We were up at the crack of dawn for our flight from China to Hanoi, bags packed and ready to roll. We booked a Didi taxi for just a few quid, quick and painless. The early morning haze felt a bit surreal as we left behind a country that had honestly blown us away.

We flew with China Airlines, and I’ve got to say, the flight was smooth . Lunch on board? Surprisingly good.

Leaving China was bittersweet. That transit visa worked out brilliantly for us; it gave us just enough time to squeeze in some massive bucket list moments from standing in awe at the Great Wall and the glass bridge over the lake to soaking up the history at Tiananmen Square and the palace then the Olympic Park with the water world, was so amazing. We packed a lot into a short window, and every second felt worth it.

Looking back, we’re already missing China more than we expected. There’s so much we didn’t get to explore, and truth be told, we could’ve easily spent a lot more time diving deeper into its culture, food, and landscapes.

It was an epic journey and it was a blast. For now, though, it’s onwards to Vietnam for the next chapter of our adventure!

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We arrived in Vietnam around 2 PM after a really smooth flight from China no delays, and everything went to plan. Customs was quick and hassle free too, which made for a nice change after some of the queues we’ve faced on this trip!

We made our way to the apartment, which is on the 35th floor of a sleek, modern block with absolutely stunning views across the city easily one of the best we’ve had so far. The building has everything you could need: a cinema, supermarket, shopping centre, and (to Ali’s absolute delight) a Starbucks for those all-important hot chocolates.

The only hiccup? Check-in was honestly the worst we’ve experienced so far. The guy handling it was pretty useless slow, disorganised, and not much help at all. After such a smooth arrival, it was a bit of a letdown and dragged on way longer than it should have.

Once we finally got in, we unpacked, grabbed some shopping, had dinner, and settled in for the night. After a quick wash up, we all crashed out, excited to start exploring properly tomorrow.

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Our first couple of days in Vietnam have been a perfect mix of easing in and starting to explore. After the travel day, we deliberately kept things simple to recharge. We started at the Lotte Centre, which was a big hit with the kids Dotty and Georgia were in their element at the soft play, climbing, sliding, and bouncing around while Ali did some shopping and I enjoyed a well earned coffee break. The place was spotless and well run, making it an easy win for a family morning.

We stayed for lunch at the food court, where there were loads of great options. We went for rice bowls and noodles simple, delicious, and cheap. What really stood out was just how many vegetarian choices were on offer. It’s clear already that Vietnam really caters for everyone, which is a massive relief for Ali, finally! After lunch, we took a slow wander through some nearby side streets. They reminded us a bit of Peru narrow lanes, scooters zipping everywhere, and a bit of organised chaos but honestly, way cleaner and a more relaxed, which made it a really enjoyable stroll. We wrapped up the day with an easy evening back at the apartment, ready for a bit more adventure the next day.

The following day we dived a bit deeper into Hanoi. We made our way over to the Old Quarter, which is every bit as busy and buzzing as you’d expect full of tight alleyways, little shops, and the constant soundtrack of scooters honking. The highlight was heading to the famous Train Street, where we managed to catch the train rumbling through right up close. It’s wild seeing a full sized train squeeze through such a narrow street with people just stepping back inches from the track it’s one of those iconic Hanoi moments you’ve got to see to believe. Honestly, if you do nothing else here, we’d well recommend making time for Train Street it’s a crazy experience.

After that, we wandered over to Hoàn Kiếm Lake, home to the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple. It’s a lovely spot right in the middle of the city peaceful despite the traffic and noise around it, and a nice place to let the kids run about a bit while we soaked in the views. To top it off, we treated ourselves to ice cream at Häagen-Dazs before heading back for a chilled evening.

All in all, a brilliant start to our time here Hanoi’s got a great vibe already, and we’re excited to see what’s next!

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Today we headed out to VinWonders Water Park, about 35 minutes outside of Hanoi (it’s in Gia Lâm if you’re looking it up). The drive out set the tone for the day, we jumped in a taxi that turned out to be a classic old Nissan Sunny, complete with a little desk fan wedged in the back to keep the passengers cool. Proper retro vibes, reminded me of the 90s, Ali was eyeing up the cars with air con, but I was loving the throwback feel bit of nostalgia never hurts.

When we arrived, things got even more surreal. The whole area around the park is massive, with huge buildings, shops, gondolas, and even a full on pirate ship… but it was practically deserted. It felt like we’d rolled into a movie set after filming had finished brand new but totally empty. Loads of staff were around, but hardly a soul in sight. A bit eerie, like a ghost town, no not like, it was…

We wandered through the quiet streets and made our way to the water park itself same story. Apart from a handful of staff manning the slides, there was no one there. It genuinely felt like a scene from a zombie apocalypse film. But, once we got over the weirdness, it was brilliant we had the whole place to ourselves and made the absolute most of it. Slides, swimming, and non-stop sunshine.

