both
and toot of scooters. We stayed at the Caravelle Hotel,
a lovely old centrally located hotel with good-sized One thing you need to be aware of in Ho Chi Minh
rooms and high ceilings. The historic rooftop bar is a City is scooters – they are everywhere! The city has
must to visit and a great place for enjoying the cooler a population of nine million people and 7.5 million
temperatures in the evening and the breeze. scooters! They do not give way to people so always
Everything, from local shopping malls to museums watch for them and walk slowly across the road
and churches and a great selection of restaurants, is so that they drive around you (don’t take on cars
in easy walking distance of the Caravelle and I must or buses though!). It takes a bit of getting used to
say that every meal during our stay was delicious – when your instinct is to run out of the way when a
and economical. This is certainly a country that will scooter comes towards you.
awaken the sleepiest taste buds!

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : AUTUMN EDITION