Of course, we totally forgot sunscreen (bad parents!) and, weirdly, there was none for sale anywhere in the park. Thankfully, the only other family we saw all day a lovely Dutch family came to our rescue and let us borrow theirs. Of course they were Dutch absolute lifesavers!

We had a cracking day in the end, even if we caught a bit too much sun. Definitely one of the strangest water park experiences we’ve ever had, but one we won’t forget in a hurry. If you fancy something a bit different and don’t mind it feeling like a theme park out of The Walking Dead VinWonders is worth a look! (I was told it’s not normally like that, maybe, maybe not) we will never know for sure haha.

Planning your own trip to Hanoi or fancy a day out with a twist? Drop your questions or experiences in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow us for more real life travel stories and tips!

I’ll upload a video of the ghost ship in a bit?!

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We wrapped up our time in Hanoi with two brilliant (and slightly eventful) days packed with culture, history, and a bit of unexpected pool drama. Here’s the story!

Day 1: Women’s Museum & Street Food Delights

First up, we visited the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, one of Hanoi’s most fascinating and underrated spots. If you’re travelling with kids or want a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture, I highly recommend it. The museum is beautifully curated, telling powerful stories of Vietnamese women throughout history from their roles in wartime to traditional family life and craftsmanship.

We especially loved the exhibits on ethnic minority women showcasing their vibrant clothing, customs, and the huge role they play in their communities. There’s also a moving section on the resilience and strength of women during Vietnam’s wars. It’s the kind of place that makes you rethink how history is told.

Why visit?

It’s kid-friendly with interactive displays. Air-conditioned (a win when you’re melting outside!). Only around £1 entry, an absolute bargain for what you get. Great for ethical travel enthusiasts who want to understand Vietnam beyond the usual tourist trail.

After the museum, we tucked into lunch at a Vietnamese spot nearby no name you’d find online, just pure local flavours and buzzing with life. We also managed a tech win by getting Ali’s iPhone battery replaced at a street side repair shop. Fast, cheap (about £12), and it worked perfectly.

(Pro tip: Hanoi is awesome for affordable tech repairs don’t overpay at home if your here!)

Day 2: Citadel Adventures & Poolside Mayhem

Today, we stepped back in time at the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, a UNESCO World Heritage Site right in the heart of Hanoi. It’s huge, and the kids loved running around the old fortress walls and peeking into ancient rooms and tunnels.

Highlights?

The Flag Tower, standing tall since the 1800s. Peaceful courtyards perfect for a break in the shade.

We had lunch onsite, and at just £6 for all of us, it was both affordable and surprisingly tasty and aircon was nice after being out in 38degrees. Definitely a handy option if you don’t fancy trekking around looking for food in the heat.

The Pool Incident…

After all that exploring, we chilled back at our Vinhomes apartment and hit the pool to cool off. That’s when Dotty threw us a curveball deciding, mid-swim, that now was the time for a Number Two. Safe to say my dad reflexes kicked in after Ali shouted she’s doing a pooo! I grabbed her, dashed to the loo, sorted the situation, got her showered, and we were back in the pool before anyone was the wiser. No leaks, no disasters… phew! (Parenting while travelling: never a dull moment.)

Next Stop: Sapa!

Tomorrow we’re off on the next leg of the adventure heading north to the stunning mountains of Sapa. Can’t wait to swap the city for rice terraces and fresh mountain air. Stay tuned for that update!

Quick Tips for Travellers:

The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is a mus do if you want a deeper dive into the culture. Plan 1.5–2 hours.

Citadel of Thăng Long is best early morning before it gets too hot bring water and comfy shoes.

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We kicked off the day with a quick coffee before boarding our 10 AM bus to Sapa. Now, when you think “sleeper bus,” you probably imagine an overnight ride but in Vietnam, these futuristic buses run all day too. Even though it was the middle of the morning, we had fully reclined beds instead of seats, which turned the whole experience into a bit of a novelty for the girls!

The bus itself was awesome like something straight out of a sci-fi film. Each passenger had their own little pod, complete with a bed, USB chargers, aircon, and curtains for privacy. The kids thought it was brilliant, clambering up into their bunks and peeking through the windows. They ended up spending most of the ride snuggled up with me, turning our little pod into a cosy den, while Ali grabbed the chance to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet headphones in, listening to music and podcasts, and actually relaxing for once!

We’d braced ourselves for a bit of a mission, especially after our experiences on some rough buses in Peru where you’re lucky if there’s aircon, let alone comfort. But this trip was smooth as anything. The bus glided along on decent roads, and even though it was a long journey (about six hours), we had regular rest stops along the way to stretch our legs and use the loo.

As we got closer to Sapa, the scenery really started to steal the show. The landscape transformed from city streets to stunning mountains and valleys, with rice terraces stepping their way up the hillsides. The girls were glued to the windows by this point, spotting water buffalo and tiny villages tucked into the hills.

When we finally arrived in Sapa, we hopped in a taxi for the last leg of the journey up to our homestay. The drive was a bit twisty, but worth every turn our place was tucked away in the hills with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. We settled in, had a delicious dinner on site (simple local dishes, fresh and flavourful), and were more than ready to call it a night after a long day of travel.

Next stop: exploring those beautiful mountains exploring the area and a cable car up to 3100 meters (not all at once)

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Yesterday was a proper chill day for us, some R&R while we got organised and booked the next legs of the trip. We’ve now locked in flights and stays for two weeks on Phú Quốc Island (about a one hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City), which looks like absolute paradise, golden sand beaches, adventure parks, water parks and more, after that we’ll spend a week back in Ho Chi Minh to round off our Vietnam adventure. Can’t wait for some beach time and a bit of slower travel!

Today was supposed to be the big one here, we should have been heading up the famous Fansipan cable car to the top of Indochina’s highest peak at 3500m But the weather had other plans storms and heavy rain meant we had to scrap it.

Instead, we made our way down to Sapa town for a wander. The town was cloaked in thick fog and drizzle, which actually added a bit of atmosphere. We laughed when we spotted The Globe newspaper calling Sapa “the city in the fog” or something along those lines pretty spot on and ironic given we were hoping for Mountain View’s today

We had a nice lunch in a decent restaurant and a while later we found a snug little café (Starbucks) to warm up with hot chocolates and coffee, later on we visited sapa market (Georgia was fascinated by all the colourful fabrics and trinkets), and grabbed a few small bits for the girls.

All in all it was quiet but memorable day soaking up the local vibe, we got home wet but satisfied.

Tomorrow is looking like the clearest day we’ll get all week not perfect, but better so we’re aiming to hit the cable car. Rain or shine, we’re going for it… fingers crossed we get at least a glimpse of those epic mountain views!

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We had originally planned to visit the cable car outside of Sapa yesterday, but the weather took a turn for the worse, so we decided to wait for today. Unfortunately, today wasn’t much better, but we keep our hopes up for tomorrow, as the forecast promised sunshine. Let’s hope our patience pays off!

So Todays new plans…

We left our accommodation and headed for the alpine coaster at the base of the mountain. The taxi driver had agreed to wait for us, which seemed odd at first but ended up being a great deal. For £40, he spent the day sitting around and driving us about 60 miles not bad value at all! We had a blast riding the coaster twice it was an adrenaline-pumping adventure!

After our coaster ride, we returned to the taxi and asked to go to the famous Rong May Glass Bridge. What started as a simple taxi ride turned into an impromptu tour. Our driver stopped at Silver Waterfall (Thác Bạc) along the way, where we snapped some incredible photos. The waterfall is one of the tallest in the region, with a drop of over 200 meters. The cascade creates a silvery mist that gives the waterfall its name, making it a breathtaking sight. From there, we continued on to the Glass Bridge, one of the most popular tourist spots near Sapa.

Facts about the Rong May Glass Bridge:

The Rong May Glass Bridge, also known as the Dragon Cloud Glass Bridge, is a stunning structure suspended high above a deep valley, offering panoramic views of the lush landscape below. It stands at over 2,200 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest glass bridges in Vietnam. The bridge stretches 60 meters outward from the cliff, and with its transparent floor, visitors can experience the thrilling sensation of walking on air. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting the Sapa region, offering both an adrenaline rush and spectacular scenery.

We loved our time there and explored the lookout tower, enjoying some drinks and crisps at a nearby café. Our main destination, however, was still ahead: the walk across the Glass Bridge itself. Ali had a moment of hesitation halfway through, unsure if she should continue. With a bit of encouragement from the rest of us, we pushed through and made it to the end.

At the top, we were greeted by a quirky surprise deer models scattered around the strange “Stargate” rainbow bridge piano area. I loved the surreal look of the area and snapped some great pictures. After a laugh at the odd setup, we made our way to a small temple. The view from the top was breathtaking, and it felt like stepping into another world.

As the afternoon wore on, we decided to head back down. We took the massive elevator back to the bottom and returned to our waiting taxi. The driver was still there, ready to take us back to Sapa for dinner. We ended the day feeling content and amazed by the beauty of the area. A truly magical experience that we’ll never forget!

Ready to Plan Your Own Adventure?

If you’re planning to explore Sapa, don’t miss the Rong May Glass Bridge and Silver Waterfall. Whether you’re looking for adventure, stunning views, or unique photo opportunities, these attractions are perfect for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Vietnam. Plan your trip now and make memories that will last a lifetime!

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What starts as a scenic cable car ride turns into a wild adventure above the clouds in Sapa, Vietnam complete with dancers, temples, woolly mammoths, and rose gardens. A must for families!

We thought we were in for a quiet cable car ride and a nice view. Maybe a cup of tea at the top. But what actually greeted us in Sapa was a full-blown fantasy adventure equal parts spiritual, cultural, and delightfully over-the-top.

More Disney Than Mountain View

Our friendly taxi driver the same one from the day before pulled up right on time and dropped us off at what we thought was the start of the cable car. Instead, we stepped straight into a cultural carnival.

Traditional music echoed through the air as a local singer welcomed guests. We barely had time to take it in before a group of dancers launched into a stick hopping performance in a central arena, pulling visitors into the fun. It was vibrant, it was loud, and it was totally unexpected Georgia and Ali joined in of course and it started the bay with laughter!

Wandering the Pre Ride Wonderland

We wandered past the crowd and entered what felt like a theme park. Temples, replica heritage homes, giant Buddha statues, cartoonish woolly mammoths, life size horses, fountains, flower displays and we hadn’t even reached the cable car yet. Every few steps offered a new surprise or photo op.

Cable Car Magic: Floating Through the Fog

Eventually, we reached the real entrance and boarded what’s said to be one of the world’s longest cable car rides. As we rose up over emerald-green rice terraces, the views became more surreal with every metre gained. Fog wrapped around the landscape, breaking occasionally to reveal dramatic cliffs and distant villages below.

Georgia was glued to the window, wide-eyed. Dotty pointed and squealed every time a bird flew past or the mist shifted. It felt like we were drifting through a fantasy novel.

At the Summit: A Sacred Maze Above the World

Stepping out at the top was like entering another realm. The air turned crisp, the clouds thickened, and the surroundings transformed into a sprawling complex of temples, spires, and stone walkways. It was peaceful, eerie, and beautiful all at once.

We wandered slowly, exploring ornate pagodas, bell towers, and winding staircases. Occasionally, the clouds parted just long enough to offer a jaw-dropping view of the Hoàng Liên Son mountains stretching out below.

The Walk Down: Steps Through Stillness and Stone

Instead of taking the funicular back down, we chose the long walk and what a decision. The path wove past even more temples, shrines, prayer halls, and colossal golden Buddhas hidden in the fog. Every turn brought a new surprise, from incense-filled courtyards to intricate carvings and peaceful forested corners.

It was serene. Otherworldly. And yes a lot of stairs. But it was one of those moments where you feel completely present.

At the Bottom: Roses and Insta-Dreams

After taking the cable car back down Just when we thought we were finished, the base area welcomed us with a final flourish. Rose gardens exploded with colour, heart-shaped arches lined the walkways, and flower walls stood ready for their selfie moment. It was unapologetically designed for social media and honestly, kind of perfect after the spiritual calm of the descent.

The kids ran through the arches, we snapped some fun family shots, and our legs finally gave in. It was chaotic, peaceful, sacred, and touristy all rolled into one and somehow, it worked.

Would We Recommend It? Absolutely.

If you’re near Sapa, don’t write this off as just another cable car ride. It’s not cheap but It’s a full day adventure. From cultural performances and temples in the clouds to fantasy creatures and flower-filled photo ops there’s something for everyone, especially families.

Just bring good shoes, a jacket, and your sense of humour. You’ll need all three.

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After a few misty days up in the hills of Sapa, we said our goodbyes and began the next leg of our adventure heading south from Hanoi to Phú Quốc Island. And for once, it all went… smoothly. No lost shoes, no meltdowns, no delays. Just one of those magical travel days where everything clicks into place.

We kicked off with a sleeper bus from Sapa back to Hanoi. It sounds strange catching a sleeper during the day, but honestly, it worked. The girls were chilled, the ride was comfy, and even after all our mountain exploring, everyone stayed in good spirits. That alone felt like a win.

Back in Hanoi, we had just enough time to grab a bite before our lunchtime flight. Domestic travel in Vietnam is wonderfully straightforward no passport control, quick boarding, and our bags were even first off the carousel. That never happens!

And then, like some sort of travel miracle, a large taxi was already waiting outside. We didn’t have to haggle, wait, or squeeze into something too small for all our gear and kids. Just straight in, and 20 minutes later, we pulled up to our new digs.

Our home for the next two weeks? A gorgeous three-bedroom bungalow, pool sparkling, everything clean, calm, and just what we needed. After weeks of bouncing between cities and mountains, arriving here felt like a deep breath out.

We unpacked and settled in for our first night on Phú Quốc no drama, no chaos, just the peaceful start to our beachside chapter.

